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Jaguar XJ with BlackBerry integration hands-on (video)
This week at BlackBerry World 2011, Jaguar is showcasing one of its lovely XJ sedans outfitted with a prototype of its upcoming Connect and View technology which the car manufacturer is developing together with RIM, Denso, and RealVNC. Like Terminal Mode, the system allows a client running on the vehicle's head unit to connect to a server installed on a BlackBerry smartphone. Communication is handled by VNC -- a platform-independent remote framebuffer protocol, which mirrors the handset's display on the car's infotainment screen and maps the device's physical buttons to softkeys. This provides control of the phone directly from the center stack of the XJ sedan but lets the company block potentially distracting apps. Audio is piped via Bluetooth while VNC traffic is routed over USB, thus also keeping the BlackBerry conveniently charged. Jaguar hopes to have Connect and View in its vehicles by late 2012. Until then, check out our hands-on video (above) and the press release after the break.
RIM's BlackBerry Torch 9860 makes blurry video debut
Storm 3? Torch 9860? Touch 9860? Monza? Monaco? The latest all-touchscreen BlackBerry has more names than RIM has leaks, as evidenced by this hands-on video out of Thailand. We're not sure what the handler's impressions are of the, as yet, unannounced device (but if you speak Thai, please, feel free to enlighten us in the comments). It seems that 1.2GHz Snapdragon delivers some snappy performance, at least. It's tough to tell, thanks to predictably out of focus camera work, but it also appears that the Torch 9860 (we're sticking with that for now) is using Comic Sans. We hope that's not by default. Vid's after the break, per usual. Update: A reader pointed us to another video (after the break) of the Torch 9860 in action. Nothing new to reveal, but the quality is much better -- and not a trace of Comic Sans in sight! [Thanks, Khalifa]
Full specs leak for BlackBerry Bold Touch, 1.2GHz Snapdragon can't overcome ugly
We understand that it's hard to take two steps rather than one, but a solid list of specifications isn't going to make the BlackBerry Bold Touch (Dakota) look any less last-decade. For whatever reason, RIM's design department seems to be stuck in an era where last-generation is the new next-generation, while it's internals team has seemingly managed to escape. For those who couldn't disagree more regarding the exterior, you'll likely be elated to know that the impending handset will boast a blisteringly fast 1.2GHz Snapdragon processor, 8GB of internal storage, 768MB of RAM, a microSD expansion slot, 5 megapixel camera and a 35-key backlit keyboard. You'll also get a microscopic 2.8-inch LCD with a woeful 640 x 480 resolution, Bluetooth 2.1, a 3.5mm headphone jack, A-GPS, dual-band 802.11b/g/n WiFi and a 720p movie mode. So, one down, one to go -- time for a reread, is it RIM? Update: Seems as if the faucet's still flowing, with a full specs list popping up for the BlackBerry Torch 9860 (Monza) as well! [Thanks, bighap]
BlackBerry Torch 2 gets an early hands-on
We'd already heard that the BlackBerry Torch 2 would basically be a Torch with some significantly bumped specs, and that's now been all but confirmed by BGR, which managed to spend a bit of time with the device itself. As you can see, it's nearly identical to the original Torch in terms of appearance, but BGR says the device's 1.2GHz processor could "light a fire" when paired with BlackBerry OS 6.1, and that its 640 x 480 display "looks absolutely great." As with the Bold Touch it got its hands on yesterday, BGR says the Torch 2 will be making its official debut at BlackBerry World next month, with a launch on AT&T to follow in July. Hit up the source link below for a few more hands-on shots. Update: N4BB has just posted a full spec sheet, which reveals a codename "Jennings" while JerukNipis has some more, clearer shots of the slider -- including a nice closeup of the textured battery cover.
BlackBerry Touch / Monaco gets manhandled, said to get official in May
Our interest in the BlackBerry Touch (codename Monaco) was piqued when we first caught wind of the device, and we had a feeling it'd be making its way into the wild ever since one showed up in Verizon red around mid-Feburary. Now, BGR has managed to procure an unreleased prototype, and we've gotta say that we like what we're seeing. According to the pub, it should get official at BlackBerry World in May, and it'll run OS 6.1 underneath that 800 x 480-pixel screen. The new BB6 is said to use a BlackBerry ID in place of a PIN for certain key functions -- a necessary move for non-BB platforms rumored to be getting BBM (a historically PIN-based service). BGR also claims it won't be getting the Storm nomenclature, so we apologize in advance to the SurePress fanboys. Either way, we've got an inkling that we'll be hearing more as we get closer to May, but unfortunately our dreams of a super AMOLED-equipped Torch running stock Android with a BBM app will just remain figments of our imagination.
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]
BlackBerry Torch coming to AT&T in two fresh colors next month
Allow us to clarify, the colors are "fresh" as in "new," not as in "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air." Don't get us wrong, though: white almost always looks fresh (in the Fresh Prince sense) on a phone, and the Torch seems to be no exception -- partly thanks to the matching white keyboard. As expected, it'll be coming in red and white and will be available on November 7 (a day before the HTC Surround and Samsung Focus, interestingly) at the same time as a sweet new promotion that'll allow folks to buy any two accessories from AT&T and get a third one of equal or lesser value for free. Don't violate any fire codes stuffing yourselves into your local stores, alright? Follow the break for the press release.
How would you change RIM's BlackBerry Torch?
It's the first BlackBerry to ship with BB OS 6, and it's the first to boast both a touchpanel and a conventional slide-out QWERTY. But is it capable of standing up to the rest of today's modern smartphones? We definitely had a few bones to pick with RIM's latest flagship device when we reviewed it a few month's back, but if you're a regular, you'll know that this segment isn't about us -- it's about you, particularly if you own a Torch. Are you satisfied with the revised OS? Happy with the touchscreen response? Would you have bumped the screen resolution? Changed the keyboard in any way? Thrown a CDMA module in for Sprint / Verizon support? RIM's betting quite a bit on this new operating system (and this new design), so feel free to sound off in comments below with ideas on how you'd change things for version two dot oh. Keep it classy, though -- cool?
RIM pushes out software update for BlackBerry Torch, promises speed improvements aplenty
Well, it looks RIM hasn't been ignoring all those complaints about its less than speedy BlackBerry Torch -- the company has just pushed out an updated version of BlackBerry 6 for the device that promises a whole host of speed improvements. That includes faster page loading and improved panning in the browser, improved responsiveness after unlocking the device, faster application launching, exiting and switching, faster rendering and smoother transitions on the home screen, faster rendering of thumbnails in the picture application, and faster and smoother scrolling in the message list and when reading email -- oh, and improved audio quality too. Look for the update (v6.0.0.695) to begin rolling out directly to devices over the next week and a half, or simply hit up either RIM or AT&T below to skip the wait and download the update right now.
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 9800 gets the Colorware treatment, sees value increase infinitely
So look -- RIM's BlackBerry Torch 9800 isn't exactly the barnburner-of-a-smartphone that we were hoping it'd be, but at least it looks snazzy, right? Right? Regardless of your answer to that, it's a bona fide fact that Colorware has outdone itself on this one. Usually, it's most fun to toy around with the company's endless array of hues in order to create the most hideous version of your favorite gadget before pretending to hit the order button, but for whatever reason, the first handset to ship with BlackBerry OS 6 actually looks dapper in red and white. Or maybe that's just the Wolfpack in us talking. Either way, it's available to customize now in the source link for $250 (send your own) or $1,050 (buy new sans a contract). Video's after the break, should you need one.
BlackBerry Torch just $99.99 on contract, by way of Amazon's generous dealings
Amazon's been known to have some killer deals, and well, here's another. The new BlackBerry Torch, arguably RIM's best smartphone to date (for what that's worth), is just $99.99 on contract. That's just about half off its usual entry fee with a two-year contract, so if you're in the market to upgrade your current Bold for something with a little more slide, now's your chance! [Thanks, Kramer]
BlackBerry Torch teardown offers few surprises, much like the phone itself (video)
The new BlackBerry flagship has been put through one of the more important ceremonies of acceptance into the smartphone world: a teardown. The CrackBerry crew have disassembled a Torch to see what makes it burn and produced some glamor shots of naked hardware for us to gawp at in the process. As you can see by the exploded shot of the phone above, most internals are either integrated or soldered down, but this undressing does afford us an opportunity to take a look at the biggest novelty in this new BlackBerry, namely its slider mechanism. It's impressively thin, rated for 150,000+ cycles, and yours to witness on video just past the break.
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!
