BlackBerry Bold 9000 Phone, Black (AT&T)

The FlagShip has launched! November 5, 2008

Reviewer:  AreYouKidding? 

I just upgraded from an Curve 8310 to the Bold. In fact, this is my 3rd BlackBerry, starting way back with the 8700. First thing to point out . . . the Bold is BIG. It's actually much larger than the 8310. In fact, it's really closer to the 8800-series in size. This isn't really a bad thing though. It feels comfortable in hand. The back appears to me made of real leather, although it's probably synthetic. I like the back because it adds some much-needed grip all while looking very classy. The keyboard is also very easy to use. There was very little learning curve needed going from the 8310 to the Bold.

What really makes the Bold "beautiful" is the HUGE screen. I thought the screen on my previous Curve was great. The screen on the Bold is twice the resolution (480x320 vs. 320x240). It is absolutely amazing. Not only is it stunning for movies and photos, it makes browsing the web and simply reading emails so much easier. You can fit significantly more information on the screen. The same auto-backlighting feature found on the Curve is also on the Bold. It senses the lighting conditions of the room and adjusts backlighting. I love this feature.

Much improved over the Curve is the multimedia software. Playing movies, viewing photos and listening to songs are very easy to do. The functionality rivals standalone media players. This application coupled with a big screen and a large MicroSD card, makes this a viable iPod Classic replacement. Like the 8310, the Bold also features a 3.5mm Stereo/Audio Jack built-in. This means no adapter is needed to use your own high quality headphones or earbuds.

Also like the Curve, it includes real GPS. This is awesome and in my opinion the best feature showing up in modern phones. The signal is acquired quickly and it is very accurate. Google Maps and BlackBerry Maps work perfectly with the built-in GPS. You can also pay a monthly fee for turn-by turn navigation via AT&T Navigator.

The biggest improvements for the Bold were actually listed in my Curve 8310's review as "Cons". BlackBerry added the much needed 3G (The Bold is MUCH faster than the Curve), Wi-fi, Video recording capabilities and FINALLY the external memory is accessible without removing the battery; via a small door on the side. It's like BlackBerry was listening to the customer's needs, maybe they read my review. :)

They hit this one out of the park.

Evolutionary upgrade whose main feature is a better screen November 9, 2008

Reviewer:  Wayne Schulz "mas90 accounting software guru"  (Glastonbury, CT USA) -

I've been using the new Blackberry Bold for three days. I'd previously used nearly all versions of Blackberry's since the old Inter@ctive early days of when these devices were sold mainly as pagers.

For the last year I've been relying primarily on the iPhone for my main phone. That's going to continue but I decided to pick up a Blackberry to see how things have changed and so I could compare the two devices for online reviews.

Here's what my initial reactions are:

First, yes the screen is brighter and bolder than any prior Blackberry.

Unfortunately that (and 3G speeds) is pretty much where the amazement stops with this Blackberry.

Applications on the Blackberry have the same Java-esque "write once run everywhere" old fashioned look to them. Most of the applications on Blackberry seem frozen in time. It's as if once they were done the developers stopped improving on them. Some of that is due to them being written in JAVA to take advantage of multiple device types -- making substantial upgrades difficult.

RIM still has not been able to match the App Store feature from Apple. Instead of having one central place to find applications for the Blackberry I have to browse the web, search through links on the device itself and finally be confronted with a fair number of applications that won't run on the Blackberry Bold.

The Blackberry Bold was delayed past prior rumored release dates. One of the reasons for the delay could have been due to RIM trying to build some type of App store (which is not included on this device). I think RIM is sorely missing a central place for Blackberry users to download applications.

Now on to where the Blackberry Bold nails the iPhone.

The Bold does push email on my GMAIL with minimal setup (type in your email, type in your password and Blackberry does all the setup).

The iPhone cannot get the whole concept of push email right and still offers what I consider to be consumer level email.

Blackberry Bold is a nice device with a pretty good camera. If you're primarily an email user - this is the device for you.

If you are interested in running a lot of different applications and an iTunes integrated media player, you'll be better served to look at an iPhone. (Note: Blackberry Bold media player can transfer songs from iTunes but it will only transfer NON-DRM music -- meaning anything you bought from iTunes with DRM won't transfer).

Preparing for a Showdown Against an iPhone Friend User November 16, 2008

Reviewer:  Dr 

After recieving my new Bold yesterday, I've put in quite a bit of time trying out the features. So far, it is easily the best phone I have experienced. This is my first Blackberry, and I switched from my previous Blackjack II wm 6.0 mostly because my work only supports blackberry enterprise service for email. I'd been told to get a blackberry two months ago, but waited for the bold because I didn't want to downgrade my personal features. With that in mind, I consider myself to bridge the gap between a business user and a personal entertainment user.

Of course the first thing to say is that the screen in gorgeous. The demo videos nicely show off the tightly packed pixels. But what I didn't know going into the purchase is how many little surprises were in store:
1) The media manager is straightforward and solid. I just popped in my previous 8gb microSD and it found all my .wma files without prompting. I can find the artist or song title I want by typing in the first few letters. Only negative is it hasn't yet located the album art put on the card by wmp.
2) The screen responds to ambient light by becoming brighter when it's bright, and dimmer with backlit keyboad in low light.
3) When you plug it in for charging, it automatically switches to a clock display mode, where you can also easily set the alarm, which is perfect for how I use my phone as my main alarm. You can also set it from here to bedside mode, which permantly displays the clock super dim, and turns off annoying notification leds.
4) Paired with my BT stereo headphones instantly. Found my home wifi network and logged on much easier than Vista.
5) Voice dialing works surprisingly well.
6) Very loud speaker for music playback with surprising quality.
7) Web browser still not as nice as iphone's, but nicer than pocket ie on windows mobile.
8) The new blackberry versions of gmail and google maps rock (I downloaded them). Maps provides fast and accurate gps location, and even includes streetview! Yahoo Go (my other main ap) however, does not yet support the Bold.
9) Users new to 3G will be surprised by how fast the battery can drain when using that connection. But the battery actually holds out on par with other 3G phones.

So, in reference to my subject showdown, I'm sure many reviews tell you that BB is for the business user and iphone for the entertainment buff. But my big beef with the iphone is the dumfounding decision they made to not support stereo bluetooth headsets, which in my opinion puts the Bold on top as a media device. What good is being able to flick through albums when your finger keeps getting caught on headphone wires? No doubt the iphone's browser is better, but the bold's is passable for a phone, and when you trade it for BB's renowned email service, I am incredibly pleased with my purchase.

The PDA I was waiting for November 11, 2008

Reviewer:  J. T. Florence "bodacious bibliophile"  (San Ramon, CA United States) -

This phone is awesome. Like a lot of people I had been stalking and reading up on this phone for quiet sometime. When it was finally released I had to have it. This is my first blackberry and I am officially a fan. Initially, the iphone was what I wanted, but when I tried to use the touchscreen with my acrylic nails (which by the way you can't) I decided to wait until something better came along. Enter the Blackberry bold. It's fabulous. Other online reviews have stated that this is the first Blackberry with more features geared toward everyday consumers rather than business users (which is exactly what I am). I wanted something that allowed me to keep in touch, get organized and be entertained on the go. The only thing the iphone wins hands down on is browsing online. If a site doesn't have a mobile application expect to give up in frustration. The side to side scrolling is annoying to say the least, I wish the text would wrap somehow. Even in column view it isn't an enjoyable process. The good thing for mac users, the online support forums are awesome. There are a lot of Blackberry fans doing amazing things and there are applications galore. I spent about a day adding things like Cram, and upgraded documents on the go - which allows pdf files to be read (something that should be included, but I won't complain much). I have been having trouble with pocket mac (minus a star for having to pay for pocket mac support - there was a lot of online discussion about problems and the need for an update and I had the hardest time trying to find the update - actually I never found it, I finally gave up walked away for a few hours, came back and everything was fine). The screen is nice, I am totally able to become engrossed in a movie. Mac fans and techies expect to spend a few hundred more dollars doing cool upgrades to your phone. It supports a 16 GB micro SD card, that will set you back about 100 (or wait until Christmas, bound to be a sale somewhere). Highly recommend Roxio 9 to get the media to your blackberry. You can move Tivo shows to your blackberry, remote access, streaming. You can't do a bluetooth transfer for data and that is a minus, even the Razr could do that. People kept saying the Blackberry is really intuitive, and it is, but if you are coming from a different phone, expect a learning curve similar to going from PC to Mac. Sit down, do the tutorial, read the book, google for tips and pointers. Things are in places, I never would have looked. (Of course that could be a bigger reflection of me than the phone). All in all, this is the only phone I was willing to go back under AT&T contract for. I am very glad I waited. Another minus for battery life, I need to charge my phone everyday, so spend some money and pick-up a spare battery.

My thoughts after owning a bold for 24 hours November 11, 2008

Reviewer:  Joshua Willis  (San Francisco, CA) -

Just so you know, this is coming from a 8310 curve (and an 8300 before that, and a pearl before that, and an 8800 before that, and a 8700c before that, and a 7290 before that and a 7280 before that...)

First impressions are good. It's a very nice looking device. Screen is, as a friend put it, "AMAZING" and the overall fit and finish is top notch (except for the back, but more on that later). The interface is redone, but still feels like a blackberry. The trackball feels the same as any other blackberry, and the keys remind me a lot of the 8800. I think I like the keys on the curve better, but then I think that's just a personal preference. It has a fair heft to it, but it isn't a brick and you get used to carrying it around in your pocket quickly. Impressions seem to vary on that though, as another friend commented on it being really light to her.

The radio holds onto a 3g signal quite well, but EDGE reception is no better or worse than my old curve. The Wi-fi radio is impressive though and will pick up and attach to very faint signals. The web broswer is a much needed improvement over the blackberries of old. While no iPhone browser, it's more than capable to access info on the go, and feels pretty snappy (for a smart phone at least). Call quality seems to be pretty good. I have no complaints about it so I suppose that's as good of a review on call quality as you can get. The speaker sounds impressively nice when listening to music and videos, and the media manager is much better. This could actually function as a decent media player. Activation and syncing both seem to be considerably faster as well.

My only real complaint so far is the cheesy back. It's covered in a horribly cheap pleather that just doesn't feel right. Luckily the back comes off easily and I'm sure that there will be a wealth of aftermarket backs with any covering that you could want in a matter of months.

So all in all, I'd say it's the best Blackberry by far. If you're used to using a blackberry the upgrade is a no brainier. For an e-mail device it's hands down the best one on the market at the moment. If you're a personal user and have no interest in e-mail or tactile buttons I think the iPhone might still be the way to go, but if you actually need to use your phone for business the Blackberry is still the king of the hill. In short, I'm pleased with the Bold, and I tend to hate everything.

Beware!!! February 27, 2009

Reviewer:  Mauimom  (Chevy Chase, MD USA) -

I purchased this item from Amazon because I was attracted by the low price. However, the "price" I paid in terms of hassle & passing-the-buck makes any elusive "savings" not worth it.

The Blackberry broke down within 30 days of its activation. However, this was more than 30 days after its shipment by Amazon. Thus Amazon refused to "cover" it (coverage only for FIRST 30 days); ATT (the carrier) refuses to cover it [no coverage until 30 days AFTER activation] and we're in a wasteland of no help.

Beware of this "good deal."

Excellent Phone and Amazon November 23, 2008

Reviewer:  Metamatt "Metamatt"  (Florida) -

I highly recommend both the Blackberry Bold and getting it with service from Amazon. AT&T could not match the price and there was no trouble in setting it up with the instructions Amazon sent. After using the iPhone for two years I was tired of all the typing mistakes. The Storm was not for me. With the Bold I can keep up with emails and work on documents, etc. without all the errors of touch screen keyboards. Also iTune classical music sounds far better on the Bold than it did on the iPhone.

I almost got an iPhone but Bold won the smackdown November 28, 2008

Reviewer:  A. D. Hill 

I was brand new to the smartphone market and my primary reason was to get something that offered easy and reliable email. I asked around and everyone I knew has an iPhone. "They don't call it the Jesus phone for nothing" one friend said about the iPhone when I asked how he likes his. I did extensive research comparing the two, but I decided to go with the Bold for three reasons:

1) It supports "push" email with hotmail which is the terminology for automatic delivery so that as soon as an email arrives it immediately is viewable on your phone. "Fetch" is when the device checks the server every fifteen minutes. I forward my work email to my hotmail account and hotmail works seamlessly with the Bold via push method. With an iPhone I'd have to subscribe to MobileMe and forward my emails there if I wanted push email (at least that is how it was explained to me by a Mac rep when I called my local store.)

Here are two tips for Bold email:

Set up your email ONLINE and not through the phone itself- it did not work for me when I tried via the phone. AT&T will give you a url to manage your BlackBerry email accounts (and you can create a free email addy, too.) You can also edit your Bold email signatures online.

If you will use hotmail only the emails that go to your inbox will be viewable on your phone, but not junk or folders you created yourself. However, this is good! Personally I don't want to get every single email and have my phone constantly dinging, so I use the email filtering in my hotmail account to ensure I only get what I want on my device. Also, if you are on the road and want to check all folders, you can easily access hotmail via the web on your phone.

2) THE KEYPAD. I tried an iPhone in the store. Maybe I give "all thumbs" a new meaning, but when I attempted to type a sentence most of it was typos because if your finger so much as touches a key it types whereas with the Bold your fingers can touch other keys but only type when pressed. I asked iPhone users about this and they said "you get used to it." That didn't satisfy me. With keys so close together it seems like it would be too high maintenance. I love the ease of use of the Bold keys, and they light up from behind for easy viewing in dark places.

3) The video camera, which the iPhone does not have.

I don't want to give the impression that the Bold is just a workhorse- there are lots of toys! I live in Maine and we just hit 3G. When still on the Edge network I was able to view videos on YouTube but they were very pixilated and they kept "buffering." With 3G the visual and sound quality is really great! I can access mobile Facebook without any problems. As for general web surfing, you can enable java but you can't view flash sites, however this is true for the iPhone, too. There are preloaded games, a video camera and camera with a bright flash. Sound quality is good so you can load songs onto it from online or your desktop.

My only complaint about the Bold is the trackball while surfing the web- it is clumsy, even when I adjust the sensitivity levels! But it's not dreadful, just not smooth. However, the trackball works very well in general.

I did not get my Bold through amazon because I did not want to take the chance of having a problem and not being able to return it to a local store. I called and asked them if I was able, and they said I could, but when I called three of my local AT & T shops they said I'd have to go through amazon for any returns. Also, it wasn't clear from the verbiage on amazon that if I decided to cancel during the 30 day trial period if I would still have to pay that hefty $250 fee. I was willing to pay an extra $150 locally for the phone. However amazon is offering a great price, so it's what is most important to you.

I've had my Bold for two weeks and am very happy with it!

A Powerful Smart Phone That's a Pleasure to Use December 30, 2008

Reviewer:  Eric M. Strauss "EMS Reviews"  (NY, NY USA) -

A Powerful Smart Phone That's a Pleasure to Use
By ERIC M. STRAUSS

Dec. 18, 2008--

With the BlackBerry Bold, Research In Motion has refreshed its lineup of smart phones and released its spiffiest offering yet.

At $299, it's priced for the executive ready for an upgrade. But smart-phone users who get their hands on the Bold will not want to put it down. It's available in the United States for AT&T and will work anywhere in the world, including Europe and Asia.

You're Connected

It will be difficult to keep this device off-line. The Bold can connect to the speedy 3G (where available) and Wi-Fi networks. Combine this with its snappy upgraded processor (the 624 MHz mobile processor has twice the power of previous models) and streaming YouTube clips or updating your status on a customized Facebook application is an enjoyable experience.

The Bold has true built-in GPS with audible and visual directions, so getting from place to place becomes faster. And its upgraded operating system improves on the gripes of longtime Blackberry users.

It also one ups the iPhone and other power-hungry devices with a long battery life (a full day even while streaming video on the 3G network). And, with its comfortable keyboard that has a designated key for each letter, you'll never long for a touchscreen again.

Users will cruise around the screen with cut and paste, extensive menus and customizable shortcuts. For example, I programmed mine to translate the keystrokes of ++ as :-) and typing eee will reveal my full name, title, mailing address, e-mail address and phone numbers. Now that's a time saver.

Beauty Is Pleather Deep

The Bold's body looks and feels like quality. The plastic housing has been replaced with a durable aluminum case, a glassy front that doesn't smudge and a leather-looking backside that adds to the phone's posh feel and keeps the device from slipping out of your hands.

The star of the show is the redesigned interface and the bright display. Icons look classy with single images surrounded by rounded borders that match the overall rounded edges of the Bold itself. Text renders crisply and is easy on the eyes, especially when you hit your 100th e-mail of the day -- before coffee.

Multimedia Is King

As smart as it is, the Bold is still a phone and it produces great call quality. First-time users seem hesitant to put the body (the size of a deck of cards) up to their ear, but the wired stereo headset (included) allows you to rock out to your latest tunes and then seamlessly transfer over to take a phone call.

Stereo Bluetooth is also available if you purchase a wireless headset and you will be able to make phone calls or listen to music without the burden of a dangling cable (the latter a feature that would be welcomed on the iPhone, which blocks streaming music via Bluetooth). The speakerphone is surprisingly loud and clear for such a small device and the built-in camera and video camera make the Bold a real multimedia machine. Video looks great on the new screen but loading music and video is extremely burdensome. The included Roxio software is buggy and only available for the PC. A smart plug-in called Media Sync does match up nicely with an iTunes music library -- but, again, only for the PC.

Before manually dragging media onto the expansion card (MicroSD sold separately in sizes up to 16GB for around $30), users will need to convert the files for the proper screen size and compatible codecs. A process that will make most skip the process all together.

Overall, the Bold combines an elegant new look with multimedia features consumers are looking for and the same dependable e-mail delivery the wired world demands. The result is a rock solid device that is a pleasure to use and powerful enough to serve the most connected users.

The Best Classic Blackberry and Possibly the Last One with a Real Keyboard November 20, 2008

Reviewer:  A. Dent "Aragorn"  (Minas Anor, GD) -

I've been using Blackberries since a blackberry was thought to be something you would find in a muffin. The 8800 was the one I was using until I was given the Bold and, up until then, I thought of it as the best Blackberry ever. Then, the Bold came and it is probably safe to state that the Bold is now the last and the best classic Blackberry ever because the Storm, lacking a physical keyboard, probably deserves its own class.

When the Bold and the 8800 are placed next to each other, what's striking is the similarities between the 2. The exact same size, similar keyboard, buttons placement, including the now familiar trackball. Even the ports are more or less the same, the same weight. Mine came with its own holster but I could have used the 8800's with the Bold.

Then, it's the display. The Bold is what it says it is: bright, clear, vivid. You see it and you now know that it's an evolutionary step up on the ladder. In addition, you get the camera that shoots both pictures and video and the ability to add more memory means that you scan store more video and more music if you want to use your Blackberry as an iPod lite. The operation seems to be a bit faster, the battery life is more or less the same, the quality of the speaker phone is better but, overall, it's your familiar Blackberry, having learned a few new tricks and with a bright face.

I am happy with the Bold because I am happy with Blackberries in general. I like the unlimited email and Internet browsing plan, the ability to use Wi-Fi when available and the security it provides. My Blackberry is tied into my company's email environment and it is now very much an extension of my office while I'm away. The Bold, with its high resolution screen and the same solid, functional build is a good tool, now with more 'fun' stuff (camera, video playing) added to it.