BlackBerry Storm 2 dropping SurePress screen?
By Jacob Schulman 
posted May 15th 2009 5:50PM
posted May 15th 2009 5:50PM
[Thanks, BBninja1389]
posted May 15th 2009 5:50PM
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couldn't they just update the firmware of the Storm 1 to be non clickable, essentially putting it in iPhone mode?
@John, you're absolutely right. I was just about to say the same thing. The fact that the storm is clickable does not mean that it cannot be used as a standard touch screen. Just ask anyone who's used opera mini on the storm. So the storm can do either, but for some reason that is worse than something that can only do one? I've had a storm for several months and I have zero dust. And personally I like using the click as I feel I have more control. Secondly, does anyone else find it odd that this storm 2, which supposedly has dropped the click still has large gaps between the glass and the edge? I mean, similar sized gaps to the storm 1? No other touch screen has ever had a gap like that because there was no reason for it, yet the 2nd gen of the one that did does, but no surepress? Strange...
I agree with the gent (or lady) above who said it sounded like a good idea on paper. In practice, it is just an awful, awful bit of kit. I felt like I was in an 80's Hyundai the moment I touched it. My first impression? I was blown away that you could shake the device slightly and the touchable surface of the screen would just wiggle back and forth in the casing. Then I tried to type. Used to the iPhone already, I was light and feathery with my touch ... and nothing. So I pressed harder ... nothing. Eventually I felt like it was more of an effort than conventional buttons, so thought, what the hell is the point? It's a gimmick. A bad one.
Rushing the Storm out to compete with something that was catering to a different audience than that of their core was a bad idea. Instead, they should have focused on reinforcing what they already had and taking the long, well-tested route to touchscreen bliss. Instead, however, they ended up alienating everyone.
Anyway, it's a misstep by an otherwise excellent company with a generally great product. We'll see how they respond -- though to be honest, I'm worried the Storm 2 isn't quite what they, let alone the rest of the world, are looking for.
So, you, as an iphone user, can speak for all of us storm users, from 5 seconds of using it? And you performed an expert opinion on the shortcomings of surepress after that? Let me guess, you used an in-store demo that had been mashed on by 1000s of people before you? Just wondering... I find it strange that for such amazing texting, the only people I consistently get flat-out wrong words from in SMS messages are from my iphone friends. Maybe if they had autotext they could correct some of those mistakes... If you don't know what autotext is, let me take a picture of it and send it to you...just copy and paste this link...oh wait... Well, just open this MMS message of it...wait....
Anyone who has used the storm for a reasonable amount of time knows that surepress has several pros. Ever mistakenly hit a link, contact, letter, menu item, number, etc.? Storm users don't have that problem. And, like was said above, a UI can be developed for the storm to use it as a regular touchscreen any way...so even if you don't like it, it doesn't matter...we can do either. Speaking of either, how many apps can you run at once? If you're a few options in, how quickly can you back out? How easy is it to find that menu button? Wait, do you even have a call button?
If you're not interested in a BB product, I suggest you stick to your ignorance-is-bliss-apple threads. I don't hijack your threads discussing the shortcomings of the iphone or try to tell you apple users how you could make better decisions with your life, so maybe you should do the same. Particularly considering, no offense, how inferior your products are - no matter what CNET or engadget tries to tell you.
@Joe
Normally when people attempt to properly refute another's comment in what has turned out to be a debate, they use facts and not assumptions.
The Storm I was referring to was my Sister's -- the same one I used for a month in concert with my own phone as I waited for the new Curve to drop.
I've been a Blackberry user since day one. I love most of their phones. And in my non-demo, fairly experienced opinion, the phone is still garbage, ESPECIALLY with respect to the screen and typing thereof.
@Joe
I forgot to mention, also, that the mere fact that I also own an iPhone doesn't discredit an otherwise perfectly valid opinion.
I wish you and your shaky screen the best. I'll stick with my iPhone and Bold, thanks.
(And no, I didn't end up with the new Curve.)
I love how those that don't own the phone are the ones shitting on it! You're going off of word-of-mouth experiences of people who don't know how to solve a simple issue with the phonetrying to justify hating the phone. I like my Storm. Are there things I would change? No doubt! Available full useage of the 1 gig of device memory for apps. A stable 5.0 os to prevent the wicked memory leaks. But thats really all I can bitch about! I don't mind the Sure Press. I crank out e-mails and texts with no problem. Great coverage. No dropped calls. I can copy and paste anything I type out. I import my itunes library onto my micro sd card so I've got music for days. I found a 5.0/.141 hybrid os on Crackberry.com, combine that with the Quick Pull app (same effect as pulling your battery to cure the memory leak. You can even set it to be done at a sertain time of the day) and the Storm goes from being tolerable to a really good phone! These are the same people bitchin' about WiFi. OK. Kill my battery in twice the time for little if any boost in data transfer speed. Let's see if that "we need WiFi" shit holds up when LTE rolls around!
Had this come out last holiday season than I might not be a G1 owner.. i would have had something to consider.... I wasn't going AT&t because frankly apple is too in control... and AT&T prices are to high considering t-mobile plans and the fact that I get a 20% corporate discount on Verizon plans and devices. I really didn't like the implementation of the click able screen. I thought it just got in the way and made typing slower considering the device could only go as fast as the screen could go in and out. I saw no need for it.. I mean I appreciate innovation but the only thing I would like it for is for surfing the web maybe.. so I wouldn't erroneously hit a link, other than that I believed you should be able to turn it off for inputing text in text messages and email etc.... it a hell of a device and looks great but I like functionality over looks any day...
i will definitely look into getting this phone. the SurePress was a gimmick.
(ive been trying to join Engadget for 3 years and never knew how til now!)
I'm curious if this phone is going to have a glass touch screen like the iphone as opposed to a plastic. screen. I'm a stickler for keeping my phone scratch free and a glass screen would go far in making me a happy camper.
i played with the storm, not long after it came out actually pressing the screen to do anything took some getting used to (but all the blackberrys including the bold ive ever used it takes me awhile to get used to the UI for whatever reason) . i think thats because im too used to the ipod touchs touch screen. id like to get a blackberry, but not sure which one id get
I have only played with this phone at the stores, but in the short time I had with it -- the surepress surface is terrible! You have to wait for the click feel before any action is taken and there is the inherent delay associated with the feedback.
In comparison to the iPhone touchscreen -- RIM -- you blew it! You want an iPhone killer, it is clearly not with this touchscreen. Don't make the same mistake again.
This is good news. The clickable screen was a really bad idea.
I have been a Storm user since launch and I bought the device BECAUSE of surepress. I really like the clickable screen and think RIM is making a mistake by getting rid of it. My wife owns an iPhone so I have compared the two ad nauseum. I am far more accurate on the Storm and now just as fast as I was on my old Blackberry world phone, if Storm 2 does not have a clickable screen I might just pass. Even though I love the idea of having wifi and a slightly larger screen to play with. I guarantee most of these posts are from people who have spent very little time actually using the Storm in day to day activities. The problem is the OS, not the click screen. There appears to be little to no use of the onboard graphics hardware to smooth out the UI experience and that is the Storm's biggest shortcoming, also I think RIM'S decision to keep the simplistic UI used on all other berries is a mistake, the Storm needs more eye candy in it's OS but i've heard that's not going to happen anytime soon. Honestly, the UI on the iPhone and the Pre are quite a bit ahead of the Blackberry OS.
Oh and to the poster above, the Storm's screen is made of glass, no plastic here. I don't even use a screen protector and there is not a single scratch......
This is the dumbest idea yet. How is RIM gonna turn on there own revolutionary text input method??
Why don't they just do both?? Provide an option to click or just touch by itself...don't do away with it completely...RIM has just lost there edge in the touch-screen mobile phone market. POOR move RIM, you couldve developed the click screen more and had the option of isolating the touchscreen!
this sucks well for me i got a storm and i hate the suretype now they come out with this, is there a way verizon would give replace my old one with this one tnx.