THE WIKI COMMUNITY

Thursday 7 October 2010

What To Expect From The New BlackBerry Torch

By William Jaiese

As the mainstream press continues to spill ink over the emerging contest between Google's Android and Apple's iPhone, the Research In Motion faithful are abuzz over the release of the new BlackBerry Torch. Though this phone is not considered a "game changer", the Torch is a significant addition to the steadily growing BlackBerry family. If the early user reviews are any indication, the BlackBerry Torch is shaping up to be yet another resounding success for the RIM team. Understated yet powerful, the Torch features support for a wide range of cellular networks and offers impressive hardware and value for the money.

Let's talk hardware before we get into a discussion about aesthetics and performance. The BlackBerry Torch 9800 features a Marvel 624 MHz CPU, 512 MB of RAM and 4 GB of on-board storage. In addition, a 4 GB microSD card comes included with the phone. Of course, the microSD can be upgraded up to 32 GB if you need more storage space. There's also a 5 Megapixel camera with an LED Flash, the expected 3.5 millimeter headphone and MiniUSB ports, and an optical trackpad if you want to keep the gorgeous 360x480 pixel screen free of smudges and fingerprints.

In terms of looks, the Torch is extremely similar to its predecessors such as the 9700. The Torch comes with both a capacitive 3.2" touchscreen and a slide-down, full-size QWERTY keyboard. On this particular model, the individual keys have a slight bevel to them for a familiar, intuitive feel when typing. At 0.56 inches thick, it feels incredibly solid and stable without being overly bulky. Weighing 5.68 ounces, it's heavier than competitors such as the iPhone 4 but doesn't really feel like it. Overall, it's a nice evolution of the classic BlackBerry design without much compromise of its original look.

When it comes to usability, the new BlackBerry OS 6 is the biggest incentive of this phone. The latest iteration of the beloved operating system functions effectively during web browsing and viewing emails. The Torch is offered through AT&T and runs on their HSDPA/UTMS network, allowing for potential download speeds of up to 7.2 Mbps. In addition, it features quad-band EDGE support to make calls pretty much anywhere in the world. As expected, it also features support for Wireless-N WiFi connectivity through any of AT&T's 20,000 nationwide wireless hotspots.

The phone already comes fairly well equipped, so you shouldn't need many BlackBerry Torch accessories. It is also compatible with previous RIM docks. While the Torch's screen offers fair protection against scratches, you may wish to obtain one of the BlackBerry Torch Screen Protectors for a reasonable price online. There are also many custom BlackBerry Torch Cases for sale that can protect your long term investment against surface damage. All in all, the Torch is an excellent phone that should keep current BlackBerry users happy and might even convince a few Apple fanatics to give it a try.

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