RIM introduced its first tablet last week at its developers conference in San Francisco. The seven-inch device features a 1 GHz dual-core processor and 1 GB of RAM. As rumored, Blackberry chose to go with a brand new OS instead of using its recently launched Blackberry OS 6, something that should give the new tablet a little extra flow. Designed to sync with Blackberry phones and Blackberry enterprise servers out of the box, the PlayBook will definitely be more of a workhorse than the iPad.

credit: Gadgetcrave.com

More info after the jump

While enterprise is clearly on RIM’s mind, the PlayBook includes a number of features that will also appeal to casual tablet users. The two HD video cameras give the PlayBook picture, video and videoconferencing capabilities. And the inclusion of Adobe Flash opens the full Internet experience for work or play. HDMI output is another key feature.  RIM says that 3G and 4G versions will be launched after the initial model debuts early next year.

Today at an exclusive AT&T/RIM event held in New York City we had the chance to play with the newest device in RIMs arsenal — the BlackBerry Torch 9800. A mix of touchscreen and familiar QWERTY keyboard, this is the first slider BlackBerry and looks like it could possibly be the best BlackBerry to date. It will also be the first device to have BlackBerry 6, RIMs latest “revamped” OS. The Torch will be officially available for purchase on August 12th for $199 exclusively through AT&T. While you’ll have to wait a few weeks to get your hands on one, we had the chance to play around with it and see whats new both with the device itself and the all-new BlackBerry 6 operating system.

Check out the video preview of the Blackberry Torch after the jump.

credit: Crackberry.com

Here it is Storm2 chasers… the press release we have all been waiting for! And it looks like you won’t have to wait long now to pick up a BlackBerry Storm2, with availability scheduled for October 28th – this Wednesday. As previously posted, Verizon Blackberry Storm2 pricing comes in at $179 on a 2yr contract after a mail-in rebate, but there’s no mention of a BOGO promotion or upgrade incentive for Storm1 users… at least in the press release (if any of these promotions do exist, could be they’ll roll into action in the near future). If you haven’t done it yet, be sure to check out our BlackBerry Storm2 Review. Press release below.

As for why the Verizon press release was delayed beyond RIM/Vodafone’s announcement of the BlackBerry Storm2, no official reason was stated, but judging by the looks of the press release the official argument might be that they were waiting for the release of OS 5.0 for the Storm 9530, so original Storm owners were taken care of prior to the Storm2′s launch.

Credit: crackberry.com

The BlackBerry Bold 9700 continues where the previous Bold left off with same luxurious looks but this time in a more svelte profile. The phone features a higher resolution screen, trackpad navigation, 3.2 megapixel camera, Wi-Fi, GPS, 3G support, and an improved battery life over the previous generation. Link

Credit: acquiremag.com

Threaded SMS has always been the feature that BlackBerry users covet. Threaded conversations make the texting experience that much more enjoyable because you can keep track of multiple conversations and it’s easier to start up a conversation where you left off.

SwooshSMS is a 3rd party app that takes BlackBerry text messaging to the next level. You now have the ability to have to have your own text folder where all your texts are threaded. SwooshSMS also integrates your contact’s photo so you can see who you are talking to. The pic can be taken from the contact folder as well as from Facebook.

One of the downsides to this app is that it lacks the ability to end an entire conversation. You have to delete a message one at a time; a little annoying to be honest. Other than that, if you’re looking for a neat threaded SMS client, try it out.

It’s not quite the BlackBerry that T-Mobile customers have been expecting, but the Curve 8520 dons the first optical trackpad on a BlackBerry and that has to count for something, right? With dedicated media buttons gracing the top of the 8520 and “out of the box” Mac compatibility we’ll forgive the fact that it still doesn’t run on T-Mobile’s super-fast 3G network. The latest Curve also features, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.0, a 2-megapixel camera and it comes with a 1GB microSD memory card.

Due out on August 5 for $130 in black and frost.

The guys at PhoneArena put up a pretty lengthy review of the BlackBerry Gemini 8520. I’ll break down their review by section but if you want to read the full review, just head over to their site.

Design

While the 8520 Gemini is one of the newest devices to be released by RIM, the only thing truly new about it is the design. The 8520 is slated as an introductory Curve model and comes with a 3.4” screen which sits above a full QWERTY keyboard. Two convenience keys adorn either side and a simplistic back with the 2 megapixel camera at the top. The unofficial size is 4.25”x2.3”x0.5”, which makes it even smaller than the Curve 8900, and perhaps a touch lighter.

The above pic gives you a good idea of how the Curve 8520 matches up with the other BlackBerry devices.

The new Curve apparently has a plastic feel to it and it doesn’t have that solid metal feeling you get with a device like the Storm 9500. The sides, top and bottom are all finished in soft touch paint which gives it just a bit of grip and a good feel. The side keys (convenience keys on each side, volume rocker on the right) are all merely bumps as opposed to individual keys with the housing “stretching” to accommodate them instead of breaking.

The biggest change to the Curve series is RIM has now implemented an optical trackpad. Some Curve owners have complained that the trackball is the first thing to wear and it often gets debris lodged in it. The new optical trackpad will solve many of the issues people have had with the trackball, and we’re going to see fewer people requiring replacements. Way to go RIM! (I think PhoneArena missed this potential advantage in their review)

The back of the device houses a 2.0MP camera in the soft touch area. Sadly, there is no flash with this device. I found it odd considering that the top of the phone has media keys, which suggest the device is more consumer friendly. It seems RIM didn’t go all out when trying to appease the consumer with this one. Like the Pre and iPhone, the shiny black plastic is a fingerprint magnet but looks awfully pretty when clean.

The review goes on to take a look at the user interface (OS 4.6), phonebook, organizer, messaging, multimedia and software. While I enjoyed reading about these topics, there really isn’t anything new. The 8520 won’t have anything you haven’t seen, software-wise, in the 8900. The major difference comes in the design, as articulated above.

Overall the BlackBerry Curve 8520 is a fine device for what it is. It may not be the finest in fit and finish, but it brings the best Blackberry features to a low-end device. The size and weight are good, the display is ample and the optical trackpad brings a bit of innovation. RIM has some work to do on the Curve’s performance, but if they fix that we don’t see why this device won’t be very popular.

[Via]