Monday, December 20, 2010

Fans carry a torch for BlackBerry

BlackBerry OS 6
RIM’s new BlackBerry Torch 9800 may be the world’s first smart phone with a touch screen. It is ideal for watching movies and the like, and features a slide-down keyboard for the brand’s more loyal fans who refuse to let go of the tactile feel of buttons. BlackBerry smart phone, recently launched a new device packed with features to draw the attention of the younger crowd.

The new Torch, powered by the new BlackBerry OS 6, has a redesigned interface, expanded messaging capabilities and more intuitive features with which to manage social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter and even MySpace.

“The new BlackBerry 6 operating system includes many new features that users will enjoy, including universal search, social feeds and a new WebKit browser,” RIM Southeast Asia managing director Gregory Wade said.

With the new Torch, RIM executives hope to grab a chunk of the market from industry heavyweights like the makers of Apple iPhone 4 and devices powered by Google’s Android operating system. Quoting third-party estimates, RIM said, BlackBerry phones could become the second best-selling smart phone in the Philippines. By offering the new Torch, the company may get to maintain or even improve this projection.

The Torch features a 5-megapixel camera with image stabilization, scene modes, continuous auto focus and a zoom. The Torch also supports video recording.

Wrapped in chrome and hard plastic, much like the Bold 9700, the Canada-made Torch feels well put-together, just like any other BlackBerry.

One of the most impressive features, of course, is the 8 gigabytes of out-of-the-box storage space available, which can be bumped up by another 28 gigabytes for a total of 32, “for customers who want more.”

But what distinguishes the Torch from other BlackBerry models, like the Bold and the Curve, is the slide-down keyboard hiding behind the high-resolution touch screen.

The new screen improves the Internet browsing or media consumption experience of users, while the keyboard makes sure that the new phone’s style does not compromise functionality. Users may still use an on-screen keyboard if they choose to. But RIM said the tactile keyboard would always be faster and easier to use for most consumers.