One for the Blackberry fanboys.. f*ck your iPhone, nigga.

[Joe]

Plenty of Android and iPhone talk, but what about the BB fans?

Here's RIM's serious attempt at the Smartphone market.

http://www.brighthand.com/default.asp?newsID=16639&news=BlackBerry+Bold+9800+ATT+BlackBerry+OS+6.0+RI MM+Slider+Sliding+Keyboard

The Bold 9800.. its a combination keypad/touchscreen. It uses the awesome keypad from the Bold 9700, with a new screen arrangement that steps away from the controversial Surepress system seen on the Storm i.e. its a proper multi-touch display!!

It also has the touchpad from the latest Blackberry models.. so you can use the touchscreen or touchpad to navigate, as well as the touch screen or keypad to input data. Flexible!

http://photos.macnn.com/news/1006/blackberry9800-leaklg1.jpg

http://photos.macnn.com/news/1006/blackberry9800-leaklg2.jpg

http://photos.macnn.com/news/1006/blackberry9800-leaklg4.jpg

This device also see's the introduction of the new Blackberry OS 6.0. YAY!!

Features of this include:

- Homescreen: A new design with smaller wallpaper real estate, the customizable icons will be arranged any which way you want. Pages will work similar to how the various screens of Android already do, with media-centric icons grouped together and so on.

- Browser: It'll support multitouch (kiss goodbye to the little magnifying glass), new favourites, and tabs.

- Media player: supports multitouch, with a finger swipe needed for browsing album covers, and again, it's very iPhone-like. Better start ensuring you've Google imaged and added all the album artwork to make the search functionality work well.

- Multitouch: It'll be included natively in all sorts of programs, including emails.

- Messaging: It'll stay roughly the same, which is a good call for RIM, considering they're famed for having the best messaging system available for phones. There'll be a few small additions, such as larger thumbnails to determine the type of message, and integrated RSS feeds

- Commands: Instead of constantly pressing menu, touchscreen models will support pop-up commands. Sending an email, you could click and hold the email and choose send from the pop-up box, as opposed to hitting menu and send from there. It's not revolutionary, but may be better designed and intuitive.

- Media: Photos will appear all at once, instead of loading one by one—which irritates the heck out of me.

http://cdn.erictric.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/blackberry-os-60-shot-1.jpg

http://www.sizlopedia.com/wp-content/uploads/blackberry-os-6.png

Although this is not a true competitor for an iPhone or an Android phone, it's going to make a heavily business-oriented device a bit easier to use and a bit more "fun".. the touchscreen means that plenty of recreational apps will now be available. Although RIM tried with the Storm, it was slightly hit and miss.. this is definitely going to be more of a hit.

Can't wait!!!

[Mad_Aussie]

I find these are the more serious of the phones. The androids do a bit on the business side of things, but personally I reckon Blackberries are where its at. Iphones are gimmicky shit to make you go up a notch in the richboy wanker ladder, but you can actually use a Blackberry for business.

IMO. And apple fanboys can rant and whinge as much as they like. I own 2 macs - one being a G5 workhorse, an iPod, the old man has an iPhone and I even have an old G3 and a G4 emac down south. I quite like apple, but i'm afraid that iPhones are wank.

[shifted]

Looks Bombed and am keen, but app support for BB aus. Customers is quite poor and lacking. :(

[Joe]

Just download app's from elsewhere.. i.e. not through the Blackberry App Store.

There are heaps available, if you know where to look. Hopefully this new BB will make app's more accessible to the masses due to the multi-touch screen form factor.

[SEXUAL TYRANNOSAURUS]

I love my blackberry!

I'd probably loose my job if i didn't have it, its makes my day twice as efficient!

[vy ss ute m6]

Just download app's from elsewhere.. i.e. not through the Blackberry App Store.

There are heaps available, if you know where to look. Hopefully this new BB will make app's more accessible to the masses due to the multi-touch screen form factor.

Where should one look?? Just went to a 9700 from 9000 and OS 5 seems a bit nicer than OS 4, keen to see this new one in action

[Joe]

Same!

My BB has saved my hide on many an occasion.. an emergency arises and I'm able to resolve it straight from my BB while out on the road.. emails, documents, archived folders, etc.

It's so efficient and hardly ever fails me (except for when stupid Vodafone kills my coverage but thats a different story).

[Joe]

Where should one look?? Just went to a 9700 from 9000 and OS 5 seems a bit nicer than OS 4, keen to see this new one in action

Try the Blackberry Forums and Crackberry Forums.. thats where I get most of mine from.

Either from there, or heads up about whats available and I Google them, then download direct from the source.

I love how you can email an app download link to your BB, click it in the email, and it pops up with a download.. just like a PC.

Download direct to device, install, voila. So simple!

[SEXUAL TYRANNOSAURUS]

I like how it can hold so much memory and still perform as if were brandnew.

I still have the bold, has anyone cleaned under there trackball? Is it easy todo?

[Dagon]

I haven't played with a Blackberry for a few years... I couldn't stand the things. Keyboard was too small, and I had the rather unfortunate job of supporting them in a corporate environment, which means I got to fix them when the handset/server/MS Outlook/tesltra went tits-up.
That was a while ago, though, and I'd give it another shot, that sucker looks nifty for corporate use.

[Joe]

I like how it can hold so much memory and still perform as if were brandnew.

I still have the bold, has anyone cleaned under there trackball? Is it easy todo?

Use some alcohol wipes.. just rub the ball around with it and it'll come good.

If its farked, very simple to replace.. I've done it heaps of times, and new trackballs are super cheap from eBay.

[Joe]

I haven't played with a Blackberry for a few years... I couldn't stand the things. Keyboard was too small.

If you're talking about the keyboards with multiple letters per key (ABC, DEF, etc etc), then yeah they're shit to use.

The full keyboard spec ones are brilliant.

[shifted]

I know crackberry - but I was unsure as to whether for instance, and app for CBA was available as it was on iPhone. If it is - I must have not looked hard enough!

[waxdass]

hopefully the new V6.0 software can be adapted to work on my 9700.
keen to stay away from touch screens tho.

[Joe]

Oh for sure mate.. there will be a touch screen version and a touch pad version.

[bhappy]

release date? also who will be releasing it? ie. telstra, voda?

[shifted]

I hope Telstra gets it. Vodafone's coverage issues are really getting to me. But I know Telstra will charge organs. :(

[Lonewolf]

Ive got clients who i've moved from Blackberry (after 4-5 years) to Iphones, and they have said they will never go back.

And to anyone who's ever had to install and support BES, you'll know the other reason I hate them with a passion.

[mehow2g]

My electronics are better than yours.

Pathetic.

[Tre-Cool]

We use and i have setup our Blackberry Pro server and iphone/nokia sync devices with exchange 07.

Blackberry's i dont have a problem with syncing, but for some reason the iphone/nokia phones keep dropping out. as in they will sync for 5 minutes and then thats it, they call it quit's. Then randomly throughout the day they will start getting messages again.

Downside to the blackberry's (9700) is that the battery lasts for about 2hr's worth of phone calls a day.

not a problem for me as i make sfa calls, but for other users in the company it's been an issue.

My mates business on exchange 03 uses iphones out in the field (mining) in the pilbara and i havent had any complaints with sync issuies, so i assume all is good.

[Joe]

My 9700 lasts all day with heavy usage and 2 days with normal work usage.. so not sure how you're only getting 2 hours?

Hold the menu button down and find out what is running in the background... if you're running any bluetooth or GPS apps, it'll chew through the battery very quickly.

If I have Google Maps open and I forget to exit out of it, it'll annihilate the battery in a very short time. Just make sure you exit out of anything you're not using at the time, rather than just hitting the Red "No" button to go back to the main screen.

[Mad_Aussie]

My electronics are better than yours.

Pathetic.

"My car is better than yours"
"My skin pigmentation is better than yours"
"My football team is better than yours"
"My imaginary deity is better than yours"

People compete with everything. Get over it lol

[Pete]

I just got a 9700 last night.. Quick question, is there anything out there like Nav4All for free for these ? Looking for a navigation sort of device for mapping on my bike etc.

Thanks
Pete.

[Joe]

Can purchase Garmin for it, or download amAze.

[Pete]

Can purchase Garmin for it, or download amAze.

Cool, will have a look into it, thanks.

[shifted]

I'm sure you can "purchase" Garmin from "free" sources. Haven't looked myself, but previously had a version for Symbian OS on my N95. Worked ok.

[Joe]

Nope, you can't for Blackberry.. well, not with the Aus maps anyway.

[SEXUAL TYRANNOSAURUS]

Has anyone updated the software on the BBB?? Is it worth it or should i keep the factory software?

If you have, where did you get it from, blackberry forums?

i have only updated my BBM software, whilst its cooler than the old one, its flawed, every now and then, i can't see what text im writing and i have had a few little problems since updating it!

[MMM]

Hey guys i have a blackberry bold 9700 as a work phone and i want to put documents on it that i can open up and read. Particularly pdf and word documents, does anyone know how i go about adding these to be able to be read off the blackberry?

[DanWA]

my 9700 opened them without mods

sent it back for warranty recently (they have shit screens), hoping they send back a 9800

[MMM]

Which folder did to place the documents in?

i havent installed the blackberry program after reading "consult your network administrator" to see if i can. Didnt want to risk it being a new work phone and new job.

[Pete]

memory card/blackberry/documents

drop a *.doc or *.txt file in there.

Then go to Word2Go and open it up. It'll come up. Not sure about PDF, I don't have a viewer on my phone.

[MMM]

ahh ok cheers i havent installed word to go yet i might do that now!

[Joe]

Yep, as per above. That, or email it to yourself as an attachment and go from there.. save it and open it.

If you're game, you can upgrade to the new OS 6 software.. its been leaked and you can get it from torrents. It's like night and day from the old OS 5 software.

[shifted]

Anyone use the new Torch? I will be upgrading in a couple months and keen to stick to BB. Don't mind HTC but don't want a phone 3x the size of my wallet in my hand. iPhone is no go zone.

Thoughts/comments/reviews on it?

Any upcoming models for BB to watch out for?

The Torch is meant to be running v6 software. Haven't put this on my Storm at the moment and major CBF doing that, did it before with a previous leak and was good, just CBF atm.

[MMM]

Yeah i can open pdf attachments by email, but i have some documents on my computer which are fairly large which will probably be easier to transfer via usb

[MMM]

Just did some research looks like you need an app to view pdf's outside of emails. Damn

[Joe]

Hmm.. never knew that, probably because I never open PDF's outside of emails :D

[BAS]

Torch is great, heaps better than previous BB's. Not really any bigger than bold, just heavier.

[DanWA]

Got the Torch now... the touch screen is shit compared to HTC/Apple but the phone is way better then previous blackberry's. I find i use the hardware keyboard a heap more though! Sucks we have a BES only nazi boy in the head office... HTC with exchange active sync would be so much more win.

[cplagz]

So from this thread, I have concluded Joe, that you like rim?

[Kaido]

so im looking at getting a new phone (currently have the iphone 3gs and hate it)

whats a good BB to get?

[shifted]

The only new one currently that I am aware of is the Torch.

Trying to decide between that and a HTC for myself.

Really don't want to go iPhone 4...

[[Jacek]]

Take a look at the HTC Desire HD Michael, have a couple of friends that recently got them and they like them

[masTers]

;767714']so im looking at getting a new phone (currently have the iphone 3gs and hate it)

whats a good BB to get?

LOL YOU where giving me shit for my BB last month!

[Kaido]

LOL YOU where giving me shit for my BB last month!

that's because yours fail to send me mms of nismo tickets :(

[Kaido]

;767753']Take a look at the HTC Desire HD Michael, have a couple of friends that recently got them and they like them

htc runs windows os?

[Joe]

Torch is awesome.. but I actually prefer the Bold 9700 with the OS6 software.

[Ryan1080]

;767787']htc runs windows os?

Depends on the model, windows 6.5, new windows 7, or android...

[BAS]

My Torch pooped itself after 2 months.

[MMM]

What apps are people using on their blackberrys? Ive had my BB for a while now but dont know what good apps there are for it.

[waxdass]

TuneIn Radio - digital radio across the world.
WhatsApp - Free msgs across data - like BBM - except connects iPhone users etc.
Viigo - RSS feeds
XE - currency converter
Colour ID - puts different LED flashes to contacts.

[DanWA]

I hate my Torch... Just ordered a 9780 though so the pain will be over soon!

[Joe]

As above.

Shazam is also good on the BB, Facebook, F1 app, etc. Most of the good stuff you can get for iPhones, you can get for BB too.

[Joe]

Why do you hate it?

It's a bit like Android.. you need to tweak them to get the best out of them.

[DanWA]

the touch screen is not as good as other smart phones

the phone itself seams slow

i do however dig the slideout keyboard and camera

the os is also good

[Pete]

Just done the OS 6 update. Holy Fuck what a difference.

So much new stuff, and I find it a lot faster now. After a bit of messing around finally got it all back to the tones and alerts I had, and now working great again. I like the scrolling better now, and the main screen is heaps more sorted.