RIM BlackBerry Tour 9630 Review
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This is where all that beautiful hardware ends, and the boring begins. The RIM BlackBerry Tour 9630 runs OS 4.7 (.1.40 on ours,) which is the same software that the Storm runs. It is virtually identical to 4.6 found on the Bold, Curve 8900 and Curve 8350i. There are a few visual tweaks, such as in dropdown menus, but otherwise it remains similar. It is very quick, and very stable, and there is something to be said for that, especially for enterprise users. It is not, however, innovative, eye-catching or very user friendly. We feel that RIM is backing themselves into a corner much like Palm did; they had a good base and kept adding to it, but eventually the times passed them by and they were left with an old, antiquated system that couldn’t keep up. The revolutionary and from-scratch webOS was needed for Palm, RIM should look to them for inspiration.
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The RIM BlackBerry Tour 9630 runs OS 4.7 | |
Phonebook:
There isn’t anything new with the phonebook. It’s as simple and straightforward as ever, and you can store virtually an unlimited amount of contacts. Each contact can hold three email addresses, two work phone numbers, two home numbers, a mobile, pager, fax and “other” number as well as a space for a BlackBerry PIN number. There is a slot for both a home and work address, as well as dates for anniversary and birthdays. Contacts can be sorted by user definable categories, each entry can have a custom ringer and picture ID, and there is a section for a webpage and notes.
Users can search directly from the main screen by typing in either the first or last name, and as you start to type a number in the phone application the Curve matches it with the contact list. When an entry is highlighted from the main contacts view the user can hit the send button to initiate a call. If the entry has multiple numbers it will bring up a popup window where you can select which one you want to call. As always, Nuance is included for voice dialing.
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The phonebook is simple and straightforward | ||
Organizer:
Like the phonebook, the calendar function is very robust. It can be managed either on your phone or on your PC, and when paired to a BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES) it can be remotely managed and synced over the air. Creating an appointment is simple, and options such as reminders and recurrence are present. Appointments can also be marked as private for added security.
Other basic PIM functions are available, such as Tasks and a Memo Pad. Tasks is very basic, but reminders can be set and they can also be grouped into categories. The Memo Pad is a basic notepad, no bells and whistles. A Voice Note Recorder is present for taking notes on the go, and a basic calculator is also available.
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The calendar of RIM BlackBerry Tour 9630 | ||
Messaging:
Like any BlackBerry, the Tour 9630 supports a whole slew of messaging options. Standards like SMS and MMS are onboard, as is support for multiple email accounts and BlackBerry PIN messaging. Other preloaded IM clients are AIM, GTalk, ICQ, Windows Live and Yahoo Messenger allowing you to keep in touch with virtually anyone.
Email setup on the RIM BlackBerry Tour 9630 is about as perfect as it gets, we simply put in our email and password and that was it. Even with our uncommon work email we didn’t have to enter any server information. The push email arrived nearly instantaneously in our testing. With the BlackBerry Internet Service (BIS) the user can have up to 10 email addresses on one device.
As we stated earlier, the QWERTY keyboard is the best we’ve ever used. The keys are easy to press yet offer good tactile feedback. Unlike the Curve family, the keys run next to each other and there is a separator between each of the four rows. Our only concern is that, while perfect now, as the keyboard breaks in it may be too soft for some users.
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Windows Live Messenger | Keyboard settings |
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34 Comments
1. jsb posted on 20 Oct 2010, 01:55 0 0
One question? I was told the Tour has a "to" box on the same page as the text for sms messages? So it won't be like the 8330 where it brings you to the contact list first. Is this true?
17. Scout posted on 13 Jul 2009, 10:37 0 0
Yeah its true.. its pretty nice actually just start typing that persons name and it bring it right up.
2. PL007 posted on 08 Jul 2009, 08:45 0 0
Its still Amazing how devices advance in certain areas like screen resolution, size, thickness, OS but call quality is still an issue. Early Smartphones I can see because the technology may not have been there to improve the quality. Today in 2009 GOING ON 2010 how is piss poor, Wax paper sounding call quality still an issue. It's just RIM, there are others too who still do not offer good quality. I know quality is different from user to user but how would someone buy this smartphone after reading this review? Any minor thought I MIGHT of had of buying the TOUR is done! Next time RIM, next time.
24. chester162 posted on 18 Jul 2009, 08:24 0 0
You tell me a smartphone that is perfect...I know that Iphone has many a issue and also Palm Pre as well and they are some of the top if not the top cell phones going right now. I still have to give it to RIM cause they are great if they weren't so great then you wouldn't have companies like Motorola, Samsung, LG, and HTC mimic the like of RIM. I personally think that it all depends on the carrier time of day etc...I mean there are a lot of factors that go into it. You should go and try it out for your self it might not be as bad as stated actually it really not that bad cause when a phone gets a 8 out of 10 I think your doing pretty darn good. O and to answer your question who would buy this phone after reading this review my wife and I would (right now I have a HTC Mogul and my wife has a Palm Centro both on Sprint).
25. PL007 posted on 20 Jul 2009, 11:59 0 0
There is no perfect smartphone, never said or implied we should have one. My comment was on call quality, not on the overall aspect of this phone. You must be RIM fan because I see I struck a nerve. You believe smartphones are the best cell phones going today, great. In my experience, if I needed to use it as a phone, I can find some regular dumbphones that have better call quality than a smartphone. The score is very good for a smartphone overall but I look at areas it was reviewed that are important to me. Will I try to this phone, probably because I should give it a try in a store. And yes I am aware of the factors that go into call quality. You can make excuses for RIM, Motorola, LG, Samsung, Apple, etc.... I don't. I am very harsh as they make advancements in OS, display, connectivity, style but nothhing on call quality. I have not seen or heard any smartphone to stand out in that area as the years go on. We are going on 2010 and smartphone designs and OS UI in them are becoming very appealing. So far, as a phone, not very consistant in this category.
28. remixfa posted on 30 Jul 2009, 11:54 0 0
like any phone give it a month or 3 for the initial bugs to be worked out. im sure its just a simple manufacturing defect. it happens. give it a few months then get one, or pay the price for being an early adopter (like me, but i cant help it :) )
3. bigfanboyred posted on 08 Jul 2009, 10:06 0 0
i also read the review on another site, they had said that the quality of the call was "great". and being on vzw which has the best coverage, they didnt drop a call and quality of the call was "clear"... dont know what to think. also, i know that bb will be coming out with bb os 5.0... and then IT WILL BE A 10! j/k.
7. mr. anderson posted on 08 Jul 2009, 13:29 0 0
except that they said it was just fine with their 8230, but way to read the article legion I believe the review fanboy is talking about is bgr, which doesn't seem to even try and hide their bias anymore. that site has fallen so far, it's almost bad as phonenews
10. VDubb posted on 09 Jul 2009, 11:52 0 0
If you're talking about the BoyGenius review, he's a walking advertisement for VZW. The actual review was nothing more than an ad for Verizon featuring the Tour. :P - VDubb
11. legionsreturn (unregistered) posted on 09 Jul 2009, 13:01 0 0
Right, and you are far more credible. - LEGION
18. Scout posted on 13 Jul 2009, 10:42 0 0
I got the tour yesterday and I have dropped 2 calls in areas that I have never dropped before.. A few other issues that I have is I can not set blackberry shortcuts on my home screen, everytime I download the ESPN blackberry shortcut (which worked excellent on my 8330) and go to use it it tells me "The protocol specified is not supported by the handheld please try a diff. URL" WTF is that about?
5. cakruser posted on 08 Jul 2009, 12:25 0 0
I concur with PL007. Have manufacturers lost sight of the fact that, first and foremost, a phone must be a good, well, PHONE? Some of these reviews got so lost in a millimeter-by-millimeter analysis of the camera that call quality never even gets mentioned. How can PA give the Tour and 8 out of 10 yet tell us the call quality stinks?
6. glazey posted on 08 Jul 2009, 13:17 0 0
Just debating if i should jump from my storm to the tour......PA seems to think that its not worth anyone upgrading unless you have a pearl.
8. WHoSuRDaDDy posted on 08 Jul 2009, 20:05 0 0
Just to make it clear to everybody, the retail version of the Tour that will be coming with the 2gb memory card in the box is the no camera version. The version with camera wont come with the 2gb memory card.
14. BigRed83 posted on 11 Jul 2009, 18:28 0 0
I think you have that backward. The camera version has the SD card, the non-camera does without
31. chupum posted on 09 Oct 2009, 17:41 0 0
Just letting Daddy know, I bought the BB Tour w/camera, and it came with a 2Gb card. It doesn't have WiFi... Why the heck not???? I wonder if connecting to websites would be better if I had WiFi in those places that actually had a WiFi signal, rather than relying on 3G 100% of the time. But that's really my only complaint... Oh, does anyone else have issues with screen resolution when you go to a youtube video???
9. markemark posted on 08 Jul 2009, 22:16 0 0
Why don't you people walk into a store on Sunday and test one out. Every other review Ive read said it's well built, great camera, outstanding battery and awesome sound quality both ways. Why let this one site (obvious ATT/iPhone bias site at that) change your mind. All the hype this phone has gotten, all the good previews/reviews have to say something.
12. markemark posted on 10 Jul 2009, 15:35 0 0
So I went to my store today to check one out. After spending some time with it I agree with the review. The sound is a bit off. The trackball is weird. It seems to almost stick a bit, very hard to explain. After I changed the sensitivity to 90, it was better. It is extremely fast, very responsive. The spell check feature rules. I doubt you guys care what I have to say, but I had to back up phone arena on this, they were right. I bought mine though lol. http://img30.imageshack.us/i/0710091239.jpg/
13. johnfraiser posted on 11 Jul 2009, 17:28 0 0
markemark, I highly doubt that you are telling the truth. First of all, the phone isn't hitting stores in the US until July 12th and your writing on the 10th like you went down to your local phone store and there it was! No way. There are test versions out there, but only dealers and reps have them, they are not for sale. Second of all, I don't generally believe someone when they already start with a phrase like "I doubt you guys care what I have to say..." or "You're not going to believe this..." In my experience, what follows these statements is generally bulls**t.
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