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Verizon finally releasing BlackBerry Storm update this weekend
An incredible way to start the weekend, Storm owners: Verizon is finally pulling the trigger on a firmware update, which will be available to all comers starting on Sunday at 3PM Eastern time. If that's too much trouble, you'll alternatively be able to sit back, chill, and wait for the over-the-air version to hit, which should follow on at 10PM. Verizon tells us that it'll be releasing 4.7.0.148, as rumored -- just a tiny bump from the failed build 141 that had been rumored before that, but all told, far, far too long since the last official update was rolled out. We can only assume this has been tested better than a NASA launch at this point, so you're on notice, guys.
Blackberry Magnum, Onyx, Pearl 3G, and Gemini to harmonize on AT&T
BlackBerry lovers, AT&T beckons. Looks like the just-reviewed Onyx is heading to AT&T and, as rumored before, so is the Magnum. We've got no pics of the latter device, but it's being touted here as the "BlackBerry Bold portfolio evolution" and uses the same processor as the Bold. It's also got a HVGA touchscreen, QWERTY pad, quad-band GSM / GRS / EDGE, GPS, and WiFi. Want more? How about an apparently non-flip Pearl 3G with 3.6 Mbps of HSDPA goodness, Bluetooth, 3.5mm headset jack, trackball and SureType, and aGPS. Rounding out this quartet is the Gemini, with a 512MHz processor, 256MB flash memory, 128MB RAM, Bluetooth, QVGA LCD, 2 megapixel sans flash, trackball, QWERTY keyboard, 3.5mm headset jack, a microSD slot, possibly GPS, and sadly, no 3G. There's no release date in sight, but hey, knowing they're on the way is half the battle, right?
BlackBerry Onyx reviewed way before RIM intended it to be
We don't know exactly what they're feeding the engineers up in Waterloo, but we're guessing it's a combination of Red Bull, NoDoz, and speed, because they appear to be working on about ten devices at once -- awesome news for anyone looking to pick up a new BlackBerry in the next 6 to 12 months. We've already seen the Onyx in the wild, but as a refresher, this puppy does UMTS (and we'd assume HSDPA as well), a 3.2 megapixel AF cam, an undoubtedly gorgeous 480 x 360 display, GPS, and WiFi in a body more svelte than the Bold's; now, CrackBerry's managed to score a unit and give it a quick once-over. All told the impression seems very positive, with the takeaway being that RIM has taken the best personality traits of the 8900 and 9000 series and stuffed it all into a single device. We're not necessarily expecting this one on the market any time soon -- AT&T just launched the 8900 a couple days ago, after all, and CrackBerry believes RIM could replace the trackball with a Gemini-style optical pad prior to launch -- but it's something to look forward to.
BlackBerry Storm 2: the official unofficial hands-on
We've been bumping into the new BlackBerry Storm 2 for quite a while now on the so-called "information superhighway," but we've finally had a chance to escalate those encounters and spend a few sweet moments with a live unit in the flesh. First off, let's confirm the huge news: RIM's abandoned the original Storm's SurePress click-screen and gone with a traditional fixed capacitive display for the sequel. It's over, guys. Unfortunately, the Verizon-branded dual-mode GSM / CDMA unit that we played with has a bug preventing us from getting past the license screen, so we couldn't dive deep into the OS, but we can tell you what we do know: the Storm 2's sleeker style and more heft combined with the newly-stable screen collaborate to make everything feel a wee bit higher end than the original. Follow the break for more impressions!Update: On the advice of our legal team, we've had to pull the images and videos originally seen in this post. Sorry, everyone!
BlackBerry Storm 9530 firmware build 4.7.0.148 leaked -- possibly Verizon's next release?
So there's a new build of the 9530's firmware floating around; this is pretty much a weekly occurrence and not necessarily anything to get terribly excited about (though we're sure the more enterprising Storm owners out there are going to want to upgrade). Here's the thing, though: we've recently been told by a very well-connected source that Verizon rejected 141 because of one issue alone, and was already testing a replacement for it that was "still in the 140 range." That would mean that it'd have to be somewhere between 142 and 149 -- and yes, fellow mathematicians, 148 meets that requirement. Given the countless delays and the fact that Verizon has already rejected at least two firmwares, we wouldn't count on this happening any time soon -- if at all -- but it's a nice, hope-filled target to shoot for.
BlackBerry Curve 8900 comes to AT&T this Friday for $199
AT&T has just announced that the Curve 8900 -- which it had quoted for an "early summer" release -- will be made available both online and in stores starting this Friday. Interested parties who are adding a line or are eligible for a fully discounted upgrade should come equipped with a money clip bearing approximately $200 worth of dead presidents (not including tax) or a credit card with enough cap space to get the job done -- just don't expect any 3G out of the deal. Bold or Curve -- tough choice, isn't it?
Skype closed beta comes to BlackBerry
We're pretty sure that Skype won't rest until its made every last carrier in the world squirm uncomfortably as they watch their old-guard business models flirt with obsolescence, and the next platform to get the treatment -- long overdue, may we add -- is going to be BlackBerry. The company has now taken a handful of signups to apply for a private, closed beta where users will be able to check out the goods in prerelease form, which hopefully means that a public release isn't too far off; between this, Windows Mobile, and the iPhone, they've now taken a pretty good chunk out of the smartphone market. Actually, we think we can see the shiny beads of sweat forming on carriers' foreheads from all the way over here -- except for you, 3. You're looking as cool as a cucumber.
BlackBerry Storm 2 dropping SurePress screen?
When we brought you those exclusive Storm 2 pics and details just a short while ago, we touched upon the "new approach to text entry," but unfortunately didn't have any details. However, lightning has struck again, and our source has gotten back to let us know that the Storm 2 does indeed have a stationary screen "just like the iPhone's," which lines up with what Boy Genius Report is hearing. That's right, it looks like RIM is axing its SurePress technology in favor of a more conventional touchscreen, though our tipster says the model he has may allow for some type of haptic feedback to be enabled. This should be great news for all you folks having dust-under-screen issues on your first-gen Storms, but obviously, we'll have to wait and see until this thing gets, you know, legit.[Thanks, BBninja1389]
Exclusive BlackBerry Storm 2 shots!
What's this we have here? A trusted source just hit us with a slew of beauty shots of the Storm 2 that leaked a little bit ago. Not much else to say at this point until we can get one in our hands -- the photos really speak for themselves. But seriously, what are you still doing here? Get over to the gallery and see all the tasty (and frankly, familiar) shots! [Thanks, BBninja1389]
BlackBerry Tour retailing for six bills on Bell?
MSRPs of phones ultimately don't mean a whole hell of a lot to consumers; carriers can play with rebates, instant discounts, and subsidies on an almost daily basis, and a $600 phone can end up ringing up at $300, $150, a big fat zilch, or anywhere in between depending on how things work out. That said, it's interesting to see that the upcoming -- and wildly-anticipated, may we add -- BlackBerry Tour 9630 has apparently been priced at CAD $599.95 (about $511) for launch on Canada's Bell. Thing is, we still don't know when it's going down; it could be before, after, or at the same time as Verizon, but we don't even know with certainty when Big Red's launching yet, so this is all still shrouded in some of the best mystery Waterloo has to offer. Hurry up, guys -- goodness knows you've got some anxious fans with plastic ready to swipe in their outstretched hands.
Firmware roulette: Storm build 4.7.0.141 allegedly fails Verizon's testing
Why other CDMA carriers can seamlessly roll out newer builds of the Storm's firmware without fanfare or drama when Verizon can't is beyond us, but for whatever reason, Big Red's been totally unable to put its finger on a build that it has liked lately. First we heard they'd been eyeing 4.7.0.113, then we heard they were learning toward 141 -- and now, who the hell knows, because the latest rumors claim that 141 has failed validation. Ominously, it seems that no game plan has yet been put in place to succeed 141 in the official roadmap, so it's unclear whether they'll be looking at continuing down the 4.7 path or moving straight to 5.0. One way or another, it goes without saying that Verizon's version of the 9530 needs new software -- so if you haven't yet, you might want to consider nabbing one of the countless leaked builds rather than waiting for your carrier to get its butt in gear.
BlackBerry "Onyx" in the wild
We've obtained pictures of a device that we're told is the "Onyx," a 3G-enabled GSM BlackBerry that looks like a slightly sexier, smaller version of the Bold with some Niagara / Tour genes thrown in for good measure. We'd previously heard that this phone is ultimately destined for AT&T (while a UMA-enabled version might come to T-Mobile as the Driftwood), which definitely takes the edge off of the impending 8900 launch over there -- but then again, this is a prototype, and it'll be many moons (at best) before this thing gets launched. Every time we look at the Bold, it looks more out of proportion -- and sexy beasts like this one certainly aren't helping matters. Keep on keepin' on, RIM.
BlackBerry 8520 in the mix for T-Mobile in the fourth quarter?
You know what makes a lot of sense? The EDGE-only BlackBerry 8520 hitting T-Mobile USA, that's what. The carrier's already shown a penchant for launching pretty 2.5G BlackBerrys in the past, and the 8520 would be a perfect way to continue that tradition (not to say we totally support continuing any 2.5G tradition, but it is what it is). Boy Genius Report is apparently hearing that there's a Q4 launch in store for the so-called Gemini on T-Mobile USA, which feels a bit late to us -- but maybe they're just looking to give the 8900 some breathing room. Trackball for the weekdays, optical mouse for the weekends, maybe?[Image via CrackBerry]
Vodafone's BlackBerry Storm gets 4.7.0.141 update
The ratio of firmware leaks to official, carrier-endorsed releases for the 9500 and 9530 Storms is something ridiculous like 7-to-1, so when we do see an official update, it's kind of a big deal. On that note, we present to you 4.7.0.141 -- Vodafone UK's weapon of choice for upgrading its fleet of Storms deployed in the field. Don't bother trying to shoehorn this into your units, Verizon customers; it's a different model, and you'll hopefully be getting yours soon enough. [Via CrackBerry]
TweetGenius for BlackBerry review
BlackBerry users know that stellar Twitter clients have been hard to come by, so whenever a major new release hits the streets, it's something that makes the BlackBerry-carrying Twitter addicts out there -- and there are many of them, rest assured -- sit up and take notice. The latest app is called TweetGenius, and if you've been keeping an eye on our Twitter accounts, you'd know that we've been pretty excited about this app since we first had the opportunity to check it out over a month ago. In that short period of time, it's gone through one hell of a metamorphosis, and it looks like the bar is being raised for future apps -- Twitter and non-Twitter alike -- on the BlackBerry front. Read on for a closer look at what makes this app tick -- and more importantly, to find out whether it'll be replacing your current Twitter client.
Gmail gets pushed to select BlackBerrys
There's a new push purveyor on the mobile scene, come to show the competition what's what -- despite being completely dependent on that competition, at least for the moment. Hot on the heels of RIM adding a push API, Google is enabling some BlackBerry users to get their Gmail and Google Calendar goodies shoved straight to their handsets. However, there are a number of shortcomings here that make this addition somewhat limited in usefulness. For one thing users have to be connecting to BlackBerry Enterprise Server instances, and furthermore those instances have to be backed by Microsoft Exchange. Additionally, only 250 users per Enterprise Server instance can get their mobile Gmail on, changes made to appointments on a handsets cannot be pushed back to Google Calendar, and to top it all off searching for Gmail messages still requires a separate app. Updates and improvements are coming, but until then it's caveat emailor.
Gmail gets pushed to select BlackBerries
There's a new push purveyor on the mobile scene, come to show the competition what's what -- despite being completely dependent on that competition, at least for the moment. Hot on the heels of RIM adding a push API, Google is enabling some BlackBerry users to get their Gmail and Google Calendar goodies shoved straight to their handsets. However, there are a number of shortcomings here that make this addition somewhat limited in usefulness. For one thing users have to be connecting to BlackBerry Enterprise Server instances, and furthermore those instances have to be backed by Microsoft Exchange. Additionally, only 250 users per Enterprise Server instance can get their mobile Gmail on, changes made to appointments on a handsets cannot be pushed back to Google Calendar, and to top it all off searching for Gmail messages still requires a separate app. Updates and improvements are coming, but until then it's caveat emailor.
RIM CEO confirms a new Storm is brewing
It's not like we're surprised to hear this, but RIM CEO Jim Balsillie just told Reuters that the company is hard at work on a successor to the BlackBerry Storm. According to Jim, the consumer market is "large and untapped," and the current Storm is a "huge success in terms of sales and adoption." Sure, sure -- it's hard to scoff at a million units sold, after all -- but with rumors of an entirely new approach to text entry flying around, we'd say there's a good chance the Storm 2 doesn't so much build on the Storm formula as start over entirely. Thoughts?[Via PhoneScoop]
RIM pushes standardized push framework for BlackBerry OS
RIM has announced the availability of a new push API framework for BlackBerry devices that'll allow developers to push up to 8 kilobytes of data at a time -- just enough for a glanceable update, we figure -- to handsets. Though the full API is just now being announced, it's actually based on technology culled from RIM's Web Signals tech announced last year that allows users to subscribe to push updates over the web. True push available to third-party developers is a long time in coming for every platform -- and for devices as connected as BlackBerrys (and their users), we're thinking that an official solution for this should play pretty well. The API's available now to members of RIM's Alliance Program.
RIM's BlackBerry Curve 8900 officially hitting AT&T in "early summer"
Ah, ha! So the rumors were true. Just a day after we heard that RIM's BlackBerry Curve 8900 would be making its way from T-Mobile over to AT&T comes this -- official confirmation from the carrier itself. Loaded with WiFi, GPS and a 480 x 360 resolution display, this 'Berry includes free AT&T WiFi at over 20,000 hotspots (with an unlimited data plan, ironically enough) and a 3.2 megapixel camera. There's also a microSD / SDHC slot that supports cards up to 16GB in size, and while AT&T's not being very forthcoming with pricing (as in, there's no word given at all), loyal customers can expect it to land sometime in "early summer." In other words, all this release has done is extinguish the rumor fires -- 'preciate it, Ma Bell.
