BlackBerry got it right this time. The latest offering by RIM in its BlackBerry lineup is the Curve, which is the third BlackBerry to use the new rollerball navigation. It fits aptly in between the super-thin Pearl and the GPS-equipped 8800. The sleek, slim and ultra-light Blackberry Curve offers a prefect blend of RIM’s QWERT keyboard functionalities and entire features of a smartphone. Moreover, the Blackberry Curve is said to be the world’s smallest QWERTY keyboard device. The Curve is set to appeal to both business users and consumers with a horde of multimedia functionalities. The beautifully crafted Curve is priced at $199.99 with a two-year contract and mail-in rebate.
I am totally impressed with the rounded make of the Curve, which makes it easy to hold in hands. Moreover, the smartphone boasts the Pearl’s superficial trackball that helps a lot to navigate through the pages. The liquid-silver finishing further adds to the over-all looks of the device. It comes equipped with a crisp clear 2.4-inch screen with a 320 x 240 resolution boasting 65,000 colors, which makes it an efficient device to display the web content. Its full-sized backlit keyboard gives it an edge over the Pearl. Well, the Curve can be compared to Pearl in terms of dimensions. At 0.6-inches, the Curve weighs 3.9 ounces (a mere 0.7 ounces heavier than that of Pearl).
• 2-megapixel camera with 5x digital zoom
• A2DP Bluetooth audio profile
• Media player backed by Desktop Multimedia Suite
• Support for AAC, MP3, WMA, MPEG-4, H.263, WMV files
• Updated version of RIM’s BlackBerry Maps application
• Viewing option for Word, Excel, PDF, and JPEG attachments
• Overhauled desktop media manager powered by Roxio’s Easy Media Creator
• 3.5mm stereo jack, USB, microSD storage
• Trackball navigation and integrated multimedia options
First and foremost, the Curve is the first BlackBerry with a full keyboard and a camera. The device will be welcomed by the RIM fans as it goes one step ahead of the 8800 with the inclusion of a camera while stilly retaining the sleek looks of the popular Pearl. Interestingly, the small device packs a punch of multimedia capabilities. Its 2-megapixel camera with built-in flash delivers good quality images even in dimly lit areas. The ‘drag and drop files’ functionality puts you at ease with the multimedia tasks. We are not sure at the moment, but the Curve also offers sport for AT&T Music services streaming XM radio at $9.99 per month. The inclusion of a Bluetooth stereo headset enriches us with great audio quality. Spell Check is another functionality that will fend off the need to worry of the grammatical mistakes. That’s great. In short, the Curve is a perfect meld of Pearl and 8800. Simply, it’s a hit.
I will definitely give the Curve 9 out of 10 despite the fact that it lacks HSDPA and WiFi. But, the Curve’s sleek and sexy design, quality e-mail capabilities, built-in camera and the punch of multimedia capabilities are more than enough to appeal to the RIM fans. And yes, the Curve’s competitor on the shelves is not the Pearl or the 8800 but it’s the delightfully designed Samsung Blackjack.
LaptopMag: A sleek smart phone for much more than e-mail, the Curve sports a sharp 2-MP camera and some serious multimedia muscle. Despite a few drawbacks, this is the best BlackBerry–and one of the most well-rounded smart phones–money can buy.
PCMag: RIM’s newest BlackBerry melds the benefits of the popular Pearl’s slick trackball and the tried-and-true keyboard of models past. Also thrown in the mix are fresh, powerful multimedia capabilities to keep you happy when on the go.
Reghardware: The Curve has a strong consumer feel to it. It’s certainly more consumer-focused than the 8800, but that doesn’t mean it can’t turn its hand to business when the time comes.
Image Credit: LaptopMag
Thanks: YouTube
