BlackBerry Curve 9220: Review

In the wake of increasing popularity of Android phone and Apple's iPhone, Research In Motion (RIM) has not been having a good run with its BlackBerry devices. Fortunately for the company, India is one of the few markets in which it is still popular amongst youngsters, thanks largely to the BlackBerry Curve 8520. Launched way back in 2009, 8520 was the first Curve smartphone from the Canadian handset maker and it continues to be their bestselling smartphone in the country. 

The reasons why Curve 8520 proved to be such a big hit are easy to understand. It's the cheapest BlackBerry around, and the go-to option for the young crowd who use BlackBerry Messenger as if their life depended on it. The wide variety of colour options no doubt helped the sales.

Though the Curve 8520 continues to be the top selling model for RIM, it runs on the dated OS 5, has a slow processor and an average battery backup.This is where the new BlackBerry Curve 9220 steps in. Priced attractively at Rs. 10,990, the company expects it to be as popular as the first Curve and is specifically being targeted at the youngsters

The big highlight of this smartphone is the presence of a dedicated BBM key. This key is placed on the left side of the handset, and gives instant access to BlackBerry Messenger. However, it works only

when the handset is unlocked, so not really a shortcut to access BBM.

Unlike other BlackBerrys, this smartphone does not have any dedicated media keys on the top panel. This clears a lot of space at the top, which now only houses the screen lock key.

The keyboard is pretty much the standard one found on any BlackBerry device and the QWERTY lovers will find it quite convenient to use. Just like the BlackBerry Curve 8520, the new Curve handset, too, will be available in vibrant colour options such as fuchsia pink and teal blue, apart from the usual black and white.

Display

The BlackBerry Curve 9220 comes with 2.44-inch TFT LCD display with 320x240 pixels resolution. When pitted against the other Curve devices at similar price point, Curve 9220 scores better than the rest in terms of display. Having said that, the display of this handset is still nothing to rave about when compared to other smartphones.

Camera

BlackBerry Curve 9220 sports a 2.0-megapixels fixed focus camera. The images captured through this camera in proper light conditions were at the most average. Needless to add, the quality deteriorates even further in low-lighting conditions.

Considering that RIM is trying to catch the fancy of the young consumers through this handset, we feel that the camera should have been better. Most devices at this price point come loaded with at least 5-megapixels primary camera.  Another downside of this smartphone is the fixed-focus nature of the camera rather than auto-focus found on other smartphones. The quality of videos recorded through this handset is also average. 

Software/ Interface

Curve 9220 comes loaded with the latest BlackBerry OS 7.1, which makes it the first handset at this price point to do so. To put things in perspective, the more expensive BlackBerry Curve 9300 (commonly referred as Curve 3G) and BlackBerry Bold 9780 handsets are still running on the older BlackBerry OS 6.

Pros
Battery life
Affordable BlackBerry OS 7 device

Cons
2.0 MP Camera with fixed focus
No 3G

Price: Rs. 10,990

Ratings:
Design: 3
Display: 2.5
Camera: 2
Performance: 3.5
Software: 3.5
Ecosystem: 1.5
Battery Life: 4
Value for Money: 3
Overall: 3

When koalas are uploaded to a lamppost in the middle of nowhere

Soaked and starving, this koala could be the loneliest copy of this already elusivespecies. The specimen was photographed at the top of a light pole height of 10 min the middle of nowhere in Gunnedah (New South Wales, Australia), completelyisolated from his family and his natural habitat, since the eucalyptus nearest wasover 6 km in length.

Not the first time that koalas were photographed uploaded to lampposts likemission ascetic hermits, and although there are several circumstantial reasons that cause these elements to perch, the Australian wildlife experts agree that the postsactually act as "bases" intermediate and safe travel in the process of koalas, andto help them move from one feeding area to another without perishing in the attempt.

Koalas are solitary animals who travel on their own circles, combing differentareas all the time from a central point. You can walk at night and then return to the post during the day as its safe place until they find the quickest way or another post to go through areas where no tree protection.

Australian environmental groups have urged the government of that country that catalogs this animal as endangered and a census of the remaining koalas (one of the icons of the country of the antipodes) after several scientific studies havedetected the population of this species has dwindled to a dramatic level.

The numbers of koalas were as low as 200,000 nationwide in 2010 compared to 430,000 that was in 1990. The clearing of forests to labor camps or kits for humans is contributing to their decline, because with the loss of trees which is encouraged is that the koala spends more time on the ground, where they areeasy prey for foxes, cars and other predators.

Not to mention the danger to the integrity of a koala that is being so close topower lines, as seen in this other example: