Even with all the good stuff that we have been hearing about the BlackBerry Thunder, todays update is not so positive.
According to BGR, who has a pretty good track record with these kind of things, not only the is the BlackBerry Thunder not even close to production ready and will be at least 4 or 5 months before it is, most people who have handled it “think that it is a joke”.
Thunder is in no way shape or form market-ready. The keyboard is incredibly annoying to type on, and the screen actually shows ripples even when pressed ever-so-lightly. There is an accelerometer in here, but it goes “bonkers” when the device is moved. In its current state, the UI blinks and lags when you try to scroll, and for every key press, you have to wait half a second until you get a response.
We can only hope that BGR’s source is way off base with this stuff, but, to be honest, they usually aren’t. The BlackBerry Thunder doesn’t have to be a reproduction of the iPhone, however, it can’t suck either. It sounds like RIM has a lot of work still yet to do.
A CrackBerry.com commentator has left some juicy tidbits about the touchscreen keyboard on the upcoming touchscreen only BlackBerry Thunder. It will utilize localized haptic technology, err.. umm…, it will actually feel like you are clicking on an individual button when you touch a letter on the screen.
When you press on the Thunder’s screen, it pushes in “just” a little bit (the whole screen is sort of like a big button) and you get immediate “real” feedback – you hear an audible clickety sound, and can feel a buzz in your finger where you actually pressed on the display.
The BlackBerry Thunder will support both full QWERTY (landscape mode) and SureType (portrait mode) keyboards. We’re guessing that an accelerometer will allow seamless transition between the two.
We are also hearing the the the web browser on the BlackBerry Thunder is built on WebKit, the same engine that iPhone uses, so, multi-touch is a possibility.
I cannot wait for the BlackBerry Thunder to come out. It sounds better and better everyday.
An anonymous tipster over at BlackBerrySync.com has sent in some pretty nice looking BlackBerry Thunder pictures featuring the new media player that will access a carrier branded music store from which BlackBerry Thunder owners can access directly from their device.
Like on the iPhone you will be able to watch movies on the BlackBerry Thunder in landscape mode.
I personally, cannot wait until the BlackBerry Thunder comes out. I am still not entirely sold on the complete lack of a physical keyboard, however, the thought of a 360×480 touch screen display is exciting to say the least.
Verizon Wireless is going to be offering Visual Voicemail on select Verizon handhelds in the coming months and it looks like the Verizon BlackBerry Thunder will be one of the devices to take advantage of it.
We aren’t sure exactly where this list came from but it does indicate that Verizon Visual Voicemail will be available on a “New RIM device (touchscreen)”. I think it is say to assume that said device is the BlackBerry Thunder, or, whatever RIM decides to name it.
Apple to Research in Motion. “We’ve sacrificed a bit of quarterly profit to get some of your market share. Your move…”
Well RIM, what are you going to do? I don’t think too many people thought that Apple would release the iPhone 3G at a $199. iPhones are now as cheap as iPods. You’ve benefitted over the last year because of the original iPhone’s exceptionally high price point. Unexpectedly, that luxury is gone.
$200 bucks isn’t going to deter too many people who want an iPhone 3G from getting an iPhone 3G. I don’t think the BlackBerry Bold is the answer. I hope that the BlackBerry Thunder is the bomb and, If I were you, I would make sure that you don’t lock it down. Additionally, you might want to go ahead and officially announce the BlackBerry Thunder before everyone that potentially might buy one goes out and gets an iPhone 3G first.
I was just just surfing the net while watching the NBA finals and believe it or not, I saw an advertisement for a free BlackBerry Thunder. Now, before you get all excited, the ad is not really for a free BlackBerry Thunder, but for Consumer Incentive Rewards which appears to be one of those companies that offers you free stuff that they think you might think is cool, so long are you “complete program requirements”.
Let me just say that I am in no way affiliated with Consumer Incentive Rewards and I have not ever used nor do I plan to sign up for whatever they are offering. I cannot speak at all to the value that this company provides, however, I would gather that it would be much less expensive to just buy a BlackBerry Thunder from Verizon when it actually comes out. This has been my experience with these types of promotions in the past.
That being said, I find it hilarious that an actual company ripped a fake image from BGR and are using it in an advertisement.
Ever since Research in Motion started giving BlackBerry’s names going back to the BlackBerry Pearl, it has taken a week or so for the name to settle in and start to sound natural to me. BlackBerry Pearl, BlackBerry Curve, and even the yet to be released BlackBerry Bold and BlackBerry KickStart just kind of role off the tongue after you say them a few times. BlackBerry Thunder, on the other hand, just isn’t working for me.
This is just one man’s opinion so take it with a grain of salt, however, BlackBerry Thunder is about as ridiculous a name for a mobile phone that I’ve heard. It sounds more like power tool or something.
“The Black & Decker Thunder… The most powerful electric leaf blower money can buy…”
I certainly hope that BlackBerry Thunder is just the code name and that RIM will come up with something a bit more eloquent. Like they named the 8100 the Pearl after the trackball introduced on the BlackBerry Pearl, the BlackBerry 9500 should be named after the touch screen it will introduce.
The Wall Street Journal published this AM that the BlackBerry Thunder will be released by Vodafone and Verizon exclusively, according to their sources. Anticipated release will be in the third quarter of this year. RIM had no comment on the matter. WSJ also mentions the report from BGR, which all of us were aware of earlier this week. Is BlackBerry trying to steal someone’s ‘Thunder’? The ‘no comment’ approach only generates more talk and speculation, which everyone seems to enjoy. So, with that being said, shall we begin speculating?
Even with all the good stuff that we have been hearing about the BlackBerry Thunder, todays update is not so positive. 
I was just just surfing the net while watching the NBA finals and believe it or not, I saw an advertisement for a free BlackBerry Thunder. Now, before you get all excited, the ad is not really for a free BlackBerry Thunder, but for 
Ever since Research in Motion started giving BlackBerry’s names going back to the BlackBerry Pearl, it has taken a week or so for the name to settle in and start to sound natural to me. BlackBerry Pearl, BlackBerry Curve, and even the yet to be released BlackBerry Bold and BlackBerry KickStart just kind of role off the tongue after you say them a few times. BlackBerry Thunder, on the other hand, just isn’t working for me.