Tech Blog

[#1]

For those of you eagerly awaiting the BlackBerry Torch in Canada, Telus , Rogers and Bell have officially announced September 24th as the release date for this device.   As a reminder, this will feature the new BlackBerry 6 operating system and a touchscreen as well as a physical keyboard.

For a more thorough rundown of the device, be sure to take a look at Graham's blog: /t5/Tech-Blog/Well-t hat-was-timely-RIM-announces-the-BlackBerry-Torch/ ...

Official pricing is not yet fully available, but there is word that it will be available for $199 on a 3 year contract with Rogers.  Expect similar pricing from both Telus and Bell.

This device is likely to please most BlackBerry fans and should provide an improved user experience while maintaining the strengths of the BlackBerry experience.  And if rumors are to be believed, this could be our only real taste of the new BlackBerry 6 Operating System in Canada for a while (at least Bell is rumored to be holding off on officially updating current devices until next year).

Enjoy!

EDIT: Added updated info about Bell also releasing the Torch 9800 on September 24th.

[#2]

Still waiting for the Droid 2 and better HTC android phones

[#3]

$200 on 3 year contract + $500 for non-subsidized version = $700 full price? Really? When the iPhone 4 is only $70 more and has far superior hardware (retina display: 2 cameras. 32 Gig ram. 1 GHz processor: graphics co-processor)

I'm certainly waiting in line for the Torch when it's available, but all the criticism levied at the device is related to the underpowered hardware platform and low-res screen... to which I say "it's not trying to be an iPhone, so it's not"... but to "cheap out" on the specs and STILL try to charge $700 for this device off contract is, in a word, mental.

[#4]

p.s. see your "american cousin's" website for a price that would be more realistic in CDN $$$... $550.

[#5]

Here's an update... http://www.blackberrycool.com/2010/09/01/bell-offe ring-the-blackberry-torch-on-september-24th/

It appears Bell will be launching on the 24th as well....

While the processor is slower, RIM handles things more efficiently.  For example, many have the 500mb data plans.  However with compression, RIM really gives customers 1.5gb as compression delivers an average of 3x the value!

The physical keyboard allow allows me to type 50% faster than on glass.

[#6]

Thanks XL. I've been away from my computer since I initially saw the post for Bell, so I've been unable to update the post since then. I will edit the post accordingly in the morning.

[#7]

Lorax, thanks for the comments.  Thus far, we don't have official word about no contract pricing, however, based on previous devices, I expect it to cost $599 off contract.

[#8]

Suffice it to say that I've done the math on smartphones unsibsidized vs. subsidized, and unless there is disruptive data plan pricing like $30 for unlimited voice and data, the current pricing models probably reflect the way pricing is going to be for the next few years or so... speed and coverage may improve, but I don't expect smartphone plans to drop by much... so buying a phone outright is not making a whole lot of sense right now.

If the BB9800 was going to be $99 on a 3 year contract ($500 subsidy), $199 on a 2 year contract, and, say, $449 on 1 year contract, that would be about right... but a $400 subsidy requiring a 3 year term doesn't add up... but then again neither do the 3 year term on $300 subsidies for the lower-end smartphones.

I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place: paying the ETF to get out of a contract is not out of the question but in this case, the calculation is skewed if you are only getting a $400 subsidy and the ETF would be the same as that of a device where you got a $500 subsidy... if the carriers properly prorated their ETFs, I wouldn't be worried, but as it is, you have to stick with a contract for 16 months before the ETF would drop below the maximum, so if you're not getting the full $500 subsidy, your ETF will be "higher" relative to the initial cost of the device and subsidy.

[#9]

$199 or $599..... Sept 24!

[#10]

Bell is delaying theirs 2 weeks for Oct 1st!

[#11]

Yes, if rumors are to be believed, the delay is to load a new OS version on the devices.

[#12]

The Bell date keeps changing!  And they lowered the 3 year price to $179!

http://crackberry.com/bell-launches-blackberry-tor ch-online-sales-only

[#13]

Looks like Rogers has also changed the release date to September 30th.  This will lead to a lot of confused customers who go looking for the device in store today.  Even the Telus website is still only showing "Coming soon".

Looks like people may need to wait a little longer before they'll be able to pick up the new BlackBerry Torch here in Canada.

[#14]

I had a chance to play around with the replica display model (official enclosure parts, no working internals, weighted to spec) and I really like the feel of it.

I was expecting a little bit of discomfort and a more annoying sliding feature, but was pleasantly delighted to find how satisfying the sliding mechanism works and how typing feels. The keyboard is pretty well to spec of the Blackberry Tour, the slide can be activated by a quick flick of the thumb (one handed) and backing was a nice ribbed grippy surface and everything felt like it was quality made.

How well the OS fairs will be a whole different story, but I'm impressed so far.

[#15]

Oh, I should also note that several of the folks who had smaller hands gave it a good try and they found it very comfortable to use and us with larger hands found it equally so-- this is definitely not a biased device in regards to hand size like many found the Bold 9000 to be!

[#16]

I'm hearing news that the phone will be initially available for new 3 year contracts only.... I'm disappointed... I want Torchie!