Multimedia Phone Reviews

PC Magazine has reviewed the recently launched RIM BlackBerry Pearl multimedia smartphone. 'As thin (0.6 inches) as a closed RAZR V3m and as narrow (2 inches) as a standard candy-bar phone, the Pearl is very easy to slip into your pocket. It also looks extremely stylish, in black with chrome accents. BlackBerry partisans will immediately notice one major difference: After six years, RIM has ditched the scroll wheel in favor of a glowing trackball set right below the screen. That's a bold move, but give it a chance; I really like it. Not only is the trackball well positioned for one-handed use, you can finally move the cursor horizontally without resorting to a key combination.'

The RIM BlackBerry 8703e [Verizon Wireless] messaging device has been reviewed over at CNET. 'As the saying goes, if it ain't broke, don't fix it, and this certainly applies to the design of the entire BlackBerry 8700 series. Similar to its GSM cousin, the BlackBerry 8700g, the RIM BlackBerry 8703e sports a nice and compact form factor at 4.3x2.7x0.8 inches and 4.7 ounces. True, it's not as sexy or sleek as the BlackBerry Pearl; it has a blockier, wider form factor that takes some acclimation to use as a phone, but the trade-off is you get the advantage of a full QWERTY keyboard (not that pesky SureType deal) and a large 2.5-inch diagonal QVGA display. Also, the 8703e is extremely easy to use one-handed, thanks to the trademark BlackBerry track wheel and escape button on the right spine.'

Digital Trends have posted their review of the BlackBerry Pearl communiation device. 'First and foremost, this is a quad-band (850/900/1800/1900 MHz) EDGE/GPS world phone, usable wherever GSM service is available (all of Europe, for example). It's also a BlackBerry, with full push/pull enterprise and POP email services, along with Yahoo!, MSN, AOL, or ICQ instant messaging.

PC Magazine have posted their review of the BlackBerry 8703e communication smart device. 'The 8703e is the last of its breed: It will probably be the last BlackBerry with a trackwheel. While we wait for the QWERTY-equipped version of the BlackBerry Pearl sometime this year, the 8703e is bargain-priced, at just $199 after rebates from Sprint and $249 from Verizon (each with a two-year contract). With a pleasing size and weight, and a quality feel arguably superior to that of the Treo 700p, the 8703e nails the slab form factor.

CNET have published their review of the White BlackBerry Pearl (T-mobile) smartphone. 'The RIM BlackBerry Pearl wasn't exactly a hidden gem. Specs and images of the Pearl (aka the 8100, aka the Stealth) leaked onto the Web about a month ago, and Research In Motion certainly made no secret that it planned to release devices with integrated multimedia capabilities, though it never named a specific product or release date. However, today RIM along with T-Mobile officially introduced the BlackBerry Pearl to the world, the first BlackBerry to offer a built-in camera, video and music playback, and expandable media.

The slim BlackBerry 8800 smartphone comes equipped with a full QWERTY keyboard, trackball navigation system and features a built-in GPS (Global Positioning System), multimedia functions and push-to-talk capabilities 'Taking its style points from the BlackBerry Pearl, the RIM BlackBerry 8800 is a far cry from the days of the blocky and drab BlackBerry 6280 or even the most recent BlackBerry 8700c, which was fine but still a little lackluster in the design department. That's all changed now with the BlackBerry 8800; it's sleek and sexy with its smoothed edges and a deep midnight blue casing and chrome accents.

Laptop Magazine have reviewed the BlackBerry Pearl smartphone which is now available for AT&T customers. 'As T-Mobile proved several months ago with the first Pearl, smart phones aren't just for executives looking to stay connected to their Inboxes. The AT&T version of RIM's glossy black, pocket-sized device offers similar features and performance as its brother--including a bright screen, a 1.3-megapixel camera, and multimedia playback--but some may prefer AT&T's larger network, which means more consistent voice and EDGE data coverage in the U.S.

Trusted Reviews have published a review of the new Blackberry 8800 smartphone. 'Blackberry business devices have traditionally lacked cameras, since photo taking in a corporate environment is often a big no-no, for privacy and legal reasons. The 8800 is no different here, which is one of the major functional differences between it and the 8100, which was one of the first 'berries to have a camera. However, there is some big-time added functionality - GPS. Yes, you can now mount your phone on your dashboard and get driving directions from it, thanks to the included Blackberry Maps application.

Computer Active have published a review of the Blackberry 8800 mobile device. ‘The Blackberry 8800 is trying to be the best of both worlds. The first devices from the masters of 'push email' had easily accessible keyboards so typing emails was a cinch.But they had dull screens and their wide bodies made them nasty for making phone calls.Later models were narrower, like regular mobiles, so could be held to an ear more easily. But there wasn’t room for a full Qwerty keypad so they had two letters to most numbers and used a predictive text input system, which was very hard to master.’

A review of the BlackBerry 8300 Curve smartphone has been posted over at Pocket-Lint. ‘Sitting snugly in-between the company's new business model - the 8800 and the company's consumer model - the 8100 Pearl, the 8300 (are you still with us) is a cross between the two. Physical attributes are borrowed from both models. The 8300 sports a small QWERTY keyboard as found on the 8800 that surprisingly is still fairly easy to use and the pearl navigation button as originally found on the 8100 instead of the jog wheel. A 2 megapixel camera on the back bettering the Pearl's 1.3MP offering.’

IT Reviews have published their review of the BlackBerry 8800 smartphone. 'The 8800 brings ideas first seen in the candybar-style BlackBerry Pearl, with its SureType text entry system, across to an 'original' sized, wide format device with a full QWERTY mini-keyboard. Most notably these ideas include a sleek black shiny exterior and a miniature trackball that sits under the screen and takes over from the scroll wheel for navigating through information. The mini trackball caters for four-directional scrolling rather than just up and down, and the scroll wheel itself is no more. How will anyone upgrading from an earlier device cope with the absence of this fundamental feature, we wonder?'

A review of the BlackBerry 8830 smartphone has been posted over at Mobile Tech Review. Like the BlackBerry 8800, the BlackBerry 8830 scores a new body that’s thin and sleek looking. The silver housing and chrome side panels look even better than the BlackBerry 8800 in dark blue. Silver can make a device look classy, and it certainly is the case with the BlackBerry 8830. The BlackBerry 8830 is the same size as the 8800 measuring in at 4.49 x 2.60 x 0.55 inches, but somehow it lost a little weight. The BlackBerry 8800 and 8830 have the BlackBerry Pearl’s stylish look, but with a wider body to accommodate the full keyboard and large landscape display. The built-in QWERTY keyboard on the BlackBerry 8830 should look familiar to BlackBerry veterans. Though the keys have more pronounced edges for a better touch-typing experience compared to last generation of BlackBerry phones.'

Trusted Reviews have published their review of the BlackBerry Curve 8300 smartphone. 'On the inside, one of the key differences is that the Curve lacks a GPS antenna which the 8800 does have. However the Curve comes with the BlackBerry Maps application and has Bluetooth built in so with a Bluetooth GPS antenna you could do turn by turn navigation. Note, though, that maps are downloaded over their air, so you’ll need to budget for the download costs. Its relatively small size makes the Curve comfortable to hold for voice calls. The silver and black colour scheme doesn’t break any new ground, but I do like the rubberised feel to the left and right edges, which make the Curve that little bit easier to grip. And no, before you ask, I can’t fathom why it is called the Curve. It is not particularly curvaceous.'

Infosync World have published their review of the RIM BlackBerry 8830 smartphphone. ‘The BlackBerry 8830 is physically nearly identical to the BlackBerry 8800, except that it trades the glossy black for a dull gray. Both phones share similarities with the BlackBerry Pearl. Besides the obvious trackball, the 8830 also comes with chrome bumpers, though these aren't as striking against the gray face, and the same general shape as the Pearl, only wider, as opposed to the more stout-looking BlackBerry 8700 series. We like the trackball very much, we think it’s a great improvement over the old clickwheel, and was much less taxing on our thumbs.’

A review of the RIM BlackBerry Curve smartphone has been posted over at Brighthand. 'The Curve uses the newer generation BlackBerry form factor: it's still a relatively thin yet broad device with a large screen, but (as with the Pearl and the 8800) the Curve now uses a center-mounted trackball for menu navigation and selection rather than the traditional three-way jog dial common to earlier BlackBerry phones. Like all BlackBerries it's considerably larger than the average phone. However, with the addition of multimedia capabilities such as a 2-megapixel digital camera and the ability to play QVGA-quality video and music, the Curve is remarkably compact. The Curve's size also makes for a very usable keyboard, though not quite as large as the slide-out keyboards on some smartphones.'

MobileTechReview have published their review of the BlackBerry Curve 8300 multimedia communication device. ‘The Curve feels great in the hand, more so than the wider and sharp-angled BlackBerry 8800 and 8830 (the 8300 is the CDMA version of the 8800). Though it's thicker (0.60 vs. 0.55 inches), it's still quite thin for a PDA phone or smartphone and it's pocket-friendly. But should you prefer the usual BlackBerry on the hip experience, you'll have to buy a case or holster separately since AT&T does not include one. The full 35 key QWERTY thumb keyboard is very easy to use, in the RIM tradition. Though the keyboard is a bit narrower than the 8800's, the keys are large, well-spaced and domed-- and thus require little if any adjustment if you've been using prior generation BlackBerry phones.’

Brighthand have published their review of the RIM BlackBerry 8830 multimedia smartphone. 'The 8830 performs as quickly and reliably as the rest of the BlackBerry family, and the 312 MHz processor provides more than enough power for the applications in hand. It features the same range of menu options that we've come accustomed to seeing in a BlackBerry, most notably the excellent email interface. However, the web browser continues to be the weak link an otherwise strong chain. For those who haven't seen a web site displayed on a BlackBerry browser, just imagine a mess of jumbled words and photos that barely resemble a web site.'

MobileBurn have published a review of the RIM BlackBerry Curve 8300 smartphone. 'RIM's BlackBerry Curve 8300 is a full QWERTY keyboard equipped device that is significantly more compact than the firm's 8800 series of devices. It is ever so slightly thicker than an 8800, but is both narrower and shorter, coming in at 111mm x 61mm x 16mm (4.4" x 2.4" x .63"). At 110g (3.9oz), it is also a full 24g lighter than an 8800. The Curve 8300's compact design seems to mesh with its QVGA display far better than do the larger 8800 series devices, which use the same display. The display itself is generally bright and readable, even in direct sunlight. It even has an auto-brightness mode that boosts the backlight's power beyond its normal limit for when the phone is used in bright conditions.'

Pocket Lint have published a review of the BlackBerry 8820 smartphone. 'A smartphone without Wi-Fi, surely that's like a fish out of water these days, but it has been the case for Research In Motion with the company's BlackBerry handhelds until the launch of its Wi-Fi enabled 8820. So should we bother? We get emailing to find out. Coming in the same form factor of the company's 8800, you would be mistaken for thinking they are the same thing. In fact there is no tell-tale sign that the model now packs the ability to connect to your local Wi-Fi network via wireless 802.11g and surf the Internet.'

Laptop Magazine have published a review of the BlackBerry 8820 smartphone. ‘With the exception of a Wi-Fi logo in the top-right corner of the 2.4-inch display, the 8820 looks and feels pretty much identical to its predecessor. And that's mostly a good thing. Sure, it's heavier and larger than the 3.9-ounce Curve, but the black-and-silver 8820 retains the relatively light (4.7 ounces) and slim profile (0.6 inches) of the 8800. You also get the same tightly packed but speedy keyboard and slick trackball for navigating menus. RIM did a nice job integrating 802.11a/b/g without making it complicated. You simply click on the Manage Connections icon on the bottom of the main menu, which brings up a list of options that includes Mobile Network (AT&T/EDGE), Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth.’

CNET Asia have published a review of the BlackBerry Curve 8320 smartphone. 'As with all BlackBerry models, the BlackBerry 8320 does not have a touchscreen, but we still found the device easy to use and navigate with the provided controls. You'll find these controls beneath the screen; they include the Talk and End/power buttons, a Menu shortcut, an Escape key, and the trackball navigator. You can adjust the sensitivity of the latter under the Settings > Screen/Keyboard menu. Along the right side, there is a volume rocker and a user-defined launch button that's set to activate the camera by default. The left side holds a mini-USB port as well as another programmable convenience key, and--good news--the Curve is equipped with a 3.5mm headset jack, so you can plug in Walkman-style headphones.'

Pocket Lint have published a review of the BlackBerry Pearl 8120 smartphone. 'The BlackBerry Pearl 2 has finally arrived, but are the improvements worth the bother? Research In Motion (RIM) gave Pocket-lint the new 8120 ahead of the launch to have a play and find out.Now available in blue, rather than black in the UK (there will be other colours, but not in the UK) the pocket-sized smartphone has had a consumer makeover in more ways than one. Like the previous Pearl, the 8120 looks more like a mobile than a traditional BlackBerry in order to appeal to that crucial consumer audience, but RIM promises it's still a BlackBerry at heart. The shape and size might not have changed much (it's slightly bigger), but the new 91 gram Pearl offers plenty.'

PC Magazine have published a review of the RIM BlackBerry Curve 8310 smartphone. ‘Measuring 4.2 by 2.4 by 0.6 inches and weighing 3.9 ounces, the 8310 is the same size and shape as the 8300. It also has a 320-by-240-pixel QVGA display and a light-sensing feature that adjusts brightness levels depending upon whether you're indoors or outdoors, just like Apple's MacBook Pro. The 8310's trackball is as easy to use as on other Curve and Pearl models, and its backlit keyboard offers nice-size buttons and a satisfying tactile response. The Curve is a superior voice phone, too, delivering strong reception and dependable voice quality in both directions on my tests. The speakerphone is plenty loud for outdoor use, and it sounded fine—though a bit hollow—with a Sound ID SM100 Bluetooth headset. Push to talk (PTT) is available for the few AT&T subscribers who still use it.’

CNET have published a review of the RIM BlackBerry Pearl 8130 - silver (Verizon Wireless) smartphone. 'The hardware on the RIM BlackBerry Pearl 8130 hasn't changed much from the original Pearl, but that's not a bad thing since we're fans of the Pearl's overall look. However, there are some slight tweaks, which we'll note as we talk about the smartphone's design. Thankfully, the BlackBerry 8130 still keeps a slim profile, measuring a slight 4.2 inches long by 1.9 inches wide by 0.5 inch deep and weighing 3.4 ounces. You'll have no problem slipping this handset into your pants pocket, and it feels comfortable and natural to hold during phone calls. The silver chassis may seem ordinary to some, but we think it's sleek and attractive. For the moment, Verizon Wireless will not offer the amethyst color, but may decide to add it in the future.'

Laptop Magazine have published their review of the BlackBerry Pearl 8130 smartphone. 'The silver BlackBerry Pearl 8130 is marginally thinner and heavier than its predecessor, but it’s still quite compact and slips easily into a pocket. It has the same bright 2.3-inch, 260 x 240-pixel display. One welcome design change is the 3.5mm audio jack for plugging in high-quality headphones. Pecking out messages was relatively painless with the SureType keyboard. The layout takes some getting used to, but the software did a pretty good job recognizing most words, and after a couple of days with the device we were replying to messages at a brisk pace without having to double-check what we typed for accuracy.'

IT Reviews have published their review of the RIM BlackBerry Pearl 8120 smartphone. 'The Pearl 8120 follows on from the first BlackBerry Pearl, and like its predecessor it is small enough to be mistaken for a candybar-style mobile phone. It lacks the characteristic ‘QWERTY' mini keyboard of the BlackBerry, instead having a system where two characters tend to share a single key. You can either adopt a T9-style multitap system or use the SureType system. This requires you to press a key only once regardless of which of its letters you want. As you type the SureType software guesses the word you are after, and you can select it from a list or complete it manually; basically it's a predictive text system. It can take a little getting used to but you can become very quick at typing with practice.'

InfoSync World have published a review of the RIM BlackBerry 8820 (T-Mobile) business smartphone. ‘The BlackBerry 8820 looks like a larger version of the BlackBerry Pearl, which is not a bad thing. Besides the obvious trackball, it also comes with chrome bumbers and the same general shape as the Pearl, only wider, as opposed to the more stout-looking BlackBerry Curve series. We like the trackball, but not as much as we once did. It's a an improvement over the old clickwheel, but it should feel precise, when instead it's tracking felt very loose. Also, we would like to see it accelerate during scrolling. The letters are oddly shaped, contiguous rather than discretely placed. Each key has its own slope, which made typing a little nerve-wracking at first, but after a few long e-mails, we found our fingers had little trouble finding the keys. Still, we never felt as comfortable with the 8820's keyboard as we have with other BlackBerry devices.’