The Advantages and Disadvantages of the BlackBerry Torch
While Android and iOS phones and devices are taking over the consumer market, it can be easy to lose sight of what's appropriate for use in business. Many large corporations are still issuing their employees with BlackBerries, and with good reason. They are often more secure than other varieties of smartphone and overall better at providing functionality that business users want. Many of your colleagues are probably available via Blackberry messenger and your email is both more secure and faster. The BlackBerry Torch introduces OS 6 to the smartphone market; while not as great for consumers, it does offer up some advantages to those who would like to stick with the BlackBerry brand.
1. The BlackBerry Torch is a rare hybrid of both touchscreen and keyboard. It's perfect for those who want the ease of a touch screen for selecting things, but need the keyboard to type lengthy emails or quick messages. The touchscreen on the Torch recognises most of the universal gestures, like pinch to zoom, so newcomers used to an iPhone or Android won't have much trouble adapting to the device.
2. BlackBerry now has an app store, which they have called BlackBerry App World. There are very few apps at present, but if you're already using a BlackBerry and just want slightly more functionality, you may find the store sufficient for your needs.
3. The BlackBerry mobile browser, which is based off of WebKit, is generally regarded as a surprisingly fast browser given the phone's low processing specs. The browser is much faster and more accurate at display than both the iPhone and Android browsers, which is a significant perk for those who would rather browse the web on their phone than use an app.
Unfortunately, the BlackBerry has quite a few downsides as well. While it's a perfectly serviceable smartphone, it's not the game changer that its creator, Research in Motion, needs it to be in order to maintain and grow its marketshare in a space crowded with various Android phones and Apple fanboys.
1. The phone feels slow and dull. All of its specs are lower than the iPhone 4's and some Android models outpace even that. Its goal is to optimise battery life, but it ends up feeling outdated instead of more convenient. Some of its reactions are noticeably slower than on other phones, making it feel painfully last gen. Worse, its screen is only 480x360 pixels, which most new smartphones exceed. This means the screen seems fuzzy and dull in comparison with the glitzy iPhone or HTC Evo. Even its 5 MP camera is still only standard, not revolutionary, no matter how fast it takes a photo.
2. If you are interested in apps, BlackBerry is the clear last-runner. There are thousands of apps already available for both other leading smartphones; BlackBerry hasn't yet enticed developers to create new or even competing apps for their store. They're late to the game and not innovating enough to pull in the talent they need.
3. The BlackBerry is actually missing features that would make it truly useful for even business users. It doesn't have a front-facing camera like the iPhone 4 and several Android models, so it's useless for video conferencing on the go. It still has a short battery life, lasting through a mere 5.5 hours of talk time, meaning that it will be on charge many nights and is completely unsuitable for international travel without a specialised adaptor.
Sure, the new BlackBerry Torch has apps, a media player, and a fancier camera, but it still doesn't outpace the other smartphones on the market. If the iPhone or an Android phone begins to implement security and email features of their own, RIM and the BlackBerry brand could be in serious trouble.
1. The BlackBerry Torch is a rare hybrid of both touchscreen and keyboard. It's perfect for those who want the ease of a touch screen for selecting things, but need the keyboard to type lengthy emails or quick messages. The touchscreen on the Torch recognises most of the universal gestures, like pinch to zoom, so newcomers used to an iPhone or Android won't have much trouble adapting to the device.
2. BlackBerry now has an app store, which they have called BlackBerry App World. There are very few apps at present, but if you're already using a BlackBerry and just want slightly more functionality, you may find the store sufficient for your needs.
3. The BlackBerry mobile browser, which is based off of WebKit, is generally regarded as a surprisingly fast browser given the phone's low processing specs. The browser is much faster and more accurate at display than both the iPhone and Android browsers, which is a significant perk for those who would rather browse the web on their phone than use an app.
Unfortunately, the BlackBerry has quite a few downsides as well. While it's a perfectly serviceable smartphone, it's not the game changer that its creator, Research in Motion, needs it to be in order to maintain and grow its marketshare in a space crowded with various Android phones and Apple fanboys.
1. The phone feels slow and dull. All of its specs are lower than the iPhone 4's and some Android models outpace even that. Its goal is to optimise battery life, but it ends up feeling outdated instead of more convenient. Some of its reactions are noticeably slower than on other phones, making it feel painfully last gen. Worse, its screen is only 480x360 pixels, which most new smartphones exceed. This means the screen seems fuzzy and dull in comparison with the glitzy iPhone or HTC Evo. Even its 5 MP camera is still only standard, not revolutionary, no matter how fast it takes a photo.
2. If you are interested in apps, BlackBerry is the clear last-runner. There are thousands of apps already available for both other leading smartphones; BlackBerry hasn't yet enticed developers to create new or even competing apps for their store. They're late to the game and not innovating enough to pull in the talent they need.
3. The BlackBerry is actually missing features that would make it truly useful for even business users. It doesn't have a front-facing camera like the iPhone 4 and several Android models, so it's useless for video conferencing on the go. It still has a short battery life, lasting through a mere 5.5 hours of talk time, meaning that it will be on charge many nights and is completely unsuitable for international travel without a specialised adaptor.
Sure, the new BlackBerry Torch has apps, a media player, and a fancier camera, but it still doesn't outpace the other smartphones on the market. If the iPhone or an Android phone begins to implement security and email features of their own, RIM and the BlackBerry brand could be in serious trouble.
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