While BlackBerry is quickly falling behind iOS and Android in popularity, it seems consumers aren’t the only ones admiring the competition. In BlackBerry’s latest promotional video, the company accidentally showed off clips of their event guests sending messages on what looks like an HTC Incredible 2 — an Android phone.

The company quickly pulled the video, but not before Phandroid.com was able to download a copy to post on their site.

The video is a promo of the launch party for their newest Torch smartphone and its OS, where apparently not all of the attendants were as impressed with the new equipment as RIM was with their attendants’ gadgets, earning the HTC/Android phone spots at 0:15 and 0:27 in the video. RIM probably should have checked the finished video, as the producer of the vid clearly did not realize the difference between the BlackBerry and the Android. Or they were just being cruel. Let’s see how long this video can stay up before it gets yanked off YouTube.

[Via Phandroid.com]

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The outward appearance of the Torch successor is much like the phone before it. You still get that big HVGA touchscreen and the slide-out QWERTY keyboard, but the processor speed has been effectively doubled from the original 600MHz to a much peppier 1.2GHz unit. They’ve also bumped the system to BlackBerry OS 6.1.

The first push of BlackBerry OS 6 was a pretty big deal, as it really did make the BlackBerry more user-friendly than OS 5.x, and OS 6.1 continues on that. We’re told it’ll feature OpenGL ES support, new APIs for new features, and several geo-location focused upgrades. Other specs include the magnetometer, 5MP cam, 512MB RAM, and 8GB of internal memory.

In some ways, you could say that the BlackBerry Torch 2 is an incremental improvement over the phone that came before it, not unlike the relationship between the Bold 9870 and the Bold 9700. The faster processor should make the experience a little quicker though.

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It was just formally announced by AT&T that the big blue carrier will be getting both a red version and a white version of the sliding RIM smartphone. It’s interesting that they didn’t get a blue version to complete the American-themed trifecta, but I guess that AT&T logo will do.

The white version of the Torch is completely white, whereas the red one really only consists of red highlights; most of the phone is still black. I can’t say for sure, but I’d imagine that Rogers Wireless (or maybe Bell) would want to pick up the color variants for Canadians too.

Pricing, specs, features, and all that jazz stay the same. If you need a little more encouragement, AT&T wants to give you a free cell phone accessory. All you have to do is buy two accessories and you’ll get the third on the house.

SOURCE: Gadget Review via AT&T

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The Rogers version of the device is being featured in this review, but it is also available through other carriers both in Canada (Telus) and the United States (AT&T), as well as international carriers (T-Mobile, Orange, Vodafone) around the world. As a brief overview, the Torch comes with a 3.2″ (480×360) touchscreen, slide-out QWERTY keyboard, BB OS 6.0, and a 5.0MP camera.

What’s Inside the Box?

No huge surprises as to what is included alongside the RIM smartphone. The BlackBerry Torch comes along with the usual documentation, user tool CD, cleaning cloth, stereo headset, USB cable, and wall charger adapter. It’s a minor detail, but I do like the design of the charger adapter, as it provides the USB port on the side instead of straight out the back. This makes it easier to use when you have a desk pushed up completely against a wall, for instance.

Unlike other BlackBerry devices that I have reviewed, the Torch 9800 does not appear to come with a carrying pouch. Again, this is a minor quibble and you’ll probably end up buying some aftermarket case on your own anyhow, but it is an interesting omission.

Form Factor, Size, and Comfort

The Torch is a little bigger than I expected, but that could be because I’m coming from the perspective of the much slimmer Nokia E71. There is a fair bit of “heft” to the Torch, both in terms of weight and just how it feels in your hands. You get a sense of a quality product, but it’s a little too big for my tastes.

Interestingly, when I held it next to the original BlackBerry Storm, I found the overall dimensions to be quite similar. If you’re a Storm person, you’ll feel right at home with the Torch. It still has a touchscreen, but it doesn’t “click” in like how the first-gen Storm did.

Slide-Out QWERTY Keyboard

I very much prefer physical keyboards, so I thought the Torch would provide the best of both worlds, much like how I thought the same of devices like the Palm Pre. In theory, it’s a decent idea if you’re okay putting up with a little bit of a thicker profile.

By and large, this mechanism works well for the Torch, but this comes with a caveat. It is a RIM keyboard, but it is narrower than what you’d find on the Bold or the BlackBerry Curve. This is because it has to make way for the slider channels on either side. The resulting ridge on either side also takes away from typing comfort. Even so, the keyboard works quite well and I appreciate its inclusion.

Introducing BlackBerry OS 6.0

The new operating system from Research in Motion will get pushed out to its other devices, but the BlackBerry Torch is where OS 6.0 is being highlighted. This is especially true because of the touchscreen interface.

For me, the biggest improvement is how the “dock” works on the home screen. By pulling on the dock, you can determine whether it shows one, two, or three rows of icons. Pull it up all the way to access the full list of applications.

Further still, you can swipe horizontally to move between different categories of apps, like downloads, media, and favorites. In an increasingly app-centric smartphone world, this increased organization and customization is certainly appreciated.

The 5.0-Megapixel Digital Camera

The Torch comes with direct uploads to YouTube, as well as pre-installed Facebook and Twitter applications. For these kinds of uses, you’ll want to have a decent camera and, by and large, the Torch’s five-megapixel shooter delivers.

As can be expected, its low-light performance leaves much to be desired. You really do need to use the flash when the lighting is less than ideal. The low light picture is grainy and lacking in detail, but a similar picture with Flash turned out quite well. RIM has jacked up the contrast and saturation, it seems, as the colors really “pop” off the screen.

Conclusion

When I read that the AT&T version of the BlackBerry Torch 9800 was getting less than favorable reviews, I wasn’t all that surprised. RIM has come up short in several areas, but it manages to survive because of its increased security and close corporate contacts.

For my part, I can see how the Torch has its share of shortcomings — like the low resolution display — but it’s still a very solid smartphone. Combining the large touchscreen with the physical keyboard is a great “best of both worlds” solution for people like me. The build quality is great, as always, but it’s definitely on the bulkier side of things.

The browser renders websites quite well, but you will need to zoom in to get reasonably legible text. The RIM keyboard is fairly good, aside from its slightly smaller size and the ridges on the edges due to slider rails. And it’s nice to see that RIM  finally came to their senses, having BlackBerry App World, Twitter, and Facebook pre-installed on the device, as well as the Social Feeds amalgamator. BB OS 6.0 is more aesthetically pleasing too.

The BlackBerry Torch 9800 currently sells for $199 from Rogers with a qualifying three-year contract, or $199 with a two-year contract on AT&T.

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You’ve surely seen some pictures. You may have even read some reviews already. The wait is finally over, because the BlackBerry Torch 9800 is finally available through Rogers Wireless as of today. The question, then, is whether it really is the iPhone killer that it almost claims to be.

That’s very much debatable, but it is good to see that Research in Motion is dabbling with a few different form factors to see what sticks. I like the idea of a vertical slider mated with a touchscreen, and the new BB OS 6 looks like it’s an improvement over its predecessor.

You can call up Rogers (or dial into their website) to pick up the Torch for $199.99 on “select 3-year plans” starting today. Go without a contract and they’ll bend you over for a hefty $609.99. Brick and mortar Rogers stores should be getting stock as of tomorrow.

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Are you ready to take on another BlackBerry form factor in Canada? We’ve already experienced flip phones and touchscreens, but the recently revealed BlackBerry Torch now has a confirmed launch date too. Rogers has announced that it’ll start selling the device on September 24.

The overall reception to the upward-sliding BlackBerry Torch 9800 has been tentative at best, but that could change over time. You have to remember that the Torch is the first BlackBerry to feature both a full QWERTY keyboard and a touchscreen display. It’s also the first with BB OS 6, as far as I know.

Rogers will make the Torch 9800 available both through its regular retail outlets and through its website on September 24, so that probably means that you call in to get one sent to you too. The launch price is set to start at $199.99 with a qualifying three-year contract.

More information can be found at rogers.com/torch and you can watch the embedded video too.

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The BlackBerry Torch 9800 Photo: Gizmodo

Gizmodo got their hands on one of the first BlackBerry Torch 9800 smartphones from RIM.  Their verdict? The screen has such a low-res, it’s like going back to SD after watching HD for a year. It’s a 480×360 display and a “grisly sight,” the text is jaggy and ugly when compared to an Android or iPhone display.  Why RIM did not advance their display technology, especially after seeing the fantastic response Apple received from their fancy Retina Display is beyond me.  Unfortunately, the BlackBerry 6 software we were hoping would make a big difference – has not really changed much.  Giz explains “The software is a mess and fixes none of the major problems with BlackBerry.”

RIM put 512MB of ram inside, which matches the iPhone 4.  But with a 624MHz processor, it’s still crippled.  “It often hangs and stutters moving from app to app.”  Universal search is perfect, it finds exactly what you need, whether it may be an mp3, contact, or file.  Just start to type it out, and it’s there.

Some good points about the Torch are that it’s still built like a BlackBerry, tough and reliable.  The keyboard is fantastic, and its probably the best BlackBerry ever made, but that isn’t saying much in a world with the HTC Incredible, Samsung Galaxy S and iPhone 4.

Check the full in-depth review over at Gizmodo.

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