Blackberry Curve 8330 PDA Smartphone Review
When was the last time you used your desktop? Does this question seem kind of outdated in this day and age, where innovation happens by minute? Well, this is exactly the kind of feeling that Blackberry gives to the consumers, with launch of every handset, each outclassing the other. So, what are the special features loaded by the manufacturer, RIM (Research In Motion) in the Blackberry Curve 8330? Does it meet the expectations of the CDMA users? How different is this CDMA version of Verizon from the original GSM variant offered by AT&T? If these are the kind of questions lingering in your head, then just sit back while we walk you through the Curves, offered by both Sprint and Verizon.
Design & Build:
The RIM Blackberry Curve 8330 is designed to fit hands of any size and it comes in two different shades – a bright silver from Verizon, with Sprint choosing a more dashing Titanium finish. Both versions have a rubbery trim that runs alongside the phones. Its sleek design is sure to catch the envious glances of Blackberry Pearl owners. Weighing just 7 ounces, the Curve does not really require any nerdy holsters and can just about slip into any pocket. Accepted that the Curve does not really catch your attention at a first glimpse, but its silvery finish along with its rounded edges and chrome accents, is a definite competition to the Samsung BlackJack. The top right corner hosts the LED indicator flashing varied colors, based on the events. The volume rocker and multifunction key are towards the right, both standing out against the black trim with their flashy chrome. The miniUSB port and 3.5-mm headset jack is nested on the left with the back multifunction key right below it. On the top left is a single chrome key that acts as a mute key, which also functions as a standby key, with being held pressed for a few seconds. Again, the two cutouts, one in the center and the other towards the right acts as speaker holes for the Curve. The hardware volume controls is located on the right. The rear of the Curve is otherwise flush and uneventful, but for a 2Mp camera lens, with no opening for the battery. While the Curve’s microSD slot works suitably with memory expansion, it is not that easy getting to. Well, RIM could have found a better slot to locate the microSD card, as against being located beneath the battery. It makes removal of the battery kind of irritating and particularly the need to switch off the phone every time the card needs to be accessed is all the more annoying. Then again, since the chances of removing the card is pretty rare, we can live with it.
Curve 8330′s Display:
The front panel is quite a star with its striking 320×240 pixel, 2.5-inch display, featuring a light sensor that blends with the dim ambient lighting. The vibrant QVGA screen does, beyond doubt, a solid job when it comes to displaying pictures and text. Nonetheless the Curve, similar to the other Blackberry gizmos, uses an archaic font that is known to take extra space, which we feel is unwarranted. That being said, almost all the items are pretty legible in any given lighting conditions. Again, RIM’s signature feature does not come as a surprise anymore – yes! we mean the backlit trackball, this in conjunction with the Send, Back, Menu and End Call keys along with the sublime, well-spread QWERTY backlit keyboard.
QWERTY Keyboard:
RIM’s keyboards are highly touted for their abundant shortcuts and ease of use. The well spaced out keyboard that RIM has managed to squeeze in, is absolutely convenient to type, even for those, who are not great fans of QWERTY keypads. It is definitely much sturdier and wider as against the Pearl, which hosts a not-so-sure to type keyboard and not really good with guessing words that we are trying to peck in. The QWERTY keyboard in Blackberry Curve 8330 Smartphone is housed beneath the trackball that aides with navigation. Though the trackball takes some time to get used to you might find it, eventually, to be pretty responsive. Well, you may not experience the same speed levels as in a scroll wheel, but it ultimately wins you over with its versatility, particularly with navigation of web pages and the like, wherein a 2-D movement would be appreciated as against 1-D. Confirmation is achieved by inward clicking of the trackball.
Interface:
There is nothing much to comment on the Curve’s interface, as its OS is very much similar to the several other Blackberry models like the Pearl and 8830. The highly customizable interface allows users to reorder applications as per their preference, and also to remove unwanted icons from the main display as seen fit. Of the lot, the customizing option worth mentioning would be assigning both the multifunction buttons to just about any task that users see fit. The trackball seems to be of great help with it comes to navigating the menu, much better than the Pearl’s trackball or the rigid 8830. The only hitch is, as much as it could be moved 360 degrees, it only traverses vertically or horizontally through the menus and cannot be wrapped around the ends of the menu. This is kind of annoying and we prefer the mouse as against this semi-input mechanism. Though we are highly impressed with the customizing gimmick, organizing folder and hiding icons, we are kind of disappointed with the interface on the whole. Yet another aspect of annoyance was with adjusting the ring volume. Any other phone under the sun lets you to adjust the volume by just hitting the rocker in the standby, a fairly simple task, of course. Blackberry decides to differ here! You will have to click on Profiles, go to Advanced, choose your preferred profile, scroll down and get to Phone, go to Volume and then it finally lets you set the desired level. Absolutely ludicrous! We hope RIM takes care of this in their following versions to avoid such seemingly simple tasks appear Herculean.
Features:
Phonebook:
Thanks to RIM for keeping the Curve’s phonebook relatively straightforward and simple to use. Choosing New Address from the Context Menu in the Address Book allows entry of a new contact, or the other alternate is to directly save the person from your recent call or email list. Every entry is allowed two office numbers, three email addresses, two home numbers, a pager, mobile, fax and “Other” number along with an entry for a BlackBerry PIN number. There are slots allocated for home/office addresses, as well as anniversary and birth dates. Sorting of Contacts is done either by user definable categories such as custom ringers and picture IDs. There are sections allocated for webpage and notes as well. Searching directly from the main screen giving the contact’s first or last name, yields result with the Curve matching it from the contact list. With a highlighted entry in the main contacts view, the user can initiate a call by hitting the send button. If an entry has several numbers, a window pops up allowing you to select the person you wish to call.
Messaging:
Following the BlackBerry tradition, the Curve offers oodles of messaging options. Aside from the standard MMS and SMS onboard, support is also offered for Blackberry PIN messaging and multiple email accounts. Of note, the Sprint version of the Curve, does not support MMS and hence has to be received in the SMS format and users might have to view the images by clicking on the link via the browser. Likewise the images needs to be sent as mail attachment as against conventional MMS. PIN messaging almost identical to sending an SMS, but for the fact, that it needs to be sent via RIM’s secured server as against the conventional SMS gateway. Regardless of their carrier, all BlackBerries come with an exclusive PIN. All one has to do is to opt for the PIN Message option, and the message is sent by entering the PIN in the “To” field. As much as this looks similar to an SMS, this is not considered as an SMS package, although the data gets used. While the Sprint CDMA comes with messenger clients such as Yahoo, AIM and Gtalk, the Verizon version does not, but can be availed of through their portal.
Organizer:
The robust Calendar function in the Curve 8330 PDA Phone can be managed both on phone and PC, and is remotely manageable with pairing it to a BES (BlackBerry Enterprise Server). Tasks such as creating an appointment are fairly simple along with options for reminders and recurrence. Mark the Appointments as private if you wish to for added security.
PIM and Other Apps:
The Blackberry Curve 8330 Phone is loaded with Personal Information Management (PIM) Apps such as Tasks, Address Book, Alarm, Password Keeper, Calculator, Voice Recorder, Memo Pad, etc. All of these, for the most part, are to the point and simple, no bells and whistles. While there is nothing extravagant about any of the above, it is nice to have a solid password application as a part of the package. Few other notable applications as a part of the default suite include Sprint Music Store, Voice Dialer, Handmark’s Pocket Express, Sprint TV, Facebook, IMs that include Gtalk, AIM, Yahoo and of course Blackberry Messaging. The Curve allows for Reminders to be set and to group them into categories as well. There is also a Voice Note Recorder that helps with taking notes, especially helpful for those always on the move.
Reception And Voice Quality:
With the GSM Curve models being well known for their clear and punchy call quality and above average reception, the Curve 8330 is no exception and continues the trend. In strong coverage areas, the reception is generally 4 bars out of 5 and a 1 to 3 with moderate coverage areas. Both the Verizon and Sprint versions of the Curve 8330 are not known to have dropped calls and possess a relatively good call quality. Its loud and clear built-in speakerphones are worth mentioning. The Curve 8330 also supports headset and hands free profiles via Bluetooth. The DSP also seem to work just fine via both headsets with reduced noise levels in the road, but for the winds. Blackberry’s voice command software, VoiceSingal VSuite 2.1 works exceptionally well with voice command and voice dialing. It also performs well even in the absence of voice training or pre-recorded voice tags and is also seamless over Bluetooth.
Wireless Connectivity:
RIM has a notable series of devices in the Curve line to its credit, in that it supplements the levels of connectivity to the Blackberry lineage. The Sprint variant of the Curve compliments the EV-DO connectivity with Bluetooth and GPS. Well this literally means that the options are endless for users to connect to devices and services. When it comes to the cellular world, the Sprint version of the Curve is an EV-DO 1x gadget, which though cannot be compared to the speed of a basic DSL connectivity, is still quite prompt for a cellular connection, and is efficient enough to not drain the battery.
Bluetooth:
The RIM Blackberry Curve 8330 features a 2.0 Bluetooth that is compatible with AVRC, HSP, SPP, HFP and A2DP profiles, this literally means that it could only be used with a stereo or mono headset. Nonetheless, files can be transferred to Media Player through a complicated or sensitive process. Once inside the Media Player, go to context menu and opt for “Receive Using Bluetooth.” Yet again, Bluetooth is another wireless option for headsets and DUN (Dial-up Networking). With using the Bluetooth, the Curve takes the form of a modem for tablet PCs and laptops, which obviously attracts additional costs, depending on the plan used. Sprint’s Version of Curve does not support Wi-Fi though.
GPS/Maps:
Both Verizon and Sprint version of the Curve 8330 comes with an in-built GPS, which takes roughly around 30 seconds to get a lock and very much reliable in terms of a navigational tool. The GPS performance is just mind blowing and is right on dot (when it comes to accuracy) and gets signals indoors too. Sprint’s Blackberry is loaded with RIM’s BlackBerry Maps for free, offering maps of North America along with navigational software with just the directions and no voice guidance. No worries, if you are particular about voice guidance, there is always the option of buying Sprint’s Navigation services for $2.99 a day or $9.99 a month or better still purchase a full package which includes voice guidance supported by TeleNav. If you are wondering about the same on Verizon’s version of the Curve, well bad news – Verizon switches off the GPS access and BlackBerry Maps, but the good news is it offers its very own VZ Navigator supported by “Networks In Motion” for the same cost as Sprint. There is not much of a difference in the options, navigational features, directions, routes, maps, and voice guidance and the info provided by both Curves is relatively accurate. Besides providing the directions and your location, the same can also be forwarded to your friends via E-mail, SMS or PIN. Now if you are not keen on paying the extra charges, it is your call, as you can still avail of the free Blackberry Maps that does certainly render turn-by-turn directions on screen along with point of interest. But the speed is definitely no match to the 3D TeleNav maps, not to mention its lack of voice guidance. So, you might want to think twice before opting for free maps, as it is not a wise choice especially if you were to drive alone, then checking maps and looking at directions would be tedious without voice guidance, particularly with the screen turning off every now and then.
E-mail:
The E-mail setup on the Blackberry is as good as it gets. Be it the Curve or for that matter any Blackberry model, it is a “Killer App.” It comes as no surprise with their undeniable advantage with corporate backend assimilation along with push email. Setting up a Gmail account utilizing the setup wizard is a child’s play in the Curve, particularly with the phone supporting ten corporate and personal accounts. Once inside the browser, the trackball, which is used more so as a mouse makes navigation easy. Page and Column are the two viewing modes with the former shrinking the page for the users to pan around and zoom in on areas of interest. Though this cannot be compared to the typical desktop experience offered by Opera Mini, it can be compared to Mobile Internet Explorer. The additional spell checker feature (only for email, not for multimedia/text messages) along with a customizable dictionary is something that is welcomed with open hands. Akin to the 8800 and Pearl, the Curve also allows viewing JPEG attachments, PDF, Word, and Excel. Overall the Curve’s performance is very much snappy identical to its kith and kin, with a loading time of 9 to 10 seconds followed by the images. 10 to 20 seconds later. WAP pages are loaded at lightning speed. Despite their popularity with E-mails, Blackberry devices lag behind in comparison to other smartphones like the iPhone, Window Mobile, Nokia etc., when it comes to rendering mails in HTML format, as they still end up showing broken links or unsightly pages when displaying HTML pages.
Multimedia and Apps:
The Curve 8330 Smartphone from Blackberry is loaded with a media player for video playback and music with the Sprint’s variant offering a Sprint Music Store and Sprint TV while the former charges $0.99 for downloads over the air and also offers its own music player, the latter offers a mix of both on-demand clippings and live TV, which includes unique made-for-mobile content. MP3 and AAC files are supported by the player with the unprotected iTunes also working just fine. The audio quality is just awesome, via both the stereo headset and the built-in speaker with the volume being fairly loud. For all the Bluetooth headset fans out there, you would thoroughly enjoy listening to music on the 8330. Yet another benefit is, being able to skip tracks by just clicking on the Fast Forward button in the headset as against the conventional 2-step process of clicking on the menu and then selecting the track. The player also comes with standard playback controls along with shuffle and playlist support. Video playback on the Curve 8330 is pretty decent on a bare minimum 326kbps/15fps/QVGA, but it had trouble playing WMV files though. With the Curve packing an EV-DO, it is capable of data speeds of roughly 300 to 600 Kbps and can probably hit 2.4Mbps, which means faster web access and downloads and hassle-free media streaming. In comparing the two CDMAs, while the Sprint version supports Sprint TV, the Verizon version does not support V Cast music/videos on their smartphone. Well, Verizon must be under the impression that corporate/business users wouldn’t really miss streaming songs or videos. But hey Verizon! Blackberry is no longer for just the corporate crowd, it is open to consumers as well. That being said, the smartphone does have other varied avenues for multimedia. Along with supporting MP3, AAC+, WMA, eAAC+, AMR-NB and MIDI audio formats and WMV, MPEG, H.263 video formats, it also allows to search songs by Album, Artist and Genres. The Curve comes with a software CD with a copy of Roxio Easy Media Creator that enables creating Mp3s from CDs with a provision to add audio tags, not to mention the full-screen mode for video playback. The Curve also supports AT&T services like streaming XM radio at a monthly rate of $9.99. The download happens quite rapidly with a wide choice to stations to choose from with the inclusion of seven genres namely Rock, Pop, Hip Hop, Urban, Country and Decades.
Pocket Express:
Yet another noteworthy feature of the Sprint worth mentioning would be the Pocket Express previously called On Demand that offers rapid access to weather, sports, stocks, travel info, entertainment etc., to its users. It also acts as a portal for downloading ringtones and games, a relatively handy application that gathers hoards of information in one place and extremely useful for users, turning them more productive.
Sprint’s Facebook:
While the Facebook app comes preloaded with the Sprint CDMA, Verizon users need to download the same over the air and will have to find the link al by themselves. Sprint’s variant of the Curve is definitely considered more compelling and user friendly as against Verizon’s with the inclusion of all such apps (TV, IM clients, Facebook etc). while Verizon users can still download all of the above or even go ahead and utilize third-party substitutes, it kind of gives us the feeling that Verizon is all set to strip the Curve (and phones alike) of their functionality. Well, no one can help noticing the drastic out of box difference between the two CDMA phones, with the Sprint version being a definite hit among users.
Memory:
In terms of storage capacity, the Blackberry Curve 8330 has on-board a memory space of 96MB with the expansion slot being able to take up to 8GB. The only glitch is the microSDHC card being located underneath the battery, but we can still live with an 8GB SanDisk.
Camera:
The Curve’s robust multimedia competence is what makes it stand out from the 8800 and the Pearl. It comes with a 2Mp camera loaded with LED flash, digital zoom and a self-portrait mirror. Both CDMA versions of the Curve performs outstandingly well with not much difference in their performance. The images can be shot in three resolutions namely, 640 x 480, 1024 x 768, and 1600 x 1200 under three quality settins and the pictures taken are very much adequate for a 4×6-inch print. Everything from natures beauty to human portrait is richly saturated and with great detail. We especially appreciate the in-built flash along with its rapid shutter speed that enables it to shoot decent close-ups even in dimly lit areas. The not so wide camera lens aides in turning on the LED flash both automatically or manually. Despite the images being overly sharpened, they look relatively good with the high contrast enhancing the images. There is a good amount of colour balance in the images shot both indoors and outdoors, with flash turning on automatically under poor lighting conditions. The images can be used as wallpapers, caller ID and can even be sent via MMS and E-mail. And the good news is, its ability to record videos, a feature thus far enjoyed by the Pearl users only. The video clips can be shot in two resolutions namely, 176 x 144 and 240 x 176, but it is kind of weird that the Cure allows for storage of these only in the storage card and not the Phone’s memory. Well at least, the videos are of decent quality, no complaints here with the LED flash illuminating subjects fairly well even at an arm’s length.
Battery life:
In comparison to the other Curve models, the BlackBerry 8330 has a slight increase I battery life. It comes with a rechargeable Lithium Ion 1150 mAh battery with a longer talk time and shorter standby time. The alleged 11 days standby and 4.3 hours talk time is kind of overrated, but not that much. While using the phone to make calls, browsing and listening to music does not drain the battery life dramatically, using the GPS for long commutes, watch Sprint TV in addition to using the phone for calls and browsing generally does, and warrants daily charging. For instance, watching Sprint TV for 15 minutes drains 15 to 20% of battery life. So with regular and normal usage of the Curve, the battery life is at its best.
Performance:
The Sprint version of the BlackBerry Curve 8330 is no fancy gadget nor does it seem special in a specific way. Nevertheless, it is rock solid and well designed with the kind of attribute to blend easily into day-to-day activities and does not really demand much by way of altering the default setup or tweaking. But at the end of the day, it sure is the kind of gadget that provides users with ample info and gets them places. Curve’s GPS integration and E-mail would be the best example to prove this. Now, it is ultimately your call to decide switching over from your existing device to the Curve taking into consideration your requirements and the budget, of course.
Warranty:
With a limited parts warranty and labor warranty of one year from the date of purchase, all other details pertaining to warranty can be found in the warranty leaflet.
Verdict:
The BlackBerry curve remains an office phone; great support for mail connections (be it with MS Exchange, Lotus Domino, Novell Groupwise etc.). While the new ads try to tell you that this is not just for corporate users, we beg to differ. The choice of provider plays a huge role in the quality of apps you can have on your Curve; but then the choice of applications should not drive the choice of the phone itself. The Curve is a great choice for a CDMA customer waiting on a Black Berry so long; but then if you are planning to use this like a millennial you might be a touch disappointed with the trackball, UI and usability for the average user. For a change, check if your profile suits a Black Berry rather than the other way round.
Blackberry Curve 8330 Smartphone – Technical Specification Details
| Manufacturer | Research In Motion Ltd |
| Model Name | Blackberry Curve 8330 |
| Product Series | Curve Series |
| Dimensions | 4.2 x 2.4 x 0.6 inches |
| Available Colors | Titanium and Black |
| Weight | 4 oz (113 grams) |
| Display | TFT LCD color display |
| Display Screen size | 2.5 inch |
| Color resolution | 16-bit (65k) with 320×240 pixels |
| Input | QWERTY keyboard Trackball |
| Interfaces available | USB |
| OS | RIM BlackBerry OS |
| Application Software | Alarm, Address Book , Tasks, Calendar, Calculator, Notes, Blackberry Maps, Organizer, Voice memo/dial/commands, Predictive Text Input |
| CPU | 312MHz Processor |
| Messaging options | SMS, MMS, IM |
| IMAP, POP3, SMTP, Microsoft Exchange, Lotus Domino, Blackberry Connect |
|
| Phone Functions | Multiple numbers per contact, Picture ID, Ring ID |
| Cellular Networks | CDMA800, CDMA1900 |
| Cellular Data;Links | CDMA2000 1x, 1xEV-DO Rev. 0 |
| Alert Types | Vibration, MP3 Ringtones |
| Memory | Built-in 32MB RAM/96MB ROM |
| Location Based Services | Yes, GPS |
| Supported Video Formats | WMV |
| Supported Audio Formats | MP3,WMA |
| Web Browser | HTML, Blackberry Browser, RSS |
| Wi-Fi enabled | No |
| Audio Compatibility | MP4/WMV/H.263/H.264 player MP3/WAV/eAAC+/WMA player |
| Video Playback | MPEG4, H.263, WMV |
| Utilities | Clock, Alarm, Games |
| Wireless Communication | Bluetooth |
| Connectivity | 3.5 mm Audio jack |
| Memory Slot Type | microSD, microSDHC, up to 4GB |
| Camera | 2 MP, 1600×1200 pixels, LED flash, Digital Zoom, Mirror |
| Included Accessories | Stereo Headset USB Cable Power Adapter Home Charger Leather Pouch 1GB microSD card (Sprint Curve only) |
| Battery | Standard Battery, Li-Ion 1150mAh Standby: Up to 264 h Talk time: Up to 4 h 30 min |
| Warranty | One year |
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