Mildly frightening Verizon promo video gets employees hype for BlackBerry Storm
By Darren Murph 
posted Sep 15th 2008 10:46PM
posted Sep 15th 2008 10:46PM
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he seems kinda creepy...............
Why is the whole thing eerily reminiscent of the Scientology training video that leaked a long anon ago? The whole clouds-foggy-don't-know-whether-to-trust-anything mood?
Actually I thought it would be a good commercial for the phone .. I bet the actual commercial will suck. Like the one for Dare which does tout the features at all.
Tom, come back to the Space Ship now!
Actually, it is nice looking phone. Hopefully it works well.
Yawn......
Touchy here, touchy there, it's ok... Hehehe.
man when are they finally gonna come out w/ a price on this, we keep seeing spy shots like crazy but still no price, its becoming quite annoying
awsome!!!!!!
i like that you can scroll with ease (as it seemed) but i wonder if you have to hold your finger down on the "click" touchscreen
Probably not, it looks just like those videos of people scrolling down on an iPhone, and I know for a fact that is easy. I'm positive it will be the same for the Storm... Maybe.
what are you referring to? flick to scroll? i didnt see that in the video...
The clicking/moving screen is novel and sounds very interesting, but will it really work for fast typers?
On any regular qwerty keyboard, for a sequence of keystrokes, I press one key, then press the next key in the sequence before the previous key is fully released. In other words, when typing the word "key" I hit "k", and as the key is coming up, I'm already pressing "e" down. Obviously, there is no problem with this on non-touch keyboards, since both keys have independent action (and so long as you are not hitting the keys simultaneously).
But what happens when you have one giant key? I feel that the typing speed will be limited because the user will have to wait until the entire screen releases before hitting the screen again. I realize that this is matter of fractions of seconds, but fractions of seconds make all the difference in the world for fast twitch type activities like this.
It would be sweet if the screen could recognize when you are typing very fast, and demphasize or disable the click necessity, so that you can type just as you would on any other touch device (e.g., iphone).
This is definitely the major question. We'll definitely just have to wait and see how the hands on go when eventually its leaked/released.
I believe one of the first updates for the iphone added the ability to track the next keystroke before you release the current one... hopefully this touchscreen has some form of multitouch tracking.
so it has everything the iphone has had for nearly 17months now and it doesnt have the app store, or ease of upgrading the firmware? sign me up.
ill keep my iphone 3g
Dude, you praised the iPhone. This is Engadget. Prepare to be voted down.
Ya everything that the iphone has....
e.g. Video recording...
What an awful comment. I've never chosen a phone based on ease of upgrading firmware...especially when those upgrades cause keyboard lag and offer no fixes to the problems iPhone 3G beta has in the first place.
e.g. Copy paste
@Screeh
One, what rock did you slither out of. Second, don;t even call yourself a mac user...please. You are embarrassing. Third, I refuse to say the name of the mac mobile. Am really tired of it.
The Storm (Black Berry itself) has over 300 apps on the web. Most suck, some are ok and the ones that count you need a little cash for. Here is another fact to prove how much a noob you are...blackberry been around more then a decade. The mac mobile only has 2 years on it and still can not even get basic phone functions right. Kinda sad really, because I do love Apple products. This one just didn;t meet up to the standard am use too from Apple.
BACK TO THE STORM...am excited. The little in-company promo video means it will be out this year. I really hope it comes out sooner then later because i can;t wait for a new phone anymore. Between the HTC onslaught of cool phones, the storm, then the dream...man what is a gadget nerd to do. This is going to be an exciting Holiday Season i can assure you that.
Well, I'll wait till the device is released and reviewed before making any sort of comparison to the iPhone, but this marketing crap is just ridiculous...
"groundbreaking.. unlike anything else on the market today" -
Seriously?
Glossy black, minimalistic "slate" phone, with large touchscreen face, and minimal buttons. Hmmm... I agree, totally original...
"most responsive of it's time" -
Woah.. That's quite a claim considering my iPod Touch is the most responsive electronic device I've ever used. If they can even come close to matching the fluid responsiveness of the iPhone, I'll be very interested..
Also, I wonder if the web browser will be anything close to mobile Safari.. It's going to need to to compete...
iphone doesn't even do picture messaging does it?
anyway, i was at the verizon store yesterday and the guy said they're looking at the end of november for this to come out, but i take that with a grain of salt since the majority of people at verizon are morons. if it's true, no christmas this year for my family because i'll be buying it. as much as i hope they'll try to match or beat the $199 iphone, i have my doubts that they will.
When did Scientologists take over RIM?
It didn't, it always had control over verizon though.
WOW! BLACK BERRY GOT ITS GROOVE BACK
So many phones so little time. in no order of importance
Touch Pro/ Touch HD/ HTC DREAM/BLACK BERRY STORM/XPERIA X1
FIGHT!
I just bought my first iPhone and I love it. I have not had any troubles with it at all. Of course, I live in a metro area, so we are given the most infrastructure first. I'm in a two year contract now, so it's not like I'ld change anyways, but the Click screen is intriguing. However, I doubt it is really as powerful as the iPhone. So many people on these blogs do not give it credit for how powerful it really is. That is easily shown by the fact that it has been out for 17 months and the nearest competition is just now showing their competitor -and is still not releasing a price or ship date. I bet the iPhone will be 2 years old by the time the Storm actually ships.
Oh yeah, and don't expect it to have flash either.
The iPhone also lacks flash. What is your point?
What!? I was totally expecting it to have flash, seeing the iPhone does and all...
@DAllas
What's your point? iphone does not have flash either. iphone doesn;t even have an microSDHC expansion slot. what else doesn;t the iphone do. Oh yeah. It does not have basic contact searchability. You have to scroll to find your numbers...kinda basic huh.
This is coming form a real mac fan...I been using apple products since I was 8, am 32 now and I think the iphone lacks a lot still to be a great phone. It is a great PMP...but that's why there is the touch.
If you can not appreciate new tech for what it is, you are not a real Apple fan. You're just a rich yupie that bought a $300.00 iphone and stuck with a 2 year contract. Now to justify your lame purchase, you have to diss every phone that is coming out soon that is cool. Just so you will feel better. Get BENT.
@ alberto
Last time I checked the iPhone does have the ability to search for contacts!
I think he meant both of them didn't have flash.
You should also read more about the products you're going to bash. The standalone contacts app and the phone app have a search bar in the beginning of the contacts list, and if you're to far from it you can simply double tap the uppermost part of the screen to reach it, like in safari to get to the address bar. This has been around since the 1.1.4 update if I'm not wrong. Also yo don't have to scroll lamely through your contacts, you can make it more interesting by flicking through them.
He also does have a point on how powerful the phone is, a 600 mhz cpu and 128 mb of ram isn't that normal.
Any way, iphone users shouldn't bash it before it really comes out. If it turns to be as good or better than the iphone I wouldn't like to see what MS fans will do to any one who tries to defend the iphone.
I have an iPhone and I really hope RIM does a good job with the storm, that way apple will have to wake up and make the iphone better, even though they did a pretty good job with 2.1.
@ alberto
I think he meant both of them didn't have flash.
You should also read more about the products you're going to bash. The standalone contacts app and the phone app have a search bar in the beginning of the contacts list, and if you're to far from it you can simply double tap the uppermost part of the screen to reach it, like in safari to get to the address bar. This has been around since the 1.1.4 update if I'm not wrong. Also yo don't have to scroll lamely through your contacts, you can make it more interesting by flicking through them.
He also does have a point on how powerful the phone is, a 600 mhz cpu and 128 mb of ram isn't that normal.
Any way, iphone users shouldn't bash it before it really comes out. If it turns to be as good or better than the iphone I wouldn't like to see what MS fans will do to any one who tries to defend the iphone.
I have an iPhone and I really hope RIM does a good job with the storm, that way apple will have to wake up and make the iphone better, even though they did a pretty good job with 2.1.
God I hate engadget's comments. You know, it's kind of saddening to see a tech blog that doesn't have a good commenting system.
Got an iphone in front of me... I can not type in a name in contacts so that particle contact to show up on the screen. I can in address book but it takes me to maps.
Maybe am doing something way wrong. I went to the ATT rep near me and he suppose to be the expert 2 weeks ago. He told me you have to "flick" through. Sorry when you got 300 plus numbers thats ignoring.
I stand corrected. There is something called "search" that does what am saying but it's a stand alone app. it was added in 1.2. It still should be integrated within the contact list. But beggers can't be choosers i guess. If i was told this before I wouldn't have mention the lack of the feature before.
@MArtin
no search bar here on contacts. I do have a link to the "search" app. Which works for everything contacts, maps and email. Maybe am looking at the wrong place.
Am just saying to Dallas to get off his high horse. iphone is still not a perfect phone. Either way am tired of these yuppies that get on and bash a phone till it even gets in the market. SO the rest of the stuff i said I stand by.
Whats alberto talking about? Theres a search bar in both the contacts app and the phone app...just scroll all the way to the top. You need to scroll up, the contact list starts at 'A' and the search bar is just above that.
Also...what the hell is this 'Search' app? I have never heard of this app...are you sure you have an iPhone in front of you?
It's getting me hype too!
I will buy this if the web browsing experience is better then the iphone safari.
Don't count on it...
I expect it to be about the same because RIM is creating a new browser based on web-kit (like Mobile Safari).
So it's Mobile Safari minus the multi-touch
iphberry?
Holy propaganda.
Haven't I seen this groundbreaking device a thousand times since early 2007?
Its out right now on Verizonwireless!
i lied.
Looks very promising. As long as VZW dosnt cut of this phones balls to much they should be ok. Yea I said it cus we all know how VZW brands their phones like a pimp brands his hoes....
Just give us the Touch Pro, Verizon. I dont want to pay for an expensive BlackBerry plan.
He's blowing an absolutely humungous amount of hot air considering it's an iPhone clone. Please, someone sit him down, calm him down a bit and point out that he's a year and half late to the table to be talking like that. It looks like a nice enough phone, but this guy looks like the type that pushes everyone out of the way and trys to take the credit for someone elses innovation. Pretty distasteful IMHO
I love how every full touchscreen device is an iPhone clone. Considering the iPhone wasn't even first to begin with, it's only real innovation is an excellent touchscreen and ease of use. Mobile Safari is great, but the Nokia browsers and the still lack of flash don't make it revolutionary. The App Store is great, but it's not open source. It's possible to download applications for more open platforms, like Windows Mobile and quite soon, Android. So, after 17 months and owning an iPod touch, I still fail to see how everything is an iPhone clone. The most positive thing about the iPhone is the responses from other manufacturers that were elicited.
Yeah.. Kinda like this dude
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJ12vNZ5yMY
It made it look like it was all about himself.
It's the combination that makes it like an iphone. I also pointed out (below) the screen rotation and the visual voicemail.
So by your logic, the iPhone is like Microsoft Surface right?
The app store can't be open source, software is the one that can be open source. Even if they made the app store app an open source project it would be really lame, I doubt someone would really work on it. If what you mean is that apple doesn't let people install home-brew apps it's a different thing, but thats the reason why Rip Rev exists, and no one is preventing you to jailbreak or pwn your phone/ipod. Any way most of the apps that appeared in the installer repositories are already in the app store. I still pwn my phone for 2 apps, the callme app because I refuse to pay to enable fast dial, and for iphone modem to make some teethering.
You can't deny they're trying to mimic the iphone. Why did they have to put the animated rotation.
GON:
Why, does that have Visual Voicemail too? Microsoft Surface is the size of a chest freezer, which might make lifting it up to your ear a bit difficult don't you think? But thanks for throwing an enormous straw man into the conversation, consider it burned alive.
Just to put my comment into context:
Quote: "This Blackberry is unlike anything else on the market today".
Visual Voicemail?
Touch screen?
Rotatable display?
HTML Browser?
Where is Blackberry's innovation in all this?
If it has a landscape keyboard available in every application and on EVERY screen that would be 1 improvement over the iPhone.
I am interested, but I'll be waiting for a review before spending teh moneies.
Mike, that was 2 minutes, you lying sack of s%&^.
i like it. it looks kind of big though.
Based on the way this phone is looking, the key here is RIM's innovative 3-D copy machine, which resulted in an iPhone clone that will be a step backward in everything the iPhone does, all while lacking the distinctive RIM physical keyboard. I guess that machine still needs some fine tuning.
At least it will have innovative things like a removable battery and copy & paste.
I have to agree. From the video, it looks like a pretty decent copy of the iPhone, except slightly less smooth UI wise.
The only thing setting it apart from the iPhone is the "screen button" thing, which has the potential to be a huge, gimmicky feature, kind of like current haptic feedback.
its all about software. if they provide software that truley takes advantage of the hardware capabilities of the phone then this device will certainly be able to compete.
If they don't, then just call it Instinct 2.
Finally, Verizon is getting a good phone but, I still can't afford it. Blackberries are expensive even with a two year contract. Oh well, I'll just have to wait for something else.
Love or hate it... and we won't know for a while, you have to admit the click-touch screen IS innovative.
is the "storm" the populist "thunder", or what?
Did anyone tell him it's against the law to use a phone while driving. LOL
I just sold my iPhone 3G and bought a Samsung Knack (very simple basic phone) and a Verizon contract. I was pretty satsified with the 1st gen iPhone but I got tired of spending $90 a month on AT&T's garbage network and dealing with all the iPhone/AT&T issues. I need to be able to make a receive calls first and foremost. I bought a 16GB iPod Touch last night to act as a PMP. I'm a longtime Apple guy btw having owned Macs since 1984. But I also run 64-bit Vista SP1 and it's been pretty good actually.
Ok, let me get this straight......
Any full touch screen devise that comes to market is an iPhone clone?
So, by that logic, the iPhone is a Palm clone, right? The touch screen design came from someplace, didn't it?
You guys need to take the time to realise that devices coming from Apple, RIM, HTC, Etc are all innovative in their own way. The Storm WILL do things that the iPhone won't do. I have not seen or held one in real life and I can already tell you that. There will also be things that the Storm won't be able to do that the iPhone will.
I also can't believe that anyone would even attempt to blame VZW or RIM for a little hype surrounding this device. The iPhone has been one of the most overly hyped products ever. If I had purchased one of those things I would have been very mad when it didn't make me pancakes and give me a handjob while curing cancer, bringing peace to the middle east and insuring my place in heaven.
i want this phone but right now im under the family plan.. do i have to switch my plan to the blackberry one or completely get off the family plan and get my own plan or what? any verizon employees want to help?
They may have changed it, but all I had to do was add the unlimited data plan to my account. I think it is $29 extra a month.
RELEASE DATE NOV 1
LOL @ Engadget pre-reviewer! Yeah a video intended for internal use only, leaked which is supposed to get their employees excited about their product. Imagine that! Oh thats right, Engadget doesnt promote products, just bashes (except for the constant iPhone love) so their employees don't understand that...