I know I was harsh a few weeks back after the Torch announcement. I had high hopes for RIM and wanted to be blown away–an unreasonable expectation. Thus, I might not have given the Torch its fair shake.
Well, I just got back from vacation and guess what’s sitting on my desk when I get back? My very own Torch.
Spoiler alert: it’s awesome!
It’s so awesome that I am writing this review from the Torch.
So with only a few hours to play, here are my first thoughts.
Slider and on screen keyboards: I am usually a slider hater. I have just never liked the form. But the Torch slider really just is the best of both worlds. I am writing this part of the review from the on screen keyboard. Even though its smaller than other on screen keyboards, it just feels right with two thumbs. My thumbs can reach all the way across with ease in landscape mode and I have made only a few mistakes. While portrait mode is a little more cramped and I made s few more mistakes, it just works well. The automatic spell correction is a bit iffy though. Its been putting some weird words in this review. But that’s the beauty of a slider. You can just get a real physical keyboard whenever you want. If I want a character that I can easily access on my traditional blackberry keyboard, I can just go get it without having to navigate multiple software keyboards.
The physical build: This is one sexy phone. RIM really does put some polish on its devices and this is slick. A black textured back and a gray polished face. Its a new status symbol for Blackberry users.
OS6: The status bar is definitely helpful. Anything happens, I know about it. The manipulate-able app bar lets me just have my home page any way I want it.
Day one definitely impressed. If you have a blackberry now (which I am sure you do), you are going to want this!
David ( View Profile) - Posts: