In a scandalous, but not entirely shocking turn of events, RIM CEO Mike Lazaridis has declared
from the stage of D7 in no uncertain terms that "SurePress is here to stay." The trouble is, there's no clarification of what he means by that, since the
Storm 2 we've been toying with quite obviously lacks a click-screen mechanism. Our best shot-in-the-dark guess is that RIM has developed some alternative to a physical click that may or may not duplicate the functionality adequately, while hopefully removing some of the frustration experienced by the physical click of the Storm. What
is clear is that apparently whatever face-saving technology that turns out to be, Mike and co. plan on calling it SurePress.
erotic.
umbrella.
applesauce.
I prefer the sure click so much more than just a standard touch screen. My main complaint with the iphone was that i tend to click things i didn't intend to. so the storm sorted that all out for me.
I think that extra accuracy is coming from the added step of having to physically push down a screen. It's still a touchscreen--it just clicks in...
9630 it is, then.
Honestly, stick to haptic feedback. My sister's LG Dare has it and it is a joy to use.
I have the dare and it is far from a joy to use. I've resorted to T9... the qwerty is so slow it's sad..
Yeah my Instinct has it. Probably one of the short things on the list that I do like about it.
@leejin: You do know what haptic feedback is right? Has nothing to do with typing accuracy, speed, etc. It's simply the brief vibration you get from touching the screen. Nice method of letting you know that your touch has been recognized.
surepressed into oblivion.
So, they'd rather keep a technology that is great for collecting dust under the screen, makes typing slow and obnoxious, and doesn't actually make typing anymore easier or accurate...why?
Because a whole bunch of people disagree with every one of your points. Except the dust part, that is annoying.
SurePress does not make typing faster and more accurate. It's fact. It takes longer because you have to press in, not simply touch the screen. And it doesn't make it more accurate. Typing on a real, physical keyboard doesn't make typing more accurate because you have to push on the buttons. It makes your typing more accurate because you can tell the difference between each key (like on a MacBook's keyboard, each key is it's own tile so you can tell when you're hitting a key without looking and can tell WHICH key you're hitting), which you can't do on a touch screen. So the Storm is just unnecessary time added to typing.
@ashton dubey :
with all due respect to your 0-arguments-backed-up point : how long have you spent trying the storm virtual keyboard ? 10 seconds ? or maybe even 0.
How were you doing 10 seconds after you saw your first keyboard ? pretty slow I guess...
It's a new technology, it takes time to master, there is a learning curve (pretty quick though.. about 2 hours and you're the master of the universe)
@Ashton
and by Macbook keys, you mean Sony chicklet keys right? As once again, Apple copied Sony.
Monkey,
How could it not be true? The Surepress combines the worst of all worlds -- the impossible-to-find-keys-by-touch problem of a straight touchscreen phone like the iPhone, with the slowness of locating and THEN pressing keys of a normal phone.
And then they add in a single clicker to slow you down even more than on a 'board with individual keys.
@Unix - What the hell are you babbling about?? impossible-to-find-keys-by-touch problem - The SurePress has nothing to do with you being crosseyed. The keys are well layed out on the screen and not difficult to figure out where keys are that arent not visible on the main layout. Iphone and Windows Mobile both have the same issues with their layouts.
Surepress is not for those who like the regular touch keyboards like IPhone and Windows Mobile devices. People who do like SurePress are those who like feel their keys clicking like doing it on a physical keyboard. Is it a bit flawed (dust and response) yes, but it still useable and will get better if people learn to give constructive criticism rather than "It's crap"
I've had a Storm since day 1 and for the most part I'm really happy. However, when I use the "SureType" keyboard in portrait mode, having to click in the screen really SLOWS typing down. I wish I could just tap it like a regular touch screen. But when I'm using the full keyboard in landscape mode, the "SurePress" isn't a big deal...although it would be nice to have the option to shut it off.
Maybe there's a talented programmer out there that could add that feature in...I'd be willing to pay for it.
So when the new Storm comes out, what are you going to do? Trash it? Sell it? or Keep it? Your old storm I mean.
Arrogance isn't going to get you anywhere Mike.
it's my defense against reality. now stop following me and my mom.
But your mom said she and I were going somewhere after we dropped you off.
Pressure sensor under the screen??
I must be the luckiest mofo on the planet because I have no problem at all using "SurePress". The typing experience on my Storm isn't much different than that on my iPhone. I can type just as fast and accurately using "SurePress" as I can on my iPhone and I have the added benefit of not constantly accidentally registering a press.
Wimpy Engadget thumbs are not strong enough for the new SurePress obviously.
This is why we need flexible OLED screens that way the buttons can raise up or at least give the feel of pressing it down. I know it'd cost a nut right now though.
Perhaps you can't get pass the license screen on your first look is because the phone is a prototype and lack the SurePress, therefore you cannot click "ok" to get past the screen?
Exactly what I thought
My co-worker just upgraded to a storm, but he says he's switching back to the curve because he can't handle surepress.
It's not for the timid.
I CALLED THIS LAST WEEK- CHECK OUT MY COMMENTS ON THE UNOFFICIAL STORM 2 REVIEW, its on the first page of comments
I'm baking the cookies now...
Fascinating.. All they need to do is fix the keyboard (both horizontal and vertical).
nooooo
Well 3rd times a charm I guess then huh?
Maybe some devices will have it, and others won't. This may be to fill the hole that currently stands of a touchscreen blackberry without the click.
"Cancer is here to stay"
SurePress is TERRIBLE, I hated the Storm primarily because of it.
FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU
Good! I enjoy the SurePress (clicky screen as I refer to it usually) on the current Storm. It at times does slow me down, but I think that's because of the somewhat uneven click on some Storms. Hopefully RIM can perfect it a bit more and give me the touchscreen that feels like a normal BB keyboard...
Effin tish, I didnt go for the first storm because of the surepress. I'm perfectly capable of using and happy to use the iphone's keyboard, but no other touch screen keyboard can match it> Why the hell should I have to look for the key THEN press it in. The only thing real buttons are useful for are for feeling around to the specific key you want to use. The surepress does not do the same thing because now you still have to look to see you have highlighted the correct letter. It just adds more time to typing a message. How about making an insanely good spell check to replace the surepress?
SurePress...FTL!
Put some sort of little gadget inside the button that locks it in place. Add an option to the phone to engage or disengage SurePress based on the user's preference. Problem solved.
Is this why on the demo unit you are unable to press ok?
THANK GOD
SurePress is the only reason I still have my Storm. It's such a simple and effective solution to my biggest problem with touchscreen phones.
Hopefully the new Storm model has refined and improved the technology.
The click action of the Storm is HORRIBLE. Worst design EVER. Had a Storm all of one day and brought it back. Guess what I am using now Mike Lazarus? A Blackberry 8870 I got off eBay for $15. Oh yeah, and it is built like a friggin tank and has beautiful clicky buttons that work perfectly. The old Blackberries are the best phones made. Here's a secret for all you execs out there who are overwhelmed with all your gadgets: go old school and get an old Blackberry and use it for nothing but phone calls and text. You will be glad you did.
Tuna Juice
www.tunajuice.com