Mar 30, 2009

Review : BlackBerry Curve 8900 Smartphone

Review : BlackBerry Curve 8900 Smartphone

Specifications
The following specifications are provided by BlackBerry:
Strand : Description
Processor Clock Speed : 512 MHz
Operating System: BlackBerry OS
RAM : 256 MB
Dimensions : 109 mm x 60 mm x 13.5 mm (lxwxd)
Weight : 109.9 g (including battery)
Screen : 2.4 inch
Resolution screen : 480x320
Networking : EDGE, GPRS, GSM
GPS: A-GPS
Bluetooth : Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
Wi-Fi :802.11b, 802.11g
Primary camera : 3.15 megapixel
Audio Formats: AAC, AAC +, AMR-NB, eAAC, eAAC +, Midi, Mp3, Wav, Wma
Battery :Rechargeable Li-Ion battery
Speaking 5.5 hours
Standby time : 356 hours
Video Formats : 3gp, DivX 5, MPEG 4, WMV, Xvid
Blackberry is a company focused on the business market, but consumers now know the smart phones of the company, notably because the devices are always accessible and the functions they offer consumers attractive.

Currently there are a number of BlackBerry devices on the market, but recently, the Blackberry Curve 8900 also added to the list. Tech Zine was the press conference in Amsterdam where he was introduced and immediately got a copy for detailed testing. The result of this test can be found here.

The unit is only through KPN and T-Mobile available, but also some webshops Simlock-Friday BlackBerry device has the slogan "Fits well in your hand and perfect in your life passed. Whether that is true, we now see.

Content

The packaging of the Curve 8900 is a normal box with lots of books. In addition to the books and it is also a phone, plug in different inserts for different countries, a USB cable, and earbuds in a case.

On the CD that came with the BlackBerry is made we find a number of User Tools, such as desktop software and user manual. When a Windows Vista user, you are not a lot to this CD, because Windows Vista Business 32-bit is the CD once and for a Ultimate 64-bit, he has no software on board. Too bad. Then via the Internet to download the file is larger than 300 megabytes.


Appearance

When you go to the 8900 you see that is given to the design. He is good in the hand and is not extremely thick or extremely heavy. But we will set something better example.


As you can see on the picture the unit is equipped with a full qwerty keyboard. This is really a godsend, especially if your regular e-mail and SMS. You can also see that in the middle below the screen is a ball, this is the track ball. With this ball you control the mouse cursor while browsing and you can smooth your menu go away. I also have years at home with a trackball mouse work and personally I think it works fine.

Also there is a right indicator light. This LED normally flashes green, but when a new unread message, he will flash red during a bluetooth connection, he is blue and with an almost empty battery, he was orange. For the rest there on the right side of the phone a few buttons, including volume control and a button to start your camera and pictures. Also on this side there is still a 3.5 mm audio jack and a port on a mini-USB seems. The connection is slightly smaller, so you must use the cable that comes with this unit.

Then we also have the back of the phone has a camera with a flash and a BlackBerry logo. The back of the phone through the system very flexible clip removed. When the door of the unit we detach a battery, a SIM card and memory card are. The SIM card holder is designed for single use me, because it is a task for the map to get there, let alone to get there. Furthermore, I do not get the memory card of one gigabyte to get out, this Saturday there already when I got him, but the logic behind it I have not.

Operation

When you launch it you get immediately whether you have a mail address to set. You enter your name and you want mail address, then check the phone or the address is still available and then to. The mail address ends op@kpn.blackberry.com.

Then you get into the phone itself and you get the first six applications from the menu to see these are all standard mail, your first mail, address book, calendar, browser and the WAP browser. When you go in the menu, press the BlackBerry button, you will see several icons. If you can visit your media to the folders, the camera start the help function in your messages, the Instant Messager open, launch applications, open games, profiles management, options and all other e-mail management .

I will not discuss every feature, because that would unnecessarily long review, but I will discuss the most important issues. This phone is made interesting to e-mail and internet so let us first of all to see.

E-mail
To test this function, I have three mail addresses set up, namely my Tech arena-mail, my private mail and BlackBerry-mail. I need only mail addresses and passwords to enter and the rest arranged the phone entirely. When I would e-mail he sends standard from the first e-mail address, but you can easily another mail address selection. You can also easily an attachment containing the message helpful by using the options on it.

Internet
When we start the browser, we get a 'Go To' page. Here is an address, a search (this is automatically on Google, Wikipedia and Dictionary.com is also possible), the bookmarks and history. The history is kept per day, but can also be erased. The addresses that you previously have entered into the address bar remains are.

Maps
This function uses BlackBerry Maps, and built-in GPS receiver, it is a type of route planner. When connected to a satellite you can route from point A to point B calculate also lets you choose from your current position to point B to go. I was quite fast connection to the satellites. There are also no spoken instructions such as navigation systems, the directions as text on the screen.

Camera
The 3.15-megapixel camera can be good photos. Personally, I think a phone is not really for photos is easy and that is when an unexpected moment on a photo to. Here's a preview of a photo with this phone is made, there is nothing changed. Below are a picture.

Conservation Messaging
The device has a number of programs for instant messaging. About Windows Live Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger, Google Talk and BlackBerry Messenger. I myself have made extensive use of Windows Live Messenger because everyone I know this program. I have the other IM programs are not able to test for lack of contacts for those services. But the Live Messenger is working as it should work.

Applications
This phone has a number of applications, if you have a MemoPad (notes), Tasks, Calculator, Word To Go, Sheet To Go, Slideshow To Go, Video, Recorder, Voice calls and Password Wachter. A lot of applications certified for themselves, but some could use an explanation. Word To Go is a Word word processor, open all the files that Word 2007 also open, including the. Docx files. Sheet To Go is the Excel of the BlackBerry, but it also opens the same files as Excel 2007. Slideshow To Go is a viewer for your PowerPoint files, I tried to edit the presentation but that does not work fine. the password keeper to keep your passwords. You can add items with a user name, password, website and any comment. Of course, all passwords should be protected with a master password.

Tests

I have several benchmark tests performed with the Blackberry, this is what I have done with the program JBenchmark. This benchmark can be performed several tests, an explanation below and the results.

Net

As I have elaborated on the Internet Saturday with this phone is always good to know what your speed is. The speed of the connection depends the distance to the masts and thus each time different. For those interested, I live in the countryside, on the island of Tholen (Zeeland). The results of the speed test are averages of three tests.


Strand : Result
Download : 36 Kbit / second
Upload : 19 Kbit / second
Response time :630 ms
Time to the first connection : 4310 ms


For the other tests I have the phone with a Nokia N96 and BlackBerry 9000 Bold. The CPU test is obvious, JBenchmark 1.0 and 2.0 look more to the graphics performance of the devices

The results says that the BlackBerry 8900 Curve never really shines and the CPU load shows that he is not really powerful. This feature also in everyday use. Some tests were not performed, because a heavy graphics chip required and that the Curve 8900 does not like the 9000 Bold. Furthermore, it seems to me quite clear that this phone in comparison with the Nokia N96 is not really performing well, but it is not a multimedia phone.

summery

This phone has a lot of options but your phone is now worth money? When the phone without a subscription to purchase, you will be at the time of writing approximately 350 euros. When you subscribe to the KPN would conclude you lost 36.75 per month. This amount includes mobile Internet. In T-Mobile you lost 28.50 per month, this is normal except the Internet, but currently there is an action that the Internet is there.

Plus Points
Qwerty keyboard
Trackball mouse

Downsides
Only a GPRS connection and not HSDPA.
Battery does not last long when you're nice to the internet.

Conclusion
The BlackBerry Curve 8900, I think initially a great device, but I miss something for example the HSPDA connection. I have had several phones, including models from Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Samsung and Motorola, but I've never seen a phone so many options. The qwerty keyboard is also a godsend, especially if you are many e-mail. All in all, it is a nice and good unit.

The Curve 8900 is not a Must-Have, there are several devices in the same price category with the same or more features, including the Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 and the HTC Touch Diamond HD. It is up to you to choose the many options of the Curve 8900 enough to purchase it.

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