Since Nokia began to phase out Symbian most Swedish smartphone buyers landed within either Android or the iPhone camp. The battle for third place is far from settled, and Blackberry is going to be an interesting challenger to Windows Phone.
Curve 9360 has all the classic Blackberry attributes – screen in landscape mode, a rounded qwerty keyboard and good quality feel. Blackberry is hardly the first choice if you’re looking for a mobile that provides maximum value for money, but the Curve 9360 has a much nicer price tag than its predecessor.
So what features are missing? Touch screen, we do without this time and handset are a bit slower connection and processor than BlackBerrys models. Yet one can not dismiss the Curve 9360 as a budgetlur with old technology.
As soon as you loosen the shell to mount the battery and sim card you can see an example of the Curve 9360 is at the forefront. Cast-in back cover is an NFC antenna. Several services that use technology in the pipeline and it is not impossible that both mobile payments and smart wireless accessories that take advantage of NFC support in the Curve 9360 will begin in earnest in 2012.
Convenient buttons
Compared with the flagship Curve 9900 is both slimmer and lighter, but the keys are still good feel and the mobile is very comfortable to type on – as long as you stick to the language without the rings and dots over the letters. Blackberry lacks buttons for Swedish characters and have the market more complicated solution for entering the username. The screen is just 2.44 inches, but it is high resolution relative to the size and therefore provide a razor sharp image. A difference with touch screen phones with thick Gorilla glass is that the picture is “near surface” and that makes the colors and the viewing angle can almost compete with OLED screens while readability is good outdoors.
Below the screen there is a range of hearty function and call buttons, but unfortunately Curve no ordinary way key. Instead, Blackberry staked everything on an optical control button that is swept in with your thumb. The control button allows you to navigate in all directions and move a pointer in the browser and click on your PC, but it is cumbersome to scroll through long lists and it takes a bit more of fine motor skills in order to end up right.
Difference
Blackberry OS is neat and well thought out, but has only little resemblance to other systems. Comparing version 7 with the last generation so the graphics are completely updated and store App World is available from the start. Unlike Windows Phone and the iPhone, you can still install the java software and apps from sources other than the official store, but it is a big boost to have all assembled with single sign-on and reliable payment solutions.
App World opened for Swedish users as late as spring 2011 and it shows on the supply side – the only apps with Sweden-ties which we have found is SVT Play, Spotify and navigator program Wisepilot. The lack of apps for the Swedish Internet banks are the biggest flaw, but it had obviously been nice to have more local content, regardless of category.
With regard to U.S. services like Facebook, Twitter, Dropbox and Evernote is offering complete and apps are really high quality. Blackberry ID necessary To get started with the cell phone you must first register a Blackberry ID via a web page that simultaneously activate the service by the operator. Without BlackBerrys special Internet service, you can neither email or use the App World. Blackberry does not use standard APN settings for the internet, but has its own technology with encryption and compression. It can save money when traveling abroad, but also makes the need to select special subscription with Blackberry Support.
A Blackberry ID, holds up to 10 email accounts, but it is unfortunately only make the settings from your mobile. Setting up email is not quite as simple as on the Android or the iPhone, but Blackberry is adept at identifying the settings if you use services other than major dailies such as Gmail or Hotmail.
Since the settings sync with the account of the Blackberry, you just sign in with your Blackberry ID to get started with a new device. Mail and messages are clearly widget on home screen. Pressing rapidly display the latest headlines and it’s easy to get through to your inbox. There are all conversations – whether it’s SMS, Email, Facebook or BlackBerry’s own Messenger and PIN system. Collecting all in the same flow may sound messy, but it’s easy to filter the content for example if you just want to see income and job emails.
The browser is fast and load full-size pages with no problem, but many mobile sites work less well on the Curve than on other phones with similar screen resolutions. Pictures not scaled to size and sites seem to have trouble deciding if I use a computer or a mobile.
Flash support is limited, but the browser is capable of identifying RSS feeds, and makes it easy to add bookmarks and send an address as a message through Blackberry button. Curve 9360 has a good music player and standard headphone jack. Memory card and stereo headset included.
Conclusion
The Blackberry Curve 9360 is a great device that offers a lot of value for the money that you can not find in other devices today on the market. It is amazing how well it performs when you look both at the pseed and how well it functions. If you do not need the highest specificatiosn in your device you can not go wrong with this one.
