The normal blackberry app for google talk uses push notifications to handle it so the battery life isn't as bad as the 3rd party clients that continuously stay connected. I've noticed that it disconnects and doesn't seem to know a lot of times so I need to refresh the contact list in order to get messages for aim or google talk. Not sure how the droid handles it.

12/25/2009 9:38:14 PM

Blackberry Torch!

8/3/2010 11:47:13 AM

I'm loving my Droid X... much better than my BBs... though I never had the storm

8/3/2010 11:50:37 AM

The Torch looks nice but I'm sure it'll just be another failberry. lol @ "powerful" 624MHz processor.

8/3/2010 12:41:45 PM

It looks like an okay hardware design. But the OS, even the new 6.0 coming out, are still WAY behind. Plus, RIM is starting to give up user data info to some governments lately which just creeps me out.

8/3/2010 1:09:13 PM

In this thread, it is the year 2010, and handset clock speed apparently still matters.

8/3/2010 1:10:43 PM

600 vs. 1000 is a big difference.

wtf kind of mobile processor architecture can make up 40% clock speed?

8/3/2010 1:18:36 PM

Clever interface design can give users the perception of speedier performance more economically than a faster processor in many cases.

8/3/2010 1:24:41 PM

Well, I was just thinking about the hardware... Because I am a hardware guy.

But yes, I agree, software makes a huge difference. IMO, the iPhone 3.0 software looked more responsive on a ~600MHz 3Gs than the Android running on a 1GHz processor.

Of course, the Android could do a lot more a lot faster, but smooth scrolling and instant response to user input goes a long way towards perception.

8/3/2010 1:36:58 PM

Clock speed makes a difference! Don't get me wrong. But until your smartphone does something paradigm-shiftingly impressive that the industry leader does not—and depends on that faster processor to do it—a faster processor is not the major selling point it once might have been.

Hell, the Droid's underclocked to 500 MHz.

8/3/2010 1:39:16 PM

When the Droid was released, that was one of the fastest processors and on par with the iPhone and Pre. Not to mention there's a huge difference in performance between the underclocked omap in the droid and the 1GHz processors in today's android devices. And I'm betting RIM has found a way to screw up OS 6.

8/3/2010 1:47:35 PM

Of course there's gonna be a huge difference in performance if all you're looking at is how many MIPS the processor performs. I'm saying that faster clock speed doesn't denote a qualitative improvement in perceived performance.

I mean, what do I care if a processor performs an additional 40 MIPS if I don't have that many meaningful instructions for it to follow in that short time? My phone's not sequencing DNA and shit. Above a certain threshold, you're just killing my battery faster.

8/3/2010 1:51:29 PM

I'm not even talking about numbers or benchmarks. Transitions and scrolling are smoother throughout the OS with little to no lag. Graphics intensive apps or videos also run better. I'm usually overclocked between 800 and 1GHz on my Droid and you can definitely tell a difference from stock speeds in daily use with little effect on overall battery life.

8/3/2010 1:58:45 PM

Why don't we just agree that even if this new BB Torch had a 2ghz processor, it would still be garbage because of their crappy and archaic OS.

8/3/2010 2:03:08 PM

Reasons for faster processor:
- there is huge room for improvement in mobile games graphics.
- imagine that your phone is a personal 1080p video player and you can carry your entire movie library around with you wherever you are and play on any tv
- 1080p video recording
- hell, in addition to being a portable video player, how about a portable game system?
- etc. etc. anything you want should be done on your phone, imo.

8/3/2010 2:04:33 PM

^^ ha. True. Rim hasn't exactly been known for a smooth and unclunky OS. OS 6 looks ok but I'm betting it'll suffer the same issues as its predecessors.

8/3/2010 2:08:37 PM

Basically what we already knew.

http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2010/08/03/blackberry-torch-9800-hands-on/

Quote :

"BlackBerry Torch 9800 hands on by Boy Genius on August 3rd, 2010 at 2:18pm Filed under: AT&T, BlackBerry, BlackBerry 6, Featured, Handsets 101 Comments We wrapped up the RIM and AT&T event with some hands on time with the just-announced though hardly-a-secret BlackBerry Torch 9800. Here are some first impressions: The hardware (casing, build quality, feel) is typical RIM — it’s great. Very solid, actually a bit heavy, but a very good feel. The sliding mechanism is top notch. The software is typical RIM — uninspired, old, clunky sometimes, and cluttered. Even with the new UI elements in OS 6, we experienced choppiness in the web browser, hangs navigating between screens, and a general feeling of well… claustrophobia sometimes. The simplified BlackBerry now sort of feels like too much has been added without thinking of the ramifications. The keyboard is perfect — just like a Bold 9700, and it seems to not be dug in the slider mechanism, unlike the Palm Pre. The internals of the BlackBerry Torch 9800 are disappointing. From the 624MHz CPU to only 512MB of RAM, to (sorry, confused RAM with built-in storage) the 1300mAh battery, it has us a little worried as it feels like the hardware is pushed to the max. On a brand new phone. That’s not even out yet. The screen is laughable. For a company that is always “planning three years out” they surely didn’t get the memo that a 480×360, poor, poor LCD wasn’t going to cut it in 2010. That’s the focal point of the entire device, and it makes you feel outdated out of the gate. All in all, we came away with mixed emotions. On one hand, OS 6 is a much better UI leap from OS 5 than OS 5 was to OS 4, but it still feels a bit not thought out. On the other hand, the device seems like it will continue to excel at specific functions, mainly email, any sort of text-based messaging, etc. My personal thought so far is: this is a stop gap device for current BlackBerry users… and that’s an issue. iPhone 4 or recent Android owners won’t be lusting after the 9800, and that’s never a good thing. We have some images in our gallery for you BlackBerry fanatics to drool over!"

8/3/2010 5:06:49 PM

So how is the Torch? I haven't had a new phone in about 2.5 years, and it's about time to upgrade. I'm sure I'd be pretty impressed with anything, but I think I like the Torch more than the iPhone. I don't use my phone now for more than texting/phone calls (it can't do much more). Any reason I shouldn't get the Torch?

8/31/2010 11:08:47 PM

Nah, if you choose the Torch over the iPhone...I don't know that anything can really help you.

9/1/2010 8:13:54 AM