BlackBerry Thunder not quite ready for primetime?
That’s what one of our RIM ninjas are telling us! We’ve got the scoop on the BlackBerry Thunder, and contrary to most reports, we’ve been told that the unit is nowhere near being able to enter production, let alone being released. Here’s a quote: “Thunder is in no way shape or form market-ready. If Bold was any indication, Thunder won’t be ready for at least another 4-5 months.” Our source goes on to tell us that the keyboard is incredibly annoying to type on, and the screen actually shows ripples even when pressed ever-so-lightly. There is an accelerometer in here, but it goes “bonkers” when the device is moved. In its current state, the UI blinks and lags when you try to scroll, and for every key press, you have to wait half a second until you get a response. Our guy, when talking about haptic feedback, said that the screen “clicks.” We were informed there are “buttons” on each corner, so when you press the screen, you might feel one click, two clicks, or four simultaneously. We’re told these four independant buttons actually press, so you do “click” the screen. RIM implemented a touch-and-drag approach which is the only way to select on screen buttons at this point. We were also told this was the latest build of the software, and to quote him, “Most of the people who have handled it thinks it’s a joke.”
Tags: blackberry thunder, exclusive, haptic, RIM, touch screen
You sure he wasn’t just having a bad day?
Sounds like he was pretty cranky to me. Maybe someone ate all the donuts in the break room?
Anyway, still looking forward to what RIM has to offer, especially with the Bold.
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smells like FUD to me
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Wow way different than the Engadget post. There saying it was reported to them the keyboard was suppose to be a dream to type and will blow Apple away. Maybe you should point them to where you got your Ninja’s, sounds like they might need some help in the Intel department should I say posting department. (snicker)
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This contradicts what others have been saying so far. RIM has even been out demoing the phone with Verizon employees and word from them has been that it looks very far along.
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My Viigo sent me this update this morning at like 4:45 to wake me up! I thought it was a bad dream, but now that i’m at work it’s doubly confirmed.
One word, 20 vowels:
“Noooooooooooooooooooo!!!! “
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If even half of this is the case, I’m glad Verizon will be the Guinea Pig. Hopefully it’ll all be smoothed out by the time it gets to other carriers.
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screw the “haptic” feedback bullsh_t, why not make a real keyboard (slideout) instead. All this technological crap is just that - crap. Ludicrous trying to simulate something tactile - when all you have to do is include a real keyboard - fuggin’ idiots reinventing the wheel.
I can’t help buy laugh at the “screen actually shows ripples even when pressed ever-so-lightly” - typical touch screen stupidity like my previous kaiser phone.
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I think your ninja may be from AT&T
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“On Jul 9, 2008 @ 7:06 am, Wegmans Said:
My Viigo sent me this update this morning at like 4:45 to wake me up! I thought it was a bad dream, but now that i’m at work it’s doubly confirmed.
One word, 20 vowels:
“Noooooooooooooooooooo!!!!”"
So, is your answer “Noooooooooooooooooooo!!!!” it that this story is true or false?
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wow blackberry hater? anything i read here comparing a blackberry to an iPhone it seems like you guys just run RIM into the ground. their working on it and it hasn’t even been officially released.
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Maybe this is a clear indication that BlackBerry should continue to introduce devices in the GSM world… Naaahhh, I’m sure RIM will have it all worked out by next summer when the iPhone 4g is released!
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What the hell? I was getting excited about Engadget/CrackBerry’s report. It gave me a reason to NOT get the iPhone. Hope you guys are wrong and RIM is getting along swimmingly with this.
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From everywhere else (and people I know at RIM) I have heard the exact opposite. The keyboard is supposed to be awesome to type on and it is going into production soon, completely opposite to this. Meh I guess as always we will have to wait and see.
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This contradicts RIM sources that posted on PhoneArena that they have used the phone and the UI works good. Someone is lying here.
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This post smacks of AT&T.
The way your AT&T ninja has described the haptic implementation sounds retarded - nobody in their right mind would do it like that. In fact, it doesn’t even make sense. How could “four buttons in the corner of the screen” even approximate haptic localized touch feedback.
= BGR Credibility - 1
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Its obvious this site practically works for at&t and apple with all the promotion its had for the iphone in the last day. I am not shocked they whipped up a derogatory story for RIM just before iphones release.
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well of course It’s not ready, they just started making them for internal testing..geeez
Don’t worry guys, the Bold is going to make up for all of this and keep people buzzing for months on end….
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Does your ninja have a throwing star in the shape of an Apple? Sounds like it.
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I wonder if the program icons are going to be labeled so that you can tell what they are before you touch to activate them.
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That’s what testing is for. Let’s wait for the Bold since that’s next on the list. We will have time for Thunder once launch date approaches.
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@Mean Eddie G
If you look at the original source of the Engadget post, it’s from the Crackberry site. I’m sure there is no bias there…
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I think Boy Genius should double check the source before posting this info and that big thumbs down is ridiculous. Then again Boy Genius is from AT&T so we shouldn’t be surprised at the anti Verizon, anti CDMA,Anti Blackberry posts. Crackberry.com has several sources saying the UI works good.
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@matrix2004
Again…you are pointing out how BG is “ATT”, yet you are quoting a source that is definitely pro-Blackberry.
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Sounds like we won’t see this device until well into 2009. Looks like the iphone will continue to rule the touchscreen market for a little longer.
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LOL@ Verizon
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