Formula 1 superstar finishes first in race to nab BlackBerry Storm

There are, shall we say, certain "advantages" to driving a race car sponsored by global wireless behemoth Vodafone. Fame, fortune, and a free account (seriously, all the minutes and kilobytes you can eat!) definitely rank high on that list, but it all pales in comparison to this. It seems that Formula 1 wizard Lewis Hamilton has been gifted with a Voda-branded Storm, a great publicity play for the carrier -- particularly as he's sitting in front of a camera describing how "wicked" it is. Clearly, the video is little more than a PR stunt, but the phone genuinely seems to be his, and at least we can get a clear look at how fast, fluid, and pretty the interface appears to be. So, anyone know where he leaves that thing when he's out racing? Check the full action after the break.

[Tyler @ Oct 9th 2008 12:10PM]

Awesome but looks like its a bit laggy at some parts, like rotation and whatnot.

Cannot wait for this phone though.

[RS @ Oct 9th 2008 12:15PM]

Tyler...you beat me by seconds and we are seeing the same thing!

[RS @ Oct 9th 2008 12:14PM]

Am I seeing this straight, but it looks like the software is bogging down and very sluggish as he flips the screen around and goes from one activity to another. Hopefully, its just a working model and not the final one!

[Jake @ Oct 9th 2008 1:26PM]

If you watch, he turns the thing completely 180 (upside down), then back to vertical, then to about 120 degrees, then finally stops at horizontal (90 degrees) -- while he's playing a video. I'm not surprised that the accelerometer had a bit of trouble with that...

Speaking of videos: during the close up of the formula one racing, did that seem like a render? It was brighter than the rest of the video, like it wasn't really playing on the screen. Plus, its the same video from the Vodaphone flash "demo" page. That stinks a little.

[AlphaTeam @ Oct 9th 2008 12:18PM]

So the store has coverflow… why must everyone do what Apple does. I don't like that; not everything should be duplicated!

[aard @ Oct 9th 2008 12:30PM]

Meh... they should have given it to a real driver...

[adrian @ Oct 9th 2008 12:33PM]

Like yourself eh?.

[thebigDallas @ Oct 9th 2008 12:43PM]

what do you mean "real" driver? He drives a Formula 1 car that weighs less then 1400 lbs with him in it, and has 700+ hp. he has to keep his head straight enough to turn the vehicle at 3+ G forces how is he not a real driver?

[CtK @ Oct 9th 2008 12:52PM]

Probably cause they arent going in circles?? hahaha

The only lag i saw was when he flipped the phone sideways while watching a F1 race.

[aard @ Oct 9th 2008 2:54PM]

No, I'm saying formula 1 has much better drivers than Lewis "Huge Ego" Hamilton. He drives like he's alone on the track and pushes people out of the way.
So, yeah, I stand by my statement :)

[lowdef @ Oct 9th 2008 3:06PM]

raikkonennnnnn

[Santi @ Oct 9th 2008 12:40PM]

Lets hope he doesn't accidentally press the reset button on this one while making an important call, huh?

[pablot @ Oct 9th 2008 1:49PM]

lol

[MeMongo @ Oct 9th 2008 12:45PM]

To answer Chris Ziegler's question about what they do with the phone when they are racing, the drivers have someone on their team that is responsible for holding their stuff during the race. Everything from their sunglasses to their watch is handed to them right after the race. They used to put on their massive Tag Heuer watches before the weigh in, but now the FIA immediately ushers them into the weighing room to make sure the combined weight of the car and driver are within regulations.

[Walter @ Oct 9th 2008 1:08PM]

I hope you don't think that those are their own watches being put on after the race? It's all advertising for the watch makers. Just like the caps they put on.

[Slliim @ Oct 9th 2008 1:59PM]

Walter, these corporations give stuff away all the time. Auto manufacturers even give cars away to celebreties. Just to let you in on what goes on in that arena, at the end of the year, if we have "made too much money," we raffle off cars and other high end products like Movado watches, plasmas and things of that sort to reduce taxable income. Speak with a corporate accountant and they will fill in the blanks I have intentionally left out.

~ Slim ~

[ssrat_ @ Oct 10th 2008 2:03AM]

If you take a look during the after race conference, there are different versions that are being worn.

I'm not sure when the driver gets to pick his own, but I think it is if you manage a podium finish.
(Either that or maybe more likely a finishing the race in the points 8th or better)

As for who holds his stuff.. both he and Masa have their fathers at the track so I would assume that they get the honours

[Walter @ Oct 9th 2008 1:10PM]

What's with the fake video added to the clip? There are no reflections are anything like there are in the other shots of the screen. Why the deception?

They should have put
*simulated images
at the bottom as a disclaimer.

[fed @ Oct 9th 2008 1:23PM]

Ugh I know I'll end up buying this phone because I hate my BB 8830. Its still a blackberry and its going to suck.. stupid job making me have one..

[Jash Sayani @ Oct 9th 2008 1:38PM]

Storm is the only phone I like after the iPhone. Really looking forward to buy one in Christmas!!

[eiki @ Oct 9th 2008 2:33PM]

the phone is kept in a pussycat's pussycat during a race

(\__/)
(='.'=)
(")_(")

[nick @ Oct 12th 2008 8:58AM]

what does hamilton and blackberry have in common?


they both suck!!! hahahahahahahahahaha

[Britvolante @ Oct 9th 2008 2:56PM]

Looks to me like the iPhone's/iPodTouch's fatter uglier and slower sister. Imititation is the most sincere form of flattery.

[Keith @ Oct 9th 2008 3:24PM]

Yeah this is a total knockoff because it supports BES, has a real camera, tactile feedback, a solid and encrypted OS...

[Mike @ Oct 9th 2008 3:40PM]

I think this is definitely gonna be a big seller, considering how patchy the Bold was when it was released I think they have done a good job with this, and now it's officially launched I dont have to worry about the NDA I signed at work ;-)

The device we had was a prototype and was slightly different to the production model in terms of the tactile feedback they talk about with the device, yes it's touchscreen but it's not like other touchscreens, the screen sits above a pressure switch that will click when pressed like a key (the prototype model felt like it clicked twice but production model won't), the benefit is that you can touch the screen to highlight something without actually opening it then press on the screen a little harder to open, I found that it was pretty unique and something i have not seen on a touchscreen before (finally, something unique compared the the iphone!), this was a big thing for me as I find it annoying for Windows Mobile devices that you cannot tap an email just to select it (you will open it)

Screen wise it's a pretty damn good quality screen, the media playback is flawless and the quality is amazing, add to this that the 3.2mp camera has a flash (albeit LED based) and auto-focus it certainly has better photo capability then the fixed 2mp camera the iphone uses.

Time will obviously tell to see how well it performs in the real market, testing can only really test the device to a certain extent, you then release it to the world and see how joe bloggs and hacker respond to it.

[Mike @ Oct 9th 2008 3:44PM]

@ Britvolante:

So why are iphone's not used by the government? Oh that's right because the security is so weak and can be jailbroken easily. When activated on a BES and a password set on the device it is not crackable, 10 wrong attempts at the password will force the device to wipe. Not even RIM engineers can crack it because it's that secure.

Yes it is slightly bigger then the iphone, but dont judge something until you have had one in your hand and used it. And before you say yes I have used both.

[hilofi @ Oct 9th 2008 4:20PM]

The Funnest Blackberry Ever?

That fake video overlay is horrendous

[Mr. S. @ Oct 10th 2008 1:59AM]

I have stood in the mclaren driveway, and I have a iPhone. I'm better off except the whole salary and his car is nicer then mine.