BlackBerry-Apple Harmony

BlackBerry users are loyal because we sleep with the smartphone and have grown accustomed to the keyboard, which enables typing at standard work speed. When AT&T launched the Torch , CrackBerry users were hoping it would quell the desire to one day switch to the iPhone. That didn’t happen because the pressure to move the new smartphone to market led to an unfinished product.

How does a major cell maker release a product with a physical QWERTY and a touch screen that does not have a touch escape button? To clarify, when using the Torch, to get out of a certain screen, one needs to use a physical button, meaning that the touch is not sufficient on its own.

But, now Apple has announced its latest iPod and iTouch versions, along with its Ping social networking site (Pandora meets Twitter?), and a happy medium seems possible. It may not be all-in-one, but CrackBerry addicts searching for an iPod upgrade and a decent camera (hello RIM?!) might consider saving for the new iTouch.

The new touch comes in 8GB ($229), 32GB ($299), and 64GB ($399) models and has WiFi, a camera, the ability to shoot HD video and video calling, among other features. This allows BlackBerry users to tap the vast array of iPhone applications and access the high quality camera and video functionality, which is lacking on most RIM products, without having to switch to AT&T’s overloaded, sub-par network. Perfection, no. Satisfaction, maybe.  Pop the top for the complete list of features.

Disclaimer: The author is an Apple shareholder.