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The RIM BlackBerry Curve (aka BlackBerry 8300) is the smallest and lightest full-QWERTY BlackBerry to date, and we're absolutely stoked on the design. It feels more like a cell phone with the compact dimensions, yet you still get the advantage of a full keyboard for easy messaging. The BlackBerry 8300 is more about the revamped design, rather than new features.
The overall size of the handset is 107mm in height, 60mm in width & 15.5mm in depth which fits easily in the users pocket or bag. The Curve uses the newer generation BlackBerry form factor: it's still a relatively thin yet broad device with a large screen, but (as with the Curve and the 8800) the Curve now uses a center-mounted trackball for menu navigation and selection rather than the traditional three-way jog dial common to earlier BlackBerry phones.The full 35 key QWERTY thumb keyboard is very easy to use, in the RIM tradition. Though the keyboard is a bit narrower than the 8800's, the keys are large, well-spaced and domed-- and thus require little if any adjustment if you've been using prior generation BlackBerry phones. there's a 2.5-inch diagonal, 65,000-color screen with a 320x240 pixel resolution. The display features a light-sensing technology that automatically adjusts the backlighting of the screen as well as the keyboard, based on your environment (indoors, outdoors, a dark room, and so forth). In addition, you can customize the screen with various themes and wallpaper, as well as adjust the font size, family, and style. Curve is a Quad Band Technology (GSM 850, GSM 900, GSM 1800 & GSM 1900)mobile.
Email has always been at the core of the Blackberry functionality and with this phone it is no different with support for a large number of Web clients as well as application formats from the likes of ACT!, Novell and Microsoft Outlook. You will still need to be hooked up to either a BlackBerry service or BlackBerry Enterprise Server to use the popular “push” email function -- to instantly receive messages from services external to your phone. The Curve does allow for instant messaging, though, with applications from Yahoo, Google and BlackBerry already installed. It also has the standard BlackBerry organisational tools such as the task list and can synchronise easily with the desktop.
The Curve comes with a good-sized powerful speaker on the rear. It does support MP3 and MIDI sound, and the video player (there is no recorder on this PDA) will also support MPEG4, but expect some lag with this. Even though this phone does not have Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.0 should be sufficient for most needs. The Curve doesn’t include an FM radio, which isn’t a necessity in a business device. Curve now supports MP3 ringtones. A new voice recorder feature is also built into the Curve. You also get Bluetooth 2.0. Supported profiles include those for mono and stereo Bluetooth wireless headsets, hands-free kits, and serial port.
The BlackBerry Curve is equipped with an upgraded 2-megapixel lens (from 1.3 megapixels). For still images, there's a 5x zoom and flash, as well as three picture sizes and three quality options. You also get white-balance settings and several color effects you can add to the photo. Meanwhile, video options are bit more limited with just two video formats (normal or multimedia message), three color effects, and a video light.The Curve can play back videos in 3GP, AVI and even MOV formats provided the video is MPEG-4 / H.263. The Camera lacks video capability
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The Curve has around 64MB of phone memory and also provides a MicroSD/TransFlash memory card slot for expansion. Other software enhancements include RIM's Maps application (although there is no GPS built-in), Spell Check to bring it in line with the Curve's functionality here, and a pointer arrow in the browser so you can select and click on links easier.The card slot isn’t hot-swap. Curve has 408 Hours Standby and 4 hours of talktime.
All things considered, we found just two serious downsides to the BlackBerry Curve. The smartphone doesn't include Wi-Fi or 3G support, and the EDGE data network is downright pokey for Web browsing. Despite these flaws, RIM has packed class-leading features into a beautiful design to create a smartphone that will appeal to consumers and corporates alike.
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