RIM's New Blackberry Ditches Thumboard

Eric Giguere writes "Research In Motion's newest BlackBerry, the 7100t, aka 'Charm,' has a more conventional phone form factor. It does this by ditching the thumb keyboard for an extended keypad with predictive text input. It also adds Bluetooth. The changes are mostly physical, the device is still running the same basic software -- existing Java apps should run with only minor changes. More details at the BlackBerry.com website." xRelisH supplies this link to a review of the device from MSNBC.

Comments

Predictive entry sounds better than others

[chrisbw]

I'm really used to the current BlackBerry keyboard, but I'm really interested in seeing how they implemented their predictive text entry. I read another article this morning about it, and apparently it "learns" as you go, and dynamically adjusts its recognition list. This is much better than what my Sony-Ericsson mobile can do with SMS messages.

Re:Predictive entry sounds better than others

[foo12]

I had some bad luck with predictive entry on my T68 once. I was living in the Philippines, sharing a house with one of my coworkers. Texted him something similar to the following:

Cant find jews. Jews on table by door/tv? Plz find jews, bring to work.

jews = 5397 = keys.

exist?

[BoldAC]

existing Java apps should run with only minor changes

It's freaking java. Why do all of these device makers continue to change small things that make all of the previous software libraries not work!

The platform is going to do better if there is more software available.

Re:exist?

[doodlelogic]

Why do all of these device makers continue to change small things that make all of the previous software libraries not work!

You could also ask:

Who are device makers' principal direct customers?

How do these customers, whether retailers or network providers, afford to sell their phones at below cost price?

Can an industry sustain the sale of loss leaders if it does not lock its customers into buying aftersales upgrades, additional features and ported programs?


My ten pound phone device thingy has been pricier than even the natural sceptic that I am likes to admit.

I thought the full...

[ObjectiveGiant]

... keyboard was what made these things so attractive. I txt on my cell phone quite frequently and I'm not crazy about T9 input. It's a bit of a pain to check behind yourself to make sure the correct word was selected. Obviously it's better than pounding one button 3x to get the right letter you want but isn't this a downgrade for this type of device?

Predictive text

[scowling]

I'd be very surprised if the predictive text system works as well as the reviewer appears to indicate, unless the only words you use are common ones (or if you're willing to use up virtually all of your storage on your custom dictionary entries).

Every predictive text system I've used in the past has been slower (due to dictionary-adding, backspacing, and so on) than it would have been by using more 'traditional' input methods like thumb-texting.

Maybe it's just me, but I doubt it.

Re:Predictive text

[yaroslavvb]

An unrelated question I was pondering -- do any thumb-texting predictive text devices use predictive method more advanced than Markov chain? (essentially just looking at list of words that start with already typed prefix) That's how it seems to work on all the cell phones I tried. There's enough research out there to make a more advanced system. For instance, a word level Markov chain that offer words that are likely to follow first. Or an approach that would allow better generalization, such as decision tree predictor.

Whoops

[darth_MALL]

I accidentally just dropped my BB 6280 and it broke into 12 peices! Whatever will I do? Hey boss! I have an idea for a replacement!

The keyboard was their main feature

[stripmarkup]

So far, the Blackberry is the only mobile device that I've found useful for web browsing and emailing. The qwerty keyboard is the main reason, it's much better than, say, the one in the Treo 600. The new Blackberry looks like any other cellphone. I know that I'll never be able to compose email or search Google nearly as fast with the predictive input, no matter how good it might be.

Re:The keyboard was their main feature

[Digital11]

Then you should try the Danger Hiptop. Blackberry's email interface is better (because it handles folders, etc in a better way) but everything else about the hiptop SMOKES the Blackberry.

And on the subject of predictive text input. Screw that, I can type 50+ WPM EASILY on my Hiptop.

The price

[halo1982]

At $199 I would buy this phone in a second. With the current Blackberries being $349+ and being kind of awkward to dial out/talk on, this is exactly what I want. And Bluetooth is an added bonus.

Utter genius.

[Moofie]

They have gotten rid of the second-most-odious text input method (a thumb keyboard) and gone straight to the most odious.

I hate my Blackberry

[DevilM]

I hate my Blackberry for the following reasons:

• Talking on it without the earpiece sucks
• The natural place where you hold the device is also the button to end a call
• It is too easy to answer a call and put the person on hold
• If I am using any PDA functionality and a call comes in my work is lost
• Sometimes people can't hear me when I answer the phone
• Sometimes the keyboard lock unlocks without my input
• Deleting email on the Blackberry doesn't delete it in my mailbox
• It has trouble telling the difference between the same number with and without a 1 (long distance)
• It thinks all 10 digit calls nees a 1
• The keypad letters are wrong for the number pad, which makes it highly annoying to dial a number by name (1-800-get-a-clue)
• When adding a number to the addressbook it assumes the number is a work number

Give me time, I will think of more.

Re:I hate my Blackberry

[camusflage]

Talking on it without the earpiece sucks

Fair enough.. It's like talking into a pop-tart.

Sometimes the keyboard lock unlocks without my input

Try a password. This will guarantee it won't unlock itself. "lock on holstering" is also your friend as well.

Deleting email on the Blackberry doesn't delete it in my mailbox

wireless sync, wireless reconcile, delete on handheld and mailbox. This will automatically delete items in both places when deleted in either.

It thinks all 10 digit calls nees a 1

I dial with only ten digits all the time.

The keypad letters are wrong for the number pad, which makes it highly annoying to dial a number by name (1-800-get-a-clue)

Use the crescent/number key and hit the letter. Not only will it send the appropriate tone, but it will display the letter on the screen.

More reviews

[zaxios]

PC Mag and Forbes have reviews and InfoSync has a detailed news article. Forbes provides some perspective to the objective of integrating personal organizer with phone. PC Mag reads a bit like a spec list. I found the MSNBC review provided already more interesting, but you can look for yourself.

BlackBerry vs. phone and PDA

[zaxios]

I regret reposting so soon, but I've been reading the thread and I have to ask, Does BlackBerry succeed in actually being a good phone or a good PDA? MSNBC says it has "four hours talk time and eight hours standby". With battery life like that, how can this be a useful phone? If BlackBerry has adopted a "more conventional phone form factor", what's it like to use as a PDA? Really, does integrating phone and PDA really provide a better and more convenient experience or does it just implement the worst of both worlds - a smaller screen than a straight PDA and worst battery life than a non-smart phone? Wouldn't it just be better to buy two separate devices?

Problem with predictive texting

[m0RpHeus]

Is when the products are used on countries where the language is not supported by the device. This is my only frustration with predictive texting on my Sony Ericsson phone. I assume the same would be true with this new Blackberry. Yes, english is just fine, but when I need to text using our native language (that is not supported) predictive texting is useless. Also, predictive text is kind of useless if you're texting a lot of techinical jargons.

Re:And cue the anti-convergence zombies..

[dasmegabyte]

Some of us don't feel the need to check our email whilst walking, or listen to mp3s on a phone. Some of us believe in that tireless old adage "The right tool for the right job." Still others of us don't have a lot of devices to carry...for me it's keys, ipod, wallet, phone stays in the car or on the desk or in my jacket pocket. I don't carry a palmtop because the input methods are invariably shite, don't carry a camera unless I intend to take pictures of things (and let's face it, camera phones take shitty pictures anyway, why waste the money) and I don't need retarded games or ringtones.

Am I anti-convergence? Fuck no, it's good to see people creating shitty devices that do too much, because it makes them appreciate the simple things in life. Like a phone that's just a phone, or a notebook that doesn't erase everything you're doing if your brother text messages you. Convergent devices are good things, they're just nothing I would ever want to own. I like to be able to USE the things I own.

Re:This is awful for a simple reason.

[DAldredge]

Why? Is the one currently on your belt going to go puff and disappear in a puff of red smoke?