Review: BlackBerry Curve
Browse
There are two browser icons on the Curve: The AT&T MEdiaNet browser, and the BlackBerry browser. The AT&T browser is the entry point to its mobile portal and gives you access to ringtones and other downloads, as well as your account info and news. The BlackBerry browser takes you directly to the open Internet, though both browsers function in the same way.
Using the BB key is the trick (once again) to accessing the menus you need to navigate with the browser. Setting bookmarks and using other navigation tricks is simple once you get acquainted with how BlackBerry's system works. One neat navigation trick is the "page overview" option. Using it grays out the page and in the upper right hand corner shows you a map of the entire page. You can use this map to zoom down to the bottom of the page, for instance, and once you hit the select key again, it will automatically take you to that section of the page. This is similar to the Nokia S60 browser. This is especially helpful for finding content on large web pages.
Another helpful feature is the ability to copy or send the URLs. Once you have navigated to a page, using the BB key, you can automatically copy the web site's URL, or choose to send it to one of your contacts via email, SMS, MMS or PIN.
Even though the Curve is limited to AT&T's EDGE network, browsing to WAP pages was fairly quick. Most loaded without too much of a wait.
Customize
The Curve comes with three themes preloaded, but you can download more from the AT&T MEdiaNet store. Along with the themes, it also comes preloaded with a number of wallpaper/screensaver images to set as your desktop.
One bone we have to pick is that setting a new theme automatically negates whatever background wallpaper you have chosen. If you simply want a different style of home page, but the same background image, you have to go in a re-set the image to the one you want after changing the theme.
You can select from a number of preloaded ringtones, or download others from AT&T. Alternately, you can set any song from your library, including ones you download or side load from your own PC, as a ringtone from the media application.
The most useful customizing feature, though, is the ability to hide and move the main desktop icons. Being able to put the applications where you want them makes them easier to find and access. Also, the Curve comes with a lot of applications that likely won't be used by everyone. Hiding them clears up the desktop a bit, and makes it easier to find the applications you do use.
Both application keys on the left and right side of the Curve can be customized as short cuts to your favorite or most used applications or settings menu.
The options menu lets you alter the phone as you would expect most phones for personalization. You can change the fonts, the size of the fonts, whether or not they are bold and more. This alters the view of your inbox and the majority of the text-only menus you interact with on the Curve.
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BlackBerry Curve 8300
