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.

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.

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.

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.