BlackBerry Pearl 8100 review
Network and connections
Rim Blackberry 8100 Pearl is an interesting, powerful and very compact smartphone. It operates on Quad-band GSM (850/900/1800/1900 MhZ). EDGE technology, in addition to GPRS, allows for secure and reasonably fast data transfer. The model features an operating system developed entirely in Java, whose software package includes many useful tools for managing both professional and personal tasks. In addition to e-mail management software and an internet browser, there is also an office document and pdf viewer. Wireless Bluetooth connectivity and USB cable connectivity are also available.
Design and features
Blackberry 8100 Pearl has a very thin and lightweight design. The sleek, elegant body combines ergonomics and versatility of use, in perfect Blackberry style. The integrated antenna also enhances the handling of the device, which is available in the pleasant black color with Silver inserts. This model does not have a real "Qwerty" keyboard, but instead uses a twenty-button layout, each of which is assigned to typing two characters and one symbol. There is also the central "pearl", that is, a trackball that replaces the historic "scroll wheel" found on every Blackberry. The accessory package, finally, includes: a power adapter, a USB sync and charging cable, a headset with microphone, multilingual manuals and a CD-ROM.
Main features
This smartphone allows the use of Sms, Mms and e-mail messages (with their respective attachments), aided by the SureType simplified writing system. Good display and battery. The memory expansion slot, moreover, supports the use of MicroSD cards. The standard software package, finally, includes Calendar, organizer, Tasks, Calculator, Notes, e-mail management and Clock.
Entertainment and multimedia
This model's multimedia capabilities are also good, thanks to the included audio and video players. It is indeed possible to play and manage audio files in MP3, AAC, AMR, MIDI and WAV format. The video files that can be played, on the other hand, are those in AVI, MOV, MP4, MPG and 3GP format. In addition, Blackberry 8100 Pearl is set up to use 32-tone polyphonic ringtones and features integrated voice capabilities. The smartphone has a built-in mid-range digital camera, simple to use and equipped with flash. It has a resolution of 1.3 Megapixels and allows for good quality photos to be captured, at a maximum resolution of 1280x1024 pixels. The camera also features a 5x digital zoom, and it is possible to record and play back video sequences.