BlackBerry Storm update leaks to the masses

Okay, remember that bit about waiting for a wide release? Yeah, screw that noise. Firmware 4.7.0.75 for the BlackBerry Storm has drizzled out onto the interwebs, and initial reports from intrepid updaters seem to be generally positive. We can't verify the authenticity of this sucker, but if you were counting down the minutes until RIM got around to patching up issues and killing some lag, 75 might be a good start. Good luck, friends.

[Thanks, Erik]

[who? @ Nov 30th 2008 12:44AM]

Ah, excellent. Another device for Engadget to have a news story for every update. Hoorah!

[Seth @ Nov 30th 2008 12:54AM]

It's early Sunday morning (EST) three days after Thanksgiving, and honestly, I don't think there's that much going on at the moment in the tech world. So, be thankful, and it could be worse... they could talk more about **gulp** an Apple update!

[)ROFL( @ Nov 30th 2008 12:54AM]

So what exactly do you want from sir Engadget?

[PyRo1509 @ Nov 30th 2008 1:00AM]

atleast engadget doesn't have articles about virus definition updates...

[rndmnme @ Nov 30th 2008 1:05AM]

Have you used the BB Storm? It sucks!

Them possibly fixing it is news worthy.

[Katherine @ Nov 30th 2008 12:28PM]

update or not, this is some sick minded intensive long review of the Storm:

admiralh.wordpress.com/2008/11/21/why-the-blackberry-storm-is-no-iphone-killer/

the moment i saw how much i had to scroll to get through the page, i just skipped right to the bottom... call it smart

[Katherine @ Nov 30th 2008 12:29PM]

ooops, with http this time

http://admiralh.wordpress.com/2008/11/21/why-the-blackberry-storm-is-no-iphone-killer/

the link better work this time around

[MRCUR @ Nov 30th 2008 1:04AM]

Hopefully this fixes some of the issues... The shipping OS, .65, truly sucks IMO. I used a Storm at a VZW kiosk today and it was very sluggish, laggy when typing, and the browser wouldn't even open. I was surprised that the rotation speed of the keyboard was fast, which I wasn't expecting from what I had read.

[smbarne @ Nov 30th 2008 1:48AM]

Ditto here, though the browser on the one I played with would open and was very snappy for me (I was also surprised by this, given the reviews). If this update would kill the lag while scrolling through the main menu and generally thoughout the OS, Blackberry may just well have another Windows Mobile convert.

[Flashpoint @ Nov 30th 2008 10:18AM]

I found the build quality of the Storm to be very high.

Reason's I concidered it over my current iPhone are that:

#1 It has easy Data Tethering (with fee) to Verizon's network which is very fast
#2 It has A2DP if I want to use headphones wirelessly
#3 removable/replaceable battery
#4 copy/paste (which isn't a huge deal to me)
#5 video capture (I have used a video capture app for iPhone and it isn't that good and you gotta pay for it)
#6 VZ turn-by-turn Navigation


My problem with the Storm was that it felt unfinished. There was no way for me to tell which was the problem - the hardware or the firmware. Hopefully its just the firmware because if the Storm actually has a true problem with its accelerometers or its CPU speed, that would put a bullet in it so bad. The Storm will never outsell the iPhone which is the number 1 selling phone, but it would offer us a good option.

[Katherine @ Nov 30th 2008 12:00PM]

I've installed the update and I can tell all of you that the update only fixed the camera application - made it load a little faster and trimmed the autofocus by tiny tenth of a second. Also, accelerometer switches 1/10-1/5 second faster than before, which makes its status from snail slow to slug. The rest of the lags, hiccups, freezes are all still there. The browser still shows "loading script" a lot and very choppy and laggy for scrolling. The menu scrolling issue that you described, is still there too.

[tom @ Nov 30th 2008 1:06AM]

It is good to hear RIM is making progress with debugging the firmware. Keep up the good work!!

Thx Chris.

[Samboini @ Nov 30th 2008 2:47AM]

Two names? Think you've just blown your cover, you spy.

[mac404 @ Nov 30th 2008 3:17AM]

Err...Chris wrote the article.

[Samboini @ Nov 30th 2008 5:50AM]

D'oh!

*removes foot from mouth*

[Jon Samuelsson @ Nov 30th 2008 1:15AM]

Just installed it the only things i notice right now are the accelerometer has no lag and they sped up the camera a bit

[gill @ Nov 30th 2008 8:10AM]

where did u get the update file?

[Snitch @ Nov 30th 2008 1:34AM]

Ok but i wonder how are they gonna fix the lack of a proximity sensor to avoid hitting a wrong button when holding the unit to your ear, i doubt that they can patch that up with a firmware upgrade, there's a lot of stuff that can be fix with these updates but there's a bunch of other stuff that can't, So if you thought reviews where exaggerated and still didn't stop to think things over and got it anyways, Suck it up

[Jon Samuelsson @ Nov 30th 2008 1:38AM]

I have never pressed any of the buttons while talking on the phone

[penguinking14 @ Nov 30th 2008 2:04AM]

I would see where that would be an issue on a standard touchscreen phone such as an Instinct or iPhone where there is no physical press needed to activate an icon selection, but for the BB Storm, you need to physically press after highlighting an icon so there is no need for a proximity sensor. The only reason I could possibly see the need for one is to conserve battery while talking but if the battery is surviving long enough now, then there's truly no need.

[Chris @ Nov 30th 2008 1:38AM]

Just installed.

MUCH MORE RESPONSIVE

Everything seems faster, highlights of keys, rotation from landscape to portrait and back, camera, browser......very happy..everybody needed to be patient, everything has its bugs and RIM cannot afford for this device not to do well.

[Katherine @ Nov 30th 2008 11:45AM]

RIM fanboy-ism at it's finest. ^^^^^^

I have the device too and you don't need to lie to everyone on Engadget about the responsiveness after the update. The update only made the camera application faster, cut down the longer autofocus time (still too long after the update). They also made the orientation switch (via accelerometer) a tiny bit faster. It still get stuck sometimes and still very slow. The scroll lags, choppiness are all still there and the overall system lag is still present. They didn't change anything about their keyboard software. Still uses a T-9 predictive system.


Before you flame me with your fanboy comments - Yes, I do know how to open and close applications on the BlackBerry.

[projectdecember @ Nov 30th 2008 7:18PM]

@ Katherine

I agree with Chis. Responsiveness is much improved. When I click on an app or switch screens, the transition is much faster. As for the choppiness in scrolling, mine is much smoother and not noticeable anymore. either you have high expectations or a shitty phone.

[Ysleiro @ Feb 9th 2009 2:41PM]

Kat.

Don't categorize people. If the OS update doesn't improve the phone then I must be smoking crack.

The fact of the matter is that websites like Engadget (whom I love) bashed the shit out of this phone. When in fact it wasn't even that bad. I got to the VZ store expecting a DUD a POS and instead a found a device that was far from perfect but was definitively not as bad as engadget made it out to be.

I'm pleased with it's current performance. I can't wait to see how it does after 3 or 4 updates.

[Bobby @ Nov 30th 2008 1:53AM]

The demo models sucks because everyone opens up everything and never closes apps making it run like crap. Mine was pretty good after deleting useless apps. Installing the new OS right now.

[morrell @ Nov 30th 2008 2:07AM]

This isn't the newest firmware, the firmware that came out a week before the storms release was labeled .82.

newer software was released internally at VZW last week.

so dont expect this firmware to match the rumored "upcoming fix"

[Thi mam(kris120890) @ Nov 30th 2008 2:24AM]

If I remember correctly that was a mixup and there was no .82. Search engadget its on here somewhere.

[Thi mam(kris120890) @ Nov 30th 2008 2:25AM]

Found it
http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/24/rim-clears-up-blackberry-storm-os-situation/

[mo @ Nov 30th 2008 2:45AM]

the firmware numbers i've mentioned were seeded from verizon for internal testing...and yes .82 was one of those numbers.

just because it was a story on engadget, doesn't make it true.

[Thi mam(kris120890) @ Nov 30th 2008 2:57AM]

It does if RIM said themselves. Did you not read the article. I'm more likely to believe them over you.

[mo @ Nov 30th 2008 3:21AM]

yeah, a companies never lied to protect its reputation.

LOL

[mo @ Nov 30th 2008 3:25AM]

you actually believed the sticker story.....thats hillarious.

[blockhead420 @ Nov 30th 2008 5:10AM]

Dude... the software at launch was 4.7.0.65 platform 4.0.0.82

I get people got the 65 and the 82 mixed up... but that was last week... get with it.

Epic. Fail.

[Saad Rabia @ Nov 30th 2008 7:09AM]

Stop using the "fail" word; like forever.

[Tohe @ Nov 30th 2008 8:36AM]

Forever Fail

[yokken @ Nov 30th 2008 2:07AM]

As much as I hate and speak out against the Storm, I really hope this fixes a lot of the problems.

[oakie @ Nov 30th 2008 4:19AM]

after having owned one for 2 days before returning it, i can say without a doubt that there's no way it could possibly make it worse.

[gad get @ Nov 30th 2008 2:03PM]

Two days? Give it a chance! At least wait for an update! Gah!

[M. Davis @ Nov 30th 2008 3:06AM]

Just received the update. Everything is running a lot smoother and faster than before. That's great because i was disappointed in it's initial performance. This is a good phone that can be great. I enjoy that you have to push down on the screen-it has that blackberry button-mashing feel to it. One thing-it takes me a bit longer to make phone calls. Overall, i'm satisfied.

[Johnny @ Nov 30th 2008 3:59AM]

this is good news to storm users, but one puzzling question everyone is asking RIM is why didn't they include the infamous trackball with this? that is a let down for crackberry users.

[phate @ Nov 30th 2008 5:03AM]

I do believe that the trackball would defeat the purpose of a TOUCHSCREEN!.

[Dopefish @ Nov 30th 2008 3:47PM]

Tell that to the G1...

[blockhead420 @ Nov 30th 2008 5:03AM]

Seriously... enough about the lag. You guys aren't closing your programs out correctly. Hit menu > close instead of just hitting the end button. My Storm is as quick as can be.

[Willie @ Nov 30th 2008 10:03AM]

I have to do this to our demo models in my store all day long. Customers open programs, hit end and open more programs. Doing things like that even on BB Curve's, Pearl's, and other models also lags the device. Closing apps when not in use does speed the device up for sure!

[phate @ Nov 30th 2008 5:02AM]

Its 3:00 AM do you know where your Storm update is?

[jordans0nly @ Nov 30th 2008 5:08AM]

I have yet to walk into a Verizon store and play with one, but after owning an iPhone (I went back to Verizon) it this phone the best that Verizon has that's comparable to it? How dissapointed am I going to be? lol

[Dopefish @ Nov 30th 2008 8:18AM]

As previously stated: theres a better way of getting people to come to your website, its called NOT HAVING A SHITTY WEBSITE.


Stop being an absolute dick and spamming your site.

[Dopefish @ Nov 30th 2008 8:20AM]

p.s. I would low rank you but that means I couldn't report your comment because it is actually against the commenting rules.


Another triumph for the engadget comment system.....

[KilgoreTrout @ Nov 30th 2008 11:37AM]

My dear friends in the land of the free, you are in luck.
Forget the Storm, the ridicolous iPhone or the irritating HTC gizmos.
I hear that you too now can get hold of Samsung's i900 aka the Omnia.

If you want the only touch screen smartphone worth to live with , follow these four easy steps:
1) Get a Samsung Omnia
2) Swear at Samsung for not installing a voice dialing program
3) Install a voice dialing software
4) Enjoy the best phone on the market ATM

[Ansaed @ Dec 4th 2008 11:00PM]

After switching to the BlackBerry Curve, Bold - I swear I will never switch back to windows mobile again. Windows mobile is awful in stability and memory management. RIM has far superior useability even right out of the box.