IT News HeadLines (AnandTech) 02/09/2010

BlackBerry Torch 9800 Review: Keeping RIM's Flame Alive
This summer has been a busy one for smartphone platforms. We started the summer with an Apple iOS update that remedied a number of the primary concerns with Apple’s iDevice platforms, followed by the launch of the iPhone 4. Meanwhile, the Android flagship crown was passed between no less than 4 devices (HTC Incredible, HTC EVO 4G, Droid X, and now arguably Droid 2 or Galaxy S phones), and Google’s OEM partners have slowly but surely rolled Froyo 2.2 out across their install base.
Now it’s Research In Motion’s turn to deliver a summer update. Their answer is two pronged - BlackBerry 6 (that’s not a typo, they’ve named the new OS after the platform itself - BlackBerry 6), and a new device for AT&T, the BlackBerry Torch.

Lately, the BlackBerry platform as a whole has been showing its age. Browsing the web and checking email on a mobile device are no longer novelties that wow on their own - they’re old hat. Further, smartphone browsers have established a pretty steady cadence toward parity with the desktop in both speed and rendering, something the BlackBerry’s previous web browser was frequently criticized for failing to deliver - at all.
On carriers like Verizon, where BlackBerry once reigned supreme at the top of the smartphone food chain, it now faces direct competition with Android. The first Storm was a commercial failure, and the Storm 2 - though better - was still not the proverbial home run RIM needed.
One year and one acquisition later, and RIM is ready to play ball with a modern, WebKit based browser, revamped hardware design, and true capacitive multitouch screen (sans SurePress). How does the BlackBerry Torch fare? Read on for the full review.

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Researchers Develop New Low-Cost, Bacteria-Killing Water Filter
Could purify drinking water in the developing world
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India Grapples with RIM, Eyes Google and Skype
India may expect Google and Skype to hand over communications
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Plug-in Electric Vehicle Sales to Hit 3.2 million Units by 2015
U.S. will be 26% of the market with China at 27% of the market
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NASA's Record-Setting Solid Rocket Enjoys Successful Test-Fire
Rocket will see first action in 2015 delivering new rescue capsule (Orion) to the ISS
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HP Unveils Three New Notebook Computers
One of the machines supports 3D
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Sony Serves Up Trio of New Touch Screen E-Readers
Sony is ready to take on the Kindle 3
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Report: GM Midsize Sedans to Become "4-cylinder Only"
CAFE leads to engine downsizing for GM
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Official T-Mobile G2 Pics Leaked
T-Mobile's latest Android smartphone runs HSPA+
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Leading Climate Change Skeptic Recants, Wants $100B to Fight Warming
Copenhagen Consensus Project makes Bjorn Lomborg see importance of cutting carbon
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Xbox 360 Wireless Controller is Improved, Drops Slightly in Price
Looks like good news all around in the controller department
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