Foreword

Despite fairly stable market shares and also the BlackBerry maker has to fight research in motion (RIM) in the past few years with the change in the mobile phone or smartphone segment based on this solid performance of the figures. Specifically, together thus suspended, fundamental questions are how much the company actually formerly specializing in the business customer segment with a view to the growing consumer market can maintain the said specialization and whether, and if yes, to what extent, a re focus of the portfolio could contribute to a continued positive development.

This essential, strategic questions have been answered already in the context of product launches in parts: BlackBerrys enjoy thanks to some adaptation also increasingly under “conventional” users of more popular, what is due the stronger taking into account of the multimedia functionality.

< div >

BlackBerry torch 9800 included (photos: Arne Mueller)

Having well a year ago the bold 9700 (computer base test) tested a top BlackBerry through its paces, it has now with the torch 9800 again managed a RIM device to us that – at least in the domestic portfolio – not least thanks to the new BlackBerry OS 6 potentially has the right to the Crown and attractive to make the platform at the same time by an increased focus on the multimedia factor to an even wider audience. The following should be clarified in particular considering the new operating system, extent to which this potential is actually absorbed.

The test sheet was kindly getgoods.de us from the online retailer available. For this we want to thank hereby.

Specifications

)

Torch 9800 overview

Optics & processing

Earlier was that BlackBerrys never a touchscreen have – a paradigm quarried long ago more or less successfully. Earlier also was never designed BlackBerrys in the form of slider. Also it is now: the torch of 9800 is in a sense the funkiest so far device of RIM since both aspects are brought together, so that you can make input both a full QWERTY keyboard and a capacitive display.

There may be surprises but also elsewhere in the first contact with the new BlackBerry. Although the mass with 111 x 62 x 15 mm (L x W x H in mm) closed fall out pretty conventionally (at least if one is aware that slider devices by their very nature are slightly higher built), but the weight of the Smartphone but surprised the unprepared user: with weighs 161 grams of RIM representatives almost as much as the Colossi desire HD (computer base test) or Optimus 7 (computer base test). Here like there is addressed this but not per se a criticism, but must every potential users in this case be aware, that the Smartphone of possible desire not just to the helmets is to count.

Visually little surprisingly, between the Storm-and the bold series, which is obvious in this respect, the two key issues of the two series – touch screen of the storm, find full keyboard of the bold – input in the design of the new device moves the 9800 similar the Palm pre plus (computer base test) as a whole. Accordingly, you will encounter two central elements: on the one hand the 3.2 inch LCD screen, the entries are possible in closed, on the other hand on 3 x 5 cm positioned real keyboard which complementary when open can be used.

< div >

Torch 9800: the Palm pre (plus) visually not dissimilar

Below the display and therefore between the screen and keyboard a number with five mechanical buttons is also, that in addition to the power button (at the same time “stop call”) a forward as well as the options button, and a central, quite thick input button trackpad function, as well as the obligatory “Accept call” contains button. One sees from the Enter button, the first objective criticism is at this point with a view to build quality, as the single point of these buttons by the Bank away vaguely turns out.

The slider mechanism as such to work solid, so that the torch of the feeling can be her best move. The weight is doing well balanced so that you feel has never, that the device could überkippen front. Yet another revealed here written, this time conceptual weakness: due to a too narrow print area you slips at the postponement to the just mentioned button series, resulting in wild access of different menu more often. In addition, that here the overall average quality is particularly noticeable: who shakes the 9800 slightly, can hear a led the slider mechanism, quiet Clack – perfectly processed devices listen to otherwise.

< div >

The Aufsliden can it happen that you caught the button series

The leaders set with regard to the choice of materials, continuously to plastic. The display border and the front of the hull of the devices are designed in attractive black or black grey lacquered; the back, however, presents itself with a haptically average rubberized plastic shell. Between the auricle and display a subtle BlackBerry logo, as well as the very sensible, RIM typical LED were placed, indicating, inter alia to new E-Mail messages. The 5-megapixel camera with LED flash is centrally on the back. The Division of other interfaces and buttons are as follows: while the slightly rounded bottom remains free, was the lock button, as well as a mute button on the left side of the USB slot at the top and placed on the right side 3, 5 mm jack, volume rocker and camera trigger.

< div >

Impressions for interfaces distribution at the torch 9800

All in all makes an average impression the torch 9800 in terms of “Optics & processing”. While you certainly can argue about the design, give the build quality and design at some point reason for strong criticism.

Operation & surface

Who is pleased with the operation of the observed in the wild that rare combination of capacitive LCD screen and full keyboard, is basically like the torch 9800. And also for skeptics said that such a connection of standard controls has its appeal.

Who wants to namely only incidentally take a look at email or the browser or write a short message, this can be done resolution display without further handles the 3.2-inch, somewhat disappointing with these days in the price range 480 x 360 pixels – here the torch of the popular smartphone offer in the control logic is not different. But now, it is pleasant at any time having the possibility, via slider on the comparatively thin, back to grab but sufficiently large and equipped with crisp single point keyboard, so that longer emails or the editing of Office files also and especially in combination with the extremely comfortable go touch screen of the hand. Just for the mobile office – and here are RIM devices by always characterized – one has to do so with a quite meaningful design. Course, the operation is complemented by the aforementioned button series, which offers all common features such as “Back” or “Properties”, as well as a rudimentary trackpad.

< div >

Full keyboard and button series-the torch 9800

Both the aspects of “Speed” and “Representation” move it in areas of solid but not groundbreaking. Although very neatly, accordingly an average performing LCD responds to inputs, but that take themselves on a 624 MHz processor and 512 MByte fast and on smaller pause based device and even standard activities such as the zoom in the browser via finger Dodge go long not so smooth by the hand as with many competitors. At this point, you will notice that probably is focused on other things, what would basically go in order, if also the price would be a somewhat more moderate.

&Lt; div > “BlackBerry OS 6″ Photo Gallery (7 images)

Operating system technology, a tangible innovation can are listed, because on the torch of 9800 RIM shows the new BlackBerry OS 6 for the first time, as well as some improvements in the multimedia section (see next section) brings some little things such as a universal and therefore somewhat arbitrary search, as well as Visual and structural changes such as an improved Coverflow in music and a purification of the options and determining target with it. This one has copied in part from the competition – in parts you go your own way. So you will now encounter an administration as well as a notification bar at the top of the display: while you get a direct overview of the status of the set including signal strength, time and date of the former, visualizes the latter the new E-Mail or text messages or missed calls and provides the search function as well as the profile option.

< div >

BlackBerry OS 6 homescreen

Instead of another home screens, a slightly unkonventionellere when compared to the competition Division used also comes in the new RIM OS: about that at the bottom of the display, hochziehbare main bar can be “Frequently” and “Downloads” horizontally through the sections “All”, “Favorites”, “Media”, scrolled, where all relevant content is displayed below the raised bar. At this point it takes for a getting used seafront and less customisable, but no later than after two days of very catchy system, which is a reasonable evolution of the status quo.

Multimedia

In addition to the already-handled Visual and structural review, the new BlackBerry OS 6 represents in particular the attempt to bring the platform in terms of multimedia on the State of the time. Accordingly, many concrete changes or new features concern precisely this area.

This is noticeable, for example, in the photos. Here some new settings and effect modes such as automatic face detection and different scene presets have entered. In this regard perhaps the most important aspect is to find where the automatically are autofocus with conditional working speed: photos can be shot at a time away without multiple pressing of the shutter button and thanks to quick save in nimble order. The quality of the 5-megapixel camera image moves this at a surprisingly high level. Although one may expect snapshots at best especially in low light conditions despite LED flash – below average the visited especially during the day, contrary to our first concern is not. Videos are recorded in VGA quality moderate – a shame that RIM will continue the media offensive does not at this point and the 9800 on the basis of a stronger hardware equipment the filming videos in applied up to 720 p.

< div >

Ordinary quality: when the photos of the test candidate surprised

The other significant substantive innovations of BlackBerry OS 6, in particular the revised WebKit browser is to count. Rather than deliver a groundbreaking new work, the heave the platform to the current standard, because finally surfing is no longer one of the major shortcomings of the BlackBerrys. Thanks to some development work, the browser of 9800 Web pages such as the mobi Edition of computer base loads in acceptable 6 seconds, so that is a member of the times in which a more complex Web page took easily 30 seconds loading time, now also on RIM devices of the past. Also presentation and user-friendliness fall out (Flash is not supported (yet?)), significantly better pinch-to-zoom, automatic adaptation of the content of the display width and a simple bookmarking and Favorites sharing thanks to multi-tab and HTML 5 support as yet in the previous versions. Up to now biggest weakness of BlackBerrys belongs to with OS 6 on the torch of 9800 of thus clearly the past.

That the new OS 6 intended to overcome some shortcomings in the field of “Multimedia”, is evident also in the consideration of the aspects of “Music” and “Video”. At this point, some resources have been invested to make the platform especially visually and structurally more attractive. So you can see a sizeable Coverflow on the torch of 9800, with by finger pulse by the coming and already played tracks can be scrolled. Also the video player has experienced a Visual update, so that thumbnails are created, for example, automatically – the somewhat old-fashioned appearance of the previous version is skillfully thus at this point broken up.

Principle on this basis for all media junkies, that the 9800 thanks to a full codec support and 3, 5 mm jack without any problems can be used as a MP3 player. Due to the moderate resolution and screen size of video consumption, however, turns out not intoxicating – for by enjoying the visited but also in this case is always.

The still central function of BlackBerrys is the sending and receiving e-mail in the case of torch 9800. Of course, also the new device with the interesting business BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES), as well as relevant retail BlackBerry Internet service (BIS) works. In the framework of the former E-mail using Microsoft Exchange, IBM are pushed GroupWise Lotus Domino or Novell to the device, with an interesting variant for small businesses was created with BES Express. About to up to 10 POP3 or IMAP4 accounts on the torch of 9800 can retail – provided a corresponding rate at one of the relevant provider – forward. This is done in practice our experience as expected easily: messages existing UMTS-connection via the BIS by o2 with a delay of no more than five minutes were pushed as part of our approximately two-week test, which is a totally reasonable value.

The Other app-facilities turns out on the torch of 9800 work conventionally and therefore completely sufficient. In addition to the popular social network and a YouTube client, the device thanks to BlackBerry OS 6 on a so-called “social feeds” has application in the all status updates from the aforementioned networks and, where necessary any RSS feeds can be bundled. Moreover, in addition to third IM applications of the BlackBerry Messenger; all podcast fans will be pleased also that also for this media type, a separate client has found indentation. Other facilities include an application manager that allows the applications and their resources needs to administrate be and standard programs such as a calculator, a notebook and the game of BrickBreaker. Of course, world can be retrofitted in this case about the BlackBerry App ready holding now approximately 10,000 applications. The visited this moves on average level, usually something cost worthwhile downloads. It is commendable that purchases over the provider Bill paid and once purchased programs when devices change thanks to BlackBerry ID may be transported easily. An export of downloaded apps on a SD card is here unlike in Android but not possible.

For synchronization, the new and very clear despite optical review and comfortable BlackBerry Desktop software version 6 can be used, E-Mail accounts, media files, and calendars with a PC or Mac can be matched with the. Music files can be synchronized for the first time even over Wi-Fi. Apart from that the device is detected but also as a removable drive, so that also classic drag & drop can be used.

Communication

At the communications equipment getting delivered the State-of-the-art with the torch 9800 almost. Thanks to UMTS (HSDPA / HSUPA) works to mobile with theoretically up to 7.2 Mbit / s download and 2 Mbit / s in the upload. Further facilities include 2.1 the fast WLAN (802.11 b / g / n), as well as Bluetooth.

Transit times

RIM promises 9800 comparatively realistic for the torch talk time of five and a half hours and a standby time in the field of 17 days. Even if these details be less utopian than accustomed to many competitors, they are not very practical course, in this case.

< div >

Transit times moves the 9800 in midfield

Instead, it can be said that the times in which the BlackBerrys belonged to the real time runners, probably finally thing of the past. A comprehensive facilities, as well as an average large touch screen provide also in this case for that in conventional use, the device must be hung at the latest after one and a half days for a short hour to the network. Because, for example, particularly email-rich days further press this value, it can be assumed that power users must briefly without the torch after eight hours at the latest.

Conclusion

Research in motion presents a BlackBerry, which can convince in many ways with the torch 9800. Nevertheless one should any allegations, stating that it is one of the current best RIM devices and thus even may is the new business reference, meet with caution.

There are too many points that can provide at least a slight tweak in the pit of your stomach. Build quality is foremost to: even if one as is so often absent can argue about the design, is no doubt that here some quite significant problems or conceptual weaknesses can find be. As main points are in this context the barely existing surface to the postponement, the klackernde slider mechanism, as well as the choice of materials: for for a Royal prize you instead of “Plastic only” can expect also Royal materials.

The same applies also for the speed and appearance. Here is the new torch – mind you moving at a cost of currently about 500 euros – in good but just not in very good climes. The new BlackBerry shines with an excellent display, nor with an impeccable performance. To avoid confusion from the start: pause and an average well performing displays are a cause for criticism, especially in the productive sector, not automatically, but you must always consider such circumstances in this case in the context of the respective price.

The core criticism aims thus to the basically visited, but rather on the price / performance ratio. Leaving that aside, the aspects mentioned so also essential points can be found: the new, especially in the multimedia area a real development performing OS 6, the surprisingly solid camera quality and the generally successful combination of a good, full keyboard with a decent and responsive display the outstanding examples are here.

It is also in this case, that is not all gold what shines. For this reason, the final recommendation is: who is looking for a good BlackBerry and can support with the mentioned combination of touchscreen and real keyboard, look at necessarily closer the torch 9800. Strike one should however unless the prices for the free version to at least 100 euro are dropped. In the meantime: with the bold 9700 or even 9000 exist also in the House of RIM still excellent alternatives to bridge.

Availability & prices

The torch 9800 is available since end of October and can be purchased from the relevant providers within different contracts and prices. In the free version must be expected with a price of currently about 540 euros upwards (current price).