RIM's BlackBerry Storm 9500 / 9530: details galore

RIM's BlackBerry Storm 9500 / 9530, which is more affectionately known 'round these parts as the Thunder, is definitely within striking distance. Still, just because you don't have too much longer to wait doesn't mean you aren't anxious to get your hands on as many details as possible beforehand, right? The Boy Genius has managed to procure a few mundane stacks of PowerPoint slides that just so happen to contain some pretty scrumptious information on the touchscreen-based BlackBerry, and while there aren't any mind-melting surprises in there (like, confirmation that it can indeed read and reply correctly to each e-mail automatically), it's not the kind of data any real RIM fan would want to overlook. Go on and hit the read link, what exactly are you waiting for?

[waiownsyou @ Oct 5th 2008 2:11PM]

I don't know if I'm too old or not "hip" enough for technology these days but what kind of feature is "social networking"? Is MySpace or Facebook integration really THAT important that it sells a phone now? Also, cocks.

[Bobby @ Oct 5th 2008 2:23PM]

for this failed generation it is important to think they significantly contributed to internet era - hence pushing these meaningless buzzwords like "social networking", web 2.0, rss - at least it allows to create some impression and feel better

[Bobby @ Oct 5th 2008 2:34PM]

for this failed generation it is important to think they significantly contributed to internet era - hence pushing these meaningless buzzwords like "social networking", web 2.0, rss - at least it allows to create some impression and feel better

[Dan @ Oct 5th 2008 2:56PM]

It's a selling point that broadens the appeal of the phone.
If websites used by a large group of people (Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, etc) can be made easier to use, then why not include the functionality?

And if other competitors are including said functionality, it becomes an even bigger issue of not offering it.

[Saad Rabia @ Oct 5th 2008 3:00PM]

waiownsyou and Bobby, are you both drunk or just acting mature? I can't get your jokes guys! You both remind me of my grandma's talk when mobile phones came out. Accept technology or just get ready to be outcast by the new generation. Steve Jobs and Bill Gates are a very good example of people who build fresh and "hip" technologies and like it, even if they are one step away from the grave!

Acting mature by not accepting new stuff because you can't understand it, is not cool anymore.

[Bobby @ Oct 6th 2008 10:32AM]

@Saad Rabia
sorry dude but neither online reality tv nor masturbating in front 1080p LCD does not constitute any advancement in technology. It is just different delivery channel of old ideas, lame and signals upcoming decadence

[srs bsns @ Oct 5th 2008 2:14PM]

QWERTY *and* SureType input methods. Be still my beating heart- I thought I was going to have to scribble the letters on the screen.
Nice to see Blackberry's trying to be "different".

[koala @ Oct 5th 2008 2:15PM]

cool!

[who? @ Oct 5th 2008 2:16PM]

What makes this phone different?

All these features the iPhone has had for longer!

[Andrew @ Oct 5th 2008 2:33PM]

Not only the iPhone, but nearly every other smartphone on the market as well. So what makes it different is.... nothing?

[Jon Nelson @ Oct 5th 2008 3:43PM]

I think the difference comes in that there aren't herds of Apple fanboys ready to pounce on anything that even remotely looks or functions like an iPhone.

"HEY! That spatula is thinner than the iPhone! BUT I BET IT WON'T PLAY YOUTUBE LIKE THE iPHONE CAN"

Get a life.

[Kamil @ Oct 5th 2008 3:49PM]

Copy/paste ?

[Some Kid @ Oct 5th 2008 7:27PM]

@ Kamil
unless the changed the OS for more than just the touchscreen stuff, im assuming not

[Flashpoint @ Oct 5th 2008 2:18PM]

I bought an iPhone specificaly for the Youtube client and to use as a PDA. The iPhone thus far has the best web browsing, music and photo take/send packaging on the market. I'm sure many will disagree but I'm convinced it is.

In order for me to switch from my iPhone to the Blackberry Storm, all I'd demand is that it has a Youtube Client, the ability to sync Contacts with YAHOO address book, Aol Instant Messenger, and a web browser at least as good as Safari on the iPhone.

Otherwise, its a no sell for me. Alot of corporate people will want it though.

[CT A @ Oct 5th 2008 2:30PM]

You want a web browser as good as Safari?

Get Opera. It's overkill when compared to Safari.

[urmomFTW @ Oct 5th 2008 2:36PM]

But you can't just think of it as just features, many people like myself do not want an iPhone for the simple fact that it is only on AT&T. Verizon has the largest coverage nationally. Thus, those of us living in areas where Verizon is the better, the Storm looks to be a great alternative to an AT&T locked iPhone.

[Vic @ Oct 5th 2008 3:55PM]

I agree with that you said about the iPhone until you got to the "best photo take/send" claim. The iPhone is NOT the best when it comes to that, with its lack of MMS and basic camera (unless you jailbreak it).

[Samboini @ Oct 5th 2008 5:21PM]

Flashpoint, I get the impression you would pay Steve Jobs just to let him lay a brick in your mouth, such is your sacrosanct to Apple.

[KilgoreTrout @ Oct 5th 2008 8:07PM]

I have had an iPhone for about 3 wees before passing it to my dear wife and going back to my Nokia N95 8GB ; and just the fact that you are impressed by the iPhone's camera (or it's "photo package", sorry I can't stop grinning) makes me think you've never used a smartphone before.
My N95 8 Gb ,( even if I start to be a bit bored of it), can eat your "photo package" for breakfast every morning; on it you can download and instll any app you can think of: Youtube,MSN messenger, my face, yourface, anything; it plays music much better than iPhones because of the best stereo speakers/ampli on any phone, it has copy&paste, you can use ANY browser you like, WIFI , BT, IR, barcode rader, and... I'm just bored to tell you more.
Now after trying (mind you:TRYING) and being disappointed by htc diamond, I'm impatiently waiting for one of the new wonder touch phones that we have been promised before Xmas, such as SE Experia , HTC HD, or something from LG or Samsung.
Maybe in the beginning I will miss the may , easily accessible fature of the 95, but nevr the awful pics and videos made by the iPhone, that did'nt even let me make video calls, or sed links by e mail.

[Han Solo @ Oct 5th 2008 9:43PM]

1) You tube mobile site works just fine in Blackberry OS 4.5 and newer. 4.5 is now being rolled out for the older/existing BB models, the new ones like the Bold come with 4.6.

2) Blackberry OS 4.6+ all have WebKit based browsers, the same rendering engine as iPhone. So its pretty much the same browser as the iPhone.

3) There are messaging clients available for just about anything, MSN, AOL, Google, etc.. thats pretty true for all the mobile platforms actually. And the BB has push messaging, not pull like the iPhone I belive.

4) BB software can sync contacts just fine with Yahoo, its already in the menu of choices.

[Han Solo @ Oct 5th 2008 9:46PM]

1) You tube mobile site works just fine in Blackberry OS 4.5 and newer. 4.5 is now being rolled out for the older/existing BB models, the new ones like the Bold come with 4.6.

2) Blackberry OS 4.6+ all have WebKit based browsers, the same rendering engine as iPhone. So its pretty much the same browser as the iPhone.

3) There are messaging clients available for just about anything, MSN, AOL, Google, etc.. thats pretty true for all the mobile platforms actually. And the BB has push messaging, not pull like the iPhone I belive.

4) BB software can sync contacts just fine with Yahoo, its already in the menu of choices.


/just saying... I like the iPhone quite a bit, but its $300 and I get BB's for free with work discount.

[Lazlo @ Oct 6th 2008 8:24AM]

you tube client????

REALLY???

do you think anyone who is going to buy a blackberry gives a cr@p about a youtube client?

yahoo mail? AIM???

why are you even here?

you should REALLY try to understand what makes blackberry different.

[Daniel @ Oct 5th 2008 9:54PM]

The iPhone safar is a joke. It just looks nice. I am stuck with this stupid iphone and i have replaced it twice because of this. Stupid iPhone safari Crashes all the time. You can't even reply to comments or in forums without it lagging and crashing. This is on EVERY iPhone. You can read about it in apple support forums. Apple still has not even acknowledged the problem.

[Michael @ Oct 5th 2008 2:22PM]

It's a Blackberry, it probably has great email integration.

[Brian @ Oct 5th 2008 3:24PM]

and copy and paste.

[HalfJoey @ Oct 5th 2008 2:49PM]

Does anyone know if Verizon allows you to share minutes with their BlackBerry plans? Or if they have a family package deal with BlackBerrys?

[Brian @ Oct 5th 2008 3:44PM]

You can have a BlackBerry on any Family Share Plan, and share the minutes. You just have to add the data package for the BlackBerry device.

[Jash Sayani @ Oct 5th 2008 2:59PM]

Nothing great in the "Wow Factors" but its a nice phone......

[Nate @ Oct 5th 2008 3:34PM]

Tethering, consistently implemented widescreen mode, flash, video. No big deal

[lanejasper69 @ Oct 7th 2008 9:18PM]

NO WIFI???????

[Steve @ Oct 5th 2008 3:18PM]

What does BlackBerry have that iPhone doesn't? And windows mobile? Um, stability and a first rate road warrior experience. If they can add cool to that (social networking, great web browsing, ubiquitous IM/SMS integration, and rich email experience like iPhone) and still offer reliability and customer network choice, they'll have a winner. So long as it's priced within reason.

[Wireless Buddy @ Oct 5th 2008 3:28PM]

Wow, "what makes this smartphone special?" Everything on that list, many other smartphones have, including many BlackBerries.

[Michael Scrip @ Oct 5th 2008 4:33PM]

> "Everything on that list, many other smartphones have, including many BlackBerries."

Then consider it just another model of Blackberry then. Companies make lots of different models. Blackberry came out with a clamshell phone... but wait... other companies make clamshell phones too!

Blackberry's strength is that it has many different models for everyone... from businessmen to teens. And they work on many carriers.

[Cycomachead @ Oct 5th 2008 3:46PM]

Well over an iPhone it's not as cool, smaller screen, but it can do more for business it's on verizon it can edit word excel docs and be tethered. It has talk and end keys. It kills windows mobile and it will probably work with a BT keyboard. Besides this is verizon so you can keep your contract and every other reason you use vzw over at&t.

[Prey521 @ Oct 5th 2008 8:11PM]

No, the BB Thunder has a bigger screen, though not by much.

[Anton @ Oct 5th 2008 4:13PM]

This phone proves that you can indeed have a touch screen phone and still be able to "copy and paste"
http://www.boygeniusreport.com/wp-content/uploads/stormcopypaste.jpg

[Abuzar Baloach @ Oct 5th 2008 10:00PM]

A lot of WinMo phones are touch screen and they all have copy and paste. So this phone doesn't prove anything new.

Very nice though. I don't use Verizon though :(

[TareX @ Oct 5th 2008 4:36PM]

I'm excited about the clicking screen the most... I hope it's customizable where we need it.

But not buying it till I see a plethora of 3rd part apps... and a better browser.

[Bob @ Oct 5th 2008 5:48PM]

Better browser? Storm browser uses webkit. Most people think that is the best mobile browser base right now. I think even the iPhone browser is based off it.

There were docs released a month ago that show RIM has released info for developers to build 3rd party storm apps. They plan on having their own App Store running soon after launch. Even without a BB app store you can find apps for all BBs on numerous websites. Start with Crackberry.com and you will see lots of 3rd party apps. The only differences between that and the apple app store are the BB current apps can't be found on one website (until the release of the BB app store) and they arent locked down (like Apple apps).

[TareX @ Oct 5th 2008 10:15PM]

Who doesn't use Webkit? Android, Nokia, iPhone, BB..... they all use WEBKIT.
Nokia's broswer, for instance, is unsuable. Even though it has flash support. But it's TERRIBLE. Still Webkit.

See what I mean? Regardless, I'd settle for a non-webkit browser like Skyfire anyday.

As for 3rd party apps, BB has always suffered on that side, when compared to S60 apps, and now, iPhone apps. I check Crackberry each day too. Less than impressive apps.

[Donedadonedone @ Oct 5th 2008 6:50PM]

Looks like BGR's servers have wilted. Anyone have a URL for a cached copy please?

[emilio @ Oct 5th 2008 8:55PM]

My iphone already has all these features

[marty k. @ Oct 5th 2008 9:29PM]

no copy/paste, tho! xDDDDDD

[Killer @ Oct 6th 2008 12:01AM]

½ VGA+ 480×360
- Innovative Click Through display
• Tactile response – offering the best of touch screen & keyboard
-3.2 MP camera with auto focus, zoom, video capture and image stabilization – integrated into your applications for one click posting to Internet
-Expandable MicroSD Slot with SDHC support (4GB, 8GB, 16GB)
-Removable Battery
• Operates on HSPA and EVDO Rev A
• Don’t have to rely on open Wi-Fi networks – broadband anywhere
• 3G Tethered modem
Designed with one handed use in mind...

I'm sorry I'm seeing a lot more things than what the IPhone can do...But you keep telling yourself that.

Maybe you should read the big file... http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2008/10/04/blackberry-storm-internal-product-positioning-marketing-points-blackberry-apex/#more-5964

It's pretty interesting stuff...like....

• Keyboard Study (based on internal RIM study with external participants)
• In an internal keyboard test, customer satisfaction was highest with the LG Viewty compared with Touch and iPhone
• The LG Viewty performed best compared with the Touch and iPhone on a variety of typing tests

[Some Kid @ Oct 5th 2008 7:34PM]

Unless VZW markes down their $70/month Blackberry Data Plan, only the people who need this the most will buy it

For just this once- take a lesson from Sprint (aka everything plan)

[BubbaGump @ Oct 5th 2008 10:27PM]

YAY!!!
Lets go to Sprint with their EVERYTHING PLAN.
And have the towers that we need for our phone to function be sold off because Sprint is on the verge of failing off.

They're losing a lot of customers and their plans are too cheap to make any money.
I give them an overestimated life-span of 5 more years.

Hands down.
Verizon has the best coverage and service of any carrier out there.
It sucks that the Data plan is required for the BB on the Verizon Network.
But after having my pearl for the last 3 months.
I see it justified in my mind.
And I shall obtain the Storm for my pleasure one day soon to come

[Jake @ Oct 6th 2008 1:12AM]

See I don't know why you are being a fanboy of Verizon now. Sure, this blackberry might not be available on the AT&T network, but where I live... if you don't have AT&T you don't have service. And if you do have AT&T, your reception is spotless. It's a location dependent thing, unless you're in a big city. I have an iPhone, I went out and extended my contract, pay 30 bucks more a month plus and another 30 for unlimited texting on my family plan.

I love it, it's useful. It does things that I haven't seen in other phones. That's the fact. It's elegant, and it works properly. Another fact of the matter is that not everyone is completely tech savy. Sure you can install all those apps on a N95, but can the average joe do it? The reason why the iPhone is so popular and successful is because its intuitive.We shouldn't bark down on it's success, but be surprised on how well apple does. It produces an excellent looking product, that has more useful features combined into one thing out of everything I own. So what if I can't send e-mails all that great when I'm on the move, that's what my laptop is for.

[Deepak @ Oct 5th 2008 7:54PM]

Since the read link is down, does anybody know if this will be available on T-Mo or AT&T? Or is it a VZW (shudder) exclusive?

[Killer @ Oct 6th 2008 12:06AM]

Read this, it tell you what RIM has planned on releases on what carriers...BOLD is AT&T...Storm is Verizon, for a reason.

http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2008/10/04/blackberry-storm-internal-product-positioning-marketing-points-blackberry-apex/#more-5964

[marty k. @ Oct 5th 2008 8:08PM]

Storm looks good so far. Hopefully its web browser is going to be on par with iPhone's. Other than that, I'm a little concerned about availability of 3rd party apps. I just don't see it coming close to Apps Store experience/availability.

Please RIM don't fk this one up, I really don't want to get a contract from O2. Vodafone's customer service is waaay better.