Blackberry OS 5.0 more info revealed

Crackberry users are one of the few groups who count OS revision numbers as closely or more more closely than they do their own wedding anniversaries or even birthdays.  Don’t get me wrong, there isn’t anything wrong with that at all, per say.  It seems that every few tens of a number in change in a Blackberry OS, those loyal number counters twitch with anticipation for the latest release of said OS.  But when something as big as an entirely new number comes along, say OS 5.0, those users may find themselves in the emergancy room.  Twitchers, RIM is getting ready to reveal just that, an OS that breaks in to an entirely new set of numbers, the 5.0 range!  Take a seat and sit back.  We don’t want your blood pressure to rise too quickly.  How much are your eye balls really going to take in if you black out?!  For the full scoop of the newness that is Blackberry OS 5.0 and the updated feature set presented in a nice, easy to read bulleted list, step right on in.

We’ll start this little shindig by asking the question: In remembering the major Blackberry OS revisions of the past, is Blackberry OS 5.0 even worth going from 4.7 –> 5.0?  Is 5.0 even worth it?

Messages (BIS & BES):

• New stationary date header
• Photo resizing: 1024×768, 800×600 or 640×480 size choices

Messages (BES ONLY):

• Ability to flag emails
• Define flagged emails by: color, request, status, and due date
• Create/edit/delete folders on device

Calendar:

• Forward calendar entries
• View attachments attached to calendar invites
• Conference call information now supported in calendar entries

Browser:

• Google Gears support
• Inline streamed videos
• Bucket full of new AJAX formats supported

Maps:

• Renders 2x more quickly
• Addresses received in any type of message can be located with one click  using BB Maps
• A ton of new locations have been added: Get lost less!
• Geotagging now supported in GPS equipped Blackberries

Misc:

• Default preferences such as folder, wallpaper, theme, and icon layout now controlled by “Homescreen Preferences”
• App Switcher now launched by holding the menu key as in the newer Storm and Bold firmwares
• Highlighted items can now be selected by pressing the menu key (its really getting a workout isn’t it?!)
• “Low Memory Alerts”  OS will alert you when the device memory is low and advise you to delete programs that you haven’t used in eons.
• Choose to enable/disable sounds for start-up, shutdown, plugged in/un-plugged, and full/dead batteries.
• Individually encrypt email/PIN messages.  Sender and Receiver must know password by S/MIME
• Full QWERTY portrait keyboard headed to the Storm

As you can see it has a pretty big list of improvements.  But in a world of much more modern OS’s such as Android, Mobile OS X, and dear god dear I say WinMo 6.5/7, Blackberry OS 5.0 looks to be rather outdated 2 years ago.  I know I keep voicing my displeasure and disappointment on what OS 5.0 hasn’t become: A complete revolution and evolution of the Blackberry operating system.  But aren’t I right?  Even though I am still underwhelmed by the direction OS 5.0 is going and how it is traveling so slow a snail would ask it to “get the hell out of the way”, coming from a current iPhone enviorment, I still miss the messaging prowess that the Blackberry wins hands down.  Please RIM for the love of everything holy, get your ducks together for OS 6.0.  Could we please have some actual substantial updates for that big number change please?  I only criticize because I love thee.  So I ask you again, is 5.0 a flub or a fail?  Is it worth it?

Source: Boy Genius

Author: Mike Norris

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Gadget lover, smartphone collector, and beer connoisseur. I've been writing about gadgets for three years now and loving every minute of it. Outside of the digital landscape, I enjoy being active outdoors. I'm always up for a good conversation, so feel free to drop me a line!