BlackBerry Tour 9630
Average Ratings
Awesome Phone!
I'm in love with this phone. There is nothing it can't do! The phone is extremely fast, easy to maneuver around and learn (This is my first blackberry and I can confidently say I knew how to use pretty much everything after a day), and just a joy all around to use. The keyboard is a perfect size to type with 2 hands or 1, which comes in handy when you're driving (Although I wouldn't recommenced it). I switched from the HTC Touch Pro to this phone on Verizon's network and the signal is MUCH stronger on the blackberry. Have only had 1 dropped call and that's because I walked through a dead zone in a back hallway in the mall I work at. Lots of my friends have the Blackberry Storm and this phone is much faster, and because it has a real keyboard vs a touch screen it's easier to use and I can tell you from experience the Tour is a much faster phone than the Storm. Grab this phone, it's amazing!!!
Not perfect, but good
I describe this as a Curve on steroids since there aren't any real new features.
PROS:
- I travel the world, love the "sextuple band" phone (This beats the hell out of the 8830 WE)
- I love the faster processor and larger memory (100mb's) capacity for app's. This phone is just way zippier than my Curve. The same movies I loaded onto my memory card played choppy on my Curve, but play smooth on this new Tour.
- Love the auto focus! Haven't had this feature since my Samsung A940 years ago!
CONS:
- GPS seriously lacking! I ride a motorcycle and Sprint Navigation will not play through my stereo bluetooth helmet. Sprint TV, music, movies all work fine, just not the Navigation. (Palm Pre aside, I've seen crappy Motorola dumbphones do this) Aside from that, the GPS is not GPS-A, it will not work indoors.
- No Wi-Fi? Curses! Sprint has great data coverage, but there is no comparison to my 16mb Comcast connection at home.
- Lack of predictive text. (Unless RIM wants to make a Pearl 2 with the same performance/spec's, get some predictive text on full keyboard phones already)
- I hate the placement of the charging port on the bottom half of the phone. (It gets in the way of texting when it's on the charger)
Nice addition to Verizon's BlackBerry lineup
I received mine yesterday and won't be keeping it - more on that in a bit - but overall, it's a great addition to VZW's lineup!
Pros:
* EV-DO Rev. A is great for browser use and PC tethering! Using TetherBerry, I consistently get 1.1 Mbps down/0.6 Mbps up, compared to 400 Kbps down and a measly 15 Kbps up on my Rev. 0 Pearl.
* Miraculously, VZW didn't cripple the GPS! The 9630 works well with Google Maps (4 meter accuracy indoors) and Amaze, but no Garmin or Telmap support yet. Garmin installs but refuses to even look for an internal GPS since it's a VZW handset.
* 3.2 MP camera w/ AF is great! There's minimal shutter lag and pics can be taken either by pressing the trackball or by holding it horizontally and using the volume rocker to zoom and the right conv. key as a 2-stage shutter button. Much to my surprise, I actually prefer the trackball, as it automatically focuses then takes the pic without holding it or pressing again, eliminating blur caused by button presses.
* Reception, call quality, and volume are solid on the CDMA network (didn't have an opportunity to try international GSM, but nice that it's possible!). I was disappointed at first as volume was very low when I dialed *228 to activate, but normal calls have been loud and clear.
* The 9630 feels solid. My unit didn't have the loose battery door that others have mentioned.
Cons:
* Heavier and slightly bulkier than the Curve 8330 (and obviously the Pearl). Pocketable, but much less inconspicuous than the Curve; you definitely know it's there, which could be good or bad.
* UI speed is generally fast, but mine sometimes lags when dialing a number. (Press a key, appears half sec. later, then emits dialtone.) Surely an update will fix this.
* Why I returned mine: The keys are just much too small (for me) and have no separation. YMMV, but my huge thumbs cover 4 keys at a time - I feel like I need Homer Simpson's dialing wand to type on this! Try it in a store first if you have large or fat paws.
Awesome Tour!!!!!!
I got this phone on Sunday when it was released at 10am. After waiting for 90 mins. to be called it was well worth the wait. I am coming off of the curve which i loved but this tour takes it all. The vibrant color's on the screen is very nice. The key board is very soft and it set's into the body of the phone which i have to get use to. It is much easier to type on the curve though. The screen is much bigger and it can be seen in direct sun light which is a plus. The ringer's and the music are very loud. The audio is extremely loud which is great if you are out door's in a noisy environment. I actually had to turn the volume down even while using my bluethooth. The web is much faster than on the curve and downloading apps are much faster. The battery life is just wonderful. I played 6 hrs of non stop music and i had (1) battery bar left which is unheard of.The vibration though is very weak so it is hard to feel it if the phone is in the included leather case,but for me that is no big deal.E-mails and sms/mms are separated from one another which is also good. You will know exactly how many emails and how many sms/mms messages you have which is also a huge plus. Some people had said that their battery door is loose. Mine is on tight and it is not loose at all. This phone in my opinion is much better than the storm which i also got on the first day that it was launched which was a huge mistake on my part after standing in line at 5am. The camera is very good except that there is a slight delay in taking the picture just like the storm,otherwise the pictures do come out very clear with a nice color too it. Over all,this phone is the actual upgrade to the 8830 world phone and not the 8330 curve.So far i have not dropped any calls yet and i live in NYC. I will see how this phone works in Europe next week when i will be there in three different countries on business.V-Cast Song ID can be downloaded on this phone which is pretty cool. I highly recommend this phone.A++++
Sprint's Blackberry Tour worth the wait!
After anxiously waiting for Sprint's answer to the Bold for more than a few months, I finally received Sprint's Blackberry Tour and I must say I am impressed.
Pros:
Stunning graphics.
Supports mp4 full screen video compression for awesome quality for movies, etc.
Excellent 3.2 MP Camera with auto focus
Excellent video capture
Solid feel and very sturdy
Blackberry Device Manager 5.0 CD included
Extremely loud ring settings available
Much better battery life
Improved Media Center including picture
management and media player
Excellent call quality
Improved Internet Browser
Very cool clock that's activated from main
menu. Check out its cool options.
Cons:
There are some significant spaces between the edges of buttons, screen etc. Over time, dust and small debris will have to be cleaned out. I find myself frequently blowing dust out of the cracks already.
Feel of keys take some getting used to after Curve.
Micro charge port will require new car charger for previous blackberry owners like myself.
I would prefer the charge port on the bottom as opposed to the lower right side as it makes it very difficult to type while the device is plugged in.
No WIFI....Come on :-(
Although the Internet browser is an nice upgrade to the previous BB models, it still needs some improvement.
Don't let the cons sway you. This is arguably the best PDA I have ever seen and even though this model lacks WIFI it still packs a mean punch in a conservative black package.
Nice Upgrade!!!
Nice upgrade from the curve, but still could use some working on. Cons: Great web from curve, Comes wih some new apps that curve didnt have which is a plus. Battery life is good. Cons: No Flash Player for Video emails, usb port for charging is on wrong side of the phone. Over all this phone is just an upgrade from the curve. Good phone but if you dont need the upgrade dont pay the full price for the phone.
everything I ever wanted
I love almost everything about it, coming from a curve 8330 I miss one application that is not yet availible for the tour and that is the Qik app that streams your videos live to the qik website, and one other thing is the location of the charging port make it a little awkward for texting while on the charger. those are the only issues I have had with it and of couse the qik problem will be worked out in the future i am sure.
Great Phone
Great phone so far.
Pros:
Stylish
Great screen, very bright even in sunlight
Very good call quality
Blazing Internet speeds(live in NYC)
Very nice UI
Comes with lots of accessories(holster,memory card, stereo headset, sim card, usb charge cable, outlet charger cable.
Comes with 5 games
Decent camera
Cons:
Wish the screen was slightly bigger
No Wi-Fi(not a big deal for me because I live in NYC and I get great coverage)
Got to get used the keyboard( I had a Voyager)
2gb card...cmon verizon you couldnt afford a 8gb card they are pretty cheap on Newegg.
Battery cover a bit loose
Sprint Rep here
The Tour is def. a solid phone. Issues with the horizontal movement of the track ball can be prevented by going to options, keyboard, and changing the sensitivity on horizontal from 70 to 80 :).
Pros
Made well
Great display
Good camera
Good keypad
Extremely dependable
Cons
Slow browswer (my old HTC Diamond I compared side by side and the Diamond was at leaset 2x's faster...) - no flash for websites.
