11/1/2007
I'll have two VZW Pearls to review....
At about 4pm today my Verizon rep dropped off my Demo Pearl/8130 Unit... it is NOT active yet.. rep told me it will be in a day or two.. This came right from RIM to Verizon Rep to me... has Property of Research in Motion and Evaluation stickers on it...
RIM OS = v4.3.0.60 (Platform 3.1.0.32) Not sure if this is release version or not.
First impression... its slightly heavier than the GSM pearl but not enough to mind it....
Voice Notes Recorder, and Video Recorder on the home screen are new...
The MicroSD slot is on the side instead of under the battery the way the GSM is, but the cover looks like it might "break off" easy...
I do like the predictive typing a lot better than the GSM pearl... it works better, and the possible word list is a DROP DOWN list that shows more choices than the side by side of the GSM pearl.
Screen just as Clear and easy to read.
Not sure if this is "release firmware" as there is no VZNav on it... then again.. we'll have to see when its active if it comes down like the browser icons and setup personal email icons do...
keyboard is more "sculptured" than the GSM... but this is nice to type on.. keys are responsive, but slightly "loose" (i.e. the wiggle)...
Just got home from work...
I haven't taken pictures yet... Not allowed to use cameras or the camera in phones while on my work's campus...
On HoFo, I was asked about Browser differences?? I can't tell becuase the Browser icon is not there until the phone is activated and registered on Verizon's network and the service books come down...
I have been typing test messages and such on it... It is BETTER than my GSM pearl. Keyboard is more comfortable and the prediction is more accurate (and I even edit the custom word list on my GSM pearl to help it, this VZW pearl doesn't have a custom word list yet)...
WOW... they just keep making sure type better and better!!!! The 8100 was better than the 7100, and the 8130 is better than the 8100.
Themes are the same as the VZW 8830, PLUS there is a BB Dimension L theme... Think of it as the standard verizon theme from the 8830 with 5 icons along the bottom, but ALSO 5 icons down the left side...
Extra option under Screen/Keyboard... Menu Style... choices are Short Menu and Full Menu... When set to Short, pressing in on Ball gives "Short Menu"... when set to full... pressing Ball gives Full menu... NICE... Still a Force of habit has been press ball and get menu (because of using that thumb wheel for so long), so this helps
Using the Voice Notes Recorder Icon on home screen Records only... to play back, go into the Media application which gives you choices for Music, Video, Ring Tones, Pictures and Voice Notes.
File Total: 50462720
File Free: 12240104
New thing... Under Options -> Security Options... is Memory Cleaning... Not sure exactly what it does, since BB's have always had a built in memory manager. :befuddled
I can't test if GPS is fully operational or VZNav Only until I can activate
Options -> Advanced Options -> GPS...
GPS Data Source: Device GPS (no other choice!)
GPS Services: Location On or 911 Only
There are NO services books on this device except Verizon Wireless [WAP] so what I can do with it until I can activate it is limited. Sorry.
I have to wait until RIM sets up the 30 day test account. If this wasn't a Demo/Loaner Unit, I'd activate on my line...
But, since the VZW CC issued unit is on the way, I Will activate that one on my account, as it will be MINE to keep.
that is all I can say until I can activate this device as there are NO services books on this device except Verizon Wireless [WAP] so what I can do with it until I can activate it is limited. Sorry.
Since I'm getting two... one will be hooked to my BES, and one will be setup with BIS.
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11/06/2007
Ok, the main 8130 release thread is getting clogged up.. and I see repeat questions asking for reviews...
So... here is mine... I encourage all reviews here so they are easy to find... and suggest we keep the questions to a minimum...
Any review I post is going to be tainted by the fact that I use and support Blackberries and BES as my job, and I've used quite a few over the years.... I find it hard to do anything but compare it to other blackberries especially since I used a T-Mobile pearl 8100 from last November to May/June... ( and the 8100 still sits in my cabinet)
What can I say... Its a Blackberry :) with...
Better camera, improved suretype, has spell check, slight improvements to the browser, voice recorder, video recorder (which appears to require MicroSD card), can use up to 8gig MicroSDHC card. And of course... the speed and coverage of the Verizon Network...
This Pearl 8130 lives up to my expectations of call quality, battery life and features/usability when compared to other blackberries...
When talking about reception... I've found the GSM Pearl 8100 to perform better than the 8700 units, and marginally better than the 8800's... So it comes as no suprise that this Pearl 8130 provides very good reception and has not dropped or missed a call... Watching the signal strength in dB (under Options -> Status), the 8130 peforms near that of my Moto E815.. I'd say its on par with the enV which also provides Excellent reception...
The web browser continues to support HTML, WML, XML and JavaScripts. The XML support means it is possible to view RSS pages correctly. You can book mark RSS pages, and have the Blackberry browser make it available offline, as well as set a simple synch schedule (every X hours)...
Oh, and if you don't like the built in browser.. there is always OperaMini.
While the MicroSD slot is on the outside of this unit, I still don't trust "Hot Swapping" the cards.
The 8130 supports the standard bluetooth profiles found on other Blackberries (Headset/Handsfree, DUN, Serial Port Profile, OPP for pictures and sounds) but also includes A2DP and AVRC for bluetooth stereo music.
In keeping with RIM's "Security First" theme... the unit lacks HTML email support (its text only), and does not support Bluetooth OBEX FTP.
The Vibrate on this unit is a little weak, then again, its quieter when it vibrates.. Other blackberries I have... when they vibrate.. you can hear them across the room!!
The track ball is also a little less responsive than other models I've used... I notice a difference switching back and forth between it and my work Curve.
Unlike the previous SureType units I've used, there appears to be no way to quickly toggle between Suretype and Multi Tap... you must use the Menu key and track ball... (previous models, you press/hold the SYM key while in a text field to toggle) lack of this abilty slows down switching when you need to type an acronym, word or name that Suretype hasn't learned yet...
Setting up/Using BIS is rather simple, and Verizon's BIS works the same as T-Mobiles (that I use with my WORK unit), except for how to enter VZW's BIS web site... and while BIS is fine for mail... I am quickly coming to find I miss my BES for full wireless sync of Outlook Calendar, Contacts, notes and tasks...Ok, I admit this isn't as critical for personal use as it is for Work use.
I'm disappointed that VZNav is not V3, and does not have the ability to sync locations with the web.
I'm further disappointed that the internal GPS can NOT be used with other applications.
Update VZNav for BB to have all the features it had on the enV, or unlock the GPS for say.. google maps... and the Pearl 8130 becomes my choice for my primary personal phone.
Pictures ->CLICK HERE
