The smartphone market is starting to look like a two-horse race between Apple's iPhones and devices based on Google's Android operating system. While Microsoft is starting to look more impressive with phones based on its latest Windows phone software, BlackBerry looks as if it may fade away among the tough competition.
That's too bad, because BlackBerry still makes good devices -- and in some ways the devices are as strong as the market leaders. Recently we've been looking at the BlackBerry Torch 9810 from AT&T. It's a durable phone; and the device comes in pure white or zinc gray. (I like the white one because it's easy to find when I drop it in my car or a dark movie theater.)
Like the earlier version reviewed in 2010, the Torch uses a touch screen and BlackBerry's signature Track pad -- an electronic dot that lets you slide or apply pressure to a single point to move the cursor around. The pad alone is worth the price of entry, because it's a great pointing device and is usable when your fingers are too fat to click on a link on the touch screen, a problem that I have had on many smartphones, including iPhone and Android models.
It's not entirely the same as the earlier Torch. Aside from the colors, it comes standard with BlackBerry 7 OS instead of version 6 and is somewhat faster. The AT&T website also says that it is capable of 4G speeds, although we only saw 3G in actual use. Still, Web pages would load fast and easily.
It has a single camera on the back that is very capable and has a strong LED flash. With 5MP resolution, its resolution is as high as the new iPad. The camera features continuous zoom but has a bit of delay from the time you click to take your photo. You can program the button on the right side of the phone to click your photo. It also takes videos; but the videos are only 720p, much lower resolution for video than that same new iPad.
If you dislike the way most smartphone screens are activated when you brush your cheek while talking on the phone or the way you can accidentally cheek-click a soft button, you'll like the Torch 9810.
But it's still a BlackBerry, not an Android or iPhone. My son Dan found this inconvenient, as he had grown accustomed to Android phones. To my wife, Anita, the differences were unacceptable. Since we all use Google Voice, it was difficult for all of us because Google Voice doesn't integrate as well with BlackBerry devices as it does with Android phones.
One of the other advantages of the Torch is its slide-out keyboard. That reduces your dependencies on the touch screen for texting, tweeting and other text-based applications. Dan found the buttons a bit too small and close together. I found it fairly easy to use -- but I had plenty of previous experience with BlackBerry's keyboards.
The Torch is $99 at AT&T with a two-year agreement or $499 without the two-year plan.
First Published: March 25, 2012, 8:00 a.m.