BlackBerry Unlock Codes

The Gmail app for BlackBerry has been kicking around for quite a while now, yet many users won’t give it a second look. I can’t really blame them, since having a BlackBerry means having a BIS or BES, so who needs an app for email? Although my BIS email is for my main accounts, I do have some shared email addresses that I don’t want being pushed to my device, so this is where the Gmail app comes in handy (I’m sure there are some other good reasons to use it as well). While not totally perfect, its not terrible either. It does have some great features as well as some really bad ones. Hit the jump for a look at what its all about.

The login screen, plain and simple. Toss in your email address and password and you’re up and running. Once you login you’ll see your inbox.
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Popularity: 30% [?]

One of the things that annoy me is *ring* oh, hold on. I’m getting a call. Hello? Sorry wrong number. Where was I, oh yes, so what annoys me is when you *ring*, just a second. Yes hello? No. No sorry. No I don’t want a sign up. Put me on your do not call list. Sorry about that. As you can probably tell it’s those types of calls that get under my skin. I’m talking about the unknown/private numbers that make your BlackBerry ring. Every time one of those sneaky calls come in, you are unsure if you should answer or not. Is it important? Is it an emergency? Is it an ex? Is it a telemarketer? There are only two ways to find out; answer the call or wait for a voicemail message.

PrivacyStar takes the power from the unknown and places it back into your hands. Besides blocking the unknown/private numbers, you can also perform reverse lookups, block numbers from your call log and also report any numbers that do not adhere to Do Not Call lists. Let’s get into it before I get anoth *ring*…sigh…

About PrivacyStar

PrivacyStar was developed by First Orion Corporation and launched in December 2009. According to their website, the application is available for BlackBerrys running OS 4.5 or higher (both touch and non-touch). CrackBerry App Store says version 4.3 is also supported. The version that was reviewed was version 1.0.67, which has a file size of 1.1 MB. In order to use the PrivacyStar application, you will need to set up an account with them first. PrivacyStar is available on a subscription basis, costing users $2.99 per month.
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Popularity: 60% [?]

Technical Specs and Key Features for the BlackBerry Torch 9800

Official word of the highly-anticipated BlackBerry Torch 9800 is finally here! Below you can find the tech specs and key features list for the new BlackBerry Torch 9800 Smartphone. The Torch 9800 introduces  a lot of new stuff for a BlackBerry – a new form factor, new product family name, a new camera and it debuts the BlackBerry 6 operating system. Take a look and keep it locked to CrackBerry.com for our full BlackBerry Torch Review (hopefully coming soon!).
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Popularity: 40% [?]

The BlackBerry Curve 3G is the next iteration of one of Research In Motions top selling devices. The latest in the Curve series brings 3G to the GSM side and also boasts its BlackBerry 6 readiness despite having been launched with BlackBerry OS 5 preloaded.

While many BlackBerry users have moved onto a Bold 9700, Bold 9650, Torch or even a Storm series device the Curve series still remains a top seller for Research In Motion and the latest revamp does that particular product line justice.

So no, it’s not going to be a device for the hardcore BlackBerry user that needs the latest & greatest but it serves well to those who need a nice, functional and cost effective BlackBerry. It certainly cries out to those out there who may still be using a feature phone and are looking to make the jump to an easy to use smartphone. Read on for the full review after the break.

BlackBerry Curve 3G Hands On Video:

BlackBerry Curve 3G Hardware Impressions:

Appearance, Form Factor And Build Quality:

When looking at the BlackBerry Curve 3G many folks are quick to point out that it looks exactly like the BlackBerry Curve 85xx. Now, while this isn’t an incorrect statement, I personally found that the look of it is more similar to that of the original BlackBerry Curve 8300. The bezel on the 85xx series devices are flat and less streamlined where as the bezel on the BlackBerry Curve 3G has lines in it and seperates itself from the phone.

My first impression when taking it out of the box was not that it looked and felt like an 85xx but rather an 83xx device. I’m not saying this is a bad thing either. The BlackBerry Curve 83xx devices were/are tough and the BlackBerry Curve 3G feels just as durable, whereas the 85xx series did give way to a feeling of “cheapness”.

The build quality on this round of the device feels much better. More solid feeling than that of the 85xx series. The trackpad is higher and more raised up where the 85xx series seemed to have them sunk in a little bit too far. As well, the area for the Call, Menu, Back and End keys has been enlarged as well, making them easier to get at and allowing users more “play area” to hit the right buttons when needed.

Keyboard:

The keyboard is always a sticky point for me to cover. Ever since the release of the BlackBerry Bold 9000 I have become accustomed to that style of keyboard rather than that of any Curve series device. The only BlackBerry Curve I owned on which I really enjoyed the keyboard was an AT&T Curve 8900. The keyboard on the Curve 9300 is no exception to that. New or previous Curve owners will feel right at home here, but those who have enjoyed the comfort of a Bold style keyboard may have some issues adapting as the keys really do feel like I’m pounding away on Tic Tacs. Granted the keyboard (at least on this unit) was seated firmly and had no wobble or give to it. It was nice and tight as a keyboard should be.

Battery Life:

Going into testing this device coming off of using the BlackBerry Torch was like a dream come true. The battery life on the BlackBerry Torch 9800 on the latest OS is really not all that good, so using the BlackBerry Curve 3G reminded me of just how long a BlackBerry battery should last. With the BlackBerry Curve 3G using the standard 1150mAh batteries, I was under the impression that it may suffer a little bit due to the 3G but this was not the case at all. Research In Motion has worked hard on the radio stack in the OS’ and this device is a prime example of that.

In the end, the BlackBerry Curve 3G on a full charge while using WiFi and occasionally GPS lasted me a full day. Remove the WiFi and GPS usage and I pushed a day and a half out of it just using email, Twitter and BlackBerry Messenger. I’m sure I don’t need to say it but I will — I never used the browser much because quite honestly, coming off of using the BlackBerry Torch it really just irked me to have to use a BlackBerry OS 5 browser again. But the few times that I did use it, it had minimal impact on battery life.

Phone Quality And Signal Attenuation:

Incoming and outgoing calls on the BlackBerry Curve 3G were an interesting test. I compared it with that of the Torch, Bold 9700 and 8520. Out of all those devices, the Bold 9700 leads the pack for me with the 8520 coming in last. Where would I place the 9300? I’d have to place it ahead of the 8520 but not ahead of the Torch, which would be next in line after the 9700. Calls were loud and clear most times but occasionally it would give a rather hollow sound off and even a slight echo. Rogers has great coverage in my area so I really do think this was more of a device issue rather then a carrier/network issue.

In regards to “death gripping” it, again, I have awesome 3G coverage from Rogers everywhere I go in my city as the above pic shows, even cupping the bottom of the device doesn’t cause any drop in signal at all. I’m not going to go all out and say the experience will be the same for you, because chances are it certainly won’t be. One of the factors for the whole attenuation issue was that you had to be in a lower quality signal area in the first place, thus covering the device would likely weaken it even further. Where I am soaking in 3G it’s safe to say attenuation is not a problem on any of my devices. The only exception to this rule thus far has been a Nexus One that I own which doesn’t run on Rogers 3G as it’s T-Mobile branded.

Camera And Video Quality:

Honestly, nothing to write home about here. It’s a 2 MP camera with no flash — you really cannot expect too much from it. Yes, it does fine for those quick pics of the kids, friends and Grandpa trying to muddle his way through using an iPad for the first time, but other than that you’re not going to want to be capturing your precious moments with it. Although in my family, Grandpa using an iPad is pretty precious and well, bloody hilarious. Video is the same way — great for quick clips and grabs but you’re not going to be filming your wedding with it that’s for sure. In the days of 5, 8 and 10MP devices, no one is buying a BlackBerry Curve 3G for the camera or video capabilities.
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Popularity: unranked [?]

Today at an exclusive AT&T/RIM event held in New York City we had the chance to play with the newest device in RIMs arsenal — the BlackBerry Torch 9800. A mix of touchscreen and familiar QWERTY keyboard, this is the first slider BlackBerry and looks like it could possibly be the best BlackBerry to date. It will also be the first device to have BlackBerry 6, RIMs latest “revamped” OS. The Torch will be officially available for purchase on August 12th for $199 exclusively through AT&T (for now). While you’ll have to wait a few weeks to get your hands on one, we had the chance to play around with it and see whats new both with the device itself and the all-new BlackBerry 6 operating system. Read on for our first impressions.

BlackBerry Torch Specifications

• Size (LxWxD) Closed: 4.4″ x 2.4″ x 0.57″ / 111mm x 62mm x 14.6mm
• Open: 5.8″ x 2.4″ x 0.57″ / 148mm x 62mm x 14.6mm
• Weight: 161.59 g / 5.7 oz (includes battery)
• Operating System: BlackBerry 6
• Memory: 512 MB internal flash memory/4GB built-in storage memory
• Expandable Memory: 4GB microSD card included/Supports up to 32GB microSD card
• Battery Life: GSM Talk Time: 5.5 hours; GSM Standby Time: 17 days/MTS Talk Time: 5.8 hours; UMTS Standby Time: 13 days
• Physical keyboard: 35 key backlit QWERTY
• Touchscreen keyboards: portrait/landscape full qwerty, condensed portrait
• Display: High resolution touch screen – Half-VGA+ display (360 x 480 at 188ppi)/3.2″ (diagonally measured)
• Navigation – Capacitive traditional touch screen (no SurePress)/Optical trackpad
• Camera: 5.0 MP camera, flash, auto focus, face detection, image stabilization, scene modes, 2X zoom, video recording
• Video Camera: Normal Mode: 640 x 480 pixels
• WiFi: 802.11b/g/n, support for UMA (carrier-dependent)
• Bluetooth v2.1; Mono/Stereo Headset, Hands-free, Serial Port Profile, Bluetooth Stereo Audio (A2DP/AVCRP) and Bluetooth SIM Access Profile supported

BlackBerry Torch 9800 Hands On Video

Hardware

Picking up the device you just want to touch it. Not because it’s a touchscreen, but because it just feels amazing. The construction on the device is as solid as it gets, and it just flows well and feels amazing in your hand. If you didn’t know it was a slider, you really wouldn’t even want to open it. The first things you notice are the screen (same size as the Storm) and the familiar BlackBerry buttons (Send, Menu, Back, End) as well as the optical trackpad. The right side the volume buttons, headset jack and convenience key, while the left side has only the microUSB port and a left-side convenience key is noticably absent. Sliding the device open reveals a full QWERTY keyboard buried stealthily below the screen. The sliding does not feel cheap by any means. As you glide it open you can feel it go where it needs to be and click into place. There is no in between or looseness in the process. Once open the Torch looks a bit odd having a big display over top of the full keyboard, but it doesn’t feel top heavy or off balanced at all as we previously suspected it might. Sliding the device closed is just as easy, and once there it is not at all loose or prone to open. The back of the Torch resembles that of the Storm to an extent having the camera/flash on top and the battery door below. The battery door looks to be brushed aluminum and has a very solid feel, and again no looseness at all. Inside you’ll find the battery, microSD card and SIM all strategically tucked away.

The keyboard holds the same basic design as both the Bold 9700 and Tour models, but it is surprisingly thin. It takes a bit of getting used to, but once you get going it is as smooth as a BlackBerry keyboard can be. Same goes for the on screen keyboard. In either potrait or landscape mode typing is easy and accurate. Change the device orientation with the keyboard open and there is almost no delay as it switches between portrait and landscape. At heart the Torch resembles the Bold 9700 only with double the internal memory (512MB).  The display shines bright and looks amazing at 480×360, but a higher resolution display would have really tricked this guy out. The camera gets an upgrade to 5MP which is a very welcome addition, and includes face detection, flash, multiple modes and much more. There is a new viewfinder and “scenes” that allow for different types of images, most notably the zero-lag sports mode. Video recording sadly isn’t much improved (still no HD) and is slightly better than the bold 9700 at 640×480. Navigating around the homescreen was both amazing and fun with BlackBerry 6 (read more below) but it did take all we had not to press in and try to get the screen to click.

Software

Where oh where do we begin on this one? Ever since we saw the first promo video of BlackBerry 6 back at WES 2010 we’ve been chomping at the bit to play around with it — and now, for the first time we have. A collective “wow” gets inserted here. It would take forever to sum up all the new features, but BlackBerry 6 is where it’s at. The homescreen has five views — All, Favorites, Frequent, Media and Downloads — all of which serve their purpose and do it well. Dragging up the tray from the bottom of the screen reveals your icons, and you can then swipe left or right to change views. Scrolling through was quick and easy and there was really no noticable lag. Tapping an icon opens the application, alternatively you can use the optical trackpad to get around as well.

Some great “shortcuts” have been added into BlackBerry 6 as well. All of the items in the banner are now clickable. Click the signal indicator to jump to Manage Connections, the clock to open the Clock app, message alerts to see your Messages and the profile icon to change your profile. Very cool.

Overall there is a really a new coat of paint all around. The application switcher has been updated allowing for easy flow between apps. It has a new look and is much improved which should make for much easier multitasking. Icon menus are much cleaner and things just look amazing.

Save the best for last? Of course! How bout that WebKit browser??! Its what a browser on BlackBerry should be. No longer will we avoid using it (admittingly we have in the past). Tabs, speed, pinch to zoom and more – its all there. MUCH more on this to come so stay tuned.

Ultimately the Torch is where its at. We’ll have loads of BB6 and Torch coverage in the coming days, so keep it here as things get rolling.

Related BlackBerry Torch 9800 / BlackBerry 6 Review Links

• BlackBerry 6 Review, FAQ and New Features
• BlackBerry Torch 9800 Features and Specifications
• BlackBerry Torch 9800 Images and Photos Gallery
• BlackBerry Torch 9800 Video Unboxing
• BlackBerry Torch 9800 Tear Down Photos
• Comparison: New BlackBerry WebKit Browser vs. the Competition

Other BlackBerry Torch 9800 and BlackBerry 6 Links

• BlackBerry Torch 9800 Accessories
• BlackBerry Torch 9800 Cases
• BlackBerry Torch 9800 Apps, Games and Themes
• BlackBerry Torch 9800 Wallpapers
• BlackBerry Torch 9800 Ringtones
• BlackBerry Torch 9800 Community Forum
• BlackBerry 6 Community Forum

Popularity: 1% [?]

Coming from a BlackBerry that I loved, I wasn’t very excited to switch to a device I wasn’t used too. The Torch is completely different from any BlackBerry that I have used and to be honest, it is the best. Being a full time student and working a part time job I need a phone that is reliable, has a million features, and can withstand the wear and tear of teenage girl.

As we all know, we wouldn’t be on crackberry.com if we didn’t, that BlackBerrys are perfect devices for any type of person. Whether you are a business man who needs to stay updated on the stock market or emails, or just a leisure user who loves being able to tether on the beach, BlackBerry is the way to go. I have loved having a reliable device no matter what I need done, whether to send an email, check the latest updates on the coolest social networking sites, and to call, text, and of course BBM all my peeps. Using the Torch makes every single one of these easier.

Like multiple users I was ready for the new OS. I didn’t care what type of device that BB6 came out on, I had to get my hands on it. Now using the Torch, I love having a touch screen and having a hardware keyboard. It is the perfect mix. I came from using a 9530, so I figured I would be only using the touch screen, but I actually use the hardware keyboard and the track pad more then using the screen itself. Comparing it size wise to other devices, other then being a little thicker it is relatively the same size. I really have no problems with the way the device is set up. I think the vertical slider is unlike any smart phone out on the market, therefore giving it a new edge to the smart phone competition.

Now we get down to the OS. I love it! Although there are of course a couple times where the menu gets stuck on it’s side or gets frozen half way through a quick slide to the next menu, the UI is pretty much awesome. One thing I always wished my 9530 had was when the icon for a new message showed up you could just click it and it would bring you to it, so when I found that was a new feature with BB6 I was pumped. It is definitely one of my favorite features! I also get frustrated scrolling through the menus. Because the touch screen is so responsive and fast, it sometimes decides to scroll when you are clicking on something.

Unboxing my new device I was so excited to get it up and running. I was pumped for the new webkit! I put my Sim card in and was about to get started when the error message came up on the screen. Because I am running the device on T-Mobile, there are no service books to get the browser working. There is a way to get it working which you can look in the forums for, but since I am still traveling I had no way of doing so. The browser does work if connected to wifi, which is helpful. I will be downloading those service books soon though!!

I was also extremely devastated to find that SocialScope is not yet running on BB6. I have depended on SocialScope for all my social networking needs since I downloaded it! Although on of my favorite things about the Torch is that it has it’s own social feed built into the OS. So even though you can’t use SocialScope, RIM did try and make it up to us.

BBM, of course, is amazing! I would not be able to live a day without being connected to all my people. Nothing has really changed within BBM on the Torch, but if there is no change that means there are no new flaws or bugs to complain about!

The Torch has definitely changed the way I use BlackBerry. It is still the same amazing BlackBerry with email and all that good stuff, now it’s just in a new sexy device with a new and near flawless OS. This device is what all of us users and abusers and have been looking for from RIM for awhile. I can say that switching carriers for this device was totally worth it.

Popularity: 30% [?]

If you’ve been waiting for the BlackBerry Torch 9800 to arrive on Rogers then today is your lucky day. If you head on over to the Rogers website right now you can place your order for only $199.99 on a new 3 yr contract. Of course, if contracts aren’t your thing you can go no contract but that will set you back $609.99. So, who on Rogers is going to be ordering one? Maybe holding out to see what other carriers offer in terms of pricing? Let us know in the comments folks, we’re curious to see how well sales go in Canada for the Torch.

• Click Here To Head On Over To The Rogers Website To Learn More About The BlackBerry Torch>>

Popularity: 40% [?]

Unwanted SMS messages are annoying. It seems like every week I get a new one, promising I have won something, or that my debt can easily be erased. Sure it’s easy enough to just delete the message and forget about it, but what if you could eliminate it from ever hitting your device?

This is where Don’t Disturb Me! (DDM) from Mobile4Life comes in. This app is the ultimate firewall for your BlackBerry. With DDM you can block SMS messages by sender’s number or by keyword, so you don’t have to receive them. You also have options for being notified when a message has been blocked, and you can configure how the message is handled from there. This is great if you get a lot of spam or harassing SMS messages.

Features:

• Block SMS by sender’s number or number prefix.
• Block SMS by user defined keywords.
• Use “safe sender” list to ensure your important sms will not be blocked.
• Use password to protect DDM’s setting
• Backup number/keyword/safe sender list to SD card or restore from SD card.
• Display block indictor and number of sms blocked on top of screen.
• Configurable sound/vibrate/led notification when blocked a SMS or totally key silent.
• View detailed infomation of blocked SMS and reply it.

You can pick up Don’t Disturb Me in the CrackBerry store for $2.99 until September 30th when it returns to the normal price of $3.99. A free trial (50 blocked messages) is also available if you prefer to try before you buy.

Popularity: unranked [?]

Meebo, the web service that offers online instant messaging across multiple social networks has rolled out their BlackBerry client in beta form. Users looking for a better way to keep all their social network friends together can now download the free application to their devices to get started. The application, which uses a custom built UI allows you to access your Meebo account on the go. Since Meebo supports AIM, Yahoo, GTalk and more you shouldn’t have to really worry about not being able to stay in touch again. You can learn more about Meebo via their website and if you’re wanting to take the application for a spin, registration can be completed on your BlackBerry. Hit the link below to download and view more details about the Meebo for BlackBerry app

• Click Here For More Information And Downloads>>

Popularity: unranked [?]

Coming off my 8330 I was more than excited to pick up a Tour 9630 the day it was released. I was one of a dozen or so people in line at my local Verizon store, and was in and out in a few minutes. I rushed home to get up and running on my new device. I fell in love with the higher resoution screen, keyboard and all around design. Thankfully I didn’t have the trackball issues like some, but my battery door did come loose at times. I was happy to finally have the latest device on Verion’s network (not such a big fan of AT&T or T-Mobile here in New Jersey).

Enter the Bold 9700. The feel of the device combined with the trackpad and overall “smoothness” just left me thinking “where is my CDMA version”? Rumors started flying, and sure enough talk of the Tour 2 popped up. Wifi and a trackpad on my Tour? Yes please. As with everyone else I was asking why Verizon didn’t do it right the first time with the release of the 9630, but hindsight is 20/20. Months down the road, doubled memory, a trackpad, Wifi and a bit of rebranding leaves us with the newly released Bold 9650. Read on for my review.

Straight up out of the box you just think “Tour”. The trackpad is the obvious difference, and aside from the Bold branding on the back it’s the same device … on the outside. On the inside we have juiced up memory to 512MB (in preparations for BlackBerry 6) and the addition of Wifi. The Bold 9650 feels great all around. Its a bit bigger than the Bold 9700 I’ve been using for the past few months, but nothing I won’t be able to get used to. Holding the device is a bit different as it takes up more “hand space”, but again I’ll get over it. I love the 9650 keyboard (as I did the Tour) and mostly that I can get back on Verizon since the service is sooooo much better than that of T-Mobile where I live. Having the Wifi on a CDMA device is kind of a first for me since I never used a Storm2 and only rocked out the 8530 for a week or so. I was never a big believer in it in the past, but after having the Bold 9700 I really can’t see myself without it. The back of the device has the large battery door, and thanfully it isn’t loose and wobbly like my old Tour 9630. The site buttons and convenience keys are in the same place, with the exception of the micro USB port having dropped down a bit for some unknown reason. The placement of the port still is a mystery to me since it gets in the way if you try to type with the device plugged in.

Features

• Optical trackpad for easy and fluid navigation
• Built-in Wi-Fi® (802.11 b/g)
• Push to Talk feature
• VZ Navigator® version 6
• VZ Navigator Global capabilities
• Mobile e-mail and messaging capabilities
• Large (2.45″) high-resolution display (480 x 360 resolution at 245 ppi)
• 3.2 megapixel camera with flash, variable zoom, image stabilization, autofocus and video recording
• Advanced media player for videos, pictures and music; a 3.5 mm stereo headset jack; and support for the Bluetooth® Stereo Audio Profile (A2DP/AVCRP)
• BlackBerry® Media Sync to easily sync music as well as photos
• Easy mobile access to Facebook®, MySpace and Flickr® as well as popular instant messaging services, including BlackBerry® Messenger
• Support for BlackBerry App World(TM), featuring a broad and growing catalog of third-party mobile applications developed specifically for lackBerry smartphones
• 512 MB Flash memory and an expandable memory card slot that supports up to 16 GB microSD(TM) HC cards (a 2 GB card is pre-installed)
• Full HTML Web browser, streaming audio and video via RTSP
• Built-in GPS with support for location-based applications and services as well as geotagging
• Premium phone features, including voice-activated dialing, speakerphone, and Bluetooth (2.1)
• Support for high-speed EV-DO Rev. A networks in North America as well as single band UMTS/HSPA (2100 MHz) and quad-band EDGE/GPRS/GSM networks abroad
• Removable and rechargeable 1400 mAhr battery for up to 5 hours of CDMA
  talk time

Hardware

On the outside everything feels great. There is no wobbly battery door, and the side buttons/convenience keys feel solid. The keyboard is a welcome change from my 9700 and I like the feel of it a bit more, and the fact that it is a touch wider than that of my 9700. The LCD fits flush all around with no annoying gaps anywhere. The trackpad and send/end buttons flow right through to connect the keyboard and LCD. Overall nothing is loose or non-fitting and the Bold 9650 feels well constructed. At first glance the micro USB port seems to be in the same annoying place as the Tour 9630, but as we know now it was moved down a bit for some unknown reason. I still can’t stand the placement, and if I had to pick the biggest downside of the device this might just be it. If you try typing at all with the device plugged in, you have to create a whole new style just to work around the poor placement of the port. It is definitely much better suited at the top of the device on either side where it is out of the way should you need to use the device while charging.

Verizon Bold 9650 Keyboard

Verizon Bold 9650 Left Side View

Verizon Bold 9650 Right Side View

Verizon Bold 9650 Back View

All of the buttons feel solid. The convenience keys aren’t loose at all, and the top buttons flow well into the device and don’t stick out at all. I did find the trackpad a bit “clicky”. Yes I know its supposed to click .. but it just feels/sounds like it clicks a bit more than it should, almost like its not a fluid motion and it catches on something. I’m sure this will be fine over time and either go away or just not bother me. Another interesting thing I found was trying to type on the keyboard. I was actually thrown off by the red keys on the number pad. They kind of messed with my head since I’ve been using the Bold 9700 and the keys are all the same color. Odd I know, but it was interesting and actually slowed down my typing a bit until I readjusted. I do love the large keyboard though and find it easy to type on as I did with the Tour.

Software

On the inside the Bold 9650 is juiced up. 512MB (around 300MB free) means there is plenty of room to keep things running smooth. With the planned BlackBerry 6 right around the corner, this device will be ready to roll upon release. The Wifi is probably the best addition to the device (maybe its a tie with the optical trackpad) and I’m super excited to have it. Aside from those points things look pretty much the same. All the standard apps are here including BlackBerry Messenger, BlackBerry App World, calendar, tasks etc. The device also has icons (to download apps) for Twitter for BlackBerry, Skype, VZ Navigator, IM clients and a number of other apps.

From the start the Bold 9650 runs smooth. The boot time is quick (keep in mind its out of the box with no 3rd party apps, messages etc) and navigating around the OS is great. When first starting it feels as if the OS has to settle in before navigation is totally smooth. But overall once you get going there is no noticable lag time getting around, and it just feels like a solid OS. There is no saying what errors may pop up, and if/when Verizon will drop an OS update. Overall we can expect this OS (5.0.0.699) to hold up well for now, and hopefully won’t be a problem as was the original OS on the Tour 9630.

The battery life already seems better than that of the Tour 9630 as well. I barely made it through a day using the one battery on my 9630, and using an extended battery didn’t help all that much. The 9650 seems to last quite a while longer. I’m not sure yet if it fully compares to that of the Bold 9700, but it is definitely doing it’s part to get me through a day with avarage usage.

Hands-On

One of the first things I noticed about the Bold 9650 is how amazing the call quality is. I honestly don’t make many calls from my device, but in testing the other party sounded crisp and clear on a number of calls. The device fits well in the hand, but for some may be a bit of a stretch for one-handed use. It is a bit wide so depending on your habits it may be hard to hold for some. I do like the rubberized sides and back as they help for the grip when typing. The keyboard feels smooth and there is no snagging on the keys typing was extremely easy. The keyboard does look a bitte more “matte” than the glossy-ness (I made that up) on the Tour 9630. The trackpad feels good and there is no difference in height to the send/end buttons. The convenience keys were easy to use, although I noticed the right-side key didn’t have much movement so it was almost hard to tell if it was pressed or not. I do find the rubberized battery door to be annoying at times. It feels weird when holding the device, and kind of rubs my fingers the wrong way if I move around too much. I’m sure I can adjust to it, but I actually notice it quite a bit when typing. There are no large gaps or protruding parts on the Bold 9650. I did notice a bit of the rubberized side right over the headset jack sticks out a bit. Its nothing to worry about since it can easily be forgotten, but if I remember correctly my Tour was the same exact way. Nothing else sticks out where it shouldn’t, and everything feels very well put together. The device is solid and should stand up to a long life of use.

Verion Bold 9650 & Tour 9630 Side by Side

Verizon Bold 9650 & Tour 9630 Right Side View

Verizon Bold 9650 & Tour 9630 Left Side View

Verizon Bold 9650 & T-Mobile Bold 9700

Final Thoughts

Overall I feel that the Bold 9650 is a great device for CDMA users. We always seems to get left in the dust when it comes to the “latest and greatest” devices, so this device is a welcome relief (at least for now). Having Wifi, the optical trackpad, 512MB of memory and global options make this one of the best devices yet. Its a matter of opinion if it beats out the Bold 9700, but for CDMA users I think its the best offering thus far. I’ll play around a bit more and hopefully crank out a comparison between the two. As far as CDMA goes I think this guy will win out for sure.  If you’re a touchscreen fan you will most likely want to hold out and see what lays down the line, but Curve 8300, 8830 and Tour users (pending upgrade) should definitely consider the Bold 9650. If you’re jumping from another device or a new BlakcBerry user, this will be a much welcomed upgrade and you will no doubt love it. I’m still not totally sold on switching back from my Bold 9700 however. The 9650 is a good bit larger and heavier than the 9700, so I think I’ll have to weigh out the pros and cons on both to see who ends up the final winner and “full-time” champ.

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