The Register® — Biting the hand that feeds IT

Feeds
80%
RIM BlackBerry Torch 9810 smartphone

RIM BlackBerry Torch 9810

Leading light?

  • print
  • alert

Agentless Backup is Not a Myth

Review The Torch 9810 is the second of RIM’s recent hat-trick of BlackBerry devices to hit the shelves. Indeed, you might have heard there are five, but currently only three models will be made available in the UK.

RIM BlackBerry Torch 9810 smartphone

Shining examples? RIM's BlackBerry Torch 9810

The Bold 9900 was a straight-up Qwerty device but this one hides its keyboard in a slide, and the upcoming Torch 9860 will be a full-screen, all-touch model. The 9810 is the follow-up to the Torch 9800 from last year and on the face of it, not a lot’s changed.

As is the way with sliders, it’s a little on the chunky side at 62 x 111 x 15mm and no lightweight at 161g. It retains the same shape, but the uniform black plastic of the older model has been replaced with a metallic makeover – sleek brushed aluminium around the edges with a ridged, tactile back cover.

RIM BlackBerry Torch 9810 smartphone

Sliderphones always end up being a little bit thicker than most

The 3.2in touch screen dominates the front, and below it is a line of buttons for call start and stop, menu and back, as well as an optical trackpad. Like all recent BlackBerrys you can adjust the sensitivity of the trackpad to suit your own style.

On one side are volume buttons and 3.5mm headphone jack – tut-tut, it’s always better to have this on top – and the standard BB programmable ‘convenience key’ that defaults to camera. On the other side is a micro USB power/sync port with pressure points for screen lock and mute on top.

Besides the cosmetic change, the first serious difference with the 9810 becomes clear when you switch it on. The resolution of the capacitive touch screen has leapt from 480 x 360 to 640 x 480 and while it’s not quite razor-esque, it’s still eye-catchingly sharp, and much better than its predecessor.

RIM BlackBerry Torch 9810 smartphone

The 5Mp camera also captures 720p video

The screen slides upwards easily with a thumb press to reveal the 35-key Qwerty keyboard. As with its other handsets, RIM has this area well and truly covered and, despite the small size of the keys, their unique angled design makes them exceptionally easy to operate.

Customer Success Testimonial: Recovery is Everything

Next page: Key features

awesome timing!

7
0

Hmm...

Blackberry's recend ads push "Touch. Type. Together", which is what the Palm Pre and its successors did well.

The playbook, and likely BB's future QNX based phones, have a copy of webOS's cards.

And here, they're launching a portrait slider.

If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, the original Palm/webOS team should be feeling very flattered ;-)

3
0

What a fetid P.O.S. it truly is

I've had one recently and when I quit swearing at it I can swear at RIM for the job they've done with this fecal done.

It is past useless with a horribly inconsistently behaving OS, it will work for days, then not for minutes to hours.

My favourite is I try to dial an international number, E.G. +1 415 555 1212 an it will decide with NO warning to call 01415 555 1212 and I get to annoy someone when least expecting it.

Given this week's RIM Job of how not to run a data service, I'm clicking on my company webpages right now to order an iPhone 4s.

I've had enough of this carp platform, and OS.

2
0

More from The Register

Samsung Galaxy Note 8: Proof the pen is mightier?
Sammy’s iPad Mini killer has a stylus to stab other rivals too
First look: iOS 7 for iPad
No, Apple hasn't released it yet, but that doesn't stop intrepid devs
Microsoft lures buy-curious vixens, corduroys with a cheap fondle
Surface slab sales latest: Will no one rid Ballmer of these turbulent tabs?
 breaking news
Curtain drops on Apple Store ahead of WWDC: What lies behind?
Steve Jobs watching from on high. No pressure, lads
 breaking news
Cold, dead hands of Steve Jobs slip from iPhones: The Cult of Ive is upon us
Billionaire biz baron's death clears way for uber-shiny iOS 7
Airbus imagines suitcases that find themselves
Point your mobe at your smalls to track their every move
Surprise! Intel smartphone trounces ARM in power trials
Tests show equal performance while sipping significantly less juice
Samsung plans LTE Advanced version of Galaxy S4
1Gbps download capability could stiffen drooping S4 sales forecasts
Apple said to be 'exploring' 5.7-inch iPhone
Who's the copycat this time, Mr. Cook?
Google Chromebooks now in over 6,600 stores
Major, worldwide retail push begins this summer