Is The CrackBerry Epidemic Dying Down?

[Brad Kenney]

A recent article in Wired magazine recently asked the once unfathomable question -- Is BlackBerry using its innovative edge? Could the "crackberry epidemic" of the past decade be drawing to a close?

The author, Priya Ganapati, cites "a confusing mix of new products, poor developer support, lack of innovation and an unwillingness to take risks" as major culprits, along with the moves of hardware rivals such as Apple, HTC, Palm and Motorola, and software rivals, such as Google's Android OS.

Ganapati also cites the breakneck pace of the smartphone market and the BlackBerry's horrible web browser experience as two more factors leading to RIM's once-utterly-dominant market position being threatened.

Speaking from personal experience, I've had a BlackBerry Curve for coming on two years now, and despite everything I've done to break it (including both physical and memory-related abuses) the thing is still working perfectly. Impressively sturdy and durable for a piece of 21st Century electronics (especially considering that I'm on my third iPod in that same time frame). Also, my browser experience is just fine, thanks to the Opera Mini browser and Google's application set.

How about you? What smartphone do you use now, and what are you looking for next?

[Peter08]

I too am using the Blackberry Curve. It's a fantastic phone, camera, text and email machine. My hangup is that I find it difficult to save files to the phone and then find or retireve them later, the way one would use a $10 memory stick. The irony is that if I get an email on the phone, and use the word processor or spreadsheet program to view a document, it has always been just enough to get what I needed. I was also using the phone modem for internet access until Sprint cut the service off unless I paid an additional $40-plus per month. I also watch TV on the phone, and pull up the music website Pandora for go-anywhere music. This includes plugging the stereo jack into my car radio and listening to Pandora as I drive. I don't see myself ever replacing this phone unless the above features are enhanced.