Negri Electronics Blog

The Blackberry Tour is RIM’s latest handset which is made to replace the Blackberry 8830 World Edition. The Tour is very similar to the Bold in terms of interface and has some hardware traits of the Storm. Overall, I am very impressed with the phone, as I upgraded from an 8703e.


Screen

The screen on the Tour is very vibrant, bright, and crisp displaying colors. The screen fades in and out when you wake the device from the sleep state and adjusts to the room brightness with an ambient light sensor. The screen seems very close to the front plastic and may be liable to damage if dropped or a decent amount of pressure is applied to it.

Keyboard

Compared to the 8703e keyboard, it is a bit softer feeling. The keys don’t feel as hard when you push them. The size of the keys is just right as well as the texture. While Moving your fingers across the keyboard, it is easy to identify a new key and where you are on the keyboard. The soft feeling of pushing the buttons will take a little bit of getting used to, but this is most likely because the form factor of the phone is thinner than most blackberries. I believe the keyboard is similar to the Curve in terms of the amount of pressure needed to press the key.

Buttons

Additional buttons on the phone include Send Call, Blackberry Button, Previous, End Call, Voice Command, Volume, Camera, Lock and Slient. All of the buttons, with the exception of the Lock and Slient buttons are in locations you would expect. The Lock and Silent buttons are at the top of the phone. While both of them are very useful, they aren’t reachable when your hand is at the keyboard. An interesting location, but it works. You probably would be pushing these buttons as you holster or put the phone away.

Voice Calls

Voice Calls are very clear coming through while holding the phone to your ear. They are loud and crisp. The speaker phone also sounds good and loud. It is not the loudest speakerphone I’ve ever heard, but it is sufficient.

Pearl/Mouse

The Pearl/Mouse on the Tour is the same at first glace as the Curve, with the exception of it’s black color. The pearl is great for navigating, but this may be the end of life for the pearl as RIM may be replacing it with a Mini touch pad.

Conclusions

From lightly using the Tour for a week as a business phone, I am very pleased compared to my previous Blackberry. It’s not as clunky of a device and has been designed to conform to todays standards. From a pure hardware perspective, the Blackberry Tour is an impressive mobile device.

Comparison Photos

Well after days of waiting Tmobile UK has finally released OS 4.6.0.291 for the Blackberry Bold.

Download from Megaupload Here

Download from Blackberry Here

Findings and fixes thread located Here
Borrowed from BerryOS

Yet another e-book reader is set to join this market sometime next year…  To be honest, Samsung’s e-book reader looks quite sexy, and unlike the other e-book readers, I quite like it.

Samsung have called it the Papyrus or SNE-50K.  This e-book reader will start of  Sout Korea starting next Wednesday.  It will sell at $270.  Samsung have also been collaborating with South Korea’s Kyobo Bookstore, which currently sell around 2,500 e-books, mostly South Korean titles.

The 6760 is essentially a European version of the Nokia Surge.  It has a full QWERTY keyboard and is set for access to social-networking sites like Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter (just like the Surge)…  It comes loaded with a 2.4-inch display, a 3.2-megapixel camera, and a microSD card slot together with A-GPS and Exchange.  It’ll be available in the third quarter of the year for 199 euros.

The Samsung Omnia 2 which will be out for Verizon Wireless is lloking pretty good.  Some features include:

• 5-megapixel camera
• GPS with Navigation
• Micro SD card slot

Yes, you read right…  Creative have confirmed the Creative Zii Egg, which I personally think is amazing!!!  Its got Multi-touch, HD video playback, packed with up to 32gb on storage, and

you can buy one for $399…  But Creative have announced this as a “developer edition” so it wont be ‘bug-free’.  I personally love Android, but I don’t think that they’re ready yet…

See more info here

I was discussing some mobile devices and the methods which they display pages with a colleague and came up with an interesting conundrum. Web developers are trying to specificly create a version of their website for a mobile device. This site usually makes it easier to navigate and find what you’re looking for by adjusting the screen size and simplifying the amount information on the screen. What I find interesting is mobile browsers are being developed to replicate what you see when you open up the page in a desktop browser.

In essence, we have two groups trying to solve a problem in two completely different ways. Some websites have accounted for these issues by adding a ‘view full site’ link, while others have not. What would you rather have, a mobile version of a page, the ability from your mobile browser to view full developed pages, or even something completely different? Leave your thoughts in the comments below!

In my last post, I mentioned I was thinking about upgrading to a Blackberry Tour. In the meantime, friends of mine have suggested the Nokia N97 and after having researched both, I find myself in a bit of a dilemma.

My very first cellular phone was a Nokia so I have good experience with this brand; however, my Blackberry Bold has not caused me any problems. In fact, I have never found it so easy to connect to the internet.

Therefore, I would appreciate comments if anyone has experience with either phone to help me decide which one to get. That way I can get it ordered from the ever reliable Negri Electronics.

After using an iPhone 3G since release date last year, I was originally hesitant to upgrade to the 3GS. It originally seemed like only a marginal upgrade. Here are some of the impressive features which should encourage you to upgrade or switch to a 3GS:

-Faster Processor (600 mhz)
-More RAM (256 MB)
-Internal Compass (great for Google Maps)
-Voice Commands

The most substantial upgrade I’ve found is the processing power and RAM upgrades; it is the prime reason I decided to upgrade. I ran into issues on the 3G with delay in opening text message threads, the camera, and Safari. After jailbreaking my 3G I’ve discovered the issue is usually an amount of available ram of 5-10MB causing the slugishness. Additionally, the 3G has great resale value and can defer some of the cost of the new 3GS. Be sure to check out Negri’s Upgrade Up program to trade in your old electronics for cash.

Keep an eye out for some comparison videos and a full review of the iPhone 3GS as well as Blackberry Tour unboxing photos.

Well, it took some time to put this one together and hope you all like it. This Hybrid is built off the OS v4.6.0.282 and has the 5.0.0.100 browser files as well as the new BBM 5.0. All applications work with this Hybrid. It installs the same as my Hybrids for the Storm. You will need to download the the OS if you dont have it already installed.

4.6.0.282

Bold v1.0

Download and install the 4.6.0.282 to your PC, then follow the directions below to install the Hybrid. Once the Hybrid is installed go to C:/Program Files/Common Files/Research in Motion/Apploader, there you will delete the vendor.xml file and double click the Loader.exe program (looks like a phone) this is how you will install the OS with the Hybrid. If you run into any issues just post in the thread and we will be there to help.

The install procedure is the same as for the Storm install so I am using those photos. Hope you all dont mind.

Once downloaded double click to run the installer

Click the next button to continue install

It will ask you if you want to create the destination directory click no

Click the browse button and navigate to C>program files>common files>research in motion>shared>loader Files>and highlight your OS folder

Once highlighted click next to load the hybrid

Once finished click next and then use apploader to install on your phone

Post all your findings and fixes HERE
“Borrowed” from Blackberryos.com