Application form
As for movie viewing, the video player will stretch the image to fit the screen – you’ll lose some of the edging, but it doesn’t look too distorted and is often worth it for the sake of a more close-up view.
Video player
The music player includes a link to Amazon’s Music Store (89p per track, on average) and a hub for music-related apps, as well as a 12-setting equaliser. As with other BlackBerrys, there’s no FM radio, but there is 8GB of storage on tap, plus the ability to add another 32GB using a microSD card.
There’s a full version of Documents To Go on board and you can add more apps from BlackBerry AppWorld, which may look a tad anaemic compared to the rude health of Android’s Market or Apple’s App Store, but at least covers the basics. So you’ll find a fair few productivity-related apps and the most popular social networking accoutrements along with a few games. But if you’re an app addict, BB isn’t the way to go at the moment.
The BlackBerry Desktop Software takes a while to fire up but allows you to sync your media as well as your messages and contacts. It’s fairly basic fare, with a workmanlike interface, but gets the job done without fuss – HD videos that can take a few minutes with some phones, only took a few seconds here.
The battery stayed the course, delivering a little over a day of consistent use. And if you're inclined to use this handset as a phone from time to time, the call quality proved to be respectable, with voices rendered well by the on-board loudspeaker.
Some useful enhancements on-board, but not exactly innovative
Verdict
The Torch 9810's Qwerty keyboard is fine, so there are no surprises there for dyed-in-the-wool BB Messenger fans. Moreover, those already sold on the platform will find the Torch delivers the best of both worlds with its upgraded higher res display being a decent size for browsing, watching movies and gaming too. Indeed, this combination, along with a fairly nifty performance may well win RIM some new friends along the way. ®
More Qwerty Smartphone Reviews |
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 Sony Ericsson
Xperia Mini Pro |
 HTC
ChaCha |
 RIM
BlackBerry Bold 9900 |
 Nokia
E6 |
 HTC
7 Pro |
RIM BlackBerry Torch 9810
COMMENTS
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 ;-)
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.
BB's New Feature
Sometimes ON Email....
Come on RIM, you realy have to do better or is this all a ploy to get bought by MS?
Annoying 'feature'
Have you tried to enter a password on one of these? Unlike with most mobiles you never get to view what you actually typed - not even for a couple of seconds. I can assure you - however 'easy' this keyboard might be according to the sales literature it will take on average 5 attempts to enter any even vaguely tricky password.
I've also had it tell me corporate emails are sent only to find they got sent 'en masse' several days later.
