nerdhook

Just wondering who the genius at RIM is who decided the new Blackberry Storm should have different methods of input based on the orientation of the handset.

Hold the phone sideways, you get a regular QWERTY style keyboard:

Hold it upright, you get the standard Blackberry SureType keyboard.

I fail to see the logic in this decision. How is a user supposed to develop any type of muscle memory if the mode of input changes so drastically? I find it odd the SureType keyboard is even offered on a touchscreen device. The smarter solution is the logic applied behind iPhone’s keyboard; aggressively changing the size of different hit-zones around specific characters as the operating system predicts the next letter you are most likely to type. Word is the Storm uses a glorified T9 auto-suggest/correct entry method; which is, let’s just say, unimpressive.

Along those lines, David Pogue has a review out in which he derides a number of software design decisions, including SureType: (via MacDailyNews)

For example, to type “get,” you press the GH, ER and TY keys. Unfortunately, that’s also “hey.” You can see the problem. And trying to enter Web addresses or unusual last names is utterly hopeless.

Not having used the phone myself, I cannot comment extensively on its overall usability. However, from the variety of reviews I’ve been reading the past several days, it seems clear the phone was most likely a rush to get released on time.

It shouldn’t be too surprising, since Apple is a terrific software company, but it’s still rather remarkable that the closest competitors today still cannot match the level of polish, refinement, and overall usability of the iPhone from when it was first released back in June of 2007.