BlackBerry Pearl 8120
|

Whenever a BlackBerry phone is assessed (such as the Curve 8300 we reviewed in June), it seems almost compulsory to mention that this particular brand of phone is aimed squarely at business types. However, in recent months reviewers have had to tack an additional sentence on to their introductions.

It usually goes along the lines of "but manufacturer RIM is now making steps to embrace other sectors of the market". Being the unique individuals that we are here at Pocket Gamer, we're obviously not going to start this review in such a manner.

Oh.

Oh well. The BlackBerry Pearl 8120 epitomizes the rather confusing place creator Research In Motion (or RIM as its known to friends) finds itself in right now: the daunting 20-key QWERTY keypad and feature-packed interface scream big business, yet the elegant styling and metallic finish indicate that this phone may have be crafted with a younger, more fashion conscious consumer in mind. Previous BlackBerry handsets have tended to be bulky affairs, but the 8120 is streamlined and surprisingly lightweight.

As you might expect, under the bonnet there's the mobile phone equivalent of a portable office included. Not only does it handle email accounts with ease, you can also conduct all manner of serious-type activities, such as noting upcoming meetings, opening important documents (including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and PDF files) and leafing through vital business contacts. Not terribly exciting, but extremely useful nonetheless.

Speaking of useful, the new trackball controller permits swift navigation through the numerous menu options and although it initially felt a bit dainty, throughout our review period it remained robust and dependable.

RIM is clearly aware that it has the business market sown up tighter than Kylie Minogue's skinny-fit jeans, and therefore the real improvements showcased by the 8120 reside in the multimedia (read: entertainment) side of things. Most obvious, perhaps, is video playback, which is stunning. Footage is crisp and clear, with excellent colour balance and the bare minimum of troublesome lagging and artefacts – it's just a shame that the aspect ratio of the display means that widescreen videos have to be letterboxed. MP3 support, meanwhile, is also good, with RIM thoughtfully including a 3.5mm jack as standard, so you can use your expensive pair of headphones if you desire to do so.

One of the features that really impressed us was the ability to take snaps with the phone's two-megapixel camera and then speedily upload the shots to Facebook using the dedicated application which comes bundled with the phone – all very swish and 'web 2.0', we must say.

Sadly, surfing the net isn't as pain-free as we would like. Web pages have to be reformatted to fit into the 8120's screen, which can make some sites appear rather unsightly and unappealingly garbled. The fact that the phone is 2.5G also means web browsing is often a protracted experience, though the absence of 3G is mitigated slightly by the thoughtful inclusion of wi-fi, which offers far superior connection speeds providing you're able to access a wireless network. Aside form this minor oversight, there's little to complain about when it comes to the technical aspects of the 8120.

But how does it fare as a gaming device, given RIM's zeal for embracing the entertainment sector of the mobile phone market? Well, it's good, but not perfect, sadly. The trackball-style controller is an interesting interface and RIM has wisely bundled a Breakout clone with the handset – the ideal piece of software to accompany an analogue control system. Future games built around the trackball are likely to be uniformly excellent, but those pieces of software that require swift digital input are nigh-on impossible to play.

There's undoubtedly potential here, as the 8120 is a powerful piece of equipment and perfectly capable of hosting some impressive 3D games. One can only imagine how well a racing game with full analogue control might play using this control method, but the regrettable fact is that most downloadable Java games rely on lightening-fast input methods, and the trackball simply isn't up to the task. It feels imprecise under prolonged and strenuous play, with the lack of tangible physical feedback proving to be a real stumbling block to player enjoyment.

Interactive entertainment aside, there's little to find fault with. RIM has covered all the bases with the 8120; not only does it work hard, it plays hard too with some impressive media options and some incredible potential for future expandability – the aforementioned Facebook connectivity just shows how versatile this phone can be. To top it all off, it's an extremely desirable piece of technology, which is something that couldn't always be said of its predecessors.

But unfortunately, as a device to enjoy mobile games the 8120 is difficult to recommend. So if you thrive on portable interactive entertainment, you'll have to look elsewhere in our mobile handset reviews for your gaming gratification.

BlackBerry Pearl 8120

The wide range of applications and attractive design will send corporate suits into seventh heaven, but when it comes to portable gaming the 8120 is considerably less essential
Score
Damien  McFerran
Damien McFerran
Damien's mum hoped he would grow out of playing silly video games and gain respectable employment. Perhaps become a teacher or a scientist, that kind of thing. Needless to say she now weeps openly whenever anyone asks how her son's getting on these days.