Okay, we'll admit, the first thought on our minds when we saw the BlackBerry 9000 in its natural habitat
for the first time was, "that's it?" RIM's been taking on increasingly sharp competition as of late -- even in its traditional corporate strongholds -- and we'd expected and hoped to see something less evolutionary and more revolutionary from these cats. On closer inspection, though, we find that the phone is leaving a
very positive second impression. The phone's lines seem flow really well (dare we call a BlackBerry "sexy"?) without losing its purpose-suited stance exuded by the
8300s,
8700s, and
8800s of yore. The real kicker, though, might be the beautiful user interface, which has been totally revamped from the ground up; gone is the cartoonish look and feel of the current lineup, replaced with a modern, warm theme with wireframe icons and slick animations. Another big win: as
Vodafone's slide deck mentioned, the 9000 features both WiFi and HSDPA, confirmed by this particular example's info display. Too little, too late -- or is this thing a genuine threat in the marketplace this year? Follow the break for a video of the hot new UI in action!
[Thanks, BaggedLunch]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
wako @ Mar 28th 2008 9:08AM
i have to say i never was a hardcore blackberry fan, but it seems like ill be ditching my blackberry in the near future. From switching from a touch screen PPC (before my blackberry), i must say i miss it. I was really hoping the rumors were true that the next Blackberry would be a touchscreen iphone killer. Since its just another trackball phone I guess Im going back to Windows or maybe an iPhone.
Anonymoose @ Mar 28th 2008 9:18AM
i just hope the web browser doesn't suck monkey balls.
rock99rock @ Mar 28th 2008 10:15AM
As long as the iphone is 3g, i might have to agree. Then again, there is the whole situation of switching to a touchscreen keyboard.
Jonathan @ Mar 28th 2008 10:25AM
I *just* got a blackberry curve (yesterday) for work. There are things about it that I really like (the size, GPS, etc), but I must say that I prefer my personal Treo 650. It's cause I miss the touchscreen. It's so annoying to see exactly what I want (say, that icon in the corner) and have to scroll to it. I mean, my thumb is so damn close. I want to touch it.
tom @ Mar 31st 2008 9:54PM
Wow, this thing is hideous. How could any rational human being use the word sexy in the same breath as this device. It's at best lipstick on a pig. Does Blackberry have a corporate death wish. One Infinite Loop is playing patty cakes if they haven't noticed. They're in it for the big prize--dominance. As for the iPhone, five friends at work have it and can't believe they ever lived without it, and these aren't Apple die hards. I finally have one, now I wish I'd waited for 2.0, and I can't believe how amazing it is. The phone is just amazing--period. Apple haters like to say otherwise but it's a bit like saying, 'hey there's unicorn in my front yard.' The virtual keyboard awesome as well, I actually thought it was going to be a problem originally but it was just a perception. Blackberry has to innovoate better than this or Apple will have there market jugular before too long. They're probably stuck in the same gridlock Microsoft is; they have a bunch of brilliant engineers like Apple or any other company, but the executive branch of the company won't untie the ropes that hold them back from creating some really cool toys. Those are my useless thoughts.
ScooterDe @ Apr 3rd 2008 5:32PM
people seem to be missing the fact that Blackberry does corporate email (and POP3) extremely well and remains the market leader. iPhone offers no competition in that space.
Other features have always been an extra (and still are). Unfortunately for those of us wanting web-centric multimedia devices, BB sucks.
My 8800 has done a year of good service as a phone, email and GPS device, and is useful for the web at a pinch. But I rarely bother with music, the bluetooth is not multimedia, and the video is rubbish. However, iPhone is no substitute (nor is it the final word on multimedia).
Your money, your choice.
Alex @ Mar 28th 2008 9:11AM
Unless RIM introduces a much revamped and improved browser, looks like I'll be keeping my iPhone
Bill @ Mar 28th 2008 12:52PM
Can't you just put Opera Mini on any newer Blackberry? I know it's not the same as iPhone Safari but it runs in a close second. I currently own a Motorola Q (Windows Smartphone 5.0) and I almost exclusively use Opera Mini for everything. Hardly ever use built in Pocket IE.
My next phone will probably be a Curve, and the first thing I'll do is load Opera Mini on it. (this BB 9000 isn't an option for me because Verizon probably won't release one until 2010 or something)
JohnQPoster @ Mar 29th 2008 2:41PM
BS! Opera Mini in no way is close to Safari on the iPhone. Please don't start lying.
BradStar @ Apr 14th 2008 6:58AM
Is nobody else seeing this? Am I the first to notice how the interface is redesigned a la Apple shaped icons? And for that matter, the whole phone? Black front rectangle with silver rounded edges... this so seriously looks like an iFake with a keyboard...
Roman411 @ Mar 28th 2008 9:16AM
I've had PDA w/ touch-screens for more than ten years and once I switched to a BB there was no turning back. The keyboard on a touch-screen device remains the only reason I won't go back in that direction. I'm not thrilled w/ the iPhone's key pad otherwise I wouldn't own an 8820. If RIM can get their s**t together and come out with a good touch-screen keyboard then the iPhone is doomed. Until then, they will co-exist in an enterprise (BB) vs consumer (iPhone) world.
Dave @ Mar 28th 2008 10:36AM
Don't know how you could say that...the keyboard on the Tilt rocks.
SK @ Mar 30th 2008 7:11PM
Wow, who would've known that the keyboard was the iPhone's only saving grace...
And it is so obvious that you've used the iPhone keyboard extensively (hence your "lack of enthusiasm"), so of course you know what you're talking about.
I think it's great that every one has their own preference in tools/devices, but please spare us your BS - you've clearly never owned and never intend to own an iPhone. Your comments sound silly and hollow to those of us who do.
BradStar @ Apr 14th 2008 6:58AM
The thing to remember with touchscreen keyboards is that there is a direct tradeoff in terms of screen real estate. You sacrifice a physical keyboard, but you gain a whole lotta room. Is it worth it?
If you've spent any time on an iPhone, you'd realize how easily adaptable the keys are and how easy it can be to type on it. In fact, I've posted several comments from it without any real concern. I've attempted to use some pretty non-functional physical keyboards and have had a considerable amount of pain (HTC, I'm looking at you), but I've used the iPhone keyboard for a while and I can misspell a word entirely and it recognizes which word I meant.
I think the real question is this- if you don't have a touchscreen, how useful is the rest of the device?
Anonymoose @ Mar 28th 2008 9:19AM
oops, didn't mean to reply to the first guy. anyway, is there even that big of a market for BBs in the consumer world? why would anyone get a BB unless they were using it for work?
Chris @ Mar 28th 2008 9:34AM
There is one dominant reason someone would: Status Symbol
Bob @ Mar 28th 2008 10:09AM
I, for one, am torn between a Blackberry and an iPhone. I'm upgrading in September and I'm trying to pick which one I should go with.
The Blackberry has push mail for not only the corporate world, but also for Yahoo Mail, Gmail, AOL mail and "other", just like the iPhone.
On top of that, I'm pretty sure I want a QWERTY keyboard... not a virtual keyboard.
Then there's the cost. I don't have $400+ for an iPhone, but I sure can afford about $250 for a Blackberry. I'd even go up to $299 if the Blackberry 9000 was really just THAT much better than a Curve, though if it has 3G, I'm pretty much already sold. If the iPhone comes out with a 3G version this year like all the rumors are pointing to, then it's going to be a tough decision.
The iPhone also looks like it'd be destroyed if I dropped it - and I'd be afraid to drop my $400 phone - not so much with the Blackberry. They've been making them for years and the build quality is pretty good (according to my co-workers that have them).
Also, there are a TON of apps for the Blackberry... going to crackberry.com or just searching for "Blackberry applications" will net hits to scores of websites with software you can use. The biggest 3rd party software out right now is the HTML e-mail viewer software.
Of course, it's still all opinion. I'm sure that either phone would work just fine for my needs, but I still want the "best" one.
Anonymoose @ Mar 28th 2008 10:10AM
phone as status symbol is idiotic. the only thing that should let people know how awesome i am is my light saber collection that i duct tape to my body every day.
MK32 @ Mar 28th 2008 1:18PM
I got the Curve to replace my Treo 700p for a consumer-only device - it's the ultimate messaging device with an mp3 player and data access. The better question is why *wouldn't* somebody use it solely as a consumer device?
jason @ Mar 28th 2008 9:04PM
Seriously.. Blackberry makes the best phones... Sure not as many apps as Win mobile but It does what it does very well.. and even without data its perfect for txting but with data is is a productivity monster!
Forget iphone... buy a BB curve and maybe an ipod touch if ya gotta have the apple hotness
Che @ Mar 29th 2008 1:43PM
Chris, The reason to get the BB is as a status symbol? Are you kidding? The BB is a rugged, useful device that has a great keyboard and is hard to break. The iPhone looks nice and has a pretty good browser for a phone, but it's a touchscreen with no physical keyboard, so it's essentially useless for sending e-mail or any other sort of text input. Also, non-replaceable battery, fragile, etc. The iPhone is a fashion accessory/toy. Let's try again. Which one is the status symbol and which is the practical tool?
Sam Winter @ Mar 31st 2008 6:14AM
@Che
You don't know what the hell you are talking about, just like so many others on Engadget. I've owned nearly or used every popular so-called "smartphone" that has graced the US over the last 5 years, including owning a Treo 600, 650 and 700wx, too many Blackberrys to count, a Moto "Q", "EnV", SCH-i760 assorted HTC models, etc. I have become quite proficient with thumb input over the years and spend a lot of time writing email and texting on phones. When I was saw the iPhone, I was very skeptical of the touchscreen keyboard, like many people, with prior experience of any such thing always being negative. But to my delight, it was unlike any other screen keyboard I had used. A part of it I think is due to the capacitive touchscreen which makes it so responsive. I'm not sure exactly why it works so well, But all I know is that it does. It's incredibly useful, and in fact I have become AT LEAST twice as fast on it than I ever was on any recent QWERTY phone I use.
So moronic statements of yours like this gem:
"but it's a touchscreen with no physical keyboard, so it's essentially useless for sending e-mail or any other sort of text input."
just have no basis in reality as I use the touchscreen keyboard all day to manage business email while I'm out of the office, in addition to writing comments on the web such as this one. and with the new SDK coming out soon, the iPhone/iPod Touch will be a serious force to be reckoned with. RIM is going to have to come out with something a lot better than this to stay on top.
TareX @ Mar 28th 2008 9:41AM
Quality phone. Too bad Blackberry OS has absolutely no 3rd part apps. (in comparison to OSX, WM, Symbian and the upcoming Android)
I breath by 3rd party apps. Can't imagine my life without a GBA emulator.
Mike @ Mar 28th 2008 10:08AM
What exactly do you mean? A google search for Blackberry applications turned up a number of qualified hits. I love the customizability of my winmo phone, but it seems that there are a number of options for the Blackberry in this regard.
And I need to get a good emulator for my phone, that's a good call.
TareX @ Mar 28th 2008 10:42AM
My brother-in-law bought a beautiful Blackberry curve, and as some sort of present, I was prepping him with a good load of games, emulators...etc. NONE.
Symbian and WM applications and games are all over the place. Blackberry has a painfully small share of the 3rd party cake.
A GBA emulator is a must. Especially for landscape phones like this one. If there were a GBA emulator for Blackberry, I would have got one a looong time ago, only to be replaced with an Android phone.
Denver_80203 @ Mar 28th 2008 11:04AM
I LIKE the lack of applications.
I have 170 and growing BBs in my company and the last thing I want is users having trouble with their device because crack wars cashed again.
Keep it simple and on task. BB has wandered a little from that path but still remains the most purpose driven device I can think of.
Ben Winecki @ Mar 28th 2008 9:41AM
Love the UI hate the body of the phone. Looks too big and the keyboard looks hard to use. I tried an 8800 and did not like the keyboard and this looks too similar. Hopefully the UI will make it to the 8300.
dj-kenpo @ Mar 28th 2008 9:42AM
the background for the os looks stolen off my playstation portable or something...
I hope thta's only for use on the protoype and not the launch model.
rob @ Mar 28th 2008 9:52AM
yea the os theme would definitely get changed the second my hands were on it
Sung @ Mar 28th 2008 9:53AM
My biggest complaint of the 8820 is the speed. I hope they have a new processor in there that doesn't slow down the entire OS once I start running Google Maps or Viigo in the background. Other than that, I could do without the chrome iphone frame around the device. I hate that chrome border around my iphone
Joji @ Mar 28th 2008 10:13AM
According to the Vodafone slide linked above, this has a 624 MHz processor, vs. 312MHz for the Curve
Rich @ Mar 28th 2008 10:26AM
Seriously... I am sick of every new phone since the iPhone blatantly copying the glossy-black-face-with-rounded-chrome-trim look.
Frank @ Mar 28th 2008 11:15AM
Yeah, and I'm sick of every human being born with eyes, ears, and noses.
It's a phone... seriously who cares? black and silver looks sharp.
MK @ Mar 28th 2008 1:20PM
I'll agree with you on the processor speed - with Opera and Google Maps running at the same time, mine slows down a bit. It's like any other computer. From what I've read, the iPhone doesn't actually allow multi-tasking, as in when the user moves away from an application, that app actually closes, prohibiting the 'alt-tab' functionality of the Blackberry
Moe @ Mar 28th 2008 4:34PM
@ Rich: Actually Nokia did it before Apple with the 6233, and there was probably someone before that too. It's not exactly an uncommon design.
Jared @ Apr 15th 2008 10:06AM
@rich
The 8800 had the black front/chrome sides first...
Phineas J. Whoopie @ Mar 28th 2008 9:59AM
Gah, 18 monochrome icons on the screen at the same time just doesn't inspire the same way it did in the 90's.
Gadget-T @ Mar 28th 2008 10:02AM
I likes a lot. when is the release date?
Anonymoose @ Mar 28th 2008 10:16AM
Bob - actually, the iphone is pretty durable. very durable, in fact. the only problem is that they don't offer insurance on it. that being said, apple's warranty and service is great...if you're willing to wait the week you'll be without your phone while they're fixing it.
also on pricing, you have to pay for BB services on top of your regular phone plan? deal breaker for me. doesn't matter that i have to pay that much for an iphone - i would make it up on the difference in plan price. unless my company pays for my BB fees (which thankfully, it does), i would never use it. i would never keep my BB as a consumer phone.
and the tactile keyboard is still king right now. the iphone's keyboard really isn't as bad as some people make it, but it's nothing compared to the BBs keyboard. i find that i only really type well on an iphone when i lay it down on a surface and type with my index fingers. thumb typing sucks on that thing.
bottom line, if you're not using the phone as a business phone and you're choosing between the iphone and BB, get the iphone. the web browsing sucks on the BB (well, in past ones, not sure about this new guy) and even if the iphone is 2.5G, safari is a full html browser and renders pages heaps more efficiently than the BB browser, so speed is kind of negated there. The only difference is if you're actually downloading files, where the BB and 3G obviously kill the iphone.
Bob @ Mar 28th 2008 10:46AM
Thanks for your reply Anonymoose... much appreciated.
Through AT&T, you have to get a $20+ data plan for either the BB or the iPhone, so regardless of which phone I get, I'll have a data plan chained to it. I'm fine with that. I currently have internet through my Sprint phone and I already pay around $15 for it, so that's not a big deal. I want internet on my phone and I'm willing to pay for it.
I did hear about the whole warranty thing through Apple and while that sucks really bad, I'll just buy a damned tank case and baby the hell out of it, though that does add another "worry" to my list. Being without my phone for a week is unacceptable.
So even though the typing sucks on the iPhone, you still suggest an iPhone? I text and e-mail a fair share on my phone, so I was thinking that the BB keyboard would own the iPhone in this regard.
It's funny... I think that I want a combination of the BB keyboard and the UI of the iPhone. Some would say that's the Voyager, but I'm not switching to Verizon. :P
Anonymoose @ Mar 28th 2008 11:06AM
bob - actually, you have to get a BB service plan as well. BB service is how you get their vaunted push email/messaging/browsing services. in the communications arena, they really are the standard for now, hence the corporate backing they receive.
but if you really are just a consumer and want nothing more than to text/email/web surf, than the iphone really is a good option. you do get used to the typing and normally the typing is not a dealbreaker for the iphone. if you like to one hand message, then the iphone definitely won't work for you.
but honestly, having either of these phones would eventually bore me. their lack of 3rd party support sucks. apple may get there, but i'm not really willing to wait.
you may want to look into getting a palm or htc device to get the best of both worlds, however you're going to sacrifice stability for functionality/versatility/openness/awesomeness
Anonymoose @ Mar 28th 2008 11:10AM
and Bob, as crazy as this might sound, you may want to stick with sprint. seeing as how you want to text/email frequently, they have cheaper plans and their data is probably the best in the business right now. honestly, it's probably because they have less users on their system than verizon does, but hey, the data is fast and reliable.
Joe B @ Mar 28th 2008 5:25PM
No, for a personal plan you do not have to pay an extra fee for Blackberry service on top of data access on AT&T. They sell a Blackberry Personal plan as well as a more expensive bundle that also adds in unlimited messaging.
BIS is included in your personal plan. If you need corporate access through BES then, yes, you do have to pay extra. But I'm under the impression that you don't need this.
Dan @ Mar 29th 2008 10:00PM
Hey Bob, you might want to consider the HTC Mogul and stay with sprint, it does have windows mobile, but it also has a touchscreen and a keyboard.
Peter @ Mar 30th 2008 4:08PM
Hey Bob
I've dropped my iPhone quite a few times and never a problem. One time it fell out of my coat at head height onto a tiled bathroom floor and bounced a couple of times -- I was terrified, but it was fine.
Peter
Kendall Helmstetter Gelner @ Mar 30th 2008 4:25PM
You do not have to be without the iPhone for more than a few moments due to service. If your iPhone has to go in for repair, you get a loaner phone for a small fee (I think $20) while Apple fixes your real one - they take the SIM out of your current phone, but it in the loaner and when your fixed phone is mailed back they instruct how how to re-insert the sim.
The iPhone data is not held on the SIm, but then that's why you sync the phone with a computer regularly - right?
I agree that the iPhone is pretty durable. I have dropped it onto fairly hard surfaces (wood floor and thin carpet over concrete at a gym) and the iPhone is unharmed.
iphoneuser2008 @ Mar 28th 2008 10:34AM
I currently own a HTC Touch cruise, which I believe is the current flagship Windows Mobile phone,,feel free to disagree. I also own a 16GB Iphone. I have owned a Blackberry WIFI curve before, but sold it after 3 mos of use. I have also owned a Nokia E90 and sold that after 4mos. the E90 sucked cuz the 4 inch screen isn't fully utilized when viewing Slingplayer,,,only maybe 2.0 of its 4.0 screen is. I was pissed and sold that 900.00 USD piece of shit. Having had the pleasure of tasting all 4 flavors,,if I had to chose amongst the 4, I would go with the iphone. I still keep and use my HTC Touch,,,but its Touch UI via WM6 really sucks a fat Di@k. I mainly just use my HTC,,,,not for its UI experience but for what it does that the IPhone can't do yet. So I mainly use my HTC Touch for 2 things.
(1) Slingplayer via the entire 2.8 screen,,,cool love it!!!!
(2) and making my IPhone a 3G IPhone via WMwifirouter program (WM 5 & 6 compatible only). Really cool program to make your Iphone 3G via WIFI,, wherever you can pick up a UTMS/HSDPA signal. I just keep my HTC in my back pocket,,,and if I am in a WIFI deadzone,,,but my HTC has a 3G signal.....Yippie....then my IPhone will feel the love to....via this program...hense a 3G Iphone!!!
Once the 3G Iphone comes out....then I guess I only need a WM phone for Slingplayer....lol....cuz surfing the internet via WM6 Sucks fat Di@ks.
So now to get to the blackberry,,,,well i owned one, and I frankly didnt see much of a great user experience via the UI verses WM6. Even the blackberry Web browser was shitty and I ended up downloading Opera....which I also have on mt HTC. However the Iphones Safari,,,is hands down better then the Opera 8.6whatever,,,browser.
So for my rating of the blackberry:
(1) UI sucks - same as WM
(2) Web browser Sucks,,,,even Opera is better,,,,and S60 Nokia is better.
(3) No slingplayer....yet.
(4) No WMwifirouter program for this.
(5) even if it gets 3g,,,who f'ing care....so instead of slow shity UI experience,,,Ill have a fast shitty experience....lol.
MY Conclusion: IPhones UI and webrowsing touch experience is hands down the best. And I say that holding my nose,,,cuz I hate Steve Job's Communist control over its
3rd party programming future,,,and his obsession with making everything go through itunes's control center for purchasing programs in the future. But for the hardware and technology,,,it is (again holding my nose) the best out there. My HTC cant even come close to it. So if the new blackberry doesnt even have a comparable touch UI,,,,but a stupid roll ball,, as the curve did,,,,then there asses a fu@ked. Looks to me like all they did was change the configurations of their icons, made then look different,,,,gave a new theme,,,changed the phone alittle by design,,,but the UI is still the same track ball sucking shit. If this is there BIG answer to me giving up my iphone.....then they can suck shit. Also,,,,with the enterprise feature coming out in 2.0 of IPhones firmware....then Blackberry will realy be screwed. That is there only last card there holding,,,,and the IPhone is about to bitch slap them for it. The only thing I did like about my blackberry was how it looked by design,,,,but like a dumb blond with big boobs,,,,you can only hld on to it for so long,,before you realize u have a lemon compared to the Iphone. Believe me,,I am not a IPhone lover,,,I say this holding my nose each time. I wont even think of buying a MAC,,,i own vista. So I am speaking only from a JOE Q PUblic experience of using all 4 phones..... BLackberry I hope your listening cuz if this is the best your coming out with your FU@KED!!!!!
Dark-Dx @ Mar 28th 2008 12:02PM
How come I didn't know about this 3g>wifi>iphone thing before! Thanks so much for letting us know :) 3g here I come. (if they launch the 3g phone in june, I'll be the first one to buy it).
Sime @ Mar 28th 2008 12:19PM
longest...comment...ever...
Brady @ Mar 28th 2008 3:41PM
Worst use of the English language ever