As I sit in my office working on a review for the Verizon BlackBerry Tour 9630, I just took notice of the mess of BlackBerry smartphones around me and couldn't help but think they'd like to pose for a quick photo for CrackBerry Nation. Think you can name all the devices pictured above? If so, you definitely pass the "BlackBerry Enthusiast" test -- though there are a couple of tricks to naming them all right.
Being the Fearless Leader of CrackBerry Nation has its perks, like the ability to justify owning way too many BlackBerrys and getting away with the excuse of "I'm working!" when using them at totally inappropriate times. But there is a drawback too... sometimes I get too focused on the little techy/geeky stuff and forget about the BlackBerry basics and what it's first like to get hooked. Having already taken a solid look at a pre-release BlackBerry 9630 (review part I | review part II), for the "official device" reviews I wanted to go back to basics a bit more and really make sure we address the Tour from all relevant perspectives, ie. those looking to buy their first BlackBerry; those looking to update from a Curve 8330/8830; those contemplating a jump over from the Storm, etc..
So to that end, if you have any specific questions or concerns or items of interest you want us to tackle in our BlackBerry Tour Reviews, be sure to drop them in comments to this post and we'll be sure to cover them in the reviews. Have a good weekend everybody!!Â
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125 comments
Kevin, how does the Trackpad feel? I really want a device with that thing! You gonna send me one ;-)?
BIG FAN of the trackpad. If you're used to the trackball there's an adjustment period, but once you start using it the trackball feels a bit "dated" in comparison. And I just like the look of the trackpad a lot. Though...trackpad isn't quite as accurate (harder for something like brick breaker) and have noticed that in super bright direct sunlight it doesn't like to work anymore (I think there's a threshold that if you pass it messes it up). But occassionally trackballs mess up too.. so looking at the trade-offs you can probably make an argument for either, but I'm definitely a trackpad fan.
I'm diggin that pic of the Storm 2 there.........
errr... what's a Storm 2? I made that one in the bottom left out of paper mache and painted it up based on some photos I'd seen online somewhere ;)
Cat's out of the bag now. Does your Storm 2 respond or is the screen/touch disabled like the one you "saw online somewhere"?
Don't believe you buddy. What does the Storm 2 screen feel like?
You're soooo busted Kevin.... We need some reviews on this. They're already taking pre-orders here:
http://www.mobilecityonline.com/WIRELESS/STORE/productdetail.asp?product...
that shit slipped right by me, so that mean that actually have the phone over at cb
Kevin, you have any info when a Trackpad-Device will come to Germany/Vodafone?
I cannot wait!!!
-Fabian
How does the tour feel in the hand compared to the Bold?
spill it!!!
Storm 2 - What's the deal?
Come on.. whats up with the Storm 2. We have questions... you are supposed to have answers!
Does it boot up fully yet?
Does the screen work yet?
Does the screen still "click"?
Do you have dust under your screen yet?
Is it going to suck as much as the Storm 1?
WiFi?
We want answers!
Would it help if we said please?
whats the deal with all the storm bashing? i must admit, on launch date i hated this phone so much, had verizon send me a new one and updated the os. and now the phone is almost perfect. i love it . to the point that im gonna skip the tour and wait for storm 2
question on the tour.
how is the trackball working because in another review they said that sometimes it would take 3 or 4 swipes before it responded when in the main menu.
1.) Holy cow! 2.) I'm jealous 3.) Where do I sign up to be a beta tester so my desk can look like that?
Seriously, how long have you had one just laying around. That's BS, you should at least do a photo session with it or something. Obviously the "leaked" photos that were posted with the CB logo on it was Kevin taking photos of it with his Bold camera. I'm upset that it's posted in this picture but nothing has yet to leak. I call shenanigans.
One of my fav things about the storm is reading news from ESPN, NYT, etc. If I got the Tour, will I be disappointed in the browser (compared to the Storm)?
YES! My number one reason to upgrade from the 8330 to the Tour is for a better web browser. How does the 4.7.x browser on the Tour compare to the browser on the 8330 Curve?
Hi Kevin, do you have a Sprint branded Tour in hand? Would really like to see a round of shots of how the final product looks.
Gemini, Pearl Flip, Bold, Tour, Curve 83xx, Gemini, 88xx, Onyx, Storm, Storm II, Tour, Gemini, Curve 8900
Im about to get a blackberry(my first one) and i think I am going to get the tour, however today I was doing some research and one phonearena.com I read about THE ATLAS, it said that it is the tour but has wifi. Do you think that it is waiting for? can you give me any info
I am in the same boat, but I am still thinking about getting the Tour in a week or so une\less more info comes out about this "Atlas"
didn't Sprint and Verizon realase a press realease saying that wifi on CDMA BB's will come after the Tour. Only Sprint said the Wifi version of the Tour will come next year.
Does youtube video play full screen as it does on a storm?
Have you done any speed comparisons of the tour browser vs iphone 3gs, bold, etc? I liked your original vids of the Storm vs the Iphone in the airport last year.
Thanks
from the storms browser, google search , google mobile apps . there you will see the youtube app. youtube will look just like it does on the iphone .
Since you're reviewing the first new non-touchscreen Verizon Blackberry in over a year, I'd love to hear how it stacks up to the Curve 8330. Differences, whether it's really worth it for me to upgrade, etc.
not sure if i like, on the storm 2, how the green phone is pointing up unlike every other blackberry is pointing down.
I can't tell if it would be called a Blackberry graveyard or some sci-fi episode where Blackberry meets J-K+8!!!!
Storm
Storm 2
Vzw Tour
Pre-release Tour
Sprint/Nextel Curve
2 - Gemini
Magnum
8330
8900 Curve
Pearl Flip
Att curve
Bold
Total 13 blackberries
Wow i think that this picture is a great example of why RIM needs to slow down a bit, and focus on only two or three amazing devices with a new great OS that has 3G wifi, gps, bluetooth etc rather than have 10 devices that all look very similar with different capabilities and a mediocre OS
please compare contrast the storm and tour
- mostly ... how is the browsing?
- media center changes
- lag
- video camera?
I'm thinking of switching from the Storm and would like to know how often or how little the hourglass thing shows up (it seems like the storm has this happen often) and if everything is noticibly quicker than the storm. My other question is with the lack of an accelerometer, are all pics taken in landscape mode or is the some way for the phone to know if something was shot in portrait mode and automatically adjust for that on screen?
Thanks!
thats alot of love right there... its crazy to have that many devices.. think I will pull out my bin of devices, have about 40 phones and ten berries..
I'm a bit of a newbie, but I've noticed that the Tour is supposed to have twice the flash memory of the Storm or Bold. How does this affect its performance? Memory leaks? I'm being lazy with these last three questions....but I assume that the Tour has a SIM card? Also, how much memory can be added via a microSD card and where does the card insert (on the side ala the Bold or under the back casing)?
more ram mean more apps, sim is only for traveling , so far the phone can support up to 32 gb of micro sdhc flash
Hi, Kevin!
As a first-time Blackberry owner-to-be, I'm really excited to take stock on my Tour this Tuesday. My first concern is about the browser, since I haven't had a lot of hands-on time with it.
I know the browser isn't stellar in most BB user's eyes, but can it handle flash animation? can you save files from web pages? Both questions are extremely N00B, I know, but they're sincere.
Furthermore, how many apps can you download (you, personally) before you've run out of memory? I can think of three I'll need right away; weather, (preferably from Weather.com/Weather Channel) AP, Twitter. I can assume I've got room for at LEAST three; probably more. I just don't know how many more.
Engadget spoke about a very sensitive screen in their review of the Tour. What do you think?
Anyway, thanks for your time!
Chris
Looks upside down? Maybe this is done on purpose by RIM to spot pre-release units in the wild, but it's still funky.
The Gemini button is also upside down...
I'll take any you no longer want or need ;o)
Three Curve 8520s
Two Tour 9630s
One Onyx 9020
One Bold 9000
One Pearl Flip 8220
One Storm 9530
One Storm 2
One Curve 8310
One World Edition 8830
And one Curve 8900
Beat that! I bet I could name all of the carriers off the top of my head as well. =D
course can beat that, its a blackberry odin, not a storm 2 :)
Oohhhh!!! Got the Curve wrong...it's a Curve 8300!!
I just want to see a video showing off the Tour's vibrate! I can't feel my Storm in my pockets.....lol
MUST BE NICE TO HAVE ALL THOSE PHONES!!!!!!!
I hate you for your collection, love you for the site... it's caused quite the mental conundrum.
I'm switching... or thinking about switching, from a Storm. I like the touchscreen for selecting things, how large it is, and using my finger to scroll, don't like it for typing. I'm sure there are tons of Storm owners who've never had BBs before looking at the Tour, it might be worth investigating how easy/hard it is to wrap your head around going from touch to track (selecting menu items, web browsing, bringing up contacts to call, etc.)
It looks like RIM is changing the call/send button...it is on both the Gemeni and Storm 2.
But as a Storm owner I am most interested in the Storm 2. Tell more info!!!
im waiting on that storm 2 also. this is my third blackberry , with the updates i like it. i realy got the storm just to show off to all those iphone people , didnt think i would grow to like the whole touch screen thing, but here i am now waiting for the sequel
photo
Can I have one? :D