Powder Monkeys offers challenging fun for young gamers

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 24px;"></span><br /> <div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 12px; font: normal normal normal 13px/19px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px; padding-bottom: 0.6em; padding-left: 0.6em; padding-right: 0.6em; padding-top: 0.6em;"> <div mce_style="text-align: center;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px; text-align: center;"> <img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="203" mce_src="http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/7778/powdermonkeysbattle.jpg" mce_style="border-width: 1px; border-style: solid;" src="http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/7778/powdermonkeysbattle.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; clear: both; color: #444444; display: block; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="270" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> Powder Monkeys from XMG Studio (US$0.99, universal) is a big, varied game for the iPhone and iPad with enough going on to entertain kids and adults alike. Its good looks, many quests, game mechanics and upgrade opportunities increase longevity and keep players coming back for more. Plus, who wouldn't want to help monkey pirates battle enormous bugs on the high seas? Here's our look at Powder Monkeys.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> Way back in the 17th century, a "powder monkey" was a member of a warship's crew. It was his job to deliver bags of gunpowder to the gun crew, and keep the fight alive. XMG has had a bit of fun with the term, casting animated monkeys as its seafaring heroes, sworn to defend their turf against evil, enormous bugs. As the player, you must aide the monkeys by completing quests, surviving battles, upgrading your weapons and more. Before we get to that, let's take a look at the game itself.</div> <h3 style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> UI</h3> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> Powder Monkeys features big, chunky "cartoonish" illustrations that look fantastic on the iPad as well as a less detailed overview of your character's position on the sea. Other elements are easily identified, like treasure chests, islands of interest and enemy ships. There's not a lot of reading to be done, either, which benefits younger players (both my 6-year-old and 8-year-old tested out Powder Monkeys for me).</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;"> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="strong" mce_style="font-weight: bold;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">Gallery: Powder Monkeys</span></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <a href="http://localhost/1/wp-admin/post.php?post=6500&action=edit&message=1" mce_href="http://" style="color: #0066cc; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;"><img alt="Repair your ship" mce_src="http://img573.imageshack.us/img573/4647/img0033thumbnail.jpg" src="http://img573.imageshack.us/img573/4647/img0033thumbnail.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" title="Repair your ship" /></a><a href="http://localhost/1/wp-admin/post.php?post=6500&action=edit&message=1" mce_href="http://" style="color: #0066cc; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;"><img alt="Sailing around" mce_src="http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/6339/img0034thumbnail.jpg" src="http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/6339/img0034thumbnail.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" title="Sailing around" /></a><a href="http://localhost/1/wp-admin/post.php?post=6500&action=edit&message=1" mce_href="http://" style="color: #0066cc; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;"><img alt="Spin the wheel!" mce_src="http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/9073/img0035thumbnail.jpg" src="http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/9073/img0035thumbnail.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" title="Spin the wheel!" /></a><a href="http://localhost/1/wp-admin/post.php?post=6500&action=edit&message=1" mce_href="http://" style="color: #0066cc; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;"><img alt="Overhead view" mce_src="http://img684.imageshack.us/img684/9703/img0036thumbnail.jpg" src="http://img684.imageshack.us/img684/9703/img0036thumbnail.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" title="Overhead view" /></a><a href="http://localhost/1/wp-admin/post.php?post=6500&action=edit&message=1" mce_href="http://" style="color: #0066cc; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;"><img alt="Choose your character" mce_src="http://img812.imageshack.us/img812/9665/img0037thumbnail.jpg" src="http://img812.imageshack.us/img812/9665/img0037thumbnail.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" title="Choose your character" /></a></div> </div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> As you sail around the environment, seeking adventure, a large ship's wheel appears, though you only really need to drag to move. If you're on a quest, an arrow points you in the right direction.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> Other elements, like the store (for buying ammo, coins and upgrading equipment) repair shop and quest log are also attractive and legible, and a badge identifies the number of open quests you've got.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> Finally, two badges in the lower right-hand corner of the screen monitor your inventory.</div> <h3 style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> Gameplay</h3> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> The real advantage here is the variation. This could easily have become a game of repetitive shooting, which gets old fast. Instead, XMG has included asset management, travel and some puzzle solving, which keeps the games interesting.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> You begin by sailing into a cluster of islands and receiving a quest to visit one in particular. Of course, the bugs are waiting! Engage in your first battle.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> Battle mode begins as two ships line up side-by-side. Each ship has four canons and various "bullets," including watermelons, darts and, if you're desperate, cutlery. Load a canon by tapping the type of ammo you'd like to load and then tapping the desired canon (bullets will destroy incoming bullets mid-air). A shot is fired and health decreased. The first player to run out of XP loses.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> Fortunately, you've got powerups at your disposal. These special, upgradeable attacks will slow down the action, erect a defensive shield or increase your rate of attack, among other things. They're all handy when your enemy's vessel is superior to your own. If you win, a barrage of coins appear. Pick them up with a tap.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> Pick up additional quests by traveling from island to island. One required me to navigate a maze filled with superior ships. Another had me escort a companion across dangerous seas. Again, the variation keeps it interesting.</div> <h3 style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> Other elements</h3> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> Gather coins by winning battles and completing quests. You'll also need wood, iron and special Banana Coins. These can be obtained by completing quests, opening treasure boxes (found floating in the sea) or spinning the wheel! Some treasure boxes contain goodies, while others offer a Wheel-Of-Fortune type spinner, lined with various assets. Tap anywhere to stop the spinner and see what you've won.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> Coins are used to buy additional ammo, powerups and upgrades via the "store." Additionally, changes to your ship's hull, canons, rigging and armor also require wood and iron.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> The all-important Banana Coins can be found in the game or purchased with real money via an in-app purchase. My 6-year-old was tempted to put dad's hard-earned cash down on a pretend coin, but I put the kibosh on that (big meanine). Plus, the app required my Apple ID (as you'd expect) which he does not have.</div> <h3 style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> Conclusion</h3> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> My only complaint is with the overhead map. You can zoom out at anytime to get an overview of your location, but must zoom back in to move. This probably defeats the sense of adventure, but I'd like to be able to move while in the distant, overhead view. Plus, the tiny island icons are tiny indeed on the iPhone.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> Other than that, Powder Monkeys is a winner. It feels much deeper than you'd expect from a 0.99 app, with all the questing and upgrade options. Game Center achievements are also supported. It's just as comfortable on both devices and just plain fun. Plus, I dare you to get that Caribbean theme song out of your head.</div> </div> </div>

Powder Monkeys offers challenging fun for young gamers

Powder Monkeys from XMG Studio (US$0.99, universal) is a big, varied game for the iPhone and iPad with enough going on to entertain ki...

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Samsung Galaxy Nexus and Android Ice Cream Sandwich wrap-up [Video]

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 24px;"></span><br /> <div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 12px; font: normal normal normal 13px/19px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px; padding-bottom: 0.6em; padding-left: 0.6em; padding-right: 0.6em; padding-top: 0.6em;"> <div mce_style="text-align: center;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px; text-align: center;"> <img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="304" mce_src="http://img717.imageshack.us/img717/2463/29740224718104199720611.jpg" src="http://img717.imageshack.us/img717/2463/29740224718104199720611.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; clear: both; color: #444444; display: block; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="324" />Samsung and Google put the eyes of the tech world squarely on Hong Kong last week as they unveiled the future of the Android platform. There they showed hardware and software that will set the tone for Android in 2012 and beyond, in the form of the Galaxy Nexus smartphone running Android 4.0, codenamed Ice Cream Sandwich. Here’s everything you need to know about the new phone and the new operating system.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;"></span></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="strong" mce_style="font-weight: bold;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">Galaxy Nexus Hardware</span></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> To call Samsung’s newest flagship and Google’s latest developer device a “superphone” is an understatement. Without a doubt the star of the show is its curved 4.65-inch screen, pumping out a full HD resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels. And the Super AMOLED screen is one of the best out there, despite lacking the “+” RGB specification that would result in even denser pixels. The device runs a snappy 1.2 GHz OMAP 4460 processor, which is rated for 1.5 GHz but has been clocked down, and a gigabyte of RAM. Like the Nexus S, the Galaxy Nexus will not use an external memory card, but different versions will use 16GB or 32Gb, depending upon territory and carrier preference.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> In addition to some top-of-the line specifications, the Galaxy Nexus has some new equipment that should make for interesting tools for developers. Despite a slower rollout of NFC than Google was hoping for, they’ve included it in the phone, as well as new temperature and barometer sensors. The latter should help acquire faster and more accurate location data. Nexus One-style electrical contacts allow for seamless docking on a desktop or car dock.</div> <div mce_style="text-align: center;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px; text-align: center;"> <img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-60147 aligncenter" height="235" mce_src="http://img585.imageshack.us/img585/6475/galaxynexushandson14and.jpg" src="http://img585.imageshack.us/img585/6475/galaxynexushandson14and.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; clear: both; color: #444444; display: block; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="324" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> Samsung is claiming that the lower 5-megapixel/1080p camera is as good or better than the 8-megapixel shooters seen on other Android phones, and given the video we’ve seen on the Galaxy Nexus, we believe them. The front-facing camera is 1.3 megapixels. The back cover is coated in no-slip plastic that’s probably familiar if you’ve used one of the Galaxy S II phones before.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="strong" mce_style="font-weight: bold;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">Galaxy Nexus Availability</span></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> Google and Samsung said at the event that the Galaxy Nexus would be available starting in November. Unfortunately, Verizon has not said when they plan to release the phone, though we know from Samsung that they’ll be the first in the US to get it. <span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="strong" mce_style="font-weight: bold;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;"></span>Various leaks point to a November 10th release date with a price of $299. In the UK the phone will cost £429, and NTT DoCoMo in Japan will get the first crack at the Galaxy Nexus.</div> <div mce_style="text-align: center;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px; text-align: center;"> <img alt="" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-60153" height="216" mce_src="http://img585.imageshack.us/img585/9747/img0416x21540x360.jpg" src="http://img585.imageshack.us/img585/9747/img0416x21540x360.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; clear: both; color: #444444; display: block; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="324" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> As far as coverage goes, the Galaxy Nexus comes in two primary hardware versions: HSPA+ and LTE. Different versions will be used where applicable – Verizon is obviously getting LTE, whereas HSPA+ versions are probably bound for AT&T and T-Mobile. The HSPA+ version is a super-slim 8.94 millimeters at its thinnest point, but the LTE version is noticeably thicker at the base.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> Check out our hands-on looks at the Galaxy Nexus below:</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="strong" mce_style="font-weight: bold;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">Galaxy Nexus Hands-on</span></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="strong" mce_style="font-weight: bold;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">Ice Cream Sandwich</span></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-60160 alignright" height="357" mce_src="http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/1994/lockcameralg303x540.png" src="http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/1994/lockcameralg303x540.png" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; display: inline; float: right; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 24px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 4px; max-width: 640px;" width="200" />Arguably even more important that the Galaxy Nexus was Google’ unveiling of Ice Cream Sandwich, the long-awaited 4.0 version of Android. The Galaxy Nexus will be the first phone to run it, an will be the standard for development. Ice Cream Sandwich’s most important feature isn’t one that you can see: it unites the code found in the smartphone version of Android (Gingerbread) and the tablet version (Honeycomb). Its interface shifts to accommodate differences in screen style and user method, and its SDK and APIs allows apps to do the same.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="strong" mce_style="font-weight: bold;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">New features</span></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> That said, there’s hardly a single part of the Android user interface that hasn’t seen a complete overhaul. Beginning with the lockscreen, notifications are now usable before unlocking the phone, and ca apps can be launcher directly from the pull-down bar. The lockscreen either unlocks the phone or takes the user to the revamped Camera app, using a modified Honeycomb ring lock mechanism. It can also be unlocked using facial recognition from the front-facing camera. Speaking of the Camera app, it’s now much, much more powerful, with things like continuous auto focus, facial recognition and more advanced user-accessible photography settings. Once a photo or video is taken it can be instantly shared to Google+ and other social networks, or any service that takes advantage of its open API.A basic Instagram-style photo editing feature now resides in the overhauled Gallery app.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-60159 alignright" height="357" mce_src="http://img641.imageshack.us/img641/8518/usagealllg1303x540.png" src="http://img641.imageshack.us/img641/8518/usagealllg1303x540.png" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; display: inline; float: right; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 24px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 4px; max-width: 640px;" width="200" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> The homescreen shows a lot of influence from Honeycomb as well, especially in its task manager activated from the new navigation button. In addition to quickly switching between apps, users can swipe one away WebOS-style to quit it and free up memory. The homescreen uses Honeycomb-style widgets and searching, and for the first time in a stock launcher, you can manually resize widgets. The folder feature gets some much-needed UI attention as well. Particular attention has been paid to contacts in the new People app, which displays vivid pictures in a grid. The individual listings allow contacts to be connected to their handles on various social networks, and keys into the appropriate app when activated.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> Google is getting a good handle on the realities of the modern smartphone market with a new feature: the data manager. It allows you to see your data use actively without any widgets or plugins, and extrapolated how much you’ll probably use in the future based on previous usage. It also allows users to automatically cut the data connection at a certain point, making for a lot of savings on data-hungry phone bills.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> One of the most intriguing uses of NFC we’ve ever seen is the new Android Beam feature. It allows users to instantly share links, maps, videos, apps, or indeed anything that takes advantage of the API, instantly from phone to phone. The process is a <img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-60156 alignright" height="357" mce_src="http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/7483/beamlg303x540.png" src="http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/7483/beamlg303x540.png" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; display: inline; float: right; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 24px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 4px; max-width: 640px;" width="200" />lot like infrared sharing back in the old Palm Pilot days. You place two NFC-enabled Ice Cream Sandwich apps back-to-back, activate Beam, and the location, app or other information is instantly shared with the opposite phone.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="strong" mce_style="font-weight: bold;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">Availability</span></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> Google never open-sourced Honeycomb, but they’re planning on releasing the AOSP source code to the public shortly after the November launch of the Galaxy Nexus. Developers can begin developing code for the OS now with the Ice Cream Sandwich SDK, and Motorola, HTC and Samsung are already promising upgrades for their high-end Android phones and tablets. A few adventurous modders couldn’t wait that long: they’ve already ported Ice Cream Sandwich to the Nexus S and Nexus One.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> The first non-Nexus Ice Cream Sandwich phones are probably months away at this point, but Asus is getting the drop on the tablet market with the forthcoming Eee Pad Transformer Prime. The follow-up to the original Transformer has already been shown off in a website and video, and the formal unveiling is scheduled for November 9th.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> New information on Ice Cream Sandwich (like game controller support!) is coming out all the time. Keep an eye on Android Community and @Androids for the latest updates. For a look at all of the software in action, check out our hands-on video of Ice Cream Sandwich below.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="strong" mce_style="font-weight: bold;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">Ice Cream Sandwich Hands-on</span></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <a href="http://androidcommunity.com/samsung-galaxy-nexus-and-android-ice-cream-sandwich-wrap-up-video-20111023/297402_247181041997206_114219621960016_650971_1774030018_n-540x507/" mce_href="http://androidcommunity.com/samsung-galaxy-nexus-and-android-ice-cream-sandwich-wrap-up-video-20111023/297402_247181041997206_114219621960016_650971_1774030018_n-540x507/" style="color: #0066cc; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; 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font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;" title="320249_247181075330536_114219621960016_650974_431790277_n"><img alt="320249_247181075330536_114219621960016_650974_431790277_n" class="attachment-thumbnail" height="150" mce_src="http://img812.imageshack.us/img812/4528/32024924718107533053611.jpg" src="http://img812.imageshack.us/img812/4528/32024924718107533053611.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" title="320249_247181075330536_114219621960016_650974_431790277_n" width="150" /></a><br style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;" /><a href="http://androidcommunity.com/samsung-galaxy-nexus-and-android-ice-cream-sandwich-wrap-up-video-20111023/galaxy-nexus-hands-on-02-androidcommunity-2/" mce_href="http://androidcommunity.com/samsung-galaxy-nexus-and-android-ice-cream-sandwich-wrap-up-video-20111023/galaxy-nexus-hands-on-02-androidcommunity-2/" style="color: #0066cc; 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font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;" title="IMG0416-X2"><img alt="IMG0416-X2" class="attachment-thumbnail" height="150" mce_src="http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/752/img0416x21150x150.jpg" src="http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/752/img0416x21150x150.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" title="IMG0416-X2" width="150" /></a><br style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;" /><a href="http://androidcommunity.com/samsung-galaxy-nexus-and-android-ice-cream-sandwich-wrap-up-video-20111023/img0469-x2-2/" mce_href="http://androidcommunity.com/samsung-galaxy-nexus-and-android-ice-cream-sandwich-wrap-up-video-20111023/img0469-x2-2/" style="color: #0066cc; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;" title="IMG0469-X2"><img alt="IMG0469-X2" class="attachment-thumbnail" height="150" mce_src="http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/4605/img0469x21150x150.jpg" src="http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/4605/img0469x21150x150.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" title="IMG0469-X2" width="150" /></a><br style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;" /><a href="http://androidcommunity.com/samsung-galaxy-nexus-and-android-ice-cream-sandwich-wrap-up-video-20111023/img0473-x2-2/" mce_href="http://androidcommunity.com/samsung-galaxy-nexus-and-android-ice-cream-sandwich-wrap-up-video-20111023/img0473-x2-2/" style="color: #0066cc; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;" title="IMG0473-X2"><img alt="IMG0473-X2" class="attachment-thumbnail" height="150" mce_src="http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/3606/img0473x21150x150.jpg" src="http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/3606/img0473x21150x150.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" title="IMG0473-X2" width="150" /></a><br style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;" /><a href="http://androidcommunity.com/samsung-galaxy-nexus-and-android-ice-cream-sandwich-wrap-up-video-20111023/beam-lg/" mce_href="http://androidcommunity.com/samsung-galaxy-nexus-and-android-ice-cream-sandwich-wrap-up-video-20111023/beam-lg/" style="color: #0066cc; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;" title="beam-lg"><img alt="beam-lg" class="attachment-thumbnail" height="150" mce_src="http://img580.imageshack.us/img580/1820/beamlg150x150.png" src="http://img580.imageshack.us/img580/1820/beamlg150x150.png" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" title="beam-lg" width="150" /></a><br style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;" /><a href="http://androidcommunity.com/samsung-galaxy-nexus-and-android-ice-cream-sandwich-wrap-up-video-20111023/contact-faves-lg/" mce_href="http://androidcommunity.com/samsung-galaxy-nexus-and-android-ice-cream-sandwich-wrap-up-video-20111023/contact-faves-lg/" style="color: #0066cc; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;" title="contact-faves-lg"><img alt="contact-faves-lg" class="attachment-thumbnail" height="150" mce_src="http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/8977/contactfaveslg150x150.png" src="http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/8977/contactfaveslg150x150.png" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" title="contact-faves-lg" width="150" /></a><br style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;" /><a href="http://androidcommunity.com/samsung-galaxy-nexus-and-android-ice-cream-sandwich-wrap-up-video-20111023/gallery-edit-lg-2/" mce_href="http://androidcommunity.com/samsung-galaxy-nexus-and-android-ice-cream-sandwich-wrap-up-video-20111023/gallery-edit-lg-2/" style="color: #0066cc; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;" title="gallery-edit-lg"><img alt="gallery-edit-lg" class="attachment-thumbnail" height="150" mce_src="http://img846.imageshack.us/img846/6901/galleryeditlg1150x150.png" src="http://img846.imageshack.us/img846/6901/galleryeditlg1150x150.png" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" title="gallery-edit-lg" width="150" /></a><br style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;" /><a href="http://androidcommunity.com/samsung-galaxy-nexus-and-android-ice-cream-sandwich-wrap-up-video-20111023/usage-all-lg-2/" mce_href="http://androidcommunity.com/samsung-galaxy-nexus-and-android-ice-cream-sandwich-wrap-up-video-20111023/usage-all-lg-2/" style="color: #0066cc; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;" title="usage-all-lg"><img alt="usage-all-lg" class="attachment-thumbnail" height="150" mce_src="http://img853.imageshack.us/img853/9417/usagealllg1150x150.png" src="http://img853.imageshack.us/img853/9417/usagealllg1150x150.png" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" title="usage-all-lg" width="150" /></a><br style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;" /><a href="http://androidcommunity.com/samsung-galaxy-nexus-and-android-ice-cream-sandwich-wrap-up-video-20111023/lock-camera-lg/" mce_href="http://androidcommunity.com/samsung-galaxy-nexus-and-android-ice-cream-sandwich-wrap-up-video-20111023/lock-camera-lg/" style="color: #0066cc; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;" title="lock-camera-lg"><img alt="lock-camera-lg" class="attachment-thumbnail" height="150" mce_src="http://img828.imageshack.us/img828/8750/lockcameralg150x150.png" src="http://img828.imageshack.us/img828/8750/lockcameralg150x150.png" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" title="lock-camera-lg" width="150" /></a></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;"> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;"> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;"> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;"> Device Specifications and Information<a href="http://androidcommunity.com/" mce_href="http://androidcommunity.com" style="color: #0066cc; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;"></a></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;"> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;"> <span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;">Device Info</span><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> </div> <ul style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 1.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="strong" mce_style="font-weight: bold;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">Device Name</span> : GALAXY Nexus</ul> <ul style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 1.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="strong" mce_style="font-weight: bold;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">Manufactuer</span> : Samsung</ul> <ul style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 1.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="strong" mce_style="font-weight: bold;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">Carrier</span> : Verizon</ul> <ul style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 1.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="strong" mce_style="font-weight: bold;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">Announced Date</span> : October 18, 2011</ul> <ul style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 1.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="strong" mce_style="font-weight: bold;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">Release Date</span> : TBA</ul> <ul style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 1.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="strong" mce_style="font-weight: bold;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">Also Known As</span> : Nexus Prime</ul> </div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;"> <span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;">Display</span><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> </div> <ul style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 1.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> <li style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;"><span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="strong" mce_style="font-weight: bold;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">Screen Size </span>: 4.65 Inch</li> <li style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;"><span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="strong" mce_style="font-weight: bold;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">Resolution </span>: 1280x720</li> <li style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;"><span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="strong" mce_style="font-weight: bold;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">Screen Type</span> : Super AMOLED</li> </ul> </div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;"> <span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;">Dimension & Weight</span><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> </div> <ul style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 1.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> <li style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;"><span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="strong" mce_style="font-weight: bold;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">Height </span>: 5.33 Inch</li> <li style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;"><span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="strong" mce_style="font-weight: bold;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">Width </span>: 2.67 Inch</li> <li style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;"><span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="strong" mce_style="font-weight: bold;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">Depth </span>: 0.35 Inch</li> <li style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;"><span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="strong" mce_style="font-weight: bold;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">Weight </span>: 135 Grams</li> </ul> </div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;"> <span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;">Battery & Power</span><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> </div> <ul style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 1.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="strong" mce_style="font-weight: bold;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">Battery Type</span>:<div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> </div> <li style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;">Lithium Ion</li> </ul> <ul style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 1.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> <li style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;"><span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="strong" mce_style="font-weight: bold;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">Battery Capacity </span>: 1750 mAh</li> <li style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;"><span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="strong" mce_style="font-weight: bold;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">Talk Time </span>: NA</li> <li style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;"><span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="strong" mce_style="font-weight: bold;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">Stand By Time </span>: NA</li> </ul> </div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;"> <span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;">Software</span><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> </div> <ul style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 1.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="strong" mce_style="font-weight: bold;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">Android OS</span>:<div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> </div> <li style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;">4.0.x</li> </ul> <ul style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 1.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="strong" mce_style="font-weight: bold;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">Audio Playback</span>:<div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> </div> <li style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;">AAC</li> <li style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;">AAC+</li> <li style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;">AMR</li> <li style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;">MID</li> <li style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;">MP3</li> <li style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;">WAV</li> <li style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;">WMA</li> </ul> <ul style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 1.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="strong" mce_style="font-weight: bold;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">Video Playback</span>:<div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> </div> <li style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;">h.263</li> <li style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;">h.264 / AVC</li> <li style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;">MPEG-4 (MP4)</li> </ul> <ul style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 1.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="strong" mce_style="font-weight: bold;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">Messaging</span>:<div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> </div> <li style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;">SMS</li> <li style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;">MMS</li> </ul> </div> </div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> </div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;"> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;"> <span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;">Hardware</span><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> </div> <ul style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 1.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="strong" mce_style="font-weight: bold;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">CPU </span>: OMAP 4460</ul> <ul style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 1.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="strong" mce_style="font-weight: bold;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">CPU Clock Speed</span> : 1200 Mhz</ul> <ul style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 1.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="strong" mce_style="font-weight: bold;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">Core </span>: 2</ul> <ul style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 1.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="strong" mce_style="font-weight: bold;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">Ram </span>: 1000 MB</ul> <ul style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 1.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="strong" mce_style="font-weight: bold;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">Internal Storage </span>: 32 GB</ul> <ul style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 1.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="strong" mce_style="font-weight: bold;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">Front Facing Camera </span>:<img align="middle" alt="" height="16" mce_src="http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/735/acwyesa.gif" src="http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/735/acwyesa.gif" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="16" /></ul> <ul style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 1.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="strong" mce_style="font-weight: bold;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">Camera Resolution </span>:5 MP</ul> <ul style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 1.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="strong" mce_style="font-weight: bold;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">Camera Features</span>:<div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> </div> <li style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;">Auto focus</li> <li style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;">Flash</li> <li style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;">1080p Video Recording</li> </ul> <ul style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 1.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="strong" mce_style="font-weight: bold;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">Sensors</span>:<div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> </div> <li style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;">Accelerometer</li> <li style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;">Ambient light</li> <li style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;">Proximity</li> </ul> <ul style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 1.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="strong" mce_style="font-weight: bold;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">QWERTY </span>:<img align="middle" alt="" height="16" mce_src="http://img713.imageshack.us/img713/4412/acwnok.gif" src="http://img713.imageshack.us/img713/4412/acwnok.gif" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="16" /></ul> </div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;"> <span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;">Cellular Network</span><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> </div> <ul style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 1.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="strong" mce_style="font-weight: bold;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">Network Technology</span>:<div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> </div> <li style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;">GSM</li> <li style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;">CDMA</li> </ul> <ul style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 1.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="strong" mce_style="font-weight: bold;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">GSM Band</span>:<div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> </div> <li style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;">850</li> <li style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;">900</li> <li style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;">1800</li> <li style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;">1900</li> </ul> <ul style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 1.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="strong" mce_style="font-weight: bold;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">CDMA Band</span>:<div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> </div> <li style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;">900</li> <li style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;">1900</li> </ul> </div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;"> <span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;">Device Connectivity</span><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> </div> <ul style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 1.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="strong" mce_style="font-weight: bold;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">Wi-Fi</span>:<div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> </div> <li style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;">802.11b</li> <li style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;">802.11g</li> <li style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;">802.11n</li> </ul> <ul style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 1.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="strong" mce_style="font-weight: bold;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">Bluetooth</span>:<div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> </div> <li style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;">Bluetooth 3.0</li> </ul> <ul style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 1.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="strong" mce_style="font-weight: bold;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">Location Features</span>:<div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> </div> <li style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;">Compass</li> <li style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;">GPS</li> <li style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;">Cellular location</li> <li style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;">Wi-Fi location</li> </ul> <ul style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 1.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="strong" mce_style="font-weight: bold;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">FM Radio </span>:<img align="middle" alt="" height="16" mce_src="http://img713.imageshack.us/img713/4412/acwnok.gif" src="http://img713.imageshack.us/img713/4412/acwnok.gif" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="16" /></ul> <ul style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 1.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="strong" mce_style="font-weight: bold;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">NFC </span>:<img align="middle" alt="" height="16" mce_src="http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/735/acwyesa.gif" src="http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/735/acwyesa.gif" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="16" /></ul> </div> </div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;"> <a href="http://androidcommunity.com/" mce_href="http://androidcommunity.com" style="color: #0066cc; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;"><img alt="" mce_src="http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/9710/acwloader1q.gif" src="http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/9710/acwloader1q.gif" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" /></a></div> </div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> )</div> </div> </div>

Samsung Galaxy Nexus and Android Ice Cream Sandwich wrap-up [Video]

Samsung and Google put the eyes of the tech world squarely on Hong Kong last week as they unveiled the future of the Android platform. T...

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Review: BlackBerry Curve 9360

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 24px;"></span><br /> <div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 12px; font: normal normal normal 13px/19px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px; padding-bottom: 0.6em; padding-left: 0.6em; padding-right: 0.6em; padding-top: 0.6em;"> <div mce_style="text-align: center;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px; text-align: center;"> <img alt="Review: BlackBerry Curve 9360" class="aligncenter" height="212" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/Mobile%20Phones/Hands%20on%20pictures/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/BlacBery_Curve_9360_04-470-90.JPG" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/Mobile%20Phones/Hands%20on%20pictures/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/BlacBery_Curve_9360_04-470-90.JPG" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; clear: both; color: #444444; display: block; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="282" /></div> <h3 style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> Overview, design and feel</h3> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> With users rushing to denounce BlackBerry and announce they'll leave the platform, RIM really needs to pull a belter out of the bag to put the horrors of 2011 behind it.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> Which is where the BlackBerry Curve 9360 comes in. The range has long been one of BlackBerry's most popular - affordable, but not cheap; sleek, but not too flash. And the bestselling Curve 9300 has now been updated to give even more bang for the buck. 3G, GPS, NFC, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and, of course, BBM are all here and accounted for.</div> <div mce_style="text-align: center;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px; text-align: center;"> <img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360 review" class="aligncenter" height="189" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/Mobile%20Phones/Hands%20on%20pictures/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/BlacBery_Curve_9360_04-420-90.JPG" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/Mobile%20Phones/Hands%20on%20pictures/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/BlacBery_Curve_9360_04-420-90.JPG" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; clear: both; color: #444444; display: block; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="252" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> The first thing you notice is just how thin this smartphone is. The Curve 9360 feels almost like it's not completely finished, as though you're holding a dummy unit in a shop. It's only 11mm thick, and light as a feather at 99g. It also has precise edges - not enough to cut you, but it certainly gives that impression.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/Curve_9350-9360-9370_AdAngle-420-90.jpg" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/Curve_9350-9360-9370_AdAngle-420-90.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> Made of a combination of brushed metal and black plastic, this is one good-looking handset, and measuring just 109 x 60mm, it's a great size.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/Hands-on%20photos/2011-10-18%2014.21.50-420-90.jpg" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/Hands-on%20photos/2011-10-18%2014.21.50-420-90.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> Up top you have the standard 3.5mm headphone jack and a lock button that's not touch sensitive, although we did wonder about this, since you don't actually press it in far enough to be noticeable to lock and unlock the screen.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360 review" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/Mobile%20Phones/Hands%20on%20pictures/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/BlacBery_Curve_9360_03-420-90.JPG" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/Mobile%20Phones/Hands%20on%20pictures/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/BlacBery_Curve_9360_03-420-90.JPG" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> The left-hand side has the micro USB charging/syncing port, while the right has both a volume rocker (with middle shortcut button) and convenience key. It's typical BlackBerry fare.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/Curve_9350-9360-9370_Back-420-90.jpg" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/Curve_9350-9360-9370_Back-420-90.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> The back houses the 5MP camera lens on one side, while the LED light for taking snaps is at the other end. We missed having a flash on the Curve 9300, so it's really good to see it back here.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360 review" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/Mobile%20Phones/Hands%20on%20pictures/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/BlacBery_Curve_9360_07-420-90.JPG" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/Mobile%20Phones/Hands%20on%20pictures/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/BlacBery_Curve_9360_07-420-90.JPG" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> The battery door is made of a high gloss plastic that looks like it'll scratch to high heaven given half a chance, and rests just above the speaker.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360 review" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/Mobile%20Phones/Hands%20on%20pictures/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/BlacBery_Curve_9360_01-420-90.JPG" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/Mobile%20Phones/Hands%20on%20pictures/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/BlacBery_Curve_9360_01-420-90.JPG" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> This battery cover's not easy to get off - and that's being kind. In the absence of an instruction manual with our review unit, we sat there patiently trying to get it off for what felt like an eternity, and could find no obvious way to do it. We eventually had to force it open and closed just to get a SIM and MicroSD card inside.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360 review" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/Mobile%20Phones/Hands%20on%20pictures/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/BlacBery_Curve_9360_05-420-90.JPG" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/Mobile%20Phones/Hands%20on%20pictures/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/BlacBery_Curve_9360_05-420-90.JPG" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> Around the front, you'll find the compact QWERTY keyboard, optical track pad and four BlackBerry shortcut keys. They appear to be fused to the bottom of the screen but they're not touch-sensitive and give a nice, satisfying click as you push them in.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> The screen itself has a 480 x 360 resolution and really looks like a quality display. RIM hasn't cut corners here.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/Curve_9350-9360-9370_SideAngleLeft-420-90.jpg" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/Curve_9350-9360-9370_SideAngleLeft-420-90.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> Within the BlackBerry range, the Curve 9360 will be mainly competing against its predecessor, the 9300 3G. And the Curve 9360 is also due to be released in white on the Orange network soon, so prepare for a little sibling rivalry there too.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> Looking further afield, we'd pit it against the Samsung Galaxy S rather than the Galaxy S2, or against the Apple iPhone 3GS rather than the iPhone 4S in terms of what you're getting for your money. But it's an uneasy comparison, because both the Samsung Galaxy S and iPhone 3GS have touch screens, whereas the BlackBerry 9360 does not.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360 review" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/Mobile%20Phones/Hands%20on%20pictures/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/BlacBery_Curve_9360_06-420-90.JPG" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/Mobile%20Phones/Hands%20on%20pictures/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/BlacBery_Curve_9360_06-420-90.JPG" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> It's aimed squarely at those who are either on a budget and want a BlackBerry but without the size/price tag of the excellent Bold 9900, or those who are slightly younger. This is a model we can see in the clutches of many a teenager over the next few months, and with its reasonable price tag - £280 SIM-free or free on a £25 per month contract - it's likely to fit that mould perfectly.</div> <h3 style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> Interface</h3> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> The BlackBerry Curve 9360 has an immediate advantage over its predecessor in that it runs BlackBerry OS 7 - as do all of the RIM crops that have just been released from harvest.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> Cosmetically, OS 7 takes its cues from the BlackBerry PlayBook and OS 6. Gone is the standard blue-and-white grid format that we got in OS 5 and, to a certain extent, saw an updated version of in OS 6.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_215522-420-90.jpg" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_215522-420-90.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> The icons on OS 7 are all very much individual. In fact, it looks like a little bit of a mishmash, and we couldn't help thinking of the busy look that OS 4 provided when you had the app drawer open in the old days.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_215546-420-90.jpg" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_215546-420-90.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> There's no kind of uniformity here and, while we're big fans of the clarity of icons, we have to admit that we think this is where it all looks a bit cheap.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> OS 7 was promised as a faster operating system. And to be fair to RIM, it has delivered on this. That's because this baby whizzes along, leading you to believe that there's more in there than just an 800MHz processor.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_215507-420-90.jpg" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_215507-420-90.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> It's been upped from the 624MHz found under the hood of the Curve 9300 and between that and the improved operating system, there were very few occasions where it ground to a halt. It did happen occasionally - but only in circumstances where we had lots of apps open. We admit, we were impressed.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> As before, you have numerous app drawers you can swipe through (favourites, recent, downloaded and so on), although you can now manage which ones you want to see via the menu. We found these drawers to be a bit pointless and distracting on our Bold 9780, so are glad this option is here.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_215515-420-90.jpg" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_215515-420-90.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> As before, you can search anywhere in the phone using the keyboard, which is kind of like smart dialling, but searches through more than just your phone book.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> Or, if you're feeling particularly lazy, just use your own dulcet tones. The new operating system - and therefore the BlackBerry Curve 9360 - comes with voice-search included. RIM probably thought it had something great here - but has unfortunately been massively usurped by Apple's Siri.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> It's not that the BlackBerry Curve 9360 implementation is bad - far from it. It matched our voice relatively well and brought up various search options. But it is, in no way, a 'virtual personal assistant' and had it not been for Siri bringing that to the masses, it wouldn't have mattered. But it has - and you notice.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_215602-420-90.jpg" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_215602-420-90.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> The other thing we're not massively enamoured with is that voice searching should be just that: vocally-driven. By this, we mean so you don't have to touch your phone.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> But you do on the BlackBerry Curve 9360, because you have to press a button when you're finished talking to let the phone know, and then you have to press another button to choose what it is you want to search (whether it's your phone book, the web or something else).</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> It renders it all a bit pointless, and you can't help feeling that RIM just hasn't thought this through.</div> <h3 style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> Contacts and calling</h3> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> We weren't expecting this element of the BlackBerry Curve 9360's operating system to be radically different, and we're not disappointed, because it isn't different in any way, shape or form to the offering on the BlackBerry Bold 9900. In fact, it's almost identical to the way contacts appear on OS 6, too.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> We went through every single option in there, and did so on our OS 6-running 9780, and not one single option has changed - as far as we can see.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_215637-420-90.jpg" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_215637-420-90.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> Again, that's not to say that the offering here is bad, because it definitely isn't. BlackBerry's contacts handling system on the Curve 9360 is as top-notch as it always has been - albeit a little boring, cosmetically.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_215916-420-90.jpg" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_215916-420-90.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> Getting names and numbers on the phone is a piece of cake. You're spoilt for choice really, with BES/BIS, Google Contacts integration or just plain, old-fashioned PC/Mac syncing. It all works, and thousands of contacts will take seconds to populate.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_215929-420-90.jpg" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_215929-420-90.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_220015-420-90.jpg" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_220015-420-90.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> Contacts are listed with thumbnails. If you have a photo of the person, it looks great. If, like us, some have pictures and some don't, then you'll just have what looks like an untidy phonebook with lots of missing images in your list.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_215942-420-90.jpg" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_215942-420-90.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> Within a contact field, you can put any bit of information you require, ranging from date of birth to anniversaries, address, phone, email details plus custom information if you want to keep a note of their dog's name.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> For a novice, it may all be a little too much. Yes, it's great that RIM provides us with so much customisation potential. Yet we're still yet to meet anybody who'll fill in all of those details for all of their contacts.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_220000-420-90.jpg" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_220000-420-90.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> Calling a person is easy, though - just type their name in from the home screen and smart dialling kicks in, or do it via the contacts app. You can also add shortcuts to people to dial on your home screen, a feature that our iOS-loving friends still miss out on.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_220034-420-90.jpg" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_220034-420-90.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> During a call you get the usual options such as hold, add participant and so on. There's nothing new here. And the call quality is, as you'd expect from BlackBerry, pretty good. It's clear as a bell, loud on both speaker and handset modes, and there's even the option to increase bass.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> The BlackBerry Curve 9360 can hold onto a signal and that is, of course, one of the basics that a manufacturer should always get right.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> Alas, despite this being a 3G phone, if you're looking for any form of video calling on the BlackBerry Curve 9360, forget it.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> But you can be sociable in other ways - both Twitter and Facebook are supported and come preinstalled with the latest and greatest versions - both of which have been updated for OS 7. Facebook statuses are ingrained into a contact's card, but there's no really deep integration of the type we see on Windows Phone 7 handsets or certain Android offerings, which is a shame.</div> <h3 style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> Messaging</h3> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> Chances are, if you're grabbing a BlackBerry, you're doing it because you're big on messaging, rather than just phone calls. And it's all in here: every option you could shake a stick at.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> Firstly, email. Be it BIS or BES, you're home and dry with the BlackBerry Curve 9360, which operates as most BlackBerries do when it comes to messaging: brilliantly (we'll skim over the events of October here.)</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/BlackBery_Curve_9360_messaging-420-90.jpg" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/BlackBery_Curve_9360_messaging-420-90.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> You can customise how you want it to look and have your emails separate from BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) or from your SMS, or throw the whole lot together into a consolidated inbox. Heck, Twitter and Facebook messages will join in the party too if you want them!</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_220107-420-90.jpg" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_220107-420-90.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> It's not any different to what we've seen before, but once again everything just seems to work. And you can add as many third party solutions as you want, from Windows Live Messenger to WhatsApp and Google Talk.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/BlackBery_Curve_9360%20text-420-90.jpg" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/BlackBery_Curve_9360%20text-420-90.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> BBM is one of the big selling points here: secure, encrypted instant messaging that enables you to keep in touch a lot easier (and cheaper) than SMS, which is why it's so popular with younger folk.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_220211-420-90.jpg" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_220211-420-90.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> RIM knows how much of a deal-breaker BBM is, which is why it's recently been looking at porting the software over to Android too. For now though, it's BlackBerry-only, and with the BlackBerry Curve 9360 - and the likelihood of it being popular with youngsters - it's one of this handset's biggest draws.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360 review" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/Mobile%20Phones/Hands%20on%20pictures/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/BlacBery_Curve_9360_05-420-90.JPG" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/Mobile%20Phones/Hands%20on%20pictures/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/BlacBery_Curve_9360_05-420-90.JPG" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> Typing on the BlackBerry Curve 9360 is an easy enough affair. The physical keyboard lacks the size of the Bold 9900 and is of the typical Curve variety, which is more spaced out and clicks a lot more. BlackBerries first got their name because the keys looked like the seeds from the BlackBerry fruit.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> And here, that's more apparent than ever. Big shovels of hands may have issues with the small keys, but for the majority of us it's perfectly usable.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_220233-420-90.jpg" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_220233-420-90.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> BlackBerry's own Social Feeds app is also present, although we still don't get why you'd want to use this. It's not separate software - it just takes you into the relevant app when you click on anything. Still, at least you can ignore it if you want (which is what we did.)</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_220606-420-90.jpg" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_220606-420-90.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div> <h3 style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> Internet</h3> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> We can still remember our first BlackBerry Curve, the 8310. It was a lovely piece of kit for its day, but when it came to that web browser, we wanted to scratch our eyes out with a fork. Pages took a day and a half to load and then never looked anything like they were meant to.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> The 8900 made some improvements, but it was only when OS 6 came along and the new WebKit-enabled browser took over that we could actually consider browsing properly for more than a couple of seconds. And now, on the BlackBerry Curve 9360 and OS 7, you really feel that the web browser has come of age.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_220856-420-90.jpg" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_220856-420-90.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> Don't get us wrong, we're not saying it's brilliant or the match for Android or the iPhone, because it's not. But it's definitely usable. If you have time on your side, that is. Loading pages does take a little while, because that 800MHz processor still has to work like a Blackpool donkey to render even the simplest web pages.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_220936-420-90.jpg" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_220936-420-90.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> The TechRadar homepage took a staggering 27 seconds to load, and that was over Wi-Fi. We're talking from the second we pressed return on the address bar until the last vestige of that loading line had left our screen. We could actually start reading the page at about 13 seconds in, so all was not lost, but it's still ridiculously slow.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> And over 3G, it was even longer - taking the best part of 46 seconds to fully load the same page.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_221009-420-90.jpg" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_221009-420-90.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> Other pages took comparable times, and although we bemoan this, it wasn't so bad that we wanted to throw the BlackBerry Curve 9360 out of the window as we have with some other handsets in the past.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> The likelihood is that if you're serious about web browsing, you'll probably go for the <a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/phones/mobile-phones/blackberry-bold-9900-989797/review" mce_href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/phones/mobile-phones/blackberry-bold-9900-989797/review" style="color: #0066cc; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;">Bold 9900</a> and all its touchscreen wizardry (or alternative phone altogether), but for a bit of light surfing, the Curve 9360 will suffice.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_221137-420-90.jpg" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_221137-420-90.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> And at least the resolution pulls a few points back onto the score too, because that screen does look fantastic with web pages loaded on it. The clarity is great and you can't easily spot pixels as you often can with some cheaper handsets.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> RIM has updated how bookmarks work, so instead of getting them in a list format, you get little thumbnails of all of your sites. The same goes for your history.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_220816-420-90.jpg" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_220816-420-90.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> Predictably, there is no Flash capability. We moan about this every time, and gave the Bold 9900 hell for this omission. We didn't really expect RIM to have included it here on a junior handset, and even if it had, if the BlackBerry Curve 9360 struggles to get normal pages up in a decent time, we shudder to think how that processor would cope with Flash elements.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> For the first time in our life, we'll probably say here that it is just as well that Flash has been left out.</div> <h3 style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> Camera</h3> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360 review" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/Mobile%20Phones/Hands%20on%20pictures/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/BlacBery_Curve_9360_07-420-90.JPG" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/Mobile%20Phones/Hands%20on%20pictures/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/BlacBery_Curve_9360_07-420-90.JPG" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> The BlackBerry Curve 9360 has a much-improved camera than the one found on its predecessor. Gone is the 2MP unit and in its place is a 5MP offering, which is pretty average for what's about at the moment and certainly by no means inferior.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> RIM has also given us a flash, which is something we couldn't believe it left out on the Curve 9300. We can't understand why some phones still don't come with any kind of illumination these days. Not having one makes taking pictures such a boring experience.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_221158-420-90.jpg" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_221158-420-90.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> When Apple recently launched the iPhone 4S and upped the camera to 8MP, it said that would probably be the best compact camera some people owned.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> Now we're in a situation where the camera on a phone could be the primary snapper - without having to worry about a DSLR or high-end compact camera.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> It's a shame RIM hasn't got the same ethos here, though. Befitting the Curve's position below the Bold 9900 (which itself didn't set the world alight with its 5MP camera), the lens on the Curve 9360 isn't bad.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> But it is average, and you realise that you won't be taking this out in place of a camera when you plan on taking lots of snaps because, quite frankly, it's not up to the job of anything other than the odd piccy to send via MMS or email.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_221213-420-90.jpg" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_221213-420-90.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> The BlackBerry Curve 9360 has all manner of scene modes, including face detection. Heck, it's even got image stabilisation (although it's turned off by default).</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> But what it doesn't have is an autofocus. This camera's focus is fixed all the way, which meant that when we tried to take photos, there was no mucking about, it just took what was there in front of it. And almost every photo we took ended up slightly blurred.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> The image stabilisation really is rubbish, because we stood stiller than a corpse when we took our shots but it wasn't enough. In fact, bizarrely, photos taken in darkness with the flash on were the only ones that were really worth anything.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> The camera is most definitely not the BlackBerry Curve 9360's strong point. We remember the Bold 9900 having struggles with its autofocus, and really hope this doesn't mean BlackBerry is giving up on its cameras.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <a href="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/Photo1.jpg" mce_href="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/Photo1.jpg" style="color: #0066cc; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;"><img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/Photo1-424-100.jpg" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/Photo1-424-100.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></a></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="strong" mce_style="font-weight: bold;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">FLASH: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="em" mce_style="font-style: italic;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.5;">The photo light works brilliantly. Photos actually look better when taken with it on</span></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> See full-res image</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <a href="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/Photo2.jpg" mce_href="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/Photo2.jpg" style="color: #0066cc; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;"><img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/Photo2-424-100.jpg" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/Photo2-424-100.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></a></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="strong" mce_style="font-weight: bold;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">YELLOW:</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="em" mce_style="font-style: italic;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.5;">Close-up subjects can look a teeny bit yellow with the flash on. But not much</span></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> See full-res image</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <a href="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/Photo3.jpg" mce_href="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/Photo3.jpg" style="color: #0066cc; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;"><img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/Photo3-424-100.jpg" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/Photo3-424-100.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></a></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="strong" mce_style="font-weight: bold;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">NO FOCUS:</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="em" mce_style="font-style: italic;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.5;">The lack of focus can be a real problem</span></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> See full-res image</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <a href="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/Photo4.jpg" mce_href="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/Photo4.jpg" style="color: #0066cc; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;"><img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/Photo4-424-100.jpg" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/Photo4-424-100.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></a></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="strong" mce_style="font-weight: bold;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">BLURRY:</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="em" mce_style="font-style: italic;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.5;">Moving subjects are prone to blurring</span></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> See full-res image</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <a href="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/Photo5.jpg" mce_href="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/Photo5.jpg" style="color: #0066cc; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;"><img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/Photo5-424-100.jpg" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/Photo5-424-100.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></a></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="strong" mce_style="font-weight: bold;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">PIXILATED:</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="em" mce_style="font-style: italic;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.5;">The zoom is digital so photos look no better than they did on a Nokia 6680 years ago</span></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> See full-res image</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <a href="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/Photo6.jpg" mce_href="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/Photo6.jpg" style="color: #0066cc; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;"><img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/Photo6-424-100.jpg" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/Photo6-424-100.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></a></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="strong" mce_style="font-weight: bold;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">NATURAL LIGHT: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="em" mce_style="font-style: italic;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.5;">The camera is best suited to scenic shots in good light</span></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> See full-res image</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <a href="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/Photo7.jpg" mce_href="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/Photo7.jpg" style="color: #0066cc; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5;"><img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/Photo7-424-100.jpg" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/Photo7-424-100.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></a></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="strong" mce_style="font-weight: bold;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">COLOURFUL: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="em" mce_style="font-style: italic;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.5;">Colours come out well in good light</span></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> See full-res image</div> <h3 style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> Video</h3> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> When we reviewed the current Daddy of the BlackBerry range, the Bold 9900, we were disappointed with the 5MP camera (the same offering as we have on the Curve 9360, albeit with a couple more options) but it redeemed itself to a certain extent with the fact that it can shoot HD video.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> Sadly, if you want to shoot HD video on a BlackBerry, you'll have to go premium, because you can't do it with the Curve 9360. Video is restricted to a measly maximum resolution of 640 x 480, which is what we had in years gone by with another mode for shooting smaller MMS-friendly files.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_221253-420-90.jpg" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_221253-420-90.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> Yet that's not to say that quality is bad, because it's actually not at all. Videos suit the screen size perfectly so you don't feel like you're really missing anything by being able to shoot in just SD.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> YouTube : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79HGaCYbp6E</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360" mce_src="http://img641.imageshack.us/img641/5339/youtubeinsert42090.jpg" src="http://img641.imageshack.us/img641/5339/youtubeinsert42090.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> And even when they're transferred to your computer, they're not bad. They're not brilliant, but they're more than adequate.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> There are various scene modes included just like in the camera app - although there are fewer of them - and image stabilisation rears its head here again but, also again, we couldn't see what it offered.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> There is a video light but annoyingly, you have to decide if you want to have it on or off before you start shooting your video, which is irritating - especially if you're moving around between light and dark or maybe shooting in twilight.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_221309-420-90.jpg" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_221309-420-90.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> You have to stop recording to toggle it on and off, which can ruin videos, and annoyingly there is what looks like an icon at the bottom of the screen for you to click on to turn the light on and off.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> Unfortunately, this is just a notifier, signalling if your light is on or off (like you wouldn't be able to tell by looking at the back of the phone) and is a waste of screen real estate. It's annoying and shows that RIM hasn't really thought this whole bit of the OS through. Most people won't notice or mind, but we did, and it irked us.</div> <h3 style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> Media</h3> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> Media is one of the feathers RIM has in its virtual cap, and one that is often overlooked by people looking to buy a multimedia smartphone.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> Although BlackBerries are primarily messaging devices and that's what buyers associate them with, in recent years RIM has upped its media capabilities. We assume this is in response to the iPhone, and with RIM trying to target the teen market, this becomes ripe fighting ground.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_221413-420-90.jpg" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_221413-420-90.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> It's especially true of the BlackBerry Curve range now these affordable smartphones are being pitched towards the younger users as well as others.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_221501-420-90.jpg" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_221501-420-90.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> We love the fact that RIM no longer provides us with just a bog standard music player, but has dedicated sections such as a podcast area that even enables you to search and subscribe directly from your handset.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_221423-420-90.jpg" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_221423-420-90.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> Amazon MP3 is built in directly, and it provides a credible alternative to the iTunes store. In fact, in some ways it's better, because it includes things you wouldn't necessarily find on iTunes (we even dug out the old <span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="em" mce_style="font-style: italic;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.5;">Red Dwarf</span> theme tune and used it as a ring tone - sad, eh?).</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_221438-420-90.jpg" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_221438-420-90.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> Music is purchased and downloaded and you can sync it straight back to your PC or Mac using the excellent software that RIM provides, which even syncs iTunes playlists perfectly (that's no mean feat - just ask Android smartphone users).</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_221520-420-90.jpg" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_221520-420-90.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> There's no FM radio, sadly, although RIM has never included an FM radio on its mobile phones, so it's hardly a surprise. We used the TuneIn Radio app for our radio needs.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> The loudspeaker is just that - LOUD. There's no hint of tinniness, and although bass is a little on the meagre side, it's not enough to notice when you play music through the back. It does muffle if you put the BlackBerry Curve 9360 down on a soft surface, but that's hardly anything to be concerned about.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> We can see a lot of bus passengers getting angry with school kids when they start piping out various tunes to each other on this handset. Oh dear.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_221613-420-90.jpg" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_221613-420-90.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> Videos are kept in their own sections, as are music and photos, and you're even given options to search BlackBerry AppWorld for apps that will work with them. It's all really well integrated, and we're sold on this.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> We can confidently say that, media-wise at least, we think the BlackBerry Curve 9360 is a worthy (and cheaper) competitor to the iPhone, even if it falls down in certain other comparable aspects.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_221559-420-90.jpg" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_221559-420-90.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> Watching video is adequate. The BlackBerry Curve 9360 doesn't struggle to play clips, but you won't really want to watch all 200 seasons of <span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="em" mce_style="font-style: italic;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.5;">The Wire</span> on it unless you're pint-sized, because you'll be squinting your way to the opticians.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_221634-420-90.jpg" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_221634-420-90.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> For watching a couple of YouTube clips or even a short episode of something on the train, though, it's more than capable.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_221541-420-90.jpg" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_221541-420-90.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> Make sure you invest in a memory card, because you won't be able to fit much on the 512MB available out of the box.</div> <h3 style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> Battery life and connectivity</h3> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> Now here's what's really odd. RIM's handsets seem to be getting more and more adventurous. But bucking the trend set by other manufacturers, its batteries are getting smaller and smaller.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/2011-10-18%2014.24.12-420-90.jpg" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/2011-10-18%2014.24.12-420-90.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> The Bold 9780 gave users a good old 1500mAh power pack, but the hootin' tootin' Bold 9900 maxes out at a meagre 1230mAh. Similarly, the Curve 9300 battery was 1150mAh, and now the BlackBerry Curve 9360 is even smaller, at just 1000mAh. That has to be one of the smallest batteries we've seen in years.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> Weird, huh?</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> RIM has presumably taken this step for two reasons: firstly, because it wants to keep the Curve 9360's dimensions down to make it appear sexier, and secondly, because OS 7 is just better at managing power - especially with a handset where the processor maxes out at 800MHz.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/Battery1-420-90.jpg" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/Battery1-420-90.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> But really, guys? 1000mAh? Are you mad?</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> To be fair to RIM, it will get you through a day - but you'll have to be sensible. We hate to break it to you that the era of BlackBerries having the best battery lives out there is long gone now. A BlackBerry in 2011 is no better than any other average smartphone when it comes to battery life.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> We took our review unit off charge at 7am and spent an hour catching up with emails, Tweets, Facebook messages and browsing the web. At about 10am, we went for a 10 mile run using the Adidas MiCoach app and listening to the radio streaming through TuneIn.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> Over the course of the afternoon, we played Jamie Woon's album from start to finish (streaming it over Bluetooth to our stereo), made about 40 minutes worth of calls and sent about 30 emails. We also sent the odd text message. We managed to eke out the power until just after 7pm, when the handset shut down the radio and told us it was off to bed.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> We class that as pretty intense usage, so if you're more of an average punter, you'll easily make it through until bedtime.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_221659-420-90.jpg" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_221659-420-90.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> Connectivity-wise, GPS (with A-GPS), Bluetooth (with A2DP), HSDPA/HSUPA (plus EDGE if you really want to go retro) and Wi-Fi are all there.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> NFC is also here. First introduced in the Bold 9900 and still as useless as a chocolate teapot until the technology gets major buy in, we're really shocked to see it here.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> Not because it shouldn't be, but because this is a cheaper, more cheerful handset than the premium Bold 9900 so we wouldn't expect treats like that to find their way onto the spec sheet.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> Still, it just goes to show how much RIM thinks NFC will be part of our lives in the months and years to come - and will probably come into its own if the Curve 9360 and BlackBerry Tag become as popular as RIM hopes.</div> <h3 style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> Maps and apps</h3> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> A plea, now addressed to RIM: Please, please, please put your BlackBerry Maps app to sleep. It's the kindest thing to do. Not just for you but for us, because every time we review a BlackBerry handset and find this piece of tat on there, it raises our heart rate.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> This app is pointless and useless. Google Maps (and others) is far superior, but you just give us something so old that it looks like it's from the movie, <span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="em" mce_style="font-style: italic;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.5;">War Games</span>.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_221759-420-90.jpg" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_221759-420-90.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> We urge users to just file this app in the bin, because it really is that pointless. A-GPS is on board to enable mapping and navigation apps to find your location, which helped us to get a lock in no time at all.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_221914-420-90.jpg" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_221914-420-90.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> While we're at it, can we have some more games too? Please??!</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_221927-420-90.jpg" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_221927-420-90.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> Word-Mole and BrickBreaker were great back in 2008. But something else - maybe just one little platform game - would be lovely. Yes, we know we can download more via the AppWorld (for free up to the value of $100 for some lucky users, following the recent outage), but it would feel like you care if you could just refresh this.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_222015-420-90.jpg" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_222015-420-90.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> In terms of other apps, there are a few new bits in there such as a new Smart Tags programme, which is related to the in-built NFC technology. This basically keeps a record of all the tags you've touched in recent times, meaning you can head back into that snazzy web link or see the picture you snared if you so wish.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_221817-420-90.jpg" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_221817-420-90.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> There's also BlackBerry Protect to help keep your data secure - remember, security has always been one of RIM's biggest selling points, so there's no surprise in it cashing in on this.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_221852-420-90.jpg" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/munch_2011_08_07_221852-420-90.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> The App World is still hideously overpriced and under populated compared to offerings like those from Apple and Android.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> However, don't forget there are other alternatives such as Handmark and GetJar, which have been around for years and have some titles at better prices. The common misconception of lots of phone users is that they're locked into one store. But you can shop around. And you probably should.</div> <h3 style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> Hands on gallery</h3> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360 review" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/Mobile%20Phones/Hands%20on%20pictures/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/BlacBery_Curve_9360_01-420-90.JPG" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/Mobile%20Phones/Hands%20on%20pictures/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/BlacBery_Curve_9360_01-420-90.JPG" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360 review" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/Mobile%20Phones/Hands%20on%20pictures/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/BlacBery_Curve_9360_02-420-90.JPG" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/Mobile%20Phones/Hands%20on%20pictures/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/BlacBery_Curve_9360_02-420-90.JPG" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360 review" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/Mobile%20Phones/Hands%20on%20pictures/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/BlacBery_Curve_9360_03-420-90.JPG" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/Mobile%20Phones/Hands%20on%20pictures/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/BlacBery_Curve_9360_03-420-90.JPG" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/Hands-on%20photos/2011-10-18%2014.19.59-420-90.jpg" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/Hands-on%20photos/2011-10-18%2014.19.59-420-90.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360 review" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/Mobile%20Phones/Hands%20on%20pictures/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/BlacBery_Curve_9360_04-420-90.JPG" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/Mobile%20Phones/Hands%20on%20pictures/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/BlacBery_Curve_9360_04-420-90.JPG" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360 review" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/Mobile%20Phones/Hands%20on%20pictures/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/BlacBery_Curve_9360_05-420-90.JPG" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/Mobile%20Phones/Hands%20on%20pictures/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/BlacBery_Curve_9360_05-420-90.JPG" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360 review" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/Mobile%20Phones/Hands%20on%20pictures/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/BlacBery_Curve_9360_06-420-90.JPG" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/Mobile%20Phones/Hands%20on%20pictures/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/BlacBery_Curve_9360_06-420-90.JPG" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360 review" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/Mobile%20Phones/Hands%20on%20pictures/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/BlacBery_Curve_9360_07-420-90.JPG" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/Mobile%20Phones/Hands%20on%20pictures/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/BlacBery_Curve_9360_07-420-90.JPG" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360 review" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/Mobile%20Phones/Hands%20on%20pictures/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/BlacBery_Curve_9360_08-420-90.JPG" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/Mobile%20Phones/Hands%20on%20pictures/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/BlacBery_Curve_9360_08-420-90.JPG" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360 review" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/Mobile%20Phones/Hands%20on%20pictures/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/BlacBery_Curve_9360_17-420-90.JPG" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/Mobile%20Phones/Hands%20on%20pictures/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/BlacBery_Curve_9360_17-420-90.JPG" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div> <h3 style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> Official gallery</h3> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/Curve_9350-9360-9370_AdAngle-420-90.jpg" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/Curve_9350-9360-9370_AdAngle-420-90.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/Curve_9350-9360-9370_Back-420-90.jpg" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/Curve_9350-9360-9370_Back-420-90.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/Curve_9350-9360-9370_Front-420-90.jpg" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/Curve_9350-9360-9370_Front-420-90.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/Curve_9350-9360-9370_SideAngleLeft-420-90.jpg" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/Curve_9350-9360-9370_SideAngleLeft-420-90.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div> <h3 style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> Verdict</h3> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <img alt="BlackBerry curve 9360" mce_src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/Curve_9350-9360-9370_Front-420-90.jpg" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/TechRadar/Mobile%20phones/BlackBerry/BlackBerry%20Curve%209360/Curve_9350-9360-9370_Front-420-90.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 640px;" width="420" /></div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> We have to say that we're really impressed with the BlackBerry Curve 9360. More so than the Bold 9900, in fact.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> Here's why: for years, Curve users had to compromise on features.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> The first Curve we owned, the 8310, had GPS but no Wi-Fi. There was a version that had Wi-Fi, but no GPS, and nothing in between. Annoying, much.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> The Curve 8900 came along but, although it was sleeker than the Bold 9000 and had Wi-Fi, it didn't have 3G, which meant download speeds were really bad.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> More recently the Curve 9300 was bestowed upon us, and had a camera but no flash. It's like RIM had deliberately chosen to leave one key feature off so that Bold users had something to boast about.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> This is the first time we've really felt that a Curve device has been given all the bells and whistles of more premium handsets, and we think the Curve 9360 will be a best seller for RIM. If it is, it's well deserved.</div> <h4 style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="strong" mce_style="font-weight: bold;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">We liked</span></h4> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> The BlackBerry Curve 9360 is a great size and really feels like a complete package. The addition of 3G as well as a 5MP camera, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS and NFC makes you feel like you have it all in your pocket.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> The screen is sharp and the media capabilities are spot on. Oh, and there's messaging, which is, of course, BlackBerry's forte.</div> <h4 style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="strong" mce_style="font-weight: bold;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">We disliked</span></h4> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> The browser could be quicker, but we guess that's down to the meagre 800MHz processor that powers this thing. The voice searching is a bit of a pointless addition, and while the camera will suffice for shooting drunk snaps of your buddies, it won't be replacing any other cameras any time soon.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> We're also not overly impressed by the reduction in battery size.</div> <h4 style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" mce_name="strong" mce_style="font-weight: bold;" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5;">Final verdict</span></h4> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> We think it says it all that when writing the pros and cons, we were overloaded with pros and struggled to think of cons to list. Yes, the BlackBerry Curve 9360 is a budget device compared to the premium Bold 9900, but we can't help thinking that considering the cost of it, it's actually a million times better value for money.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> It's still not all there. RIM could have fitted it with a quicker processor and larger battery, but then that would take this into the premium league and would negate the whole point of having more expensive handsets - although other manufacturers seem to manage to do it.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> Having said that, you'd be forgiven for thinking this is a premium handset, and we wholeheartedly recommend you consider this if you're looking for a half-decent messaging device.</div> <div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"> The fact of the matter is that RIM really needs something to help it out right now following the debacle of the last few weeks. Something that will get it back up there as a credible name. And in our view, the BlackBerry Curve 9360 is most definitely going to help it along the way.</div> </div> </div>

Review: BlackBerry Curve 9360

Overview, design and feel With users rushing to denounce BlackBerry and announce they'll leave the platform, RIM really needs to...

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