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BlackBerry Torch now burns in red and white hues at AT&T stores
Right on schedule, a day before Windows Phone 7 hits its stores in force, AT&T is letting a couple of new BlackBerry Torch SKUs out to play. They're basic repaint jobs, described by the carrier as Sunset Red and Pure White, the latter of which almost lives up to its name by including a white keyboard but falters by sticking to the noir optical pad. Pricing is set at $499 if you never want to see AT&T again after purchasing one or $99 if you can commit to a two-year relationship. Same as with the "Charcoal" Torch. [Thanks, Matthew]
Rogers now shipping BlackBerry Torch
See, that wasn't so bad, was it? Would-be Captivate buyers are still waiting, but the slightly-delayed BlackBerry Torch is now shipping up on Rogers for CAD $199.99 ($194) on a three-year contract... all the way up to a rather mind-blowing CAD $609.99 ($592) contract-free. For that matter, opting for a two-year contract -- which is the longest you can get on AT&T, of course -- will mean you're shelling out CAD $499.99 ($485), which seems like a pretty tough pill to swallow considering the insanely non-linear decrease in subsidy. Doesn't seem like these guys are too close to contract and ETF reform, does it?
Rogers delays BlackBerry Torch, Samsung Captivate (but not by much)
We've got a two-pack of bad news for Rogers customers today (at least, it's bad news if you were planning on upgrading your phone in the next few days). Both the BlackBerry Torch and Samsung's Galaxy S-based Captivate have been delayed for you guys, though the Torch will be coming around in just a few days' time -- September 30, to be exact -- while the Captivate's fighting a "manufacturing delay" and isn't expected now until mid-October. Interestingly, the Captivate seems to be in ample supply for AT&T, so... you know what kinds of subscribers to fight if you see them wandering around today, Canadians. [Thanks, Rick]
Exclusive: Galaxy Tab, red / white BlackBerry Torch and Samsung Focus hitting AT&T in Q4
Mmm, delicious. That's the feeling we're left with after being inundated with yet another round of AT&T leaks, this time giving us insight at a few flagship devices on tap for the carrier's holiday push. First up is the Galaxy Tab -- an Android 2.2-based tablet that we had previously heard rumored for AT&T's airwaves. Thanks to a branded snapshot from the carrier's internals, we can confirm that the Tab will indeed be sold on Ma Bell, and it (along with three other new Android devices) will ship "prior to December." Moving on, we've got even more confirmation that the Samsung Cetus (i917) will be one of the operator's first Windows Phone 7 devices, and it looks as if a heretofore unheard of Samsung Focus and HTC Surround will be joining it. Better still, we've got it on good authority that three other WP7 handsets will be splashing down alongside those others in time for the holidays. As for the remaining BlackBerry loyalists, AT&T will be tempting you with a trio of limited run Torch motifs coming in "mid to late November," with an all-white version, red / black model and olive colored edition on tap. We'll be keeping an ear to the ground for more, naturally. %Gallery-102059%
BlackBerry Torch already showing up in some AT&T stores?
We've called a bunch of our local stores and have struck out, but for what it's worth, we've been sent a shot of the BlackBerry Torch's box apparently chilling in the stockroom of one of AT&T's many corporate-owned retail locations around the country. Though the official launch is August 12, we imagine you might be able to find a rep willing to slip you one early if you find one that's received their shipment and push 'em hard enough. No violence or torture techniques, though, alright? [Thanks, anonymous tipster]
BlackBerry Torch review
When we began our review of the BlackBerry Torch (aka the Bold 9800), our hearts were all aflutter. The leaked shots we'd been seeing of some kind of Palm Pre-esque RIM slider were different and frankly weird enough to cause a kind of low hum gadget lust. Furthermore, although no one on the Engadget team was blown away by what the company had shown us in recent BlackBerry OS 6 demo videos, the promise of a substantially revamped UI and new, Webkit-powered browser certainly got us interested. Even if Research in Motion had been slipping on its once-unassailable smartphone game, there was a sentiment amongst the team that the opportunity for a return to innovative, industry-driving design was wide open for the Canadian company. So when we got our very own Torch to play with, we were understandably excited. A new OS, a new form-factor (completely new for RIM), and from what we could tell, a new outlook from the company about where it wanted to target this product: namely, the average consumer. A great story in the making, no? But it's a fiercely competitive market out there, with devices like the EVO 4G, iPhone 4, and Galaxy S line all vying for the hearts, minds, and pocketbooks of the buyer. Can the BlackBerry Torch pick up where hugely successful models like the Curve and Bold have left off? Or is the new phone too little and too late in an industry where technology advances not by tiny step but leaps and bounds? Get the answer to that question -- and many, many more -- in the full Engadget review below! %Gallery-98858%
BlackBerry Torch headed to Telus (update: and Rogers and Bell)
There had been some rumors floating around that the BlackBerry 9800 might be a Rogers exclusive, but it looks like that's won't be the case -- The Globe and Mail is reporting that phone, now known as the Torch, will be headed to Telus. Still no word on when that will happen, nor is there any word on any other carriers that will be picking up the device -- though there's no indication that it's a Telus-exclusive. Update: The Globe and Mail is now saying that the big three Canadian carriers (Rogers, Bell and Telus) have each confirmed they'll be getting the Torch. Still no launch details, though. Update 2: Rogers is now saying it'll launch in "the coming weeks."
BlackBerry Torch first hands-on! (update: video)
We just got a quick hands-on with the BlackBerry Torch -- unfortunately our unit wasn't powering on. We're headed back for more in just a second and there's video on the way, but check the gallery for some hardware shots and some Droid X / iPhone 4 head-to-head action right now! Update: We went back in for round two with a functional device -- the hardware is quite nice, and the keyboard feels similar to the Tour / Bold. Software-wise, we're still waiting to play with BlackBerry 6 in-depth, but it definitely feels like the OS overwhelms the hardware a little when it's really cranking -- for example, the phone basically locked up while it loaded Engadget in the new Webkit browser, but when it was done loading it responded smoothly to panning and zooming. Update 2: We've got video, people. It's a little scattershot in scope, but it should illustrate the basic feel of the new OS. You can find it below the fold. %Gallery-98755% %Gallery-98759%
Live from RIM and AT&T's BlackBerry Torch event!
We're live from AT&T and RIM's BlackBerry Torch event -- follow along after the break!
BlackBerry Torch is official, launching August 12th on AT&T for $200
It hasn't been announced just yet -- we're expecting that shortly at a New York event today -- but the long-rumored BlackBerry Torch (née 9800) just went live on AT&T's site offering the opportunity to sign up for a notification when you can buy the thing. Major features include a 5 megapixel cam with flash, full QWERTY on a portrait slide, 802.11n support, and -- of course -- BlackBerry 6 with an all-new browsing experience and a host of other features that should help position RIM within earshot of its less-stodgy rivals. You've also got 4GB of storage onboard paired with a 4GB microSD card in the box, 512MB each of ROM and RAM, a quadband 3G radio that'll travel well around the globe, a 480 x 360 touchscreen display (same resolution as the Bold 9700) measuring 3.2 inches, the typical optical trackpad down below, and an interesting new Media Sync feature that'll let you sync your media library right over WiFi -- something various third parties have tried over the years, but has rarely been offered as an out-of-the-box capability. Interested? It'll hit AT&T and third-party retail locations and websites on the 12th of the month for $199.99 on contract. Follow the break for RIM's introductory videos and the press release. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]%Gallery-98749%
BlackBerry 9800 slider for AT&T slips through FCC: ready for 11AM announcement
Can't say we didn't see this one coming but it looks like RIM's BlackBerry 9800 slider was just blessed by the FCC on AT&T frequencies. While the FCC documents refer to it as a "BlackBerry smartphone model RCY71UW," there's no mistaking the backside wireframe that forms a perfect match when superimposed onto our earlier exclusive pics. Besides, there's also liberal mention of several associated "MultiSourceDeclaration_9800_" documents throughout the FCC's test results. So what have we got then? Well, Bluetooth, 802.11b/g/n, GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/1900, UMTS II (1900), V (850) are all go with the GSM/GPRS/EDGE 900/1800 MHz bands and UMTS I (2100) bands listed for international use. And yeah, it's been tested with the slider open and closed. Come back for the live reveal when the RIM / AT&T event kicks off at 11:00AM eastern.
RIM sells 100 millionth BlackBerry, hints at two more devices in the near future
Say what you will about BlackBerrys -- although with the Bold 9800 slider and OS 6, things might be looking up -- Research in Motion is still doing strong in the pocketbooks. The company just released its first fiscal quarter 2011 results with revenue growth of 24 percent year-over-year, and here's the rounded-number kicker: its 11.2 million shipments of smartphones this quarter has raised total shipments to over 100 million BlackBerrys. Quite a feat, but enough chit chat about the past -- what does the future hold? In a conference call pertaining to the fiscal results, RIM alluded to two new devices shipping soon, with one for the summer and one closer to fall. We'd bet a pretty penny one of them is the aforementioned slider, but as for the second? Guess we'll just wait and see.
Exclusive: BlackBerry 9800 for AT&T fully exposed!
We've just been sent a mother lode of shots of RIM's upcoming BlackBerry 9800 -- a phone whose market name is still unknown -- but whether it's called the Bold, the Torch, or something else altogether, we think we're looking at near-final hardware here. The software is identified as version 0.9, but you can clearly tell from the UI that it's running BlackBerry 6 with an ever-so-slightly refined look and subtle 3D elements missing from prior releases. This particular phone is AT&T-branded, and it starts up with a carrier logo screen that proudly proclaims the 9800 a world phone -- sure enough, the About screen shows support for WCDMA bands I, II, V, and VI, which means you'll be able to use the phone for 3G service in Japan and most of Europe. Generally speaking, BlackBerrys haven't been known to be the prettiest things around (with the possible exception of the Curve 8900), but we'll admit -- we're digging this. Check out the full gallery below! [Thanks, Om]%Gallery-96246%
WSJ: RIM testing Blackberry tablet for potential release by year's end
We're not sure why the Wall Street Journal just posted up a piece talking about BlackBerry OS 6.0 and the Bold 9800 QWERTY slider as though we haven't been running leaked pictures and videos of them for months now, but whatever -- the story also apparently confirms RIM's Foleo-like tablet plans and says the device could be out by the end of the year. Sounds like RIM CEO Mike Lazaridis decided the tablet market is a little clearer than he's been letting on. As we've heard in the past, the tablet will tether to your phone for connectivity instead of sporting its own 3G connection, which is interesting, given that RIM is notoriously proud of how little bandwidth its phones use, and we're guessing a full-screen tablet experience might use just a little more data than the average Pearl. Plus, it would be pretty wild if RIM ended up validating a Palm product idea so seemingly doomed that the company killed it dead just four months after it was announced in 2007 -- we're not saying the times haven't changed dramatically, but we'd note the Celio RedFly has thus far failed to blow up the universe. We'll see -- the WSJ also says the tablet is in the "early stages of development," so anything can change.
BlackBerry Bold 9800 gets some glamour shots, OS 6 gets a 16 minute video walkthrough
The verdict is still out on OS 6, but there's hardly any doubting the assured design and form factor that RIM has gone with for the BlackBerry Bold 9800 slider. Our latest look at the device comes courtesy of BlackBerry Times in China, who has what appears to be an early version of the device. They expect the smooth plastic back to be replaced by the leather look RIM favors on its higher end devices, but otherwise the unit looks to be pretty solid and far along. The Google-translated Chinese seems to confirm again that the screen is not SurePress. Not a lot of landmark news to be gleaned here, but we're mostly stoked about these delicious bokeh-filled shots of device -- it's really looking good, and the comparison shot with other recent BlackBerrys (check after the break) is rather helpful for sizing this thing up. [Thanks, Johnny]
BlackBerry Bold 9800 caught sliding through OS 6 on video
When it rains Bold 9800 news, it pours. Just yesterday we were given a glimpse of its virtual keyboard and AT&T branding, and now BlackBerry's upcoming slider can be seen more fleshed out thanks to the power of moving pictures. No narration for this video -- that's either good or bad, depending on your own personal preference -- and the horizontal menu swipe looks like it's missing some animation, but otherwise the phone's looking pretty snappy for a pre-release. Unless we're mistaken, that's clearly a capacitive screen, and even better, it's got pinch-and-zoom multitouch. Not in the video? Some Dylan-esque troubadour holding up a cue card that gives price and release date. Bummer. Video after the break.
More BlackBerry Bold 9800 pics surface: AT&T and virtual keyboard in, SurePress out?
You might've been intrigued by the previous show of the BlackBerry Bold 9800 slider, but this new series of images blows those all out of water. The Berry Fix has a plethora of pics for your perusal, chief among them a showing of the virtual keyboard to complement the physical QWERTY. We gotta say, every announce of good design sense lost on the 9670 must have been spent on this guy; we're really intrigued by this one. If that wasn't enough, we've got two more details that'll tickle your fancy: an AT&T splash screen for one, and claims from the article's author (via Twitter) that RIM's not using SurePress here. That'd actually be quite a relief, but until we get our hands on the sucker, let's just curb our enthusiasm, mkay?
BlackBerry Bold 9800 slides open, shows off promising WebKit-based browser
We've known RIM has had a WebKit-based browser in its rear pocket since Mobile World Congress, and with confirmation that BlackBerry OS 6.0 would have traces of WebKit throughout, this discovery was simply inevitable. The BlackBerry Bold 9800 (polarizing design and all) has just made its most interesting appearance yet, this time showing off a purported WebKit-based web browser with a trio of tabs collected up top. Never mind the fact that whoever was using this clearly wishes he / she was browsing on an iPhone -- it's the 100/100 Acid3 test result that really titillates. 'Course, that could very well be a JPEG loaded up to fool us all, but we aren't losing the faith just yet. Head on down to the source for a few more teases.
RIM's BlackBerry Bold slider with OS 6 does a little dance, gets down tonight (video)
Pictures are great, but video's better. What holds true for salacious celebrity tattle is equally true for gadget gossip. So hold tight and prepare to leer, we've got the first quick and dirty video of RIM's new Bold slider running BlackBerry 6 after the break. Somebody alert TMZ.
