BlackBerry Storm OTA update now available on Verizon

We're certain it has been a painstaking weekend for you Storm-owning Mac users, but the long-awaited OTA download for the first firmware update is finally available. For those somewhat confused, the update we covered on Friday was exclusively available via the Windows-only RIM Desktop Manager application; now, Storm owners can suck down v4.7.0.75 without a liaison. Early reports are pretty positive, with jkOnTheRun noting that the troublesome lag that came bundled with the handset was now all but history. The 14MB download (plus installation) is said to take around 20 to 30 minutes, so fire yours up and let us know how things turn out.

[haz @ Dec 8th 2008 6:01PM]

Lag all but gone? The update didn't even put a dent in the lag on my Storm!

[nsdcx @ Dec 8th 2008 6:04PM]

I'm not trying to sound like a dick or anything, but do you close your apps when you are done with them, or do you leave them running in the background? I personally don't have the Storm (yet), but from what I've read closing the apps properly will help a lot. Try a battery pull too.

[haz @ Dec 8th 2008 6:56PM]

Yeah man, I close all my apps and pull the battery regularly. Rotating the screen takes way too long and whatever maintains the screen orientation gets wedged too often. A couple of times a day i find the screen wedged in the portrait mode. Another biggie I have is the dead spots in the icon layout and what seems to be some kind of side favoritism with the screen and how you have to completely pull your thumb off the screen before hitting a key with your other thumb. Not to start a comparison war, but I like how the iPhone and instinct handle keyboard input better than how the storm currently does.

[Flashpoint @ Dec 8th 2008 9:15PM]

God only knows how much of the lag on the Storm can be cured through formware updates.
One thing is sure, mobile Safari works a hell of alot better - especially when you have to zoom in and out. I even have "Safari add-on's" which allow me to Copy Paste.

[Gojulas @ Dec 8th 2008 9:54PM]

I received my Storm the day that 4.7.0.75 was released and used the OS it shipped with for maybe 3 hours. With the old version I knew EXACTLY what everyone was talking about in terms of lag and I feel I can safely say that the update fixed any real lag issues by my standards.

And I will admit, I generally forget to close my apps when I'm done with them and I still haven't had a problem.

[Chase @ Dec 8th 2008 6:03PM]

first! but unlike other first commenters, this it where the similarity starts. i actually have something to say. i just downloaded the update and it actually adds a few minor improvements and takes precisely 34 minutes and 21 seconds over my edge connection. t all below me, the storm is great and the iphone wasn't the first 3g phone.

[David Russell @ Dec 8th 2008 6:04PM]

2nd place is first LOSER

[Badandy @ Dec 8th 2008 6:06PM]

Who EVER said the iPhone 3G was the first 3G phone? Shut up.

[Jim @ Dec 8th 2008 6:07PM]

Nah, you're just like every other "first" pos(t)er - except you were second. And who said the iPhone was the frst 3G phone? When the FIRST iPhone was released, there were 3G phones available (but not much network support in the US).

[BobFromVegas @ Dec 8th 2008 10:01PM]

@ Jim

He didn't say that, he said:

"the storm is great and the iphone wasn't the first 3g phone."

Key word WASN'T.

[maveric101 @ Dec 8th 2008 10:27PM]

@ bob

DUH. because DUH.

[Gad Get @ Dec 8th 2008 6:03PM]

Why can't companies ever release products with finalized, polished versions of the firmware? Everyone does this, where they release a phone, within a day everyone's saying how the firmware seems a bit laggy and un-polished, and a week or two later, an update comes out that pretty much resolves any major issues. Is it that hard to have the product ready BEFORE you release it, instead of shortly after it's on the shelves?

[nsdcx @ Dec 8th 2008 6:13PM]

First of all, the phones that were released on launch day were boxed weeks before, so it's not a week or two after the phone is released, its a month or two after the phone was boxed.

Secondly, the company relies on feedback to make their product better. People griping about laggy firmware is the kind of feedback that RIM can use to make the next firmware better. The Storm WAS ready when it hit the shelves. It works. It may get laggy here and there, but it works. You make it sound like it was unusable, which was not the case.

[Setnev @ Dec 8th 2008 7:44PM]

I wanna see you go and try to program a whole phone OS and call it absolutely perfect when it gets loaded onto the phone and gets into the hands of a consumer. Heck, even the iPhone firmware wasnt perfect when it first came out, nor was the 3G. How many firmware updates did Apple have to release to fix call stability and network reliability problems, and GPS related problems, and 3G problems, etc? So with every new phone, especially from a company who created the first touchscreen phone in their inventory, there is gonna be issues.

[Jim @ Dec 8th 2008 6:04PM]

Wait for version 2.0. Won't be long with RIM's model turn-around. In fact I wish they'd maybe take a little longer sometimes......

[iKurt @ Dec 8th 2008 6:05PM]

Not as painless and seamless as the iPhone...

[holycow @ Dec 8th 2008 6:20PM]

Downloading 235MB + iTunes != Painless

[KilgoreTrout @ Dec 8th 2008 7:33PM]

No, you need a Samsung Omniafor that: then it will be much more painless and seamless and easy than the iPhone, not to mention that you will have a much better all round device too

[rydewnd2 @ Dec 8th 2008 6:19PM]

20 to 30 mins for 14mb?? I'll stick to downloading updates and synching via usb

[Name @ Dec 9th 2008 8:13AM]

@ rydewnd2

"The 14MB download (plus installation) is said to take around 20 to 30 minutes"

Key words are in parentheses.

[Wonderkid @ Dec 8th 2008 6:24PM]

I don't know why people don't just buy a Nokia E71. No, it doesn't have a huge touch screen, but it is incredibly reliable, multi-tasks like a dream (simply holding down the Home button allows one to view and select between running apps), has a surprisingly usable tactile keyboard, has a radio, WiFi (G), 1500mh battery for multi-day battery life (even when used a lot), some great downloadable apps, a fun and useful built in GPS SatNav, a versatile audio player (that in my view, is speedier to navigate than any iPod - cannot comment on the Storms), it is still the world's slimmest smart phone and well, the E71 just works so well. I don't work for Nokia, but have played with the Storm and the Bold, and the latter is a lot more usable. It appears RIM put some great work into the look of the Storms case and GUI, but failed on usability by not performing use case scenarios before launch. This is all ammo to Apple (and some Nokia models) who/that will succeed based on the mistakes of their desperate competitors. Storm 2 anyone? Slide out mechanical keyboard, faster processor and a touch screen optimised GUI.

[jinushaun @ Dec 8th 2008 6:33PM]

Storm 2 with physical keyboard? I hope not. That creates a crutch and allow RIM developers to release a shitty touch keyboard. It only needs to be "good enough" because users will fall back on the physical keyboard. The iPhone only has a touch keyboard, which is why it works so well--it has to be.

[rtdunham @ Dec 8th 2008 8:09PM]

what exactly is it that posters do that results in their posts looking like the type's screened to 10% gray? Is it intentional? And if so, why in the world? I've seen a few posts like this one, and finally just had to ask. Inquiring minds want to know...

[Jeff @ Dec 8th 2008 9:16PM]

The more negative ranking a comment gets, it starts to fade away. Go ahead and post a fan boy posting and you'll fade into the abyss.

[Andrei @ Dec 8th 2008 6:27PM]

14th !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111

[Marin @ Dec 8th 2008 6:37PM]

It's night and freaking day: the update has made my accelerometer usable, and most of the lag is gone. It's a freaking shame they shovelled it out for the Thanksgiving weekend, because this version would have impressed even the hardened apple fanboy.

[J @ Dec 11th 2008 5:23PM]

Agreed. I became eligible for an AT&T upgrade on 11/30. The first thing I did was check out the Storm for about 15 minutes in a Verizon store. All of the issues that seem to be fixed now were the major reasons I went with the iPhone instead. I'm no one's fanboy so it would have been nice to have had a viable alternative to the iPhone (for my needs) a week ago.

[Dahk @ Dec 8th 2008 10:16PM]

Somewhat agreed. Accelerometer works beautifully now, but there's still lag in several areas. Home screen --> menu, menu --> applications, and heck, the menu still gets all mucky when I'm scrolling through it.

Granted, lag times IN applications seem to be gone for the most part. Significant update still, and much worth it =).

[mrpysnik @ Dec 8th 2008 6:45PM]

My battery was only half charged when I tried so it wouldn't let me download it. Make sure you phone is pretty well charged before you begin the FOTA process.

[J @ Dec 8th 2008 6:49PM]

Does this mean Verizon Wireless will finally get moving on 4.5 for the Blackberry 8830? All the other major devices have upgraded to 4.5, but the 8830 (the supposed top of the line) remains officially in the past (4.2 I think).

[Matt @ Dec 8th 2008 6:59PM]

At least you have a 4.5 upgrade for *something.* AT&T hasn't released anything for its Blackberry devices yet. :(

[Andrew @ Dec 8th 2008 7:20PM]

The Storm update is awesome. I installed the leaked on last week and noticed the improvements immediately. I'm installing the VZ one now so i'm on the current build.

[tom @ Dec 8th 2008 7:25PM]

Cool...I am in Canada haven't got a touch of that awesomeness. Can you kindly elaborate?

[pmup @ Dec 8th 2008 7:33PM]

Does it add WiFi, unlock the GPS or come anywhere near the 11,150 iPhone apps there are? Or does just make a half assed attempt to fix the 4 million bugs in the brick?

[Setnev @ Dec 8th 2008 8:01PM]

So with your iPhone, can you install 3rd party software not from the AppStore without breaking you EULA for the firmware, or how about can you tether your phone to your laptop computer and take advantage of a REAL browser to view 100% of the websites out there using 3G speeds, or how about this one. Did your precious iPhone have about "4 million" bugs with all the issues that the 3G iPhone had with oh say, hmm, Network Performance, 3G Connectivity, GPS Signal Acquisition, Call Quality. Nah of course the iPhone can do all that and never had a single issue. You know, I am sick of iPhone fanboys jumping all over the Storm because of some issues that made it slightly less than perfect. The reason people have the Storm is because they are on VERIZON, which last time i checked is a CDMA network and not a GSM network, which the iPhone is exclusive to. So next time you wanna sit there and say the iPhone this, the iPhone that, sit back and think about how many bugs the iPhone 3G had when it came out and how different the technologies with the network is.

[pmup @ Dec 8th 2008 8:15PM]

There is NO CDMA iPhone because Verizon rejected it, which cost them about 1 million plus customers! I love morons that claim there is some sort of lock in with the iPhone as it has 11,154 iPhone apps in less than 5 months as opposed only about 700 apps for ALL Blackberry models in over 7 years. The lack of choice is mostly all phones on VZW that continue to be neutered and crippled with NO WiFi, Locked GPS chip, ONE music store, and almost NO apps! If you want to compare browsers, you will soon realize the iPhone has a better more useful browser and a much better UI.

I am tired of BB FANBOYS that ignore the fact that Verizon has crippled phones for years and claim all these so called limitations of the iPhone without EVER touching one. The Storm is NOT slightly imperfect, it is a buggy mess. The BB is a phone with email, a communicator, NOTHING more. The iPhone is a platform with over 11,154 apps already the fastest growing platform in history.

Before you get too excited I own a BB also, as well as several other devices, so stop the FANBOY nonsense!

[alonmower @ Dec 8th 2008 8:37PM]

wow...get angrier about phones. the iphone appstore's numbers would be a bit more impressive if they weren't full of pointless lighter and lightsaber applications

[jayson @ Dec 8th 2008 8:42PM]

How many apps do you need dude? It's a phone for god's sake. Oh wait... maybe you are a 16 year old and it's a toy. Sorry for the mistake.

[phongsta @ Dec 8th 2008 8:51PM]

Man, you hit the nail right on the head with your comment. i carry two cell phones: iPhone 3G and a BB Curve 8310 (for work; i'm an IT consultant in the field for 13 years). most of these BB fanboys do NOT know what the hell they're talking about. most of these whiners have no technical education to understand the differences between AT&T and VZW, especially when it comes to mobile communications protocols. GSM is much more secure and encrypted than CDMA. the iPhone, though it has its limitations, by far, surpass RIM's attempts at emulating the iPhone. first and foremost, Apple has spent years getting the iPhone and its software to work seamlessly. RIM just jumped on the bandwagon after Apple made it "cool". i'm sure the Storm will get better and better as RIM learns from users and the industries.

the Storm, like the iPhone 3G, was pushed out too early. so far, the Storm hasn't been able to live up to what Verizon and RIM has criticized the iPhone 3G's shortcomings. Apple was able to sell 1 million iPhones in its July 11th weekend debut. yes, Apple had outages during activation, but it came back in 20-30 minutes (i know, i was in line and was able to get mine activated in the store on July 11th after standing 7 hours in line). Verizon had a lot of reported issues of activation outages, which is a fact (just google it); and the irony of it is, it was nowhere near the capacity of the iPhone activations... so Verizon needs to quit calling the pot kettle black.

the Storm had lots of bugs crippling it versus the iPhone 3G. the iPhone can't also be blamed for its call quality either. AT&T's 3G network is still in its infancy, while Verizon's network has been solid and fully deployed for years now. if the iPhone 3G is set to EDGE (though albeit much slower connection), it would've not had any call quality drops since EDGE is totally saturated throughout the US.

[NotAHater @ Dec 9th 2008 12:43PM]

Verizon BB GPS's are not locked. The Storm's was launched unlocked and the 8130 and 8330 were unlocked just a few days ago. No word yet on 8830 being unlocked. The only thing that sucks now is Google has to fix the GPS acquisition in 2.3.2 for those BB's, but other 3rd party GPS apps work. Finally!

[innovation_matters @ Dec 8th 2008 8:32PM]

Well, well well....


Calm down all BB fans and Apple fans. Personally I am fan of innovation. In my opinion Apple is way ahead of the competition. Storm cannot be even compared with iPhone. I know I know BB fans will bury my comments with downgrades but the fact remains. iPhone is way ahead of Storm in terms of the consumer gadget.

Okay going back to Storm. I was in one of malls in San Diego this weekend and go the opportunity to handle Storm. Don't take me wrong but I really wanted it to live up to the hype. This phone was total disaster.

1. I could not type properly at all. In fact it was really difficult to type with this click-button. If we really have to use click-button then I don't understand what's wrong with the physical keyboard?

2. The sites I tried to load never loaded (yahoo.com). Not sure what was wrong.

3. Navigation was not smooth at all.

Overall, this phone was totally unimpressive for me. The current SW fixes might have done some magic but trust me the impression I got from VERIZON demo piece, if then new buyer gets the same impression, he/she is never ever going to buy this phone.

[admile3 @ Dec 9th 2008 9:24AM]

The entire reason they did away with the physical keyboard is to maximize the real estate of the screen. THAT is why they dont have a physical keyboard. Although, I do agree, and would rather the screen be a simple capacitive screen without the click. However, I have had my hands on a Storm, and didnt find it difficult at all to adjust to the click-screen. So, for that matter, your first point is completely subjective.

As a matter of fact, MOST of the points you people are arguing about as fact, ARE completely subjective. This is a place to post your opinions, so it's probably best to just remember that you should word your comments in a way that shows how the device is boon or a blessing to yourself, and quit telling people what device is right for them.

Each person is going to find some thing that can make or break a phone in their opinion, and guess what, It's not the same exact "thing" for every person.

Sure the app store for the iphone has a stupid amount of apps. Now, if you want to take the time to wade through the Flashlight, Lightsaber, Turkey Hunt, Beer Pint apps to find something that's actually useful, be my guest, and keep waiting for those other useful apps that are having a BEAR of a time getting through that ridiculous Apple approval process.

And obviously BB devices have their own setbacks of a "lack" of apps (which I wouldnt consider 700 to be a lack, I'd just say there isnt as much garbage out there to have to sift through before the most-likely business-minded individual finds what he/she is looking for) However, BBs have, until recently, been seen mostly as devices for those people who are simply wanting to have a planner, business emailer, phone, all in one. So, there hasnt really been a NEED for the other "entertainment" applications, until recently, now that RIM has decided to take the BB devices in the direction of the more average Joe.

So to sum it up for those of you who like the spark-notes version, Just calm down, It's a phone, Let people get what they feel will work best for THEIR needs, get what works best for YOUR needs, and everyone will be satisfied.

[admile3 @ Dec 9th 2008 9:28AM]

Finally, I'd have to say that the WORST possible device to get a "hands-on" for your first impression of a device is to use the demo piece in a mall...Think about just how many people go in there, clicking around on it, opening every app under the sun, closing probably none of them, because they dont know any better.

I went into a verizon store the other day to play around with one, it was HORRID...But then I took the time to close all the applications that had been opened by every other person that had been in the store throughout the day, and it worked like a charm.

Maybe you should give it another shot with the applications closed like they're supposed to be if you're still interested in looking for a device

[sotec_productions @ Dec 8th 2008 8:49PM]

I'm ready to call it quits on Engadget. I am so sick and tired of people touting the iPhone vs. everything else.

Hold your breath, because I just ordered a Blackjack II via AT&T.

Why? Yes, it does have a crippled WinMo 6 Standard platform, yes it is WinMo, and yes, it probably lags behind the advancements of BB and iPhone. I ordered the BJ2 because of 3 reasons:

Call quality FAR superior to that of the iPhone (I tested both in-store)
GPS
physical, tactile qwerty keyboard

First of all, and once again, let me describe the call quality between the 2 phones in question:

I tested the BJ2's call quality first. I called my fiance from in the store while she was out in the middle of the mall on a very busy shopping day on her Motorola L2. The call was crystal clear, and it even completely blocked all sounds outside of her voice. It wrapped her voice in a velvety blackness that was almost a turn on.

I then finally got to play with an iPhone, which I admit to much chagrin, for which I had been pining over (even against my psychotic hatred for Apple users). The apps I tried were awesome, the touch screen works very well (even though typing on the touch keyboard was an almost mortifying experience..it sucks; Abort, Retry, FAIL), it was very smooth, responsive, and clean. Then...I made a call to the same person, on the same phone, in the same spot she had been before....*sigh* What a disappointment! The call quality was horrible, crackly, it skipped and broke, and there was NO noise depression tech at all. I could hear everything outside in the mall through the phone just as well as I hear my fiance (between the above mentioned broken audio). It was like making a call on the Moto I have now. UGH!

So while I respect the fact that phones are no more phones than computers are these days, that texting is becoming ever more prevalent as voice calls, and that touch screens are the pinnacle of human achievement as it stands, is it really too much to ask that the off chance I actually dial a number to hear someone's voice I'm able to hear them clearly without hearing everything else in the world at the same time? Again, I was really REALLY looking forward to the iPhone rocking my geeky world so much that I may become a convert and change my Engadget handle to iYou (I am an avid GNU/Linux user, so Mac's are not alien to me, nor do I despise or fear them), and I was grossly disappointed. Shame too, all that beautiful tech and they somehow failed to ace the most important feature of the phone...the PHONE part.

Apple should be forced to legally change the name of the iPhone to iGadget. At least then, Engadget's dirty bed love of all that is Apple would be just.

[pmup @ Dec 8th 2008 8:59PM]

The new nonsense from BB FANBOYS is that ALL 11,154 iPhone apps are useless, which is absolutely hysterical since the App Store arrived at this huge number or apps in such a short time, with RIM barely having any apps, almost none that compare to the apps for iPhone. BB is doing all it can to copy the iPhone and the App Store. BUT not doing such a good job as the Storm is a neutered wannabe, with almost nothing in the way of games or other apps.

There are so many fantastic apps for the iPhone, BB FANBOYS want to ignore, which shows they do not like competition or innovation. I was praying for the Storm to be huge and innovative. What they brought was a crippled device with its biggest innovation being an entire screen that clicks and makes typing on the damn thing like using an old mechanical typewriters out of the 1950s!

Multi-player games, FTP/WebDAV apps, hundreds of navigation apps, social apps like FaceBook, Pandora, Last.fm, BeeJive IM, VNC apps, text editing apps, voice dialers, Joost, voice controlled directions, wikipedia apps, network tools, VoIP apps like Skype via Fring & TruPhone, 1password, Wallet apps, AOL IM, AOL Radio, Internet radio apps, real time flight tracker, language translator apps, are NOT useless. In fact BB users wish they had this many choices. So does RIM and this is why they are NOW trying to copy the iPhone's App Store.

With NO WiFi, a locked GPS chip, and no decent SDK for developers RIM has NO chance of catching the App Store in numbers or QUALITY. No matter what BB FANBOYS try to tell you.

Each one of the iPhone's free software updates were not just some bug fix, they added nice features. RIM has a phone and Apple has a platform, that is the best way I can describe it. The iPhone will continue to trounce RIM going forward if the Storm is all they can do! It is not even the best BB, the Bold is!

Vote my comment down if you want, but you are just shooting the messenger!

[Killer @ Dec 8th 2008 11:59PM]

"Vote my comment down if you want, but you are just shooting the messenger!"

And I'm perfectly fine doing just that! The storm works for me. Personally I feel as if the iphone and the storm are completely different. I find the iphone to be more of entertainment value and the storm to be more of a communation tool. I'm a communication type person. TXTING, PIX, EMAIL, AIM is flawless for me on my storm. You view a phone more as a entertainment tool. I view the phone as what its always been viewed as from the very beginning. A communication tool.

Also on the WIFI. Sure some people have different opinions etc on their signal experience but I have yet to find a building im in on campus, in a dorm, in a department store, even a car garage that i don't get blazing fast 3g speeds. I guess im lucky where i am, but im perfectly happy with my internet on my storm.

Locked Gps? I got rid of VZnavigator the minute i got my storm. Blackberry maps works great from me and of course there is already talk from google about a youtube app and a google maps app for the storm. Be patient! The storm has been out for almost 3 weeks and you expect it to have 10,000+ apps available? btw how is RIM copying the app store? RIM is giving the content control to the carriers (whether good or bad?), its a completely different system of doing things.

There is one thing that I can/will only compare the iphone with the storm. Battery life! I've been absolutely amazed it last 16 hours for me without ever reaching below 40% charge even when im surfing and texting all the time. I absolutely hate it when i have to charge my phone like 3 times in a day. That's why i like my storm. Say what you will, the reason I got the storm wasn't because it was the only other option i had besides an iphone on AT&T's spotty 3g network. Its because the phone fits me better and i need tethering for my computer with a reliable 3g network.

Also compared to my last verizon phones. The storm is unlocked beyond belief, being able to transfer anything over bluetooth, instead of just contacts is an absolute plus for me. So say what you will, I prefer the storm because it is the best/unlocked phone on verizon's 3g network and it does what i want it to do. I don't care about playing a piano on my touchscreen phone or playing light sabers with other storm owners. Ok I'm done.

[Bill @ Dec 8th 2008 9:06PM]

At the risk of sounding like a dullard...how do you DL OTA? Looked all over the phone for an 'check for updates' and none to be found...feel free to flame away!!

[Dick Feldman @ Dec 8th 2008 9:54PM]

I'm wondering the same thing. How does this work exactly?

[Tom @ Dec 9th 2008 12:34PM]

Seriously, this is ridiculous. There is no documentation on how to get the OTA update. i lost the stupid micro USB cord or I would have already had it.

Why are people ignoring these questions. I swear this whole OTA on VZW is made up.

Someone who has received the OTA update, please explain how you got it.

[VeJay @ Dec 14th 2008 9:36PM]

Bill I received my update directly on my phone. When I woke up there was a message on my phone that let me know I needed to update the software. I clicked okay and it just started on it's own...took about 15 to 20 minutes tops.