Monday, October 17, 2011

Smartphone Review: HTC Sensation XL hands-on

Today HTC introduced the second member of its Beats droid family, making both geeks and audiophiles tremble with excitement. The HTC Sensation XL is one multimedia beast with its Dr. Dre-inspired audio, impressively spec'd camera and huge display and it's also keen to give users the proper smartphone experience with the tried and tested Gingerbread and Sense combo.

HTC Sensation XL HTC Sensation XL HTC Sensation XL HTC Sensation XL 
The HTC Sensation XL announcement event

The versatility of Android and the sexiness of Beats will be the Sensation XL's key selling point, but if you look carefully you will notice that there's so much more to it than that. Just check out that specs sheet:

HTC Sensation XL at a glance:

  • General: GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 MHz, UMTS 850/900/2100 MHz, HSDPA 14.4 Mbps, HSUPA 5.76 Mbps
  • Form factor: Touchscreen bar phone
  • Dimensions: 132.5 x 70.7 x 9.9 mm, 162.5 g
  • Display: 4.7" 16M-color WVGA (480 x 800 pixels) S-LCD capacitive touchscreen; Gorilla glass
  • Platform: 1.5 GHz Scorpion processor, Adreno 205 GPU, Qualcomm MSM 8255 Snapdragon chipset
  • RAM: 768MB
  • OS: Android 2.3.5 (Gingerbread)
  • Memory: 16 GB storage (12.64GB user-accessible)
  • Camera: 8 megapixel auto-focus camera with face detection, touch focus and image stabilization; HD (720p) video recording at 30fps, dual LED flash, 1.3 megapixel front facing camera; 28mm f/2.2 lens
  • Connectivity: Wi-Fi a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi hotspot, Bluetooth 3.0+HS, standard microUSB port, GPS receiver with A-GPS, 3.5mm audio jack, FM radio
  • Misc: Sense 3.5 UI, Beats audio enhancements and headphones in the package, 1600mAh battery, built-in accelerometer, multi-touch input, proximity sensor, gyroscope sensor, ultra-fast boot times

Granted, the single-core CPU won't give you boasting rights with your geeky friends and screen density could be pushed a bit higher. But with this one it's not so much about having the best specs on the market - it's about having specs that make sense. It's a statement that the company values user experience over PR material.

HTC Sensation XL HTC Sensation XL 
The HTC Sensation XL live shots

The Sensation XL processing power should be enough to handle 99% of the Android market apps seamlessly and even if it's not the best of multi-tasker around only a small portion of the users will actually feel the difference. So why not put something in there that everyone will see and appreciate - like a larger screen, for example.

And if you happen to be among those in need of the ultimate processor, boy does HTC have the phone for you. But now we'd be focusing on the Sensation XL multimedia beast. Join us on the next page for our hands-on impressions, garnished with a load of live shots.

 

HTC Sensation XL hands-on

According to HTC, the Sensation XL comes with even deeper Beats integration than the Sensation XE. Extending the audio enhancements to games and movies as well, HTC has made sure that the Beats audio improves the overall sonic experience and not just the music player.

HTC will be offering a limited edition Sensation XL package, which will come with the White Solo Beats headphones included in the retail. We are not sure what kind of premium will be charged for that limited edition, but we really doubt it will come cheap.

HTC Sensation XL HTC Sensation XL HTC Sensation XL HTC Sensation XL 
The White Solo Beats headphones will be available with the Sensation XL in some markets

More often though, the smartphone will come with the UrBeats model that we saw announced with the Sensation XE. There will be a white version of the UrBeats headphones as well and since that will be the only Sensation XL color version available at launch, we suspect that will be the one included in most retail packages.

HTC Sensation XL HTC Sensation XL HTC Sensation XL 
The regular Beats handset, which will ship with the smartphone elsewhere

Leaving the audio enhancements aside, we are finally able to notice that the HTC Sensation XL is one sweet-looking droid. You really can't go wrong with such huge screen on the front and aluminum on the back. The 9.9mm slim waistline benefits looks big time, too.

HTC Sensation XL HTC Sensation XL 
The HTC Sensation XL is certainly a looker

The Sensation XL is said to have unibody design, but just like some of the other recent HTC smartphones this is not entirely true. It's the Sensation kind of unibody, where you can slide out the back panel and not the proper kind, like the one used in the HTC Legend, for example.

HTC Sensation XL HTC Sensation XL 
The unibody design actually has detachable back panel

Still, this doesn't take away anything from the Sensation XL excellent looks - you probably aren't even going to be able to tell that the back is removable at first glance.

Compared to the Sensation XE, the Sensation XL does feel larger, but it's not as overwhelming as the 4.7" screen might suggest. The XL is not meant for the tightest pockets, but it's not impossible to carry either.

HTC Sensation XL HTC Sensation XL HTC Sensation XL HTC Sensation XL 
The HTC Sensation XL sized up against the Desire Z and the original Sensation

When held in hand the Sensation XL does feel pretty heavy, but at 162.5 grams that's hardly a surprise. That's not necessarily bad, though as the heavy body give this solid impression that you cannot help but love.

HTC Sensation XL HTC Sensation XL HTC Sensation XL 
The Sensation XL and Sensation XE side by side

At the back of the XL we found the other bit that HTC put some serious work into. The 8 megapixel snapper comes with wide-angle lens with an aperture of F/2.2. The bright F/2.2 lens should be able to collect about 70% more light than its conventional F/2.8 competitors. Plus the Sensation XL packs a backlit sensor, which improves light gathering even further so it should be doing quite well in the dark.

There's also a new panoramic photo mode, which we tried and found pretty cool. You can still see the occasional artifacts, where individual shots meet, but it’s way harder to notice than usual.

The video recording might not be too impressive at 720p@30fps, but the Sensation XL does stereo sound recording in videos, which is still a rarity among smartphones. And when it's not busy capturing movies, the second microphone is used for noise cancelling so your call quality should be excellent at all times.

 

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redsn0w tethered jailbreak for iOS5 out, Apple iPhone 4S not supported

Iphone_4gs_jailbreak

iOS 5 has been jailbroken as many times as there have been betas - now that the real-deal is out, it's time for another jailbreak. The iPhone Dev Team released a beta of redsn0w, a tethered jailbreak for Apple's iOS 5 running gadgets.

It's not complete yet, it's intended for devs of jailbroken apps that want to debug their applications, the Dev Team says there are still too many problems with this version of redsn0w to be useful for the regular users.

Also, the iPad 2 is not supported and neither is the new iPhone 4S (not that anyone has it yet, it officially launches on Tuesday). If you've hack-unlocked your iGadget, you should stay away from this jailbreak too.

This is a tethered jailbreak (except for the iPhone 3GS), meaning you have to boot your iPhone/iPod/iPad by hooking it up to a computer and using redsn0w every time you restart or things won't work as expected.

On the upside, there's a Windows version of redsn0w available now, not just Mac (but the iPhone Dev Team remind this is targeted at developers).
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Thursday, October 13, 2011

Tech Rumours: Unlocked iPhone 4s reach Apple Stores today — may cost US$649?

_4g_unlocked_4-2-1
According to sources in Apple Stores here in the U.S., the unlocked GSM iPhone 4 models have arrived and have started going on sale at some locations. Retailers say that the arrival of the phones was “unexpected,” and they will start selling them Wednesday as planned. However, MacRumors is reporting that the unlocked iPhone 4s will run you $649 and $749 for 16GB and 32GBs, respectively.

[via 9 to 5 Mac]

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Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Your View on Apple iPhone 4S vs iPhone 4?

iPhone 4S vs iPhone 4

 

The iPhone 4S has arrived, and with it the panic from well over a millioniPhone 4 users who suddenly feel the sweat on their brow and sinking ache in the pits of their stomachs because they no longer own the number one Apple handset in town. There are, of course, only three ways of dealing with this and, since Pocket-lint isn’t, officially speaking, inclined to advise drinking lighter fluid until you forget, then your choices are either to get pre-ordering on 7 October or to discover that the iPhone 4S isn’t actually that much better the iPhone 4. So, which is it to be?

As ever, we’re happy to help out with your decision making by laying both handsets side by side in virtual comparison and picking through their respective details. Naturally, the results are best viewed next to the iPhone 4S review itself but, for the time being, here is the iPhone 4S vs iPhone 4.

Form Factor

TIE: IPHONE 4S
115.2 x 58.6 x 9.3mm, 140g

TIE: IPHONE 4
115.2 x 58.6 x 9.3mm, 137g


Well, waddya know? After all those imaginative mock-ups, the iPhone 4S has the very same case as the iPhone that’s been known and largely loved for the last 12 months plus. So, well, it’s a tie then. The form factor has been good up until now and it remains good, if a little unexciting, still. It’s still pretty thin at 9.3mm and certainly light enough at 137g or even when 3g heavier. We might have all rather got used to the way it appears, but the iPhone 4S will still be a good looking handset.

Display

TIE: IPHONE 4S
3.5-inch, 960x640px, LCD with IPS

TIE: IPHONE 4
3.5-inch, 960x640px, LCD with IPS


The one area where most iPhone users were probably crying out for an improvement was in screen size but the bad/good news, depending upon your point of view, is that that the iPhone 4S screen is identical to that of the last incarnation. It’s still got that outstanding pixel density but sadly not the real estate to back it up. So, for the time being, it’s a case of holding it closer to your retinas if you want to get a better look at whatever film it is you’re trying to watch. Better luck next year.

Engine Room

1ST: IPHONE 4S
Apple A5

2ND: IPHONE 4
Apple A4


As with the iPhone 3GS, that “S” stands for speed and so the iPhone 4S processor set up is the big selling point over the older model, and this is one category where you want to be paying close attention. As predicted, Captain Cook and his crew have taken the Apple A5 chip from the iPad 2 and stuffed it into the guts of the iPhone 4S.

The Apple A4 consists of a 1GHz ARM Cortex-A8 CPU with a single Hummingbird core and PowerVR SGX 535 graphics processor GPU. There’s also 512MB of RAM to back it up. The Apple A5 chip has a dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 processor clocked at 1GHz. On the graphics front, it’s an upgrade to a dual-core PowerVR SGX543MP2 GPU and there’s, again, 512MB of RAM in support. According to Apple, what this means in real terms is a chip that has a CPU twice as powerful as its predecessor and a GPU that can work seven times harder.

Imaging

1ST: IPHONE 4S
8MP rear, VGA front, 1080p video

2ND: IPHONE 4
5MP rear, VGA front, 720p video


There weren’t going to be many places that Apple could make a realistic improvement on the iPhone 4 without making things very costly and more difficult to manufacture, but replacing the camera was one of them. The slightly dated 5-megapixel unit has been replaced by a far healthier sounding 8-megapixel sensor and the ability to shoot a more headline and impressive 1080p is a big bonus too.

Naturally, megapixels aren’t everything, so Apple has improved the optics on the iPhone 4S by opening up the maximum aperture from f/2.8 to f/2.4. That, plus a change in image sensor technology, is quoted as allowing 73 per cent more light gathered than on the iPhone 4 camera. There’s also the bonus of face detection, stabilisation and noise reduction to a degree. In short, we're talking sharper shots and at lower light levels too.

Connectivity

1ST: IPHONE 4S
HSPA+, GPS, BT 4.0, Wi-Fi, ant. switching, AirPlay Mirroring

2ND: IPHONE 4
3G, GPS, BT 2.1, Wi-Fi


There’s not a lot missing from the iPhone 4 connectivity arsenal but there are two noticeable gaps, one of which has been filled by the addition of a 4G radio inside the iPhone 4S. HSPA+ support isn’t much good if you live outside the US, and a handful of other countries, but it will offer up to 14.4Mbps download speeds in Utopian conditions.

With the iPhone 4 and its straight 3G, the best downlink you’ll be looking at is more like 7.2Mbps. As we say though, just because the iPhone 4S works with HSPA+, it doesn’t mean that you’ll be experiencing it where you are. What might be the real advantage is the improvements to the antenna such so it can switch between the radios more smoothly and, fingers crossed, not drop so many calls.

Finally, there's also the added bonus of AirPlay Mirroring with the iPhone 4S. While the iPhone 4 and AirPlay app will still allow you to stream videos and music from your phone to your HDTV and speakers via Apple TV, it doesn't allow you to show everything that's on your handset such as web pages, games, messages and all the rest. That's all possible with the iPhone 4S.

Battery Life

1ST: IPHONE 4S
up to 8 hours 3G talk time

2ND: IPHONE 4
up to 7 hours 3G talk time


Running the same screen and a more efficient chip at very similar output means that all it takes is a bigger power pack to get more life between charges on the iPhone 4S battery than on the iPhone 4, and that’s exactly what Apple has gone and done. While the older model can bring you up to 7 hours 3G talk time, 14 hours 2G talk time, 6 hours internet use over 3G, 10 hours of video playback or 40 hours audio; anyone purchasing the latest edition can look forward to 8 hours talk 3G talk time time, 14 hours 2G talk time, 6 hours internet use over 3G, 10 hours of video playback or 40 hours music.

So, when Apple says that it’s improved the battery, as far as the quoted specs go, what you appear to gain is a single hour of 3G talk time. And that’s it. Not a massive boost here.

Software

1ST: IPHONE 4S
iOS 5 + Siri

2ND: IPHONE 4
iOS 5


The launch of the iPhone 5 has also seen the arrival of iOS 5 which we all knew was coming since Jobs dropped the details at WWDC 2011. Both phones will be able to run this latest version of the mobile OS with the difference that one will have it installed out of the box, whilst the other you may or may not have to update yourself, depending on whether you already own your iPhone 4.

The major difference is the addition of Siri - a voice-controlled personal organiser of a sort which will translate your more human, sentence-based commands into actions. So, for example, it can set alarms, read and reply to your messages, find restaurants and the like. You can read more about Siri here for the finer details. The point is that it only comes with the iPhone 4S and not the iPhone 4 or below.

Storage

1ST: IPHONE 4S
16/32GB/64GB

2ND: IPHONE 4
8GB


Is it for the video, is it because there’s no removable storage or is it because storage is just cheap these days? We’ll never know, but the fact remains that the 64GB iPhone 4S offers double the space of the previous model and that’s a lot to play with. The nasty part is that the 16GB and 32GB version of the iPhone 4 line have been axed from this moment on, meaning that anyone who opts for the older model from new is limited to a rather small 8GB storage space only. Just count your luckies that there’s iCloud to give you a hand.

Price

1ST: IPHONE 4
$99

2ND: IPHONE 4S
$199/299/399


The bonus of going for the more budget option is that you get the more budget price to go with it, although that’s of little comfort to anyone who already owns the iPhone 4. Annoyingly for those in search of a bargain, the price differential reflects the halving of the storage space each time; the difference between the iPhone 4 and 16GB iPhone 4S is actually much greater than that. Worth bearing in mind.

Conclusion

1ST: IPHONE 4S

2ND: IPHONE 4


There’d be something seriously wrong if the iPhone 4S didn’t come out on top here, but is it so much better that you need to upgrade? Well, if games aren’t your thing and if the idea of Siri doesn’t drive you wild with excitement, then the answer is probably no. Sure, it’s got a better camera and takes video at a higher resolution and it even has a marginally longer battery life too, but none of this is any reason to try to buy your way out of a contract. It's also arguable as to whether 4G connectivity or AirPlay Mirroring - which only works with Apple TV anyway - is really going to add enough value for many people as well.

Much as with the iPhone 3GS, you can bet that it’s the 2012 iPhone launch that will see a bigger update to the hardware and the kind of thing that you will be wanting to sell your grandmother in order to get hold of.

If, however, you’re looking to buy for the first time, then don’t bother with the straight iPhone 4. Sure, you’ll find it a little cheaper, but the difference in cash isn’t really worth it and any saving you make will be outbalanced by that sense that you’ve got an inferior phone with an inferior camera too.

___________________________________________________________________________
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PDA, Smartphone review 2011: RIM BlackBerry Torch 9860 -- Keyless!

No QWERTY keyboard, no SurePress clickable screen gimmickry, the BlackBerry Torch 9860 is taking the plunge. Not the first time that RIM are venturing into touchscreen but they're past the point of no return with this one. The BlackBerry Torch 9860 will walk among deadly droids and iPhones - probably the most hostile of environments in smartphone land.

No wonder RIM are extra cautious. They had a couple of scouts in touchscreen territory that didn't return. The Storm phones were exposed despite their SurePress disguise. Now, this time RIM are not beating the drum. Their first real touch-only phone doesn't seem to warrant its own name. It's simply a regular team member. A keyboardless model in the Torch lineup.

We bet any of the Storms would kill to be in its place rather than a footnote in BlackBerry history. A history heading towards tablets, history in which the likes of the Torch 9860 will be playing an increasingly greater role.

  
BlackBerry Torch 9860

BlackBerry's latest OS 7 and the real-deal touchscreen experience will help the Torch 9860 find a niche of its own. Not that BlackBerry purists will ever get over the lack of a physical keyboard, but the Torch 9860 is not looking at them.

Instead, it has plenty to offer to long-term BlackBerry users with a taste for experiment. The Torch 9860 is part of a new generation of 1.2GHz-powered phones running the latest OS 7. It promises a new touchscreen experience and better specs across the board.

In case you wonder though about QWERTY in the list of cons - it felt right to sound a warning to traditional BlackBerry users. It's too radical a change. So, the Torch 9860 will have a massive point to prove. You can take the QWERTY out of a messenger but never the messenger out of a BlackBerry. Coming up next is our pros and cons list, so let's get down to business.

Key features:

  • 3.7" 16M-color TFT touchscreen of WVGA resolution (480 x 800 pixels)
  • Quad-band GSM support and quad-band 3G with HSDPA
  • Single-core 1.2GHz QC8655 processor
  • 768MB RAM
  • BlackBerry OS v7
  • BlackBerry’s proprietary email service and data security
  • Wi-Fi b/g/n connectivity
  • GPS receiver and BlackBerry maps preloaded, digital compass
  • 5 megapixel camera with autofocus and a LED flash
  • HD video recording, 720p@30fps
  • 2.5GB of inbuilt storage
  • 4GB MicroSD card prebundled
  • Optical trackpad
  • Four physical buttons at the bottom
  • Solid build
  • Hot-swappable microSD card slot (up to 16GB)
  • DivX and Xvid video support
  • Office document editor
  • 3.5 mm audio jack
  • Smart dialing
  • Ultra-fast boot times

Main disadvantages:

  • BlackBerry Internet Service account is a must to enjoy all phone features
  • No physical QWERTY keyboard
  • No videocalling and no front facing camera either
  • No NFC
  • No Flash support for the web browser
  • No FM radio
  • No haptic feedback

The Torch 9860 has all the makings of a fine smartphone, down to the very price tag. That last one is no joke. RIM have always charged a premium on their phones. Nowhere to run if you need their service.

It's the latest generation however that's finally becoming relevant in the outside world. More and better features, and refined user experience, RIM are keen to catch up with the standard-setters. It won't happen overnight and the Torch 9860 probably won't live to see it. But it won't be sorry for not trying.

Blackberry Torch 9860 Blackberry Torch 9860 Blackberry Torch 9860 Blackberry Torch 9860 
BlackBerry Torch 9860 live photos

The BlackBerry Torch 9860 needs not be ashamed of not running Android or any other best-selling OS. It's part of a new wave of RIM hopefuls that demonstrate the company's confidence to take a new direction. Success is built on trust, and RIM of all companies should know that. They are trying to appear credible to a whole new set of users. If nothing else, interesting times ahead for the BlackBerry Torch 9860. Let's hope it's not a curse.

The box

The Torch 9860 comes with a standard set of accessories. It doesn't get a leather carrying case like the Bold Touch 9900. A USB cable, a charger head and a set of headphones are provided. You get a complimentary 4GB MicroSD card too.

Blackberry Torch 9860 
The supplied accessories

BlackBerry Torch 9860 360-degree spin

The BlackBerry Torch 9860 looks bigger than most of its 3.7" competitors. Extra space below the screen was needed to accommodate the standard set of physical buttons, all five of them. At 120 x 62 x 11.5 mm it isn't the most compact smartphone and has respectable heft. Tipping the scales at 135 g, it has every bit of BlackBerry solidity that users feel they're entitled to.

Design and construction

The phone is still quite comfortable to handle and operate. Everything is quite thumbable on the reasonably big touchscreen but the menu key is still essential to the navigation. Some of the options are deep in the system menus, only accessible via the menu key. The call buttons are welcome and the trackpad comes in handy where extra precision is needed.

The Torch 9860 is less imposing than its touchscreen siblings, the two Storms. It feels almost ordinary, with a dash of cheap. There you go, we never thought we can say that about a BlackBerry. We guess most of it goes down to the glossy black bezel up front. Around back, things are looking better. The battery cover is made of metal but with soft, grip-enhancing rubbery finish. We liked the slanting top and bottom chrome colored edges too.

Blackberry Torch 9860 Blackberry Torch 9860 
BlackBerry Torch 9860

It's an unusual combination of premium-looking rear and plain plastic front. Maybe RIM wanted to set the phone apart, seeking to avoid high-end connotations. A strict business look was not on the agenda either. The audience of the Torch 9860 will perhaps be younger than average.

Let's let the phone do the talking though. The 3.7" WVGA capacitive touchscreen is quite inviting with a pixel density of around 252 ppi.

Display test 50% brightness 100% brightness
Black, cd/m2 White, cd/m2 Contrast ratio Black, cd/m2 White, cd/m2 Contrast ratio
LG Optimus Black P970 0.27 332 1228 0.65 749 1161
Apple iPhone 4 0.14 189 1341 0.39 483 1242
HTC Sensation 0.21 173 809 0.61 438 720
Samsung I9000 Galaxy S 0 263 0 395
Sony Ericsson XPERIA Arc 0.03 34 1078 0.33 394 1207
Samsung I9100 Galaxy S II 0 231 0 362
BlackBerry Bold Touch 9900 0.29 403 1376 0.47 618 1304
BlackBerry Torch 9860 0.29 426 1456 0.47 665 1413

It has very good brightness and sunlight legibility won't be a problem. It's a pleasingly crisp display with excellent contrast and vibrant colors. The touch response is great but there's no haptic feedback.

We particularly missed that in the keyboard. By the way, the virtual QWERTY is quite uncomfortable to use in portrait. Flip to landscape and things get better. How much better though will be ultimately up to Blackberry users coming from a physical keyboard to decide. Another thing to note, the auto-rotation has a notable lag. We hope this is a unit-specific issue.

Blackberry Torch 9860 
The 3.7" display on the Torch 9860

Under the display, is the typical BlackBerry navigation combo of Call keys, Menu and Back buttons. They're all big enough for comfortable use, slightly raised and solid to press. Placed in the middle is the trackpad, which will get its share of use, especially in the system menus that aren't all that touch friendly.

Blackberry Torch 9860 
Trackpad and menu button still needed for navigation

The earpiece and status LED are the things to note above the display, where the BlackBerry logo takes a prominent spot.

Blackberry Torch 9860 
Earpiece and a status LED on top

On the left side of the Torch 9860 there's only a MicroUSB port used for charging and file transfers. Its central position is not the most comfortable. A plugged cable will get in the way if you need to use the phone while charging. On the other hand, it favors landscape use.

Blackberry Torch 9860 Blackberry Torch 9860 
The microUSB port is on the left

The 3.5mm audio jack is on the right side. Below it you have volume keys, with a very subtle mute button in between. It doubles as play/pause button in the music player. The convenience key near the bottom is set by default to serve the camera and this time it makes sense. The button is tiny but very tactile and has distinct half press for locking focus.

Blackberry Torch 9860 Blackberry Torch 9860 
The volume control keys, placed either side the pause/mute button, and the camera button on the right

The lock button is placed at the top of the BlackBerry Torch 9860, a return of the invisible keys from the previous generation of BlackBerries.

Blackberry Torch 9860 Blackberry Torch 9860 
The Lock key is the single functional element on top

The bottom of the phone has the same glossy plastic finish as the top and only features the microphone pinhole.

Blackberry Torch 9860 Blackberry Torch 9860 
The bottom is where the microphone is

At the back, the 5MP camera lens comes with a LED flash. A thin slit just above them marks the loudspeaker. The metal battery cover has rubbery finish, which feels nice to touch. A chrome frame runs around the back, with the top and bottom portions slightly raised to give the device a subtle inward curve. If you rest the phone on a flat surface the back panel won't get scratched or the loudspeaker muffled.

Blackberry Torch 9860 Blackberry Torch 9860 
The metal back panel plate • 5 MP camera with LED flash • The loudspeaker

The battery cover pops up as you push a tiny latch at the bottom. Underneath you'll see the 1230 mAh Li-Ion battery and the hot-swappable MicroSD card slot. The SIM compartment is under the battery, a tiny yellow handle helps eject the SIM card.

Blackberry Torch 9860 
Taking a peek under the hood: the microSD card slot and removing the battery

BlackBerry claim 330h/320h of stand-by (in 2G and 3G, respectively) and 4:40/6:50 hours of talk time. Music playback should be around 44h. In real life our unit went through a day of intensive usage (web browsing over Wi-Fi, music playback, the usual imaging test, etc.). That's basically what you should expect of the Torch 9860 if you don't give your smartphone much rest. If used sparingly, the Torch 9860 will probably give you two days at most on a single charge.

Blackberry Torch 9860 Blackberry Torch 9860 
The BlackBerry Torch 9860 feels great in the palm of your hand

We don't have doubts about the build of the BlackBerry Torch 9860. We're not as impressed as usual with the design, although it has some of the typical BlackBerry touches. The phone feels solid, but not in the usual impressive and elaborate way. We think that's on purpose though - they didn't want the Torch 9860 too sophisticated or too masculine. The phone handles nicely. The fingerprint-prone front and the audio jack placed on the side are some minor niggles.

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This post is uploaded via Apple iPhone 4,
sponsored by Dr Mobiles Limited (Location Map)
1 Huron Street, Takapuna, North Shore 0622, Tel: (09) 551-5344, Mob: (021) 117-2222

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Why Dr Mobiles Limited?
> Repair while you wait
> Free insurance calims report
> Free inspection on faulty phones|
> Free 30 minute off-street parking
> 45 mins to fix iPhone 4 scree
> 30 mins to unlock 3G and 3GS
> 25 mins to replace 3G/3GS screen

> 10 mins to unlock iPhone 4