Comments on: BlackBerry Onyx with optical trackpad is all smiles for Mr. Blurrycam

By: Ted

Ted — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 03:24:44 +0000

The optical joystick is a backward step in my view. I’ve used optical joysticks/trackpads on several devices, most recently Samsung and HTC-built WM devices, and I’ve eventually switched off the optical trackpad after a while in each case. The tiny tracking area simply isn’t big enough to be accurate with a thumb.

The problem is that for accurate positioning and selection on screen you need to make contact with the joystick using a pointy bit of your thumb. However, most of the pad area of your thumb is flat, so you have to use the top ‘pointy’ bit.

Then, you have the twin irreconcilable problems of having to scroll many times to get across the screen, or you bump up the tracking sensitivity to solve this and lose accuracy.

By contrast, the scroll wheel is ideal because the wheel is physically raised and has texture, so you can use the whole of the fleshy part of the pad of your thumb to control the cursor position.

Trying to position the caret accurately when editing text is a frustrating experience with a tiny joystick/trackpad.

For a similar but not exactly identical example of this, compare the jog dial of the previous generation BB devices with the touch sensitive strip of the HTC Cavalier family of devices. I’d rather take the trackwheel any day for its greater accuracy and usability.

By: mitchell

mitchell — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 04:04:58 +0000

so if the SMS isnt actually threaded then what is it like?

By: Mr. Hi-Definition

Mr. Hi-Definition — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 20:59:10 +0000

I can’t wait to get this…

By: Mr. Obvious

Mr. Obvious — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 19:19:29 +0000

The two devices in the picture are different. Which one is the Onyx, and what’s the other one?

By: josh

josh — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 16:57:39 +0000

Is it just me or does the Onyx’s form factor really resemble that of the curve series? Ya the keyboard is different, but the overall form factor is too familiar. Hmm…will be interesting to see when and if Tmo gets the “Driftwood” version (thinking 2010) lol!

By: Truman

Truman — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 09:50:33 +0000

The optical trackpad absolves the issue of your trackball sticking, breaking, etc.

They need only to increase the room for applications, get a good browser, and roll out true-threaded sms. Loves me a BB!!

By: Conrad Hernandez

Conrad Hernandez — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 03:51:27 +0000

Yeah, I sort of agree with “Truman.” I had the iPhone 3G and its vaunted OS. Loved it! It was a LOT of fun. But it didn’t have/do a few things I needed and was used to from my BlackBerrys.

The BlackBerry browser blows. I have to use Opera or Bolt and they’re not optimal either. As for the BlackBerry OS, like Truman says, what doesn’t it do? God, I’m going to regret asking that… I’m perfectly happy with the OS. I hate the browser. Fix the browser. Make “work” your favorite.

One last thing. What the hell is an optical trackpad? Looks like a Nokia navigation device; how is *that* better? How does it work? And how is it an upgrade to the trackball – which I love…

By: Truman

Truman — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 02:52:14 +0000

Hold up… all carriers have a 3g BB EXCEPT Tmo. Clearly they have to address that gap next.

OS 5.0 is coming.. and I’d imagine that it will have more changes than just SMS integrated with BBM… probably will fix the memory leaks as well. The OS is fine! No changes necessary. You’re tired of the layout? Download a theme and STFU. What else do you need changed? You just want more applications made for it.. cool. Otherwise, whats it NOT do?

By: Cliff

Cliff — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 01:55:33 +0000

So is the replacement for the current Bold? I remember seeing a rumor(not sure where), that the new Bold would lose the trackball and have a touchscreen instead.

Posted from BGR Mobile (iPhone).

By: dominic

dominic — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 01:06:29 +0000

Expect this on T-Mobile in the fall..late fall early winter..trust me lol

By: Ben E. Lava

Ben E. Lava — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 22:41:23 +0000

Does anyone else feel that RIM has too many models?

By: DeAndre

DeAndre — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 22:22:49 +0000

I think it will be released with the Trackpad. Anyway, it sure looks better than the Bold, and will be the best BlackBerry to date if it hits T-Mobile with Wifi with UMA and 3G.

By: M

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 20:44:10 +0000

Onyx with the trackpad will not be released this year. It hasn’t even started MP yet, and when it does, it’ll be the trackball, not trackpad.

By: Coop

Coop — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 20:06:49 +0000

WANT NOW.. Plz Drifwood/UMA/TMOB in Sept. Plz.

By: gokmengs

gokmengs — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 18:05:03 +0000

I love it how everyone jumped on the “new case same old shit” bandwagon after BGR’s RIM essay. In my opinion and many others currently the blackberry is irreplaceable, and for many its not and they obviously use other devices such as iphone etc. Why the need to comment about something that doesn’t work for you, that I don’t get. I guess that’s fanboy talk. Regardless I think RIM is improving its devices with every new one, and yes I would like a kick ass browser and a better OS but who says they are not working on it.

By: Justin

Justin — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 17:47:48 +0000

YES! Sure their OS needs work, but at least they do an awesome job on their hardware. I don’t think RIM has made a phone I thought was ugly either (though they better be careful with that Gemini… But I suppose it may be intended to not look as appealing).

By: Justin

Justin — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 17:40:51 +0000

YES!

By: alen

alen — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 17:16:16 +0000

at least half of AT&T’s new accounts are iphones, they don’t really care about new BB’s. ZDNET ran a story a few days ago that in June the iphone outsold blackberry

By: grrr

grrr — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:14:44 +0000

stevieG

onyx is a cool name. SO IS NIAGARA.

By: Young Veyron

Young Veyron — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:11:07 +0000

Release Date Please!

By: StevenGlansburg

StevenGlansburg — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:11:02 +0000

Wow. Another blackberry with another goofy ass name that is the exact same as the one they will have released 3 months prior on another carrier and a different (probably) even worse codename.

By: mitchell

mitchell — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 15:55:57 +0000

i thought RIM said that the trackpad for now was just for the low cost devices?

By: Eric

Eric — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 15:41:39 +0000

Isn’t this the touchscreen/QWERTY blackberry?

By: Phil

Phil — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 15:03:08 +0000

@Jeremiah: Thanks! For some reason I thought the Driftwood did not include the optical trackpad. Good to know. I’m trying to hold out from grabbing the 8900 in lieu of the Driftwood.

By: bbchristopher

bbchristopher — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 14:51:20 +0000

Looks great!
Hope its out on AT&T.
Most of the new BB’s have been going to VZW.
All AT&T got was the 8900. Nice device, but come on….

By: Jeremiah

Jeremiah — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 14:38:23 +0000

@Phil: If I’m not mistaken, the Driftwood is T-Mobile’s version with AWS 3G and its WiFi UMA-enabled.

By: Peter

Peter — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 14:20:04 +0000

@wolwol
thats a sexy link and i thank you for it ON ON ONYX?!

By: wolwol

wolwol — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 14:16:08 +0000

bah…
you want the ORIGINAL picture?

here

BIGGER and clearer

http://skitch.com/wolwol/bagqk/img00068-20090608-1539

By: Devesh

Devesh — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 14:14:53 +0000

Love to see this on AT&T soon…

My Bold is showing signs of failure already…

By: Phil

Phil — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 14:14:02 +0000

Excuse my ignorance, but how does this compare to the Blackberry Driftwood? From what I’ve read, Driftwood is also rumored to be out in September?