My OperaThe "Robb Review" on the BlackBerry Bold
Sunday, February 8, 2009 3:15:07 PM
I have been spending some time with the BlackBerry Bold thanks to Colombo at C4 Communications and let me tell you... what a change from the norm! Top of my list...SPEED!!
First of all I am not impressed with the UI. Although it is much better than the previous "BlackBerry" UI that is used with the earlier versions of the device, I alter mine so much that this new one does not move me. I do like the fading in and out with selects. Another thing that I noticed was that it has no other themes except for a colorless version of the one that you see when you take the phone out of the box. That was disappointing. I am a theme person and I like to change the looks of my UI based on... well... whatever.
Now let's get into what it has. After installing the new OS update to my Curve, I was not surprised to see certain features that were presented in the Bold. I always complained about the music player and how I could not easily create playlist on the fly but that has been addressed and I noticed that you do not need a 3rd party program to do this. Just choose the song and "add to playlist". You can then create a new one or add it to an existing playlist. Videos have been fun with an 8Gb card installed. I converted a few of my movies and put them on my phone to check out the performance. This worked out great! I actually had a movie that I did not have time to watch and I ended up watching the whole movie on my time as it presented itself. It was fun (if you don't have an issue looking at small screens). The time of actually watching it, I forgot that I was watching it on the Blackberry. The pictures and ringtones sections look and feel pretty much the same as the older versions. I did notice that they now put the voice recorder list in the multimedia area more than likely to integrate it a bit but I still use VR+ for recording (I hate the time restriction) so I reaaally don't care about that. If you don't have it, get VR+. I recorded a whole seminar and all it took up was a handful of MBs... sweeeet. Speaking of multimedia... Since this phone also runs on the 3G network, I decided to try to enable and try the CV (Cellular Video) that AT&T offers. I would have to say that I find this very fun, providing the 3G service is available. I have not had any problems out and about but at my house it is in and out but I can deal with that. There are a lot of video clips and stuff to look at with the CV. I give this new streaming ability a plus. I am also able to view Youtube videos from the mobile Youtube site. My other streaming programs like Slacker Radio have had no problems what so ever. No hiccups, under buffering or stops. Great connection methods on this phone.
The camera on the Bold looks great but I think that the video camera is a little bit laggy. You have to move the camera around a bit slow so you don't get the "hyper-space" effects in the video. When I updated the OS on my Curve and it added the feature of video to my camera it was obviously just a added "fun" thing and I do have to say that the Bold is not that much away from that but for a BlackBerry... it is nice and I still plan on using it at those times that I need something quick for a funny moment. With a 3rd party software like Facebook on the device it will allow you to upload your videos and pictures right to your account seamlessly.
The task list and calendar has been redone to add cool new features and eye-candy. I will quickly throw some items out like the ability to utilize different colors for your appointments based on your accounts. I have made all my work appointments and reminders in blue and my personal entries red. Now at a glance I can see what is what. I also like the new task list icons. They looked almost identical in the older OS version but you can now see what is undone, in progress and complete at a glance.
I can go on forever about this device like how the email is cleaned up and the BlackBerry browser has been updated nicely (although I use Opera) but I will try to wrap this up. In my opinion, this is the FASTEST BlackBerry on the market today! You can tell easily by just viewing the application list. It opens in no time. I also have been able to use nearly all of my personal and work bought software using the benefits of speed and additional connectivity to make my job easier and more efficient. My Mobile Admin software that I use at times to administrate my company's network runs great and did I mention about the speed of this thing!?
My overall rating for the BlackBerry Bold is a 8.5 out of 10
Due to the quality of the vid-cam, the still limited voice note recorder and the lack of themes out of the box I have to take a point and a half away. Don't let this fool you. I am a power user that looks for the "ultimate" in my electronics. I have not even gone into the way I have tricked out this device integrated it with my life. For a typical user the Bold is a big jump from the previous devices and packed with mega speed that will keep a smile on their face.
First of all I am not impressed with the UI. Although it is much better than the previous "BlackBerry" UI that is used with the earlier versions of the device, I alter mine so much that this new one does not move me. I do like the fading in and out with selects. Another thing that I noticed was that it has no other themes except for a colorless version of the one that you see when you take the phone out of the box. That was disappointing. I am a theme person and I like to change the looks of my UI based on... well... whatever.
Now let's get into what it has. After installing the new OS update to my Curve, I was not surprised to see certain features that were presented in the Bold. I always complained about the music player and how I could not easily create playlist on the fly but that has been addressed and I noticed that you do not need a 3rd party program to do this. Just choose the song and "add to playlist". You can then create a new one or add it to an existing playlist. Videos have been fun with an 8Gb card installed. I converted a few of my movies and put them on my phone to check out the performance. This worked out great! I actually had a movie that I did not have time to watch and I ended up watching the whole movie on my time as it presented itself. It was fun (if you don't have an issue looking at small screens). The time of actually watching it, I forgot that I was watching it on the Blackberry. The pictures and ringtones sections look and feel pretty much the same as the older versions. I did notice that they now put the voice recorder list in the multimedia area more than likely to integrate it a bit but I still use VR+ for recording (I hate the time restriction) so I reaaally don't care about that. If you don't have it, get VR+. I recorded a whole seminar and all it took up was a handful of MBs... sweeeet. Speaking of multimedia... Since this phone also runs on the 3G network, I decided to try to enable and try the CV (Cellular Video) that AT&T offers. I would have to say that I find this very fun, providing the 3G service is available. I have not had any problems out and about but at my house it is in and out but I can deal with that. There are a lot of video clips and stuff to look at with the CV. I give this new streaming ability a plus. I am also able to view Youtube videos from the mobile Youtube site. My other streaming programs like Slacker Radio have had no problems what so ever. No hiccups, under buffering or stops. Great connection methods on this phone.
The camera on the Bold looks great but I think that the video camera is a little bit laggy. You have to move the camera around a bit slow so you don't get the "hyper-space" effects in the video. When I updated the OS on my Curve and it added the feature of video to my camera it was obviously just a added "fun" thing and I do have to say that the Bold is not that much away from that but for a BlackBerry... it is nice and I still plan on using it at those times that I need something quick for a funny moment. With a 3rd party software like Facebook on the device it will allow you to upload your videos and pictures right to your account seamlessly.
The task list and calendar has been redone to add cool new features and eye-candy. I will quickly throw some items out like the ability to utilize different colors for your appointments based on your accounts. I have made all my work appointments and reminders in blue and my personal entries red. Now at a glance I can see what is what. I also like the new task list icons. They looked almost identical in the older OS version but you can now see what is undone, in progress and complete at a glance.
I can go on forever about this device like how the email is cleaned up and the BlackBerry browser has been updated nicely (although I use Opera) but I will try to wrap this up. In my opinion, this is the FASTEST BlackBerry on the market today! You can tell easily by just viewing the application list. It opens in no time. I also have been able to use nearly all of my personal and work bought software using the benefits of speed and additional connectivity to make my job easier and more efficient. My Mobile Admin software that I use at times to administrate my company's network runs great and did I mention about the speed of this thing!?
My overall rating for the BlackBerry Bold is a 8.5 out of 10
Due to the quality of the vid-cam, the still limited voice note recorder and the lack of themes out of the box I have to take a point and a half away. Don't let this fool you. I am a power user that looks for the "ultimate" in my electronics. I have not even gone into the way I have tricked out this device integrated it with my life. For a typical user the Bold is a big jump from the previous devices and packed with mega speed that will keep a smile on their face.
