Archive for: storm
Thank you CrackBerry.com for giving us leaked images of the BlackBerry Curve Touch. One the surface, it just looks like a prettier BlackBerry Storm. Underneath however, it’s a rather different story. However, there is room for concern. (More on that in a minute though.)
As the first official BlackBerry Curve to not feature the iconic keyboard that made the device famous, this touchscreen-only will feature a new Qualcomm MSM 8655 800MHz CPU, 3.25″ 480×360 HVGA display, 5 MP with support for HD video recording, 1GB Flash/512MB RAM, hot swappable MicroSD slot, NFC|Bluetooth|WiFI b/g/n|, and many different motion sensors.
Now, give the initial “wow”/shock factor a second to wear off and let the release time frame of “late 2011/early 2012″ soak in. As cool as it looks and as cutting edge (for a BlackBerry) as it is, there’s no chance this is going to excite the very consumer base RIM so desperately needs to reach come later this year or early next. An 800MHz processor in 2012 on a flagship phone?! The only saving grace this phone could have is using the QNX OS that the PlayBook uses.
Sorry RIM. Looks like you failed, yet again.
The BlackBerry Storm was supposed to be the iPhone slayer from RIM. While it garned some moderate success from a niche group of users, it failed to take on the masses like its fruity sibling. Like its predecessor, the Storm 2 was also welcomed into rather mediocre fan fare. Looking at the past two luke warm touchscreen-only devices, can RIM finally take the cake with the Storm 3? Perhaps a list of specs should be in order, no? Going by claims originating from Salomodrin.net, the upcoming BlackBerry Storm 3 looks like a beast on paper…(Hop in!)
- February 5, 2010 10:52 am
It’s not that I necessarily seek things to blow my money on, those “things” just seem to find me well enough on their own. One such gadget that is pretty damn cool and functional is the “Twilight Umbrella”. It’s obvious to see that the Twilight Umbrella is basically a normal umbrella with some fiber optic lights on the outside of it that glow. Gimmicky? To some, yes. I’m pretty easy to please though, so consider me a happy camper if one of these arrived at my door step. If you’re feeling the same as me, wanting to pick one up for yourself, know that you have three options.
- Blue Stars: Blue lights shine on the outside of the umbrella — ~$39 USD
- Colour Phasing Stars: Exterior lighting shinning in 5 different colors
- Inside and Out Phasing Stars: “The grandaddy” featuring 5 different ever changing colors illuminating the outside and inside of the umbrella — ~$47 USD
Am I a geek for getting so excited over a damn umbrella? Ya, it’s pretty pathetic really. I guess I live a simple life. Can’t help but ask: Are you going to get one too?
[[Product Page: i want one of those]
Zedomax > RedFerret
The BlackBerry Storm 2 is an infant in the public’s eye yet reports are already circulating this morning that a rather nasty WiFi bug has made itself known. The issue stems around the device being unable to fully connect to a WiFi network which of course means no data and simultaneous voice for you. Word is that the beef should lie with Verizon, not RIM. Understandable, Verizon is a bit of a newcomer to this found WiFi technology on smartphones….
There is a temporary “fix” though that term should be used loosely. It involves calling up Verizon and having them upgrade your BIS plan to the more expensive $45 BES plan, re-sync your service books, and power cycling your device. See, not exactly a very easy or cost effective fix now is it. It’s better than nothing though so do with the info what you will. Anyone with a Storm 2 care to comment?
It’s worth noting that as I’m writing this some users are reporting a simple resending of service books and/or power cycling the device without upgrading to the BES plan has worked while others are still left yearning for a fully functioning Berry. Looks like mileage will once again vary by user.
CrackBerry
I haven’t yet touched and felt the new Storm 2 for myself. But I can assure you I will be heading to the local Verizon store today to give it a try. Am I going to buy one? No! But after reading Zdnet’s review, my initial excitement at hardware based improvements on the latest iteration have effectively been squelched. I already knew that save for the re-worked touchscreen and some good ‘ol WiFI, everything else in the physical sense was more or less the same. But I still hoped that those subtle improvements would give me a more favorable opinion on the 2nd version which were vacant from the first. The lack of any real physical advancments coupled with the fact that the software, OS 5.0, while new, is in reality anything but, means I will yet again find myself dissatisfied with RIM’s touchscreen attempts.
As Highlighted in Zdnet’s review, OS 5.0 for BlackBerry is “nothing revolutionary and barely evolutionary”. Ouch! I don’t say this with hate. I came from a long lineage of BlackBerry usage and still love the platform. I just with the software would catch up into 2007. That’s all. As the reviews trickle in and more people get to play with the device, do you think Zdnet’s and my opinions are going to be shared? RIM really needs to take a step back and rethink their touchscreen strategy. If the Storm 3 is already in development, I only hope they do something major. Because their current progress in touchscreen land is pathetic.
Zdnet
Image Source
- October 24, 2009 10:30 am
While not much can be done to save the not so greatness that plagues the first gen BlackBerry Storm, those looking to ride out the storm (no pun intended) and continue on with their trusty device have a few fixes coming their way this Sunday, October 25th. It is on this magnificent day that RIM will officially release the OS 5.0 upgrade. For CrackBerry fanatics needing a more specific number, note this OS as 5.0.0.328. Besides some subtle UI tweaks here and there, users can expect to see threaded text messages, flick scrolling ala iPhone, an improved browser, and faster loading of apps. Various bug fixes and performance tweaks under the hood also make the cut, though, we don’t really care about those now do we? One thing that’s rather disappointing is that RIM appears to be ignoring the OTA OS upgrade feature built in to the OS as this one will have to be done the old fashioned way of baby sitting your comp while all of the little 1′s and 0′s shuttle to and fro. Come sunday, you can download the new BlackBerry Storm 5.0.0.328 OS at www.blackberry.com/storm/updates. Anyone excited? Or are you already eyeing the Storm 2, not giving a care in the world to your decrepit 1st gen Storm?
Unwired > Electric
What’s today? For me in (EST) I’m still staring at Thursday on the computer. *sigh*. If you’re in the same slump, cheer up! For October 28th is but a mere 6 days away. You know what that means? The BlackBerry Storm 2 which is exponentially leaps and bounds ahead of it’s more trouble ridden, 1st gen brother. The image above comes from CrackBerry via some brave Verizon worker who was able to snap a shot of the Verizon intranet page in all it’s underground glory. With the Storm2, text input is drastically improved as is many other areas pertaining to software. On the hardware side of things, the Storm2 received a gentle face lift that overall is a nice step up from the original. Still, with the Moto DROID breathing down the Storm 2′s launch date neck, who’s looking at giving this Berry a pass?
CrackBerry
- September 22, 2009 5:18 am
Have a thing for skateboarding dogs, fart lighting frat boys, and zany cats? YouTube has long been your go to haven for such videos. BlackBerry Storm owners on Verizon’s network while able to manually download the YouTube app for sometime will now be greeted by a new YouTube icon on their desktop giving them a friendly reminder. The first time you click on the link you’ll notice that it is merely a shortcut to download the actual app. After which the “icon” will launch an actual app. If you could care less about mobile video or you don’t like YouTube for some weird reason, contentment is just one hidden icon away. For the rest of you, how do you like it? Is there anything the parties involved could do to make the app better?
CrackBerry
Forget BOGO. Verizon’s back-to-school sale is now going by the acronym of BOGA. Instead of their usual buy one BlackBerry get a second free, you can now buy one BlackBerry and you can choose not only another BlackBerry, but any other Verizon device, USB modem, mifi, etc. Pretty sweet deal if you ask me. While you do have to weed your way through a rebate, the final outcome is still leaving you better off than if you hadn’t come across this deal at all. Seems BlackBerries are becoming an essential back-to-school item huh? Those of you looking to cash in (or out) of this deal need to do so by October 10th at which point the goods will be gone. Who’s ready for some new Berries?
Source: BGR
