BlackBerry Pearl 8130 Cell Phone Review - Software

OS (8.0)

The Pearl runs a slight variation on BlackBerry’s usual proprietary operating system. The BlackBerry OS is very easy to use; if someone is buying their first smart phone, we’d recommend they start with a BlackBerry of some sort before moving onto slightly more complicated operating systems like Series 60 Symbian or Windows Mobile. The one downside to the OS is the main menu that exists for every application is usually oppressively long. Fortunately, the trackball allows for incredibly fast scrolling. You can even set the horizontal and vertical sensitivities differently just so you can scroll quickly through lists. The OS is also very extensible: if you need an application for your device, most likely there are several BlackBerry-compatible versions of it out there. The operating system is also very stable, and we have yet to experience any crashes on one. Other smart phone operating systems can buckle under the weight of their own functionality, which we’ve witnessed first hand with Windows Mobile devices.

Home Screen Score (5.0)

The home screen on the Pearl is slightly different from the typical BlackBerry array-o’-icons. This home screen only contains a small line of icons, leaving much more room for your wallpaper. The icons consist of the setup icon, your inbox and email addresses, and recent calls. Pressing the menu button will open up a more traditional-looking grid of icons. The icons are laid out differently, however, as virtually all applications have a direct link as opposed to being relegated to a folder of similar programs. We didn’t like having to press the menu button to access the more familiar layout, but fortunately you can fix this in the settings menu if you’d like.

Extensibility (7.0)
Like other smart phones, the Pearl will let you download and install a multitude of third party programs. This includes Java applications, such as Google Maps or Opera Mini. It also includes native third-party applications, meaning software designed specifically for BlackBerry’s OS but not by BlackBerry themselves. The library of native third-party programs is quite large, given the popularity of the devices, but Windows Mobile and Symbian Series 60 phones have far more options available to them.

Customizability (6.0)
The Pearl provides all the usual customization options. The global font can be changed, which is a great feature not found on all phones. The home screen icons can be rearranged. There are also a few themes to choose from which change the look and layout of the device. The wallpaper can also be changed, though this is a much less impressive feature.

OS Responsiveness (8.0)
After seeing the lag-fest that was the Curve 8320, we were wary Verizon would do something to make the Pearl slower than it should be. Fortunately, this bleak future did not come to be, and the Pearl is as responsive as other BlackBerry devices. For the uninitiated, what this means is you’ll hardly run into any lag unless you’re opening up the media program or any videos or pictures therein. BlackBerry devices always have a problem here, but fortunately the lag is quarantined to this area.

Browser Features (8.0)
The browser on the Pearl remains fundamentally unchanged from the typical BlackBerry offering. HTML and WAP pages are both supported. Images, frames, cookies, and even RSS feeds are supported. Curve 8320 is the same browser we've seen on other BlackBerry devices. It supports HTML and WAP pages, as well as frames, cookies, and images. You can also save images to the device, a feature missing from a lot of handsets, such as the iPhone. RSS feeds are also supported. Javascript seems to be supported, but our test page didn’t work. Advanced Web features like Java and Flash definitely don’t work.

Browsing Interface (8.0)

The default view is the typical column view, though the Pearl is kind enough to provide you with a pointer; many BlackBerry devices have you scroll around with a blinking cursor.

There is also one other view, page mode, which zooms out to fit the whole page on the screen, at which point you have the option of zooming in further. We’d recommend you stick to column view. Scrolling around will highlight nearby links, which can be clicked on with the trackball. If you wish to select text, the menu would be happy to offer a selection mode. In general, everything is located under the menu key, from memory options to bookmark features.

History is organized by date and then site, which is a great feature.

         

Bookmarks are also a step up, as you can actually move them around from folder to folder once you’ve created them, a feature which older BlackBerry phones didn’t include.

          

There are also a ton of options you have access to, more so than were previously offered by BlackBerry. Here's hoping this browser is the new standard.

Browser Access (5.71)
The Pearl took seven steps to open up the browser. This is a bit slow, mainly because the Pearl doesn’t have a dedicated browser shortcut key. The process is rather simple though, and shouldn’t stump anyone.

First you’ll need to open the main menu (1). From here, scroll to the browser icon (2), then click (3). This will bring up the home page. Press the menu key again (4), which will bring up the browser menu. The default cursor position will be the “Go To…” option which is where you need to go next, so click (5). From here, type in the URL you’d like (6), and click one last time (7) to set the browser barreling through the internet to find your site.

We use steps instead of time for this test, because connection speed can be bogged down from all sorts of factors, from geography to the weather on any given day. With so many variables, time wouldn’t be as accurate a result as we’d like. We therefore count steps. We usually count every button click, which, for typical phones, means every press on the d-pad. We count trackball navigation as one step, however, since it’s much faster and easier than d-pad navigation.

Cell Phone	Steps	Score
BlackBerry Pearl 8130	7	5.71
Palm Centro	5	8.00
HTC Tilt	4	10.00
Sidekick LX	4	10.00
BlackBerry Curve 8320	11	3.64
Nokia N73	5	8.00

Gaming (5.0)

Nothing says, “You are using a BlackBerry!” quite like BrickBreaker. This game is an Arkanoid/Breakout game, where you, the heroic paddle “BrickBreaker”, have to “break” a bunch of villainous “bricks” with your trusty metal ball sidekick (note: storyline is open to interpretation). As you destroy the bricks, there’s a random chance a power-up will appear which will grant you some kind of bonus. The trackball is a good controller, but you might have to ramp up the sensitivity before you play. Of course, since the phone will let you install Java games, there’s a ton of other options out there. Just keep in mind you don’t have any soft keys.

Calculator (8.0)

         

The Pearl’s calculator is obviously a Verizon addition, since it’s about as ugly and red as all the V Cast software. Square roots, percentages, inverse fractions, and memory functions are all included. There is also a metric converter.

Alarm (2.0)

The Pearl’s alarm would be good if you could set more than one at a time. It’s likely meant to be an alarm clock replacement, since the only recurrence options are every day and weekdays. Snooze can be set to one, five, or ten minute intervals. You can also set the alert type to vibration, a custom alarm tone, or both. The volume can also be set independently.

Document Software (4.0)
The Pearl can view Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and PDF files. You can’t edit them, however, which could definitely be a deal breaker for some users. This functionality is already a standard feature in Windows Mobile and Nokia’s E-Series handsets.

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