The Touch by BLU: A Nostalgic Look Back at the Feature Phone Release in 2011
The year was 2011, a time when smartphones were just starting to take over the market. However, not everyone was ready to make the jump to touchscreens and advanced operating systems. That's where the Touch by BLU came in, making waves as a stylish and affordable feature phone option for those looking to stay connected with friends and family.
The Beginnings of the Touch
In February of 2011, BLU announced the release of their latest device - the Touch. It hit the market in the second quarter of that year, making a name for itself with its sleek design and user-friendly features. But what truly set the Touch apart was its resistive touchscreen display, which allowed users to interact with their phone using a stylus or their fingertips (a feature that is now almost obsolete in today's world of capacitive touchscreens).
Design and Dimensions
The Touch was a relatively compact device, measuring in at 109 x 56 x 12.5 mm (4.29 x 2.20 x 0.49 in) and weighing 120g (4.23 oz). It had a dual SIM card slot (Mini-SIM), allowing users to easily switch between two different numbers on one device. The phone also came in six vibrant colors - black, white, pink, silver, orange, and green - giving users options to match their personal style.
Display and Memory
The Touch featured a 3.2 inch TFT resistive touchscreen with 256K colors, providing a decent display for a feature phone. It also had handwriting recognition, making it easier for users to type on the smaller screen. In terms of storage, the phone had 512MB of internal storage and 256MB of RAM, with an option to expand the memory with a microSDHC card (dedicated slot). It could hold up to 1000 entries in the phonebook and had the capability to save call records.
Camera and Sound
The main camera on the Touch was a 3.15 MP single lens, allowing users to capture precious moments. The video quality was not the best at 320p@15fps, but it was a great addition for a feature phone at the time. Unfortunately, there was no front-facing selfie camera on this device. In terms of sound, the Touch had a loudspeaker and a 3.5mm jack, allowing users to listen to music and take calls without any hassle.
Connectivity and Features
The Touch did not have Wi-Fi capabilities, but it did have Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP for easy file sharing. It also came with a stereo FM radio with RDS and a USB 2.0 port for charging and data transfer. The phone had basic sensors and messaging features such as SMS, MMS, and email. Users could also access the internet through WAP 2.0/xHTML and HTML browsers. The device also had downloadable games and Java support for entertainment purposes.
Battery Life and Other Details
The Touch was powered by a removable Li-Ion 1000 mAh battery, providing users with up to 390 hours of standby time and 5 hours and 30 minutes of talk time. The phone was discontinued after its release and was not meant to compete with smartphones, but rather offer a budget-friendly and practical option for those who were not ready to make the switch.
In Retrospect
The Touch by BLU may not have been a groundbreaking device, but it symbolizes a simpler time when people still used feature phones and basic messaging for communication. It may bring back memories for some, but it also serves as a reminder of how far technology has come in just a few years. The Touch may not be relevant in today's world, but it will always hold a special place in the hearts of those who owned and used it in 2011.
