Thursday, October 11, 2012

SMS Lucu Romantis terbaru



biasanya nyasar itu sial, tapi aku malah beruntung nyasarnya ke hati kamu..

Orang-orang pusing mikirin harga kebutuhan pokok mahal, kalo aku pusing mikirin kamu yang jual mahal..

Ga perlu nembak aku pake pistol, cukup kedipin mata kamu aja aku udah klepek-klepek..

Ya Tuhan, jika dia bukan jodohku, maka kutuklah dia menjadi pasanganku seumur hidup..

Kamu masih ada keturunan Newton ya. Tiap kali aku jatuh, jatuhnya pasti ke hati kamu..

Kamu sama pelangi tuh sama aja, sama-sama bikin hari aku jadi lebih indah.. #SMS Lucu Romantis terbaru
Menurutku arti cinta yang sesungguhnya itu sangat simple.. Aku + kamu = selamanya.

Aku mencintaimu dengan GALAU. (G)a p(A)ke ka(LAU)..

Aku tuh sebenarnya takut lihat wajah kamu..Takut ga bisa berpaling..

Aku banyak rapat hari ini..Yang kurang cuma satu, merapat ke hatimu..

kalau matahari bisa bikin SILAU mataku, kamu bisa bikin GALAU hatiku..SMS Lucu Romantis 

Jari-jari tangan kamu indah banget ya. Boleh ga aku pasang cincin berlian di jari manis kamu?

Kalau disuruh milih antara uang dan kamu, aku lebih memilih uang karena uangnya untuk nikahin kamu..

Kalau ibarat hati aku adalah kalender, tidak akan ada tanggal merah untuk mencintaimu.. SMS Lucu Romantis Terbaru

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Blackberry Pearl 3G 9105 Review

The first model of Pearl 8100 was released, way back in the year 2006, and unlike the company’s who release smartphones with slight tweaks every year, Research In Motion has waited before unleashing the Pearl 9105 3G. Though we just loved the design and build of the Pearl 8100 model, the lack of 3G and WiFi simply seemed to be unforgivable. RIM has not only rectified the connectivity issues, but it has also added some new features in order to make this pearl much more enticing, now offering the connectivity of a business phone in a compact and consumer friendly body.
If we were playing the game of word association, it would not be rocket science to determine that the word Blackberry will be closely followed by the words QWERTY and business. It has been like that since RIM had entered the market, rarely erring from the QWERTY keyboard, the functional design mode; except for the Storm range, that has not really changed the game. This is the stereotype that RIM has finally broken with the latest consumer friendly Pearl 3G 9105. To be crisp, it is a lean, mean email machine of Blackberry family.
Design: A Slim and Sleek Blackberry!
The Blackberry Pearl 3G 9105 is really ‘models of this era’ like slim. For the sake of comparison, let us say that the Blackberry Bold 9000 will easily swallow it up whole and still have a lot of room for an old fashioned stodgy dessert. Or, if you want the specifics, that will be (H x W x D) 108 x 50 x 13.3 mm and weighs just 93 grams, so this is the rare Blackberry that will slip into any pocket or bag with ease. This model is not short of style or clever design touches either. The device sits comfortably in hands, thanks to its slightly curved profile.
Tiny miny display:
The Pearl 3G 9105 has a rather small 2.2" display of resolution 360 x 400 pixels. As you can see, it is not the greatest in terms of space, especially in this era of mammoth touchscreens, but it is not necessarily a hindrance. It all depends on how you are using the phone; you will see more on this point as we go.
Track Pad:
The trackpad has a flat surface and responds to your touch like a trackpad on a laptop. Its insane sensitivity makes up for its tiny size. It also makes the phone easier to pop into a pocket, since it does not stick out from the body and get gunged up with dirt and crud.
Ports and Connectivity:
The 3G 9105 smartphone has a flush keyboard just below the on/off buttons, menu controls and optical trackpad. There are the shortcut buttons on the side as raised lumps for quick access to the voice controls and camera functions. Also housed on the side is the mini USB slot and headphone connector, while the top hosts direct controls for the media player, blending into the design so much that you just might miss them if you were not forewarned. On the downside, there is no quick access to the microSD card slot; that involves flipping the back off and squeezing it in above the battery. With the flimsy construction of the rear, it is just something that you will not want to be doing often, or in hurry. You will find the camera of this Blackberry at the side of the Pearl logo on the rear.
User Interface:
The BlackBerry user interface is starting to look rather dated. It also takes some getting used to if you have never used a BlackBerry before, because it is packed with thousands of options. But, once you have had some practice, it is easy to navigate around, especially with the very responsive optical trackpad that has replaced the traditional BlackBerry trackball. With the Blackberry OS 5.0 employed, the interface of the Pearl 3G is pretty much everything that you can expect from a Blackberry of you have used one before, with just a bit more of added speed. If you were not a Blackberry consumer, let us explain.
Menu System:
The Pearl 3G 9105 Phone from RIM has an icon driven menu system that can be accessed using the optional trackpad. You will be able to quickly flick through the icons on the screen, and select the one that you are looking for. This is a method that has stood the test of time, and with the new trackpad, it is much improved from the temperamental ball. Around 20 icons will fit onto the Home screen without the need to scroll the page, but if scrolling is good with you, you can have as many as you require. Moving icons is quite simple, just click the Menu button for a range of options to move, delete or hide icons. For instance, if you download anything new online or from BlackBerry App World, icons for the app will appear in your ‘Downloads’ folder. Just move the new icon to the homepage via a selection from the Menu key and you can access it easily. Likewise, if you get tired of something or just do not need it, you have the options of moving it off the Homescreen, hiding it or deleting it.
Zen:
When the Pearl 3G is switched on, by default, offers access to your most used functions, and this feature is known as the Zen. The defaults include mail, SMS, contacts, Blackberry Messenger and Facebook. Of course, you also get the option to replace them; all that you have to do is, just hit the Menu button again and swap it around in your options. There are different profiles already preset, but you can spend time tinkering with the different tones for an individual fit. It might take you some time too; the Pearl 3G is packed with sounds and ringtones, with the option of using your own music too. If we have anything to complain about Blackberry’s interface, it is just that it lacks quick access via the screen to the media functions. The top controls on the case are fine once you are in, but getting in is a real pain. And, this is just not the issue with this Blackberry Pearl, it is a wider Blackberry issue. Perhaps, because for RIM, media has always been down the priority list for business devices; but, for the non-business devices like the Pearl 3G, it should have been better.
Speedy:
As we had mentioned earlier, this is a time served interface and is against some of the more whizzy 3D efforts in the market, we accept that the Blackberry OS looks a bit tired and dated. But, what it lacks in style, it makes up for in functionality. Just within minutes of booting it up, you will be flying around the menu like pro. Setting up the Pearl is quite simple; as with most devices of today, pretty much everything is wizard driven, from getting the WiFi connected to creating new email accounts. It is all a matter of following simple steps.
Features:
Does the small package mean fewer features? Forget it. This Blackberry Pearl 9105 3G Network supported Phone model almost creaks with features including GPS, a 3.2 megapixel camera with auto-focus and video recording, a well featured media player and an optical trackpad too. The Pearl 3G has a lot in common with its bulkier sibling the Blackberry Bold 9700, that runs on Blackberry OS 5.0 and the same 642Mhz processor, which is again notably quicker. Of course, 3G is the most welcome addition along with a much faster browsing experience and finally, yes, finally it supports the most wanted WiFi. The model also supports multitasking, social networking for the likes of Facebook and Twitter as standard and, what is a Blackberry without its all-powerful Blackberry email and messaging. Overall, this Pearl 3G is RIM’s special kid just without the QWERTY, replaced by RIM’s SureType technology for inputting your text.
Blackberry App World:
All that is just the tip of the iceberg; the Blackberry App world has been growing very steadily over the past year. And, though it is not up there with Apple’s App Store, it offers a good range of apps and utilities, which in turn makes your Pearl 3G that little bit more flexible. So, if you have got your handset and want to grab some extra apps, including the ones that we have discussed in the review, Blackberry App World is the place where you have to land. This hanset based store mixes free and premium apps all that are available to browse and download with reviews from users. As we just mentioned, this store is not the biggest or the best app store around, but it certainly does the given job well, enabling you to customise your phone for next to nothing if you do clever shopping. We recommend you to check it out as soon as you have got your handset charged up.
Contacts:
Coming to adding contacts, the Pearl 3G has it all and more. It uses the same contacts system as your average business friendly Blackberry; you might be a little bit daunted while adding a friend. After all, does your best mate really have six phone numbers, two fax numbers, a pager, two emails, a company and a job title? Of course not! Just stick in a name, number and email, just those details will show on the completed page. But if your friends ever do take over the world, there's room to expand the entry. Google Sync has not been included as default, however, if you happen to be a Google user, you can always download the application. It will copy all of your friends and contacts into your BlackBerry contacts, keeping it updated as they change, and hence, save your fingers several weeks of typing duty.
Overall, when it comes to organising your contacts, this Blackberry 9105 is as good as any other blackberry. But, when it comes to call quality on this particular model, it could have been better.
Messaging:
SMS and MMS messaging on the Pearl 3G 9105 mobile phone is just straightforward. Though it lacks the iconic QWERTY keyboard, text messaging is easy enough on the minimal keypad. All that you have to do is, select your contact, type the message, add the smilies that we all fancy, and then just send it away. There are features available for checking the spelling if you are feeling pedantic and you can also see any messages that are sent or received in the email like SMS folder. Sending MMS is just as easy; take a photo, select a contact, select the size or quality you wish to send and it goes. What more can you ask?
Email:
Well, after all it is the Blackberry. If it does not do the email well, there is simply no hope for it. setting up an email account is just a breeze. Whether it is a webmail account or something PC-based, just head to the email wizard, enter your account details and the Pearl 3G will set it up and, when available, work with your inbox to push emails to your handset when they arrive, so you are free to view, delete, forward or reply as the mood takes you. Delete from your phone and it goes from your inbox elsewhere too. It is the reason why businessmen love a BlackBerry and if you lead a busy life, it should help you too. You can add as many email accounts as you like to the phone, which you can oversee from one message inbox or from each individual address folder. Indeed, if you do use multiple boxes, you can add different tones for each account, just like you can with people in your contacts directory.
SureType Technology:
The only issue that the Blackberry 3G had was the SureType technology. Most BlackBerry devices have a QWERTY keyboard, so banging out a long email is not much different to using a laptop. It is just smaller. With the Pearl 3G, the keyboard is more like a traditional phone to fit the profile of the handset, but it also means a different way of text input. SureType is a form of predictive text, constantly second guessing your word choice, as well as spell checking as you go. Like predictive text, it is both helpful and frustrating at the same time. Once you get the hang of it, you should be able to fire out emails at a fair rate of speed, but if you have not used it before, be prepared for some very frustrating days and emails taking longer than writing and posting a letter, especially if they are beyond a couple of lines of text. It might make you regret buying the handset, but stick with it the fact that it learns from your more commonly typed words really does add speed in the medium term.
Messaging:
One of the highlight selling features of the Blackberry is its messenger, but if it works for you totally depends on the number of friends you have with the same make of device. It is quite simple to use, just enter the email address of your other buddy with the Blackberry and, once they approve of you, there you are, instant messaging. Just type in a message to your contact or multiple group contacts like you would with any other messaging app, with BB Messenger informing you when the message lands. It is great if you have BlackBerry-based friends. If not, prepare to gaze at an empty screen. This is also where the BlackBerry App World comes in to play. Other messaging tools are also available to download, including Google Talk, so if you are the first to go down the BlackBerry route, you will not be all alone. And who knows? Your mates might be impressed enough with your handset to buy one too.
Browsing in Pearl 3G 9105:
The standard blackberry browser has never been everybody’s cup of tea, all too often having issues with rendering pages and in many cases, taking too much time to download content. RIM might just have started to deal with the problem, prior to actually bringing out a WebKit based browser. As you can see, we have tested and a number of Blackberry devices and they always had some pages that the device just does not like. Surprisingly, this time there were no websites in this list and all of our temperamental pages and some other reliable content passed out with flying colours. However, there are a couple of disadvantages too: first of all, the small screen of the Pearl 3G makes the zoom function on the browser your best friend when it comes to web content. It will zoom in on the detail, but when you have got a busy or text-heavy page, constantly having to zoom is a real pain. Secondly, that speedy loading is possible only when you have got a 3G or Wi-Fi connection. When you lose that, the page load times increase significantly. What took seconds suddenly takes minutes. We will look more at the connectivity of the Pearl 3G later on.
Social Networking:
The Blackberry range has always had some very decent apps for all of the main social networks. There are two included in the Pearl 9105 which are standard; there is no MySpace, but in 2010, are you really surprised? The Twitter app had recently gone official in the RIM Blackberry, and we also have to admit that it works like a dream, that integrates so well with the wider Blackberry messaging system. If you are Twitter freak, you must know well what you might expect: a box for your message, a screen to view your messages of those you follow, complete with avatars and a row of icons for everything from replies to people search. If someone sends you a direct message, it drops in your main inbox just like a mail; a nice touch. Overall, it is a well thought out app that is just a breeze to use on the Pearl 3G 9105.
The good old Facebook is also represented in the Pearl 3G and is a very decent app to be kept updated. Just log in and you will be greeted by your latest news feeds, along with options with comment or like an update, upload an image, send message or even write on a wall; it has pretty much everything you might expect. It is true that the app looks a little bit basic and a bit cramped on the small screen, but if you manage to deal with it or simply do not mind, this Facebook App in offer is more than adequate.
GPS:
GPS on a smart phone is always a welcome addition and the Blackberry Maps that has been included in the Pearl 3G 9105 is reasonable for finding your way around the city. It picks up a satellite in just seconds, pinpointing our location and also panning around the area. Please do keep in mind that it is just a basic mapping included and do not expect your in-car unit to give the boot and replace it with this one. That said, if you happen to be lost in a city, it will offer you a helping hand. The good news here is that, Google maps is available as a free download for the Blackberry. However, we insist again that it is not going to replace your car sat nav, but it does offer much more detail, and it should possibly one of your first downloads. Apart from that, geo tagging and location finding in apps is a welcome bonus with the GPS on board.
Camera:
Come on! We are in 2010 and a 3.2 megapixel camera is not much to shout about. However, this camera also offers up auto-focus, flash, 2.5x digital zoom and video recording, and this is more than adequate for the job and it is incredibly easy to use. The camera works well with some of the other tools on the handset, and also seems to be offering plenty of options for photo quality and effects, size and geo-tagging of the snaps. With the shortcut buttons available on the side of the handset, it makes it very easy to capture that exciting moment quickly and easily. Sharing the pictures has been made quite simple with apps for some of the major photo sites too the option to email or MMS your snaps, as well as transfer to social networks, all at various sizes and image qualities, dependent on your needs. Just a click of a button brings up a thumbnail gallery too. Shame the camera is not a little better in terms of pixels, but in terms of use, it is hard to fault.
Tools:
As a business handset, the Pearl 3G 9105 has a raft of productivity tools, some of which you might occasionally use like MemoPad, Tasks, Calculator and Password Keeper and there are others that you will seldom, especially with the display so small, like Word To Go, Sheet To Go and Slide-show To Go. The latter set of features are more like just tasters; you can open a Microsoft friendly document with them, but you will not be able to create one without buying the complete package. Yes, it kind of spoils the good name it created with the non-demo games package. There are Voice notes included too, so you will be able to record your ideas on the go. Said that, the playback is very decent too and you can use your voice notes as quirky ring tones too. We liked the alarm app too, as it was more than decent with a clock that fills the screen and offering a loud alarm to get you out of the bed.
Games in 9105 3G:
One feature that all of us secretly look forward in a handset are games; they are always available in handsets and Pearl 3G is no exception. In this set we have a mix of arcade, strategy and cards, including Brickbreaker, Word mole, Trooper Typing, Texas Hold ‘Em King 2, Sodoku and Klondike. Everything is a bit basic, but they are a good mix of games, and above all, they are all full games and not demos; we love that.
Applications:
As you would expect from a device that keeps business on the move, the calendar application included in the Blackberry Pearl 3G is quite an impressive tool. You can break down your tasks in days, weeks or months, view your wider schedule or agenda, organise appointments, set alarms for those appointments when due or in advance, schedule conference calls, invite people to meetings, change time zones. You have got all this in the device and more. Even better, you will be able to sync it up with external tools like Google Calendar, should you and your friends be reliant on that. The entire program is built for the busy businessman, so if you are buying the Pearl 3G as a 'social' phone, you can be sure it has all bases covered.
Media player:
As we had mentioned earlier, the media player on the RIM Blackberry 3G 9105 is not bad at all; but accessing it is a bit slow and inconvenient. We are not trying to say that it is dead slow, but it is just not instantly accessible as it should be. After a few clicks, and once you start listening to the music, you will realise that it is not bad at all. You will be able to transfer the music via drag and drop or RIM’s own software through PC or Mac and, if tagged, you should be able to drop nicely into the searchable interface and any album art provided will show it too. And, do not forget, those top controls we had mentioned earlier is very useful when you are out and about.
Performance: Call Quality:
Coming to the call quality, we found the voice calls to be on the quieter side and there was bit of background noise, a slight hiss. Still, we did not experience any complete drops in the network during calls. The Pearl 3G is a mid- to high-end handset and for the money you will be paying, it should be better in terms of making and taking calls. It is slightly frustrating, because everything else in that area is as good as, if not better, than expected. Ring-tones, for example, are loud and there is a number to choose from (with the option of adding your own too) and the ability to assign tones to various contacts is always a nice touch.
Connectivity:
Connectivity wise, the Pearl 3G struggles with 3G reception and to make sure that the problem was not ours; we tested some other models in the same area and found that it was apparently the issue of the model. This is not promising; though what we did is not a scientific test, we worry us slightly. This is something to perhaps check out at your local phone dealer if you are considering a purchase. The WiFi reception was excellent though. It was extremely simple to set up and the Pearl 3G was happy to hop on to the wireless connectivity as and when required. The entire factors put together makes browsing and downloading a much more pleasurable experience. The 9105 also comes with Bluetooth connectivity, which enables you to pair up with a notebook or any other Bluetooth enabled device without any issues, accepting the files quickly and without any issues. Else, if you want to go wired, there is also the mini USB to USB cable to transfer data and media or to just update the operating system.
Camera Performance of Pearl 3G 9105:
The outdoor shots are more than acceptable, capturing most details that you would not have expected out of the mobile camera. The indoors snap is not quite so sharp, even on a very bright day. However, the image is clear and there is no blurring and the colours are reasonably vibrant. As ever, effects will be able to hide a multitude of sins and, when Sephia filter is used, it does increase the quality of the indoor snap. Video is surprisingly good; impressing us in both fields of visual and audio expectations. Again, it can never be a substitute for a dedicated video camera, but for producing web clips, it is hard to complain.
Video Quality:
Video playback tends to suffer from the small screen. If you like the idea of squinting at a 2.2-inch screen for entertainment, it might be for you. It is also good for checking those mini movies you have just shot, but we prefer our video on a larger screen. Videos have a decent amount of clarity, but this is one area where the small and compact nature of the phone really falls down. Let us be honest, you will be on a one-way trip to eye strain if you spend your day watching Hollywood blockbusters on the Pearl's screen. Good for a short funny a mate has sent you or, indeed, checking out your own clips. For anything more, it really struggles.
Audio Quality:
For its size, the Pearl 3G has a very decent pair of speakers. At full volume, the sound is just beyond what you can expect along with a good deal of clarity; there is no breakup or distortion even at very high volume. Same is the case of the headphones that are more substantial than your average mobile earphones and, for us, offering up a fuller sound than much of the competition too.
Battery Life:
Battery life is one of the major features of any mobile; they can either be a selling point or a turn off. Fortunately, with the Pearl 3G, it has turned out to be a positive, with RIM promising about up to five hours of talk time and 18 days of standby. When compared to the Blackberry Bold 9000 that is literally light years ahead of the game. The claims are very promising and in our tests, after a full charge, we made calls with the Pearl 3G, browsed a few sites, played music and did some instant messaging. We did everything that a person with the Pearl 3G will do and we are happy to conclude that the battery performs really strong.
Warranty: RIM offers Blackberry Pearl 3G 9105 one year warranty for parts and labour.
Verdict:
RIM has packed just about every high end Blackberry feature except QWERTY into this small and stylish device called as the Pearl 3G 9105. It offers just about every mobile essential and more, with almost everything functions as it should. And if SureType works for you, this is a very small and convenient way of keeping up with your email correspondence. Call quality is below what we would expect, network coverage was very disappointing for long periods and to be honest, the familiar look of the BlackBerry interface is perhaps an indication that the interface is just a little too long in the tooth. The BlackBerry Pearl 3G is a good quality smartphone that should serve you well, but with just a couple too many issues to make it a highly-recommended one.
An apt alternate to the Pearl 3G will be the Bold 9700, which is pretty much the same, but with a much bigger profile and a full QWERTY keyboard. If you want to check out some of the other smartphones that is not a Blackberry, the Palm Pre Plus has just hit the markets or, if you are looking for one of those revolutionary Androids and touchscreen appeal, we recommend the highly rated HTC Desire or HTC Legend. Of course, there is thing called iPhone, but if you fancy one of those, we recommend the 3GS and not 4.
RIM Blackberry Pearl 3G 9105 - Technical Specification Table
Manufacturer RIM
Model Name BlackBerry Pearl 3G 9105
3G Network HSDPA 2100 CDMA2000 1x EV-DO
Announced 2010
Form factor Candy bar
Dimensions (H x W x D) 4.25 x 1.97 x 0.52 inches
Weight 93 grams
Display Type High resolution 360x400 pixel colour display
Display Size 2.2"
Display features Backlighting Light sensing screen
Input and Navigation Trackpad located on front face of device, ESC key to the right, Menu to the left 14-key traditional phone keyboard with SureType technology Keyboard backlighting
Voice input and output 3.5mm stereo headset capable Integrated speaker and microphone Hands-free headset capable Bluetooth® headset capable Integrated Hands-free speakerphone
Speakerphone Yes - 3.5 mm audio jack
Phonebook Memory Yes
Call records Yes
Memory 256MB flash memory / 256MB SDRAM
Card Slot Hot Swappable MicroSD
Tri-band UMTS networks (800/850)/1900/2100MHz and 900/1700/2100 MHz
Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE networks 850/900/1800/1900MHz
3G HSDPA
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g WPA / WPA2 Personal and Enterprise Cisco CCX certified Wi-Fi® access to BlackBerry Enterprise Server Wi-Fi access to BlackBerry Internet Service Support for UMA (carrier-dependent
Infrared No
Bluetooth Bluetooth® v2.1; Mono/Stereo Headset, Hands free, Phone Book Access Profile (PBAP) and Serial Port Profile Supported. Bluetooth Stereo Audio (A2DP/AVCRP)
USB Yes, v2.0
Camera 3.2 MP camera Autofocus Flash 2.5X digital zoom Video recording
Features Geo-tagging, image stabilization
Video Format MPEG4 Simple and Advance Simple Profile, H.263, H.264, WMV3
Audio Format MP3, AMR-NB, AAC-LC, AAC+, eAAC+, WMA, WMV, Flac, Ogg Vorbis
Ringtones and Notifications AMR, AAC, WAV, MP3, MID, WMA, MP4, M4A, QCP ringtones Vibrate mode LED indicaton
OS BlackBerry OS 5.0
CPU 624MHz processor
Messaging SMS, MMS, Email and Instant Messaging
Browser HTML
Radio No
Games Yes + downloadable
Colours available Black, silver and blue
GPS Built-in GPS functionality Includes BlackBerry® Maps
Java Yes - BlackBerry maps - Media player MP3, WMA, WMA ProPlus, AAC, AAC+ and eAAC+ - Video player MPEG4/3gp/H.264/WMV - Organizer - Voice memo
Device Security Password protection Screen lock
Battery Type 1150 mAHr removable/rechargeable lithium-ion cell
Battery Standby 18 days (GSM), 13 days (UMTS)
Talk time 5 hours (GSM), 5.5 hours (UMTS)
Warranty One year
http://www.blackberryreviews.org.uk/

BlackBerry Curve 3G 9300

The RIM blackberry has significantly grown in popularity in the last year among the youth market. Now a days, it is not uncommon to see what was once the preserve of the business user being handled by the teenagers, as they take advantage of the hi-tech messaging services of BlackBerry, just to keep in touch with their friends. And, the two models that did a great deal to kick start this trend were the BlackBerry Curve 8250 and the Blackberry Curve 8900. The Curve series has always been the most accessible of all the BlackBerry models because of its affordable price tag and the popular form factor. The latest model of this series is the BlackBerry Curve 3G 9300, which seems to fit quite well into this series, as it has everything that you would expect from a typical Curve, but with a bit of enhancement in specifications to allow it face the fierce competition of 2010. RIM says that the BlackBerry Curve 3G is “designed the growing mass of smartphone purchasers with a distinctly powerful, approachable and affordable choice”.
Design: A typical blackberry: Design wise, the BlackBerry Curve 3G  9300 Smartphone looks no different than just another BlackBerry handset. It sports a full QWERTY keyboard that sits below a 2.4" display, with the 2 megapixel camera on the rear. There is nothing much new to see on the BlackBerry Curve 3G. The famous physical Qwerty keyboard sits in a very sensible looking chassis with curvy corners in textured back. The chrome effect border panel houses the 480 x 360 pixels resolution LCD screen and a series of flush buttons alongside the optical track pad. The top panel features the Curve 3G's media controls including play or pause, skip forwards and skip back. Sporting  BlackBerry's distinctive QWERTY keyboard and optical track pad, the Curve 3G 9300 has the same mould of its predecessor Curve handsets like the BlackBerry Curve 8900, as well as posing as the younger sibling of the popular BlackBerry Bold 9700.
The keyboard: The BlackBerry Curve 9300 3G's physical QWERTY keyboard is good, but it is not the best. Although its raised buttons are preferable to the flat slide out keyboards found on the phones like the Motorola Milestone and Samsung Genio Slide, it is more spacious than the slider on the new BlackBerry 9800 and the Curve 3G lacks the sharply angled keys of the BlackBerry Bold 9700 and is a little easier to fudge. We found you have to be quite careful to hit the right keys, although in time this will become easier as you get accustomed to it. Automatic text correction are generally intuitive, saving you the frustration garnered by the iPhone, for instance, which militantly corrects intentional mistakes and does not allow for context when correcting punctuation. Potty mouths will be glad to hear you can swear away to your heart's content on the BlackBerry Curve 3G.
The Optical Trackpad: The optical track pad gives you more freedom to move the cursor around the web page than a D pad would, although it did tend to be overly responsive, making selecting a little link a real hassle. It also comes in handy when you want to select text to copy and paste on the BlackBerry Curve 3G, as you can grab massive chunks of text in one quick swipe.
Connectivity: It is often a little easier on the headphone connection if it is located on the top or bottom of the handset; particularly if you will be storing the handset in a pocket. You might think, given the location of the media playback controls on the top pane of the BlackBerry Curve 3G, this might have been a sensible place for the headphone jack too. Since it is a 3.5mm connector, you will have the freedom to use a wide range of headphones.
Moving on to the name game of connectivity, the BlackBerry Curve 9300 phone offers Wi-Fi and GPS along with 3G network that RIM has included for namesake.
User Interface: If you had used the BlackBerry OS 5 handset previously, then you will be right at home on the BlackBerry Curve 3G’s interface. The home screen icons can be customised to be made entirely of your most uses apps, functions and web shortcuts. Additionally, the entire main menu is easy to organise into folders. This user interface shares numerous similarities to Windows desktop PC software. Though, the menu is made up of rows of icons, there are webs of text based menus to navigate through within the applications. They are made up of options to adjust settings, carry out functions and kill applications. These menus can be intimidating for those who are new to the whole BlackBerry experience, as it can be quite confusing to be faced with an endless list of options when all you want to do is, for instance, write a new text message.
Ease of use: Because of these menu webs, it is not as easy an interface to get to grips with as those of iOS devices like the iPhone 4 and iPhone 3G, but there are comparisons to be drawn with the Android handsets like the HTC Wildfire. The good news is that, the level of customisation is lower, but the basic principle of easy access to your favourite applications is the same. And, it is worth noting that the OS will be updated in the near future, so you will be able to have a greater home screen customisation to fiddle with. While the multiple home screens will give you more space, you will be able to assign widgets as opposed to the app launching shortcuts.
Calling: Many of the standard functions of the Curve 9300 phone are extremely easy to launch. To make a call you can either hit the call button, or simply start typing a number or name of a contact from the home screen, and then it is just a case of selecting the one you are after and hitting 'Call' or the BlackBerry button to bring up the menu of options including SMS, MMS and email. Yet another handy option for the time strapped super caller is to assign speed-dial keys. With a full QWERTY keyboard at your disposal, you have over twenty six buttons to play with, although A, Q and W are already assigned to the other essential handset functions  like lock keys, change profile to vibrate and call voicemail respectively.
Messaging difficulty: The only thing that seems to be overly complicated on most BlackBerry handsets, though, is when you have launch a new email or SMS message. Instead of just going into your inbox and being presented with an obvious option to compose a new message, you have to launch the internal menu by hitting the BlackBerry button, then scroll down through the list of options until you find an option reading 'Compose SMS'. This just seems like a couple of steps too many, especially for such a straightforward task. We should note that you could also launch an SMS to a specific contact from within the address book although this might not come as naturally to anyone making the leap from a 90’s phone to a smart one.
Features: BlackBerry App World: By offering 3G connectivity as well as Wi-Fi, the handset promises fast internet browsing while apps and themes can be easily downloaded from the BlackBerry App World. You will be able to launch the BlackBerry App World, from within the phone's menu or by finding it in the browser. This gives you access to hundreds of downloadable apps. You will also be able to find BlackBerry themes, which can be customised with the BlackBerry Curve 3G even further. You can also purchase themes from designers or build your own, using different fonts, background images, ringtones and the ilk. For social butterflies, there are solid Facebook and Twitter apps on the Curve 3G, with a decent choice of more from the BlackBerry App World store. BlackBerry apps tend to be more expensive than similar apps on the iPhone or on Android platforms, but there are plenty of free ones too, and they tend to be reliable, however, and there are a lot of rubbish apps too. Downloading applications and themes is very straightforward. Once you have found an app you like the look of, just simply select it in the App World and hit download. You would be wise to do so over Wi-Fi rather than relying on the 3G network, which can be a little slow and unreliable, particularly when downloading large files.
On-board Apps: The RIM BlackBerry Curve 3G Smartphone does come well-stocked with on-board apps though. Along with the traditional calendar, notebook, clock and calculator apps, you will be able to get going with Windows Live Messenger straight away. There is also a suite of office-based apps – Word To Go for reading and editing word processed documents, Sheet To Go for spreadsheets and Slide To Go which, unsurprisingly deals in slideshows. If you are sentimental about your text messages, then you may appreciate a handy little app called ''Saved Messages" to which you can, save messages that matter to you separately from your inbox. Of course, you will also get an array of BlackBerry games on board the BlackBerry Curve 3G. From the illustrious BrickBreaker to the frustrating WordMole, they will keep you busy on the commute if you forget your book.
The phonebook: The phone book is a very serious affair. Although you can assign photos to contacts, these don't show up in the phonebook's list view, so it's very text-heavy. We are not able to find an easy way to sync our Facebook contacts with our BlackBerry contacts, which is a little remiss in this day and age; particularly for a youth orientated handset. To compensate it, you will approximately have thousand contact options when setting up new contacts, from nicknames, job titles and home and work addresses, to birthdays and even relevant web pages. As you can imagine, this might be information overkill for the casual user, but if you are syncing the handset with your Outlook account, then much of this data may be automatically saved by the BlackBerry Curve 3G. Grouping contacts into relevant groups is an easy enough job too, one of which can be your favourite contacts if you like. However, it does not make them any easier to access, but if you regularly email or text the same group of people, it could save you a bit of fiddling about. There is no need to enter the contact book at all if you do not fancy it.
Camera: The camera on the BlackBerry Curve 3G is poor. The two megapixel camera has nothing special about it, and even lacks the flash and auto focus functions that are found on the higher-spec BlackBerry Bold 9700. When you launch the camera app, the only options that you are offered onscreen are to zoom in or out, and take the picture. In order to fiddle around with the limited options, you have to click the BlackBerry button and enter another of those text heavy menus. Here, you will be able to play around with the white balance, picture size and its quality, as well as opt for monochrome or sepia options if you are feeling a bit old school. It is really nice to have the sepia and monochrome options, we suppose, but they do smack of being token options, and almost highlight the limited amount of features the camera offers. To zoom in and out, just roll a finger across the optical track pad.
If you decide to take a snap in a landscape position, then you can use the shutter button on the side of the handset, but if you are after a portrait shot then click the optical trackpad. Unless you are really quite firm with the button, you will find yourself zooming when you already had the shot nicely framed up; this is a real annoyance on several occasions. It is not rocket science to know that the zoomed in images lose a lot of quality. This camera is not too bad at handling colours. While the camera struggles with the close-up shots it handles long shots much better. The images are not massively crisp, either, which is no more than we would expect from a 2-megapixel camera. It is suffice to say, this is not the ideal handset for shutterbugs. The BlackBerry Curve 3G does not do too badly handling a lot of light. As you might expect, it seeps into the whole image, but the dark areas do retain a suitable amount of contrast. It is also worth noting that the 2 megapixel camera lacks the flash, and so, the low-light photography is very much miss and not a whole lot of hit.
Video recording: Similar to the still camera mode, video recording on the BlackBerry Curve 3G 9300 offers the most basic customisation. The only options provided are between two sizes including normal or a smaller MMS size, and colour effects like normal, black and white or sepia. One of the features we did appreciate, however, is its ability to pause recording then continue. Rather than leaving us with a bunch of little video files needing editing together on a PC. Like the still camera, the video camera's ability to handle bright colours is not bad, but you do still get that unreal gloss over objects like flowers. Differentiating between similar colours is a bit of a struggle for the BlackBerry Curve 3G. It is a shame that you cannot zoom while filming. You have to decide on your zoom before hitting record, otherwise you will be forced to manually move closer to your subject. Mailing of the videos works fine as long as the file size is not too big, and any video clip over about 30 seconds will need to be transferred by USB instead.
The browser: The browser on BlackBerry OS 5, which will be running on the BlackBerry Curve 3G at launch, is notoriously rubbish. It is quite slow to open the web pages, even slower to render images, only offers one tab at a time and is generally a bit of a pest to use. Even though the screen puts in a valiant effort to display as much of the webpage as possible on non mobile sites, it ends up offering you a birds' eye view. By which we mean a view of a load of coloured blobs on a screen. You really have to make good use of the zoom function in order to see smaller images and read any text. Zooming in to get a better view of text tends to be quite smooth, although we were often left with extremely jaggedy pixellated images after a zoom-in. In fact, some websites rendered very pixellated, and even dedicated mobile sites suffer this same fate. Sharing of links is quite easy, and you are given an option for this in the browser's menu. RIM has also given you the option to send the link in an email, via SMS, MMS or BlackBerry Messenger. The other standard feature is the inclusion of bookmarks, and you can sort these by named folders to keep things tidy.
Messaging: Moving on to the all important messaging, the Curve 3G has its bases covered. As you might from any handset in the BlackBerry family, the Curve 3G features enviable email capabilities and BlackBerry Messenger for instant messaging other BlackBerry users for next to nothing. All the messaging options including the traditional SMS, MMS and email is very easy to set up, having it integrated into the handset at every opportunity. You also have the option to set the default option for each contact to be email rather than calling, if you wish to do so. We do not have to remind you that the BlackBerry handsets have always excelled at email. Setting up a webmail account is as easy as inputting your address and password. The options include Gmail, Yahoo and Windows Live addresses. As and when you set up your email addresses, you will be able to opt to have your contacts for each synced with your address book. As with most of the other BlackBerry handsets, including the Bold 9700, you have the option for your SMS and MMS messages to be routed to a universal inbox that also receives emails from each of your accounts. This makes it easy to check all your accounts at once, although it can be a little annoying if you are not sure which account has received which messages.
Some of the other killer messaging functions in the Curve 3G are the ones that all other BlackBerry handsets offer, including the BlackBerry Messenger or, as the kids call it, BBM. This is a real boon, especially for the cash strapped user; you will be able to save your text messaging pennies for the friend who do not own a Blackberry and BBM other BlackBerry users for no charge if you are on a BlackBerry plan. If you have plans of moving to the BlackBerry Curve 3G from another BlackBerry handset using the same SIM, the Curve 3G will set up your existing account and disable the one on the old handset.
Backup: Gone are the days when you will not be able to use BlackBerry Desktop Manager with Apple Mac computers, now you can quite happily back-up, restore and sync your BlackBerry Curve 3G, even if you are completely without any PC. The software is pretty straightforward to use, much easier than the complicated, non-intuitive efforts from the likes of LG and Samsung. You can pick what playlists to sync to your BlackBerry Curve 3G in an iTunes-like interface likewise with calendar events, contacts, notes and tasks. Creating a backup file is just a process of two clicks, and if you are in the secret service or just a bit paranoid, then you can encrypt your essential data from within the Manager. It is really disappointing that the Desktop Manager does not include a quick and easy way to import your images and videos, though, and there is no overview of your applications already stored on the handset.
Music playback: BlackBerry OS 5 is not known for its brilliance in the media arena. While the BlackBerry Curve 3G does display track information and album artwork, the music player is very basic. It does offer you the option to shuffle or continuously play albums, artists and tracks, however. The other notable features in the field of multimedia are the ability to either build your own playlists or command the BlackBerry Curve 3G to create an automatic playlist featuring artists of your choosing. There is no FM radio available, so have to make sure you have plenty of music tracks to listen to. The music quality is average even through the high quality Sennheiser in-ear headphones; but be happy that it is at least than the BlackBerry Curve 3G's built-in speaker, which is tinny and awful. You can also control the media player by using the buttons on the top of the handset. This controls both the audio and video players.The audio files are supported include MP3, AMR-NB, AAC-LC, AAC+, eAAC+, WMA, Flac, Ogg Vorbis.
Video playback: The Video playback is not particularly brilliant quality on that 320 x 240 pixel screen, but the video player is quite nippy, and it skips happily between clips. If you do not have much stored on the handset, you can visit YouTube within the mobile browser; we would recommend sticking to the Wi-Fi to do this. The video formats supported on the BlackBerry Curve 9300 3G Phone include MPEG4, H.263, H.264, WMV9. The image gallery displays all your photos in a pleasing thumbnail layout, but viewing them on such a small, low-quality screen is not exactly satisfying. Uploading images to Facebook and other social networking apps is very simple, there is an option in the internal menu for that. However, there is no such option for sending videos to social networks though. You have to share them via the traditional way of email or Bluetooth. It is true that this is not the best handset for anyone looking to video blog on the go. If that is the case, we would point you in the direction of the iPhone 4 for its front-facing camera, or the Sony Ericsson Vivaz which records in HD and makes sharing videos super easy.
Maps: The native Google Maps app on board the BlackBerry Curve 3G is not the worst we have seen. A recent update has vastly improved matters. Getting directions between locations has suddenly become much easier; it is just a matter of simply filling in clearly marked boxes with your destination and locations. Although the maps are accurate and much easier to use  after the all important update, the maps could still be a little slow to load when you are out and about and relying on the 3G network. The compass, however, is brilliant; it is quick, accurate and easy to navigate by. It is just as well that Google Maps come pre-loaded, given the monstrousness of BlackBerry's own native maps app, which is clunky, confusing, slow and generally makes life difficult for the user.
Performance: Call quality: The sound quality is quite impressive with the BlackBerry Curve 9300 Smartphone. The voices are quite clear and easily audible to both parties. The handsets of mid and lower price range suffers a lot on sound quality ; the Nokia X6, for example, is atrocious, and even high end handsets like the iPhone 4, as we know, can suffer on mobile-to-mobile calls. So it is great to see that RIM has not skimped on the BlackBerry Curve 3G. The reason for the good sound quality might have been down to great reception. The 3G reception has full bars most of the time.
Connectivity: Using the 3G in areas of good reception is a breeze. When the signal is full, downloading is a quick and easy matter, browsing the web was not too painful, social networking apps updated quickly and emails were in and out of our inboxes like hipsters to a Starbucks. Too bad, that as soon as signal drops a notch, the handset becomes a little unstable; it becomes very frustrating and unreliable. Luckily the Wi-Fi fares much better, there are no problems maintaining a signal, and web based services are notably quicker. The Bluetooth connection is also fine, and the BlackBerry Curve 3G does offer A2DP connectivity, so you should be able to use wireless headphones with no problems.
Battery: The Blackberry Curve 9300 3G Phone lasts two full days on one full battery charge, and it gets very touch-and-go towards the end of day two. It is just about in line with what RIM has stated for the handset's battery life; it offers 4.5 hours of talk time, 29 hours of music playback or 19 days of standby time. Speaking physically, the battery is tiny, which no doubt helps the BlackBerry Curve 3G retain its low weight.
Box contents: The box and accessories are pure RIM. A charger with UK/EU adaptors, stereo headset, data cable and a user guide.
Warranty: The BlackBerry Curve 3G 9300 comes with 1 year warranty for parts and labour. Verdict: Like its fellow Curve handsets, the BlackBerry Curve 3G is one of RIM's highly capable handsets aimed at a more youthful, fun-loving consumer than the traditional business customer. It is quite similar to the rest of the Curve range, including the BlackBerry Curve 8500 with which it shares its external media controls. The design is slightly updated, though, and the 3G connectivity gives it an edge. The BlackBerry OS 6 update, on its way to the handset in the coming months, will set it apart from older models like the rest of the BlackBerry Curve range. You can find the Curve 3G online for free on a £20-a-month, 24-month contract. You can also pick it up for around £280 SIM-free.
The BlackBerry Curve 3G 9300 is quite a decent smart phone. Its new QWERTY keyboard is likable, though it is not as good as the Bold 7000. Without any questions, the messaging and email tools of this BlackBerry are top notch. The call quality and reception is just top notch. With the BlackBerry OS 6 upgrade imminent, the interface can only get better, and we are looking forward to advanced media features, meaning we can take full advantage of the physical media buttons atop the Curve 3G. On the other hand, the screen has a comparatively low resolution is one of the ways that RIM is able to keep the cost of the handset down, but for media fanatics it just will not cut it. The 2 megapixel camera is woefully restrictive. Similarly, the clunkiness of the menu system and the onboard browser will frustrate until you can upgrade the software. For a mid range handset, the BlackBerry Curve 3G stands up well. If you are after an email machine with occasional web browsing and a spot of media playback, then it will suit you down to the ground without costing you a fortune and with BlackBerry OS 6 just around the corner, things can only get better.
You can check Cheap, Best Blackberry Deals in our exclusive Deals Section for Blackberry Smartphones.
BlackBerry Curve 3G 9300 Smartphone - Technical Specification Table
Manufacturer RIM
Model Name BlackBerry Curve 3G 9300
Announced 2010
3G Network Yes
Form factor Candy bar
Dimensions (H x W x D) 4.29 x 2.36 x 0.55 inches
Weight 104 grams
Display Type Transmissive TFT LCD
Display Resolution 320x240 pixel colour display
Colours supported Over 65,000 colours
Input and Navigation Trackpad located on front face of device, ESC key to the right, Menu to the left, Full QWERTY keyboard with backlighting
Voice input and output 3.5mm stereo headset capable, Integrated speaker and microphone, Hands-free headset capable, Bluetooth® headset capable, Integrated Hands-free speakerphone and M3, T3 Rating for hearing aids
Speakerphone Yes - 3.5 mm audio jack
Phonebook Memory Yes
Call records Yes
Memory 256 MB flash memory/256 MB SDRAM
Card Slot Expandable memory - Support for microSD card
Tri-band UMTS networks (800/850)/1900/2100MHz and 900/1700/2100 MHz
Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE networks 850/900/1800/1900MHz
3G HSDPA
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g WPA / WPA2 Personal and Enterprise Cisco CCX certified Wi-Fi® access to BlackBerry Enterprise Server Wi-Fi access to BlackBerry Internet Service Support for UMA
Infrared No
Bluetooth Bluetooth® v2.1; Mono/Stereo Headset, Hands free, Phone Book Access Profile (PBAP) and Serial Port Profile Supported. Bluetooth Stereo Audio (A2DP/AVCRP)
Camera 2MP camera, Fixed focus and Video recording
Features 3G network support, Optical trackpad, Full QWERTY keyboard, Simultaneous voice and data, Email and text messaging, BlackBerry® Messenger, Instant Messaging, Phone, Browser, Camera and video recording, Wi-Fi, GPS, Media player, Organiser, Bluetooth, and Tethered modem
Video Format MPEG4, H.263, H.264 and WMV9
Audio Format MP3, AMR-NB, AAC-LC, AAC+, eAAC+, WMA, Flac, Ogg Vorbis
Ringtones and Notifications Tone, vibrate, on-screen or LED indicator, Notification options are user configurable and 32 Polyphonic Ringtones - MIDI, MP3
OS Blackberry OS6
Messaging SMS, MMS, Email and Instant Messaging
Browser HTML
Radio No
Games Yes + downloadable
Colours available Black
GPS Built-in GPS functionality Includes BlackBerry® Maps
Device Security Password protection Keyboard lock
Battery Type 1150 mAHr removable/rechargeable lithium-ion cell
Battery Standby up to 19 days, UMTS - up to 14.5 days
Talk time up to 4.5 hours, UMTS - up to 5.5 hours
Warranty One year
http://www.blackberryreviews.org.uk/

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Blackberry Curve 8520

The word BlackBerry will automatically make you think of stuff like email on the move and easy, flawless, seamless communication. You imagine it as a business device, office on the move, smartphone. What you do not think, if you are being honest, is entertainment, feature rich specification or all round connectivity. Because, let us face it, the BlackBerry is an ‘almost’ device, on the way from the business market to the consumer market, an ‘almost’ device in the sense that it is almost a fully fledged consumer handset, but there is always something missing; a WiFi here, a HSDPA there and a GPS elsewhere.
In a nutshell, the Blackberry 8520 is an entry level Curve that has introduced a new fangled track-pad to replace the quite annoying track-pad on the previous Curve models. The 8520 offers a full QWERTY keyboard, a basic camera, mobile e-mail and a media player, plus good memory, connectivity and a solid range of fun features that will tempt even the most diehard suit-hater. But it seems to have cut corners with the display, camera and lack of high end features that are common in most smartphones. RIM's BlackBerry Curve 8520 provides an inexpensive entry into this alternate phone reality, and we think you might just like it, read on to find out why.
Design: A smart Smartphone: The Curve 8520 feels more like a stripped down version of the BlackBerry Curve 8900, leaving the jazzy chrome trim for a rubbery edge. You will be able to feel the fact that it is a less expensive phone, but it still feels solid and sturdy, and the rubber edge should come in as a rescue for those with sweaty fingers hang on to the device. However, this sleek, shiny finish does come with a foible. The outer casing attracts more fingerprints than any other BlackBerry, so you'll be wiping away smudges from dawn until dusk. The 8520 will have instant familiarity for anybody who has used one of BlackBerry's Curve handsets, except for one new addition, about which we will see shortly.
Spoiled for choice: The Curve 8520 Smartphone comes in a range of different colours, which just highlights the fun loving attitude of the phone. The colours include Purple, white, Purple and as always, the good old Black. If you are one of those Uni students, we do not recommend the black version as it might get stolen in no time. We just cannot stress this enough as the black version is really an appealing one, and the purple version might keep the preying hands off, as it just looks like baby puke. The handset itself measures 109mm in height, 60mm in width and 13.9mm in depth, and weighs in at 106g; the lightest BlackBerry yet.
Display: The displays on recent BlackBerry phones have been quite stunning, and if you are a regular visitor of our site, you must have noticed that we could not praise enough of them. And, fortunately the screen of 8520 did not disappoint us either, despite having a lower resolution than the 8900's 320 x 240 pixels, compared to 480 x 360 pixels. However, at 2.46 inch it is relatively small by today's smartphone standards, so it feels a tad cramped when you are using the web browser. The transmissive screen is also nice and bright making videos and pictures look surprisingly vivid.
Welcome track-pad: The major difference between the Curve 8520 and the other BlackBerry bush devices is its new optical track-pad, which has replaced the company's iconic, mini trackball, or 'pearl' as RIM liked to call it. This is a change that we know you will love. Said that, it really needs to deliver the goods. We had been fairly disappointed with optical touch-pads on devices like the HP iPAQ Voice Messenger, but thankfully the one employed on the 8520 is in a totally different league. The track-pad is very much similar to a mouse pad on a laptop with a flat surface that responds to your touch, but, we have to also mention that it seems to be insanely sensitivity to make up for its teeny-mini size. Like the Pearl, you can press down on the track-pad to select an item. For those people who have been using a BlackBerry with a Pearl, it may take a little time to get used to the experience, but soon you will find it is more responsive.
It is a pleasure to use as it is both accurate and responsive and really we really did not miss the old style track ball at all. You can also adjust its horizontal and vertical sensitivity to customise the speed at which it zips around icons on the screen. And, since it does not stick out from the body and get gunged up with dirt and crud, it makes the device easier to be popped into a pocket. So, it does not come in as a surprise that RIM has announced that the track-pad will be the one employed for navigation on many of the new BlackBerry models, mainly because it has no moving parts and so is less prone to dust and dirt. And we are glad to see this innovation making its debut on a cheaper phone.
The Qwerty: As you can imagine, real strength of the Blackberry Curve 8520 Smartphone lies in its Qwerty keyboard and messaging features, making it a dream smartphone for social networkers. The 35-key backlit QWERTY keyboard is excellent as ever. The keys are a little small, but as they are slightly raised they are quite easy to hit with your fingers and thumbs so tapping out emails will never be an issue.
Buttons and Ports: As we had mentioned earlier, the track-pad does not stick out from the case like the old trackball, the manufacturer has now designed the four main buttons under the display such that they sit completely flush with the screen giving the handset a much sleeker look than previous Curve models. RIM has also made a few changes in some of the other controls. For instance, the lock and mute buttons have been bid goodbye at the top of the screen to be replaced by a row of three rubberised media transport controls including two track skip keys and a play/pause button. The traditional side mounted buttons have also now been 'weatherised', hence they are not as exposed to the elements as they used to be. A microUSB port allows media content to be synchronised using BlackBerry Media Sync.
We appreciate the 8520's standard 3.5mm headphone jack, but it's placement on the side of the phone is quite awkward, rather than at the top. When you have a pair of headphones plugged in, the connector will be jutted out to the side, giving you a hard time sliding the Blackberry into a pocket or bag. Since, the port is a standard 3.5mm one, if you do not like the supplied headset you can swap it for your own cans, although you will lose the hands-free functionality.  MediaSync, which lets you sync your Blackberry to iTunes, is included in the box.
Blackberry Curve 8520 UI: Most phones have similar user interfaces with no major differenced to help with intuitiveness for its consumers, but since the BlackBerry evolved along its own branch of the phone family tree, it can take some getting used to if you are new to the Blackberry family. For others, it is right out there sticking to the simple icon-based BlackBerry look, with customisable shortcuts at the bottom of the screen and large, clear icons in the main menu. We found that the User Interface of the 8520 was generally easy to navigate, although we have a few quibbles. For instance, the default menu icons are hard to make out, and some people may find that they have just too many options to deal with.
The BlackBerry UI is also starting to feel rather out dated when compared to the jazzy interfaces that are flaunted by the popular bad guys like the HTC Hero. For instance, the address book is a boring list of names unembellished by any styling or added functionality. There are a few fun features too in there, just open a contact and you will be able to view their Facebook profile picture and you will also able to download apps that jazz up your contact list, home screen and other areas. Neatly arrayed beside the App World icon are the email, phone lock, media manager, web browser and instant messaging icons. Any of these can be switched for other applications if you prefer, while pressing the BlackBerry hardware button just below the screen brings up a list of installed programs and features. You can move items, archive them in a folder, hide or delete them all using the BlackBerry button. When you are using an application this button acts as a context sensitive menu, so while the camera is in use it will let you switch to video camera mode, adjust camera white balance, image size or add effects.
Features: Memory and Processor on Curve 8520: Behind the battery cover you will also find a microSD card slot, and fortunately you do not have to remove the battery to switch cards. A 2GB microSD card and 256MB of on-board memory provide a great start for slapping a good number of tunes and photos onto the phone. Memory cards of up to 16GB to be accepted; and once they become available, 32GB microSDHC cards will be usable with the device. We found the handset responded quickly to our inputs, with a 512MHz processor moving things along nicely and with little lag.
Connectivity: Connectivity is also a bit of a mixed bag. The absence of support for 3G will put the brakes on your browsing while you are out and about, but it is not that you cannot surf at all as it is still possible, especially for data light tasks like sending tweets. Fortunately, this blackberry phone does have WiFi connectivity, which fastens things up when you are on a wireless network. And, there is also Bluetooth for use with car kits or stereo headsets. EDGE does make an appearance, although that is not much faster than GPRS. That said, the lack of 3G is not really all that noticeable when you are using the 8520 for e-mail, thanks to BlackBerry's clever compression technology. However, it is an entirely different story with the web browser as when you are away from a Wi-Fi signal and working over the mobile EDGE network it can be dead slow to load pages in the browser.
Browsing: Despite the small screen and lack of 3G support, the usual everyday surfing experience the net on the browser is pretty decent as it feels responsive and is easy to navigate using the onscreen cursor via the optical trackpad. It seems to be better than on a typical phone with a small screen and sans any track-pad, but not that good when compared to the one on a Webmeister like the iPhone. A big advantage here is that you can directly enter a web address and go straight to the site in question. This is far more straightforward than on many devices, which attempt to reroute you to their own portals. Web pages look clear and accurate, but you will be irritated to having to zoom in to click on smaller links. For some pages, that added a couple of clicks where none were necessary. It also does a pretty good job of rendering sites, although it does muck up the formatting every now and again on some of those complex pages. For the ultimate test we browsed to YouTube.com, at which point we were prompted to switch to WAP for media streaming.
BlackBerry App World: Blackberry has also gone up against the competition with its own app store, easily accessed by the 8520. Since the BlackBerry App World is on-board, finding and installation of apps is as easy as baking a ready to bake cake. The BlackBerry App World link is of course pre-installed and features prominently on the uncluttered main screen. RIM says it now has more than 2,000 approved apps and these can be easily searched through by type, price, reviews rating and so on. Installed apps and their status are listed. A decent variety is on offer, from the more frivolous games and shopping apps to more handy travel and news information. There are several amazing apps available, although they are pricier than in competitors' app stores, with a minimum price of about $3 (£1.80).
You might ask us “Why the heck are you quoting US dollar prices for?” Excellent query! The App World displays prices in dollars until you have logged into your UK PayPal account for the first time, and the prices in sterling are based on the US prices, and so, they will fluctuate with the exchange rate. So, a PayPal account is a must. Although this does help you keep better track of what extras you are spending rather than putting it on your bill at the end of the month, it makes the process more drawn out, having to enter your details every time rather than just a quick click solution.
Social Networking: You will fall in love with the solidly built applications for sites like Facebook and Twitter, along with the instant messaging app, and you can download extras for Facebook and Myspace for free via the BlackBerry App Store. They combine with a full Qwerty keyboard, which makes long messages to be typed easily and accurately, making it a social butterfly's fantasy phone.
Messaging and Email: As with all BlackBerry devices the 8520's messaging features are top class. Its instant messages support is excellent with ICQ, Google Talk, Windows Live Messenger and Yahoo Messenger all present and correct. It is a shame that there is not just one app that can sign you in to all of these at the same time preinstalled, but downloading BlackBerry App World will eliminate this issue, with a whole variety of apps at your fingertips. You are allowed to set up as many as ten email accounts, and, since the smartphone supports 'push' mail, you will be able get messages as they arrive, rather than waiting for your inbox to update itself.
Office: The Documents to Go suite of apps is preinstalled, allowing you to view Word, Excel, PDF and image files on the move. You will not be able to create documents though; this is a feature reserved for the premium version of the application.
Calls: Since the RIM Blackberry Curve 8520 Mobile Phone is quad band compatible, you will be able to use it in most countries around the world. And, as with most of the BlackBerry's we had tested previously its call quality is simply mind blowing. The ear piece is quite nice and loud, the mic is not over directional and even the speakerphone function works quite well, boosted by the beefier speaker RIM has used for this model. Dialling does not seem to be as straightforward as on other phones, mainly because the number keys are mixed in with the letters. On the purple model, you will find them hard to read.
Any missed calls or emails awaiting attention are indicated onscreen. Details of a missed call can be viewed or the message dismissed, but you are not automatically shown the name or number of the caller. A single click allows you to add a caller's details to your address book however.
Camera: The camera, on the other hand, is a bit disappointing, especially for a device that's primarily aimed at consumers. The videos are very watchable and photos look good in the 8520’s display, although you will not get any spectacular pictures out of the 8520's 2 megapixel camera with 5x zoom. The camera does not have any flash, but it does shoot video. We were pleased to find that photos could be taken in a matter of seconds, with virtually no load time and you get options to save it, send it as email or MMS or to Send To Facebook, MySpace or Flickr. Photos taken outdoors in good light look decent, but as the camera lacks flash or autofocus, it really struggles indoors leaving you with dark and noisy photos.
Zooming is now noticeably faster and smoother. Curiously, RIM has not taken advantage of this to allow the zoom to be used while recording video. You must choose a zoom setting and stick with it for the duration of the recording. We liked the fact you can pause and resume video recording, though, and we impressed with the effectiveness of the device's internal microphone. The videos look a tad jerky and the resolution is no match for that of the best video phones such as the LG Viewty or the Toshiba TG01.
Music: Listening to music on the Curve 8520 Wo-Fi enabled Phone is a pleasant experience. Windows Media Player and Apple iTunes libraries can also be imported and there is an effective on-device search function that makes it fast to find a track, album, video clip or image you want. The ability to rename media items as you save them or on the device, as well as to add captions to media files you send as MMS messages is another boon. Video format support covers MPEG4, H.263, H.264, and WMV3, as well as DivX and XviD, along with support for MP3, AAC, AAC+ and WMA music files.
You will find three dedicated music keys on the top to control the good times. We are glad to know that the music plays on while you are doing other things just like the iPhone, but we would have loved to see some information on the home screen about what is being played. In fact, the home screen as a whole seems like a waste of real estate, since the default setting only includes six shortcuts along the bottom of the screen. Certainly this is not a phone you would buy for the camera or music capabilities but these features do at least increase the appeal.
No GPS: Unfortunately, there is no GPS support offered, however you can always use Google Maps, which triangulates your position using mobile phone towers. It does not seem to be as accurate as GPS, though.
Budget Blackberry: As we had mentioned earlier, the Blackberry Curve 8520 is targeting mainstream users rather than those who would traditionally buy a smartphone. This is reflected in it is price too as you can get the 8520 from free on a £25 per-month contract. It is also available for about £200 SIM-free. This certainly is pretty cheap by smartphone standards and so, at this price, it is likely to attract more Blackberry virgins.
Battery: Charging is via mini USB but actually, you do not have to do this too often. One of the traditional strengths of BlackBerry devices is their long battery life and here the Curve 8520 is no different. Battery life on Curve 8520 claims stand at 17 days standby and 4.5 hours talk time. From a full charge you will get around three days of heavy usage out of it for emailing, phone calls and a bit of web browsing, which is very very impressive.
Warranty: The BlackBerry Curve 8520 comes with 1 year warranty for parts and labour.
Verdict: RIM's BlackBerry Curve 8520 is a solid, reasonably priced introduction into the world of the CrackBerry, and this will give a larger part of the community a chance to find out what the addiction is all about. The BlackBerry Curve 8520 is certainly a little light on features, with 3G and GPS the most serious omissions, but the phone still manages to rise above these limitations. The excellent social networking and messaging apps, long battery life, combined with a Qwerty keyboard, make the 8520 a worthy option for social networking addicts, although they will surely feel the absence of 3G connectivity on board. It is a great choice for those who want more than a standard mobile, but have not got the cash to go the iPhone or HTC Hero route. And, as always, it is suitable for messaging moguls as it is for business people who want to combine their work phone with a personal device.
Check Cheap, Best Blackberry Deals in this website.
Blackberry Curve 8520 Smartphone - Technical Specification Table
Manufacturer RIM
Model Name BlackBerry Curve 8520
Announced 2009
3G Network No
Form factor Candy bar
Dimensions (H x W x D) 4.29 x 2.36 x 0.55 inches
Weight 105 grams
Display Type High-resolution Transmissive LCD
Display Resolution 320 x 240 pixel colour display
Colours supported Over 65,000 colours
Display features Light sensitive screen User-selectable font size
Input and Navigation 35-key backlit QWERTY keyboard Optical trackpad located on the front face ESC key to the right of trackpad Menu key to the left of trackpad
Dedicated keys Send/Power, End, Mute, VAD (User customisable), Camera (User customisable), 2 x volume/zoom
Media keys Forward, Back, Play
Voice input and output 3.5mm stereo headset capable, Integrated speaker and microphone, Hands-free headset capable, Bluetooth® headset capable, Integrated Hands-free speakerphone
Speakerphone Yes - 3.5 mm audio jack
Phonebook Memory Yes
Call records Yes
Memory 256 MB flash memory/256 MB SDRAM
Card Slot Expandable memory - Support for microSD card
Modem RIM® wireless modem Tethered modem capability
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g WPA / WPA2 Personal and Enterprise Cisco CCX certified Wi-Fi® access to BlackBerry® Enterprise Server Wi-Fi access to BlackBerry® Internet Bundle Support for UMA (carrier-dependent)
CDMA Dual-band 850/900/1800/1900 MHz GSM/GPRS networks
CDMA Dual-mode 850/900/1800/1900 MHz EDGE networks
Bluetooth Headset profile (HSP) Handset profile (HFP) Address book integration using AT commands and using OBEX (Object Push) Phone book access profile (PBAP) Serial port profile (SPP) Secure simple pairing (SSP) Stereo audio (A2DP / AVRCP) Dial-up networking (DUN)
Camera 2MP camera 5X digital zoom Fixed focus Video recording
Features Optical trackpad, Full QWERTY keyboard, Email and text messaging, BlackBerry® Messenger, Instant Messaging, Phone, Browser, Camera and video recording, Wi-Fi, Media player, Organiser, Bluetooth, and Tethered modem
Video Format MPEG4, H.263, H.264, WMV9
Audio Format MP3, AMR-NB, AMR-WB, QCELP EVRC, AAC-LC, AAC+, eAAC+, WMA9, Windows Media 10 Standard/Professional
Ringtones and Notifications Polyphonic/MIDI ringtones MP3 ringtones Vibrate mode LED indicator
OS Blackberry OS5
Messaging SMS, MMS, Email and Instant Messaging
Browser HTML
Radio No
Games Yes + downloadable
Colours available Black, White, dark purple, Violet, Silver, Red and grey
GPS Built-in GPS functionality Includes BlackBerry® Maps
Device Security Password protection with keyboard lock Sleep mode AES or Triple DES encryption with BlackBerry® Enterprise Server Optional support for S/MIME FIPS validation
Battery Type 1150 mAHr removable/rechargeable lithium-ion cell
Battery Standby up to 19 days, UMTS - up to 14.5 days
Talk time up to 4.5 hours, UMTS - up to 5.5 hours
Warranty One year
Source : http://www.blackberryreviews.org.uk