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.”
@The Outside
VZW Exec said it will hit Verizon stores in August; that was the announcement (however doubtful). Keep up
Verizon’s CEO must be poopin’ bricks, er, Blackberries, er dingle…
@The Outside
This wont have Windows Mobile! Blackberry’s have their own os, never on windows mobile
who are we to tell BG that he shouldn’t write this or that…its his blog u dnt wanna read it then DON’T. u got a problem with that start your own blog.
@Glenn
That was a joke.
Interestingly, according to someone on the Crackberry site, the Thunder will be on the T-Mobile network in the US, not Vz.
I was going to wait for this phone, But VZ’s 49.99(with new every two) BB Curve is looking better.
Are they trying to play a joke with us?
OKKKKKK
then acceptable
a big stupid
Why lol @ Verizon? There not the ones developing the thing, their just the final carrier, moron. And no reason to lol @ anyone, do you think phones just magically work the second their put together? thats the whole point of “development”.
If it looks like a turd, and smells like a turd…
@The Outside
My bad…
How is this a real delay? There are NO official roadmaps showing availability in August–hell it doesn’t even “exist” officially. Having these issues when 4-5 months away is normal for engineering samples–they’re probably not demo’ing devices with the final clickscreen yet, and I doubt the graphics drivers have been optimized for the accelerator hardware (similar to Touch Diamond/Touch Pro at launch).
@Balt.
I doubt tmobile is getting this. The thunder is supposed to be a hybrid only available from verizon in the us and vodafone in europe.
Would it be out of line for Research in Motion to comment, set the record straight? I know many companies do not respond to such stuff…
The iPhone is a computing / internet / communications device with impressive OS; and this is what lures so many, as evident by the inordinate number of iPhone users on the web. I’ve got an HP iPaq and while I can get on the web, I refuse to do so because it’s just a pain in the you know what. The ease and simplicity of using an iPhone is just incredible. I know from my wife’s iPod Touch (same, minus the phone)…
The point is, whether the Thunder arrives now or at the end of the year, many who desire the iPhone are after much more than just a phone, so it doesn’t matter in that respect. Apple will get more of the corporate world though and this can be seen already with company plans being set-up with the iPhone as an option.
Truly amazing that just one year after entering the mobile phone market Apple has made its presence felt so quickly to the where others are feeling the pain with losses of mkt share, revenue, increased ad spending and the ultimate, having to play catch-up with this new trend-setting player.
Kudos to Apple. Research in Motion was caught flat-footed, and despite the name, is looking somewhat static now. Let’s see if the kick in the butt puts these guys in motion once again…
i hope you are joking about 4g iphone in a year considering that LTE isn’t even a finished standard yet and should be ready in 2010
That’s why I said it was reported to them..and they posted it…you may want to re read that (wink)
That’s cool and all, but why didn’t he mention what they are planning for the device to be? No mention of the fact that it has problems, but they’re working on them to make sure that the device is revolutionary in its own right. That is just odd to me. I expect this to be a good phone, but the fact that it is Verizon exclusive really doesn’t do much for a T-Mobile guy like me. Here’s hoping the XPERIA X1 makes it to ‘The Mob’ with AWS 1700 3G!
to all the haters: as a long time tech blog reader, i know that if you doubt BG, you will suffer the consequences. I take BG over engadget anyday. (gizmodo etc aren’t even players, they’re pure garbage)
full disclosure: I own a BB 8800 and a BB 8830, both are sick and i’m dumping both for the iphone 3g.
fuller disclosure: i’m drunk
BGR obviously has it in for RIM. The RIM features have become few and far between and when posted have all been negative or late.
So, isn’t this a good thing, they can take the time to fix these problems/limitations?
I’m not worried. RIM is way superior to Apple or any other joker company that thinks they can offer “push email”. The iPhone doesn’t offer true push, no one does cause RIM has the patent on all of that technology.
Also in reference to that poster that said Verizon is the one dealing with it first before other carriers get needs to wake up. Verizon will be EXCLUSIVE for a long time on this one like AT&T with iPhone so don’t hold your breathe on getting one from another carrier.
To me, this looks like a iPhone/Sidekick hybrid wannabe.
All phones have issues in the beginning so it’s bound to happen. This phone seems sexy regardless. Too bad I don’t have Verizon..=(
Is it just me or is the BlackBerry thunder really, really ugly? Reminds me of the first versions of the HTC Phones.
I think RIM should look for designers you are able to create a masterpiece, not try to imitate other phones (as is the Bold compared to the iPhone)
I agree with winblows about how they’re trying to reinvent the wheel. What’s wrong with a slideout keyboard?