Operating System
The Tour is running OS 4.7.1, a slight notch above the Storm’s OS. On top of the updates mentioned in the media section, browsing seems notably smoother. The BlackBerry 9630’s processor is listed at 528 Mhz, and the same as the Storm’s multi-core Qualcomm MSM7600 CPU. I find it actually performs a bit quicker than my Bold’s 624 Mhz, but again, it’s loaded down with apps and hurting for memory. Speaking of which, the 9630 is packing 256 MB of internal app memory, a significant update over the Bold, which has 128 MB. It’s still not a lot in the grand scheme of things, but the recent addition of microSD application archiving in App World 1.1 has certainly relieved some pressure.
A new search bar can be found in just about every core app – just start typing and pertinent results will come up. This was something that we had seen before in the default media apps, and is a fine addition in places like the application list, contacts, tasks, and memopad. Battery life is good, although still not quite up to the Bold’s standards. I can get through a whole day and night on the 9000 with a full charge, while the Tour tends to be dead by morning (a pain when it’s your primary alarm clock). On the plus side, it uses the same battery as the Storm and 8900, so if you’re switching from either, you’ll have an extra battery kicking around.
Phone
With world roaming capabilities (SIM card slot and built-in CDMA), the Tour is a highly flexible option for globetrotters. It took me awhile to get a working unlock code for the SIM card slot, but eventually I had EDGE coverage with Rogers so my primary phone number came through, and when I needed some speed, could switch over to Telus’ EV-DO network for internet video streaming or any other data-intensive affairs. Call quality itself is as good as ever, especially when leveraged by BlackBerry’s polished contact management.