RIM has finally decided to cast away their QWERTY keyboard origins that their phones had been named after, and replace it with a touchscreen version for the Blackberry Storm. Engadget has posted a review of the new Blackberry Storm that introduces this new innovative touchscreen. The screen is not only capacitive (multi-touch) like the iPhone, but also offers the ability to push in to the screen and create a 'click' action. This technology called SurePress and allows a user to hover over an item before performing a decisive click.
A common problem with touchscreen smart phones was compatibility with existing web pages that use hover events to provide feedback. Up until now, such a smart phone would never see the on hover event, instead creating a 'click' action.
Sadly, it appears that the Storm's Blackberry OS 4.7 is only a small upgrade over Blackberry OS 4.6 to provide touch and multi-touch functionality. This may hinder RIM's chances of competing against the iPhone's touch-centric OS. The review mentions several problems that arise because of touch being an afterthought in the OS.
The review goes on to praise Blackberry's industrial design, stating it is perhaps better built than any of their previous offerings. In competing with the iPhone, the Blackberry shuns proprietary connectors instead opting for a 3.5mm headphone jack as well as a micro USB port.
Where is the qwerty keyboard on there then? Like the article says, it has been replaced with a touchscreen qwerty keyboard which will never be the same as a hardware one.
The article says RIM "decided to cast away their QWERTY keyboard origins." If you think that releasing one phone without a keyboard qualifies as that, then you need to look up what "cast away" means.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDE8e6ZQdC8
Sensitivity? SurePress?
That would be a dream for me
This is what happens when you just can't let go. Movable parts, i.e., dials, buttons, knobs and such are on the way out, but you're so afraid to move forward that you adulterate a perfectly workable technology with a dying paradigm. LOL, the "touchscreen" on this thing is actually a big button.
They did a much better job with the Bold.
I'm pretty sure slapping on this update with touch functionality won't be too impressive.
I'm pretty sure slapping on this update with touch functionality won't be too impressive.
You got it.
I can't speak for HTC or the other non-BB and non-iPhone devices since I have no experience with them, but the iPhone's touchscreen was designed for the UI - it was designed to work perfectly and very smoothly with the software.
What seems to have happened is RIM just slapped on a touch interface, almost as an afterthought, and then for some strange reason thought of those stubby-fingered executives and *assumed* the business community would be scared off by a true touchscreen. Whereas we've already seen that the iPhone, with its full touchscreen is currently the #1 consumer handset worldwide. And it is #2 in US corporate market share, although a distant #2 due to RIMs past entrenchment in this sector.
RIM's research seems a bit off this time in terms of the Storm. Their Bold, however, will sell like crazy.
Then again, I could be wrong, and before you know it, everyone will have a Storm. It is , after all, still a BlackBerry.
Last edited by LTD on 21 Nov 2008 - 15:58
I'm pretty sure slapping on this update with touch functionality won't be too impressive.
You got it.
I can't speak for HTC or the other non-BB and non-iPhone devices since I have no experience with them, but the iPhone's touchscreen was designed for the UI - it was designed to work perfectly and very smoothly with the software.
What seems to have happened is RIM just slapped on a touch interface, almost as an afterthought, and then for some strange reason thought of those stubby-fingered executives and *assumed* the business community would be scared off by a true touchscreen. Whereas we've already seen that the iPhone, with its full touchscreen is currently the #1 consumer handset worldwide. And it is #2 in US corporate market share, although a distant #2 due to RIMs past entrenchment in this sector.
RIM's research seems a bit off this time in terms of the Storm. Their Bold, however, will sell like crazy.
Then again, I could be wrong, and before you know it, everyone will have a Storm. It is , after all, still a BlackBerry.
C&P makes a smart phone smart.
Bearing a badge that looks like a certain red fruit doesn't make it smart.
The iPhone is hype and more hype.
Think about it, Palm OS operates the exact same way the iPhone does, but was it ever king of the hill in such a massive way the iPhone is?
Hype dude. Hype.
oh btw, Palm OS had C&P.
That sucks about the sensitivity, though I'm sure it could be improved through a firmware update somewhere down the track? Also, SurePress not so Sure?
Makes this product sound like it's a fail already.
That sucks about the sensitivity, though I'm sure it could be improved through a firmware update somewhere down the track? Also, SurePress not so Sure?
Makes this product sound like it's a fail already.
Styluses (is that how your write the plural?) won't work because the iPhone's touchscreen is sensitive to heat (from your finger), not pressure.
And tbh, styluses are antiquated when it comes to these kinds of devices.
And tbh, styluses are antiquated when it comes to these kinds of devices.
Thats not true, it doesn't detect heat at all, it detects conductivity. A conductive stylus would work fine:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1324
An iPhone Stylus
Check this out. They work. You just need the special kind. I think it's actually to do with eletricity and not heat.
And tbh, styluses are antiquated when it comes to these kinds of devices.
Thats not true, it doesn't detect heat at all, it detects conductivity. A conductive stylus would work fine:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1324
And it's such a basic concept, too. I'm ashamed to have missed it!
I stand corrected, sir.
I have the Touch Pro too, but I have problems as do many others with the chrome paint coming off the phone. I have already had the phone replaced and its in Sprints info already to replace phones with chrome chipping on the spot.
That is the reason I do not install screen protectors or the like, because these phones cant be repaired for us, just swapped with another.
as for quality, not even apples touch screen is perfect and responsive. so it's really just as all would assume with touch technology at the moment.
On a side note does anyone know compatible these are with macs/os x at all when it comes to software/syncing or anything ?
Commenting has either been disabled on this article or you are not logged in. Click here to login or register, its free!
Note: Anonymous commenting is disabled in order to keep the quality of responses to a high standard.