WebKit Browser Shootout: iPhone 4 vs Blackberry Torch vs Samsung Captivate

You probably heard about RIM’s latest smartphone offering–the Blackberry Torch. The Torch includes a touchscreen coupled with a slider keyboard. The biggest change in the Torch is the inclusion of an improved web browser, based on WebKit (the engine that powers mobile Safari and every other major smartphone web browser). The Blackberry web browser previously, was the bain of every user’s existence.

The folks at Crackberry.com decided to do a browser shootout between the iPhone 4, the Blackberry Torch, and the Samsung Captivate. The testers get desperate for the Torch to win, but it loses every single time. I can’t believe RIM would release the Torch with the same low resolution screen from the disastrous Blackberry Storm. What were they thinking?

During the video one of the testers complains about the “extra” taps to get to WiFi settings on the iPhone. Quite hilarious. The browser loading on the Torch reminds me of the dismal performance of the Opera iPhone app. What a pain it must be to have all data go through RIM’s servers, compressed, then sent back to your phone.

They also mention how the Torch would most definitely “beat” the iPhone 3GS in a browser shootout. Why compare RIM’s latest to Apple’s model from last year?

I’m a bit late to this video, but it’s a goodie nonetheless:

While the Torch suffers in the video, I was quite impressed with the speed of the Captivate. The fluid touchscreen resembles that of the iPhone, which is light years ahead of anything RIM has out at the moment. It’s clear that iOS and Android OS is far superior to the BB OS 6.

I feel bad for Blackberry users, who have been waiting for something innovative to arrive from RIM. Don’t get me wrong, I love supporting Canadian companies but when it comes to mobile technology, it looks like RIM can’t get away from being labelled the “MySpace” of cellphone companies with their dismal offerings. Has anything really changed in the past 10 years?

[Crackberry.com]