The greater the truth, the greater the libel - Lord Ellenborough
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RIM launches the Blackberry Torch 9800
CANADIAN PHONE MAKER Research in Motion (RIM) has launched its latest addition to the Blackberry range, its much anticipated Torch slider touchscreen handset.
The 9800 is the first to feature Blackberry OS 6, an update to RIM’s mobile OS that features multi-touch controls, better integration with social networks and a revamped browser.
The handset itself has the look and feel of the Blackberry Storm, but the capacitive 480x360 3.2-inch touchscreen slides up to reveal a standard Blackberry keypad.
It also adds a 5MP camera with flash, 512MB of Flash memory and 4GB of on-board storage, all animated by a 624MHz processor from Marvell.
There is a video camera, but it records in VGA rather than HD, and there is no video calling like Apple’s Facetime.
Wireless tethering is also possible with the Torch.
Push was a big feature of the launch event. RIM demoed a push feed of various networks running on the Torch, which means the device is pre-populated with updates from Twitter, Youtube and Myspace, as well as RSS feeds from BBC or Google news, for example.
RIM was also very excited about its new universal search tool. This will let users search once and get results from across their entire device and applications, from Google and Youtube through to Blackberry Messenger and email messages.
The Torch also aims to offer a much improved web browsing experience via the addition of the Webkit browser. In fact, the device’s name comes from the acquisition of Torch Mobile about 18 months ago, which handed RIM the Webkit browser.
RIM said that Blackberry OS 6 will be available to two existing models, the 9700 and 9105, as well as the Torch 9800 and all future handsets.
The Blackberry Torch is available from 12 August in the US, exclusively on the AT&T network. EMEA availability is due in the coming weeks, and will be offered through various network operators including Vodafone. Although EMEA pricing was not given, the US model will be sold at $199 with $15 for 200MB or $25 for 2GB data quota monthly surcharge plans.
RIM will be hoping the 9800 helps it gain market share over rivals such as struggling Nokia and mobile phone upstart Apple. The Canadian firm is also rumoured to be working on a tablet device set for launch later this year. However, RIM refused to be drawn on any future releases at today’s event.
Hopefully the device will see more success than the UK launch press event. The live video feed being beamed over from New York was poor at best, and the gathered journalists missed every couple of words and at times full seconds of the sound, so we ended up mercifully missing out on hearing executives from AT&T and RIM enthuse about how brilliant the new device is. Luckily we can make up our own minds about that, and will be posting our first impressions of the 9800 based on a quick hands-on with the device soon. µ
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@Muhammad Imran/mi1400
Many demos have shown Landscape to be very functional. What applications were engadget trying to use?
Also, 4G hardly exists in the North America. The amount of 4G coverage is so limited that to waste time and money on putting out handsets targeted primarily to the North American market (as BB is, given that it is less widely adopted worldwide). But 4G isn't that prevalent in the rest of the world either, yet. Even Apple understood that. In 3 years when 4G networks start to appear with some frequency (like every major city) then you will see more 4G phone. Until then, people can save their money on a useless feature.
This 9800 cant do landscape as a guy attempted in yesterday's engadget video. then no front camera. then video size. then worst all 4G. corporate is all about communication backbone. RIM is acting like small/mid size org who release one feature at a time to keep bread n butter running. holding back for quarters. e.g. 9900 would be doing front camera in perhaps Q4, then in 2011 sometime we might expect 4G from this so called corporate device.
Blast from the past, it looks like a HTC Blue Angel!
Seriously not a cool looking form factor when your out and about but it is lovely to work with.