By: Troy Gayle of Gadget-T.com
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Are you still an avid Blackberry user, despite the growing number of iPhone and Droid fanatics? For those of you who still have Blackberry fever (aka Crackberry addiction), you have the last laugh, because RIM is still the smartphone market share leader in the U.S.!
In celebration of this fact, we decided to grab some facts on the newer models and see how they measure up!
Everyone could agree that RIM has come a long way with their Blackberry devices, from 2-way pagers to phones to a plethora of apps. Most everyone could also agree that there is a new trend – and almost necessity these days – in mobile communications and computing… the tablet. Well, here is the next step in the evolution of Blackberry, a tablet dubbed the PlayBook.
It was reported by PC Magazine to be the best tablet at the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) out of over 75 models! With accolades like that, it may be on track to be the iPad killer. It’s a stand-alone tablet that is also meant to compliment your other Blackberry devices running OS6.
There’s no price available yet, but there will be a Wi-Fi only version released soon, and Sprint will release a 4g version this Summer. Here are some quick specs:
– 7-inch display w/ 1024 x 600 resolution
– 5 megapixel rear camera, 3 megapixel front camera
– 1GHz dual core processor, 1GB of RAM
– Wi-Fi, HDMI out, and stereo speakers.
And here is the PlayBook in action at CES in Las Vegas, January 2011:
As far as current availability, there are a few options that appeal to both the business and recreational user. The three most recent are very different physically, but all of them will give you that Blackberry experience you have come to know and love.
The latest gem of a Blackberry to hit the streets is a clamshell-style phone called the Blackberry Style 9670, currently available through Sprint.
If you’re one of those people who drops your phone in a pocket or purse with no time to lock the keyboard, the Style was designed with you in mind. The flip design allows you to read messages as they arrive on the external screen, and opening the phone reveals the keyboard. It’s available in black or bright purple – who said your business phone has to be boring?
Next is the Torch 9800, available though AT&T and Wirefly. It’s the first Blackberry slider, which combines the increasingly popular touchscreen with the classic keyboard. In my opinion, it has a sturdy solid construction, yet it’s still pretty light for it’s size. Check the video clip for the rundown:
The popular Bold is back with the 9780 version, available on pretty much every carrier you can name. The 9780 runs on OS6, which improves the user experience with increased media functionality and universal search function – a welcome change!
T-Mobile customers, if you’re mad at your Sprint and AT&T friends for rubbing their new Blackberry models in your face, never fear! You’ll have a G4 Blackberry line available to you sometime this year, and you’ll be ahead of your Curve!
Stay current with Blackberry-specific news at Crackberry.com and BlackberryCool.com!
Be sure to check out Gadget-T.com and follow them on Twitter @Gadget_T for product news, reviews and personal tech consulting!
