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How would you change RIM's BlackBerry Storm?
Not sure if you noticed, but RIM's first-ever full touchscreen BlackBerry caused quite the ruckus when it splashed down late last year. While many were thrilled to have the common luxuries found only on a 'Berry underneath a clickable screen, there were quite a few outcries from folks who thought the whole thing just needed a few more days in the oven. Now that it's had a chance to make its way around (most) of the world, we're curious to see how users feel about their purchase. Are you satisfied with the interface? Did RIM deliver as promised? Have the updates quelled any early issues you had? Don't hold back in comments below -- get loud, get proud.
What do you know, more BlackBerry Storm firmware updates
Alright, this is just getting out of hand, is it not? We've completely lost count of the number of firmwares RIM has released for the Storm 9500 and 9530 since the phones were launched, but perhaps the real question is, why has Verizon only released one? We suppose they're waiting for the goods to get solid enough, but this one's looking like a doozy: the media player no longer skips the beginnings of songs, inline JavaScript on web pages is once again working, and there appear to be small improvements to accelerometer performance and general system lag. You'll be looking at 4.7.0.106 if you're running a GSM 9500, and 103 for the 9530. Godspeed, upgraders.
BlackBerry Blowout: Storm vs. Bold vs. Curve 8900
We decided to take the most recent 'Berrys -- the Curve 8900, Bold, and Storm -- and toss them into a big pile. What would happen? Do they get along? What kind of bruised egos would we see? Read on for our innermost thoughts.%Gallery-43955%
BlackBerry Storm vs. Bold vs. Curve 8900... fight!
Between Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile, we now have a royal flush of latest-gen BlackBerrys from which to choose: the Storm, the Bold, and the lovely Curve 8900. Curious what a family reunion would look like? Head on over to Engadget for the full rundown!
4.7.0.99 firmware for the BlackBerry Storm may or may not be awesome
Once again, an official firmware update has leaked for the Storm 9530, and once again, it's being totally avoided by carriers so far -- but naturally, it's already been leaked for the world's immediate enjoyment. Early impressions include far faster boot times and a return to a smaller keyboard -- a change being met with some disappointment -- so we're going to hold off on calling this a must-have upgrade, but as always, it's pretty awesome to see RIM pumping out these things rapid-fire style. Now, we just need carriers to settle on one and push it out, eh?
Vodafone's Vittorio Colao dreams up "unbeatable" alliance around LTE
And here we go again -- new CEO, same message. Just under a year after ex-chief Arun Sarin urged the industry to rally around LTE, the new bigwig (that's Mr. Vittorio Colao to you) is coming forward with even zanier ideas. In a recent interview with Financial Times, Colao asserted that collaboration between China Mobile, Vodafone and Verizon Wireless around LTE could create an "unbeatable" alliance. More specifically, he noted that the trio could "work more closely... in the management of customers, procurement and service creation," which in some courtrooms may be misconstrued as collusion. All kidding aside (maybe), this master plan makes more sense when you realize that Vodafone owns a 3.2 percent stake in China Mobile and is already involved in VZW via a joint venture. Still, just because Microsoft and Apple could join forces to create an unbeatable operating system factory doesn't mean that laws would allow it.[Via mocoNews]
Days to 1 million: the smartphone wars
In a fit of editorial sobriety, reader Noel just sent us this handy "1 million devices sold" graphic above. The image demonstrates the speed (in terms of days) at which each competing handset achieved the magic milestone. What it leaves out is the footprint at launch which of course, affects the total population able to purchase the device. For example, the iPhone 3G launched in 21 countries simultaneously whereas the G1 launched in the US only. It's also worth noting that the precision reflects that of the announcements made. For example, VZW announced that the Storm hit 1M "through January" which could be interpreted as January 31st or January 27th, the day of the announcement -- and that's just US sales. Still, the table is a valuable tool for the fanboy braggarts and budding marketeers amongst you. Data after the break.[Thanks, Noel F.]
iSuppli: BlackBerry Storm costs $4 more than its purchase price to build
In a fiscal climate where profit margin reigns intensely supreme, we've got yet another dollop of bad news to heap upon the parfait of pain that is the $199 (after $50 mail in rebate) BlackBerry Storm. Research firm, iSuppli, estimates that the cost for the components and assembly of RIM's BlackBerry Storm are just shy of $203 -- an estimate that does not include software development and uh, bug fixing costs or those attributed to patent licensing, physical distribution, marketing or anything else in the product lifecycle. The most costly component is the $35 Qualcomm MSM7600 processor that gives the Storm its dual GSM / CDMA personality. Now, $203 isn't that big of a spread compared to the per unit cost of a $175 8GB iPhone 3G, $169 BlackBerry Bold, or $144 T-Mobile G1. However, the lost prophets profits add up quickly when you've moved over a million units globally.P.S. We're not implying that RIM is losing money here (the price is obviously carrier subsidized), only that the Storm is likely less profitable than its peers. But without knowing what VZW pays on a per unit basis, we can't say for sure who's getting the fiscal-shaft.
Verizon touts 1 million BlackBerry Storms sold to date
Well, it looks like the BlackBerry faithful have come out in full force to snag "Verizon's best-selling device," after all. Despite RIM's nightmarish "new reality," of half-baked firmware and broken dreams, Verizon has made it known that the latest 'Berry has grown to a full 1 million units sold between the November 21st launch and the end of January. Apparently the ever-leaking updates have kept enough people satisfied with the keyboardless device to reach this milestone, so we'll just keep our fingers crossed that the updates don't stop flowing and this powerhouse becomes the titan it has the potential to become. [Via CrackBerry]
RIM CEO: Buggy smartphone software is the "new reality"
While our experience says otherwise, we really hope that the practice of launching buggy smartphones hasn't been institutionalized. The Wall Street Journal just published a report about the "bumpy launch" of the BlackBerry Storm -- a handset that WSJ sources say sold some 500,000 units in the first month following its global release. Not bad, but well off the 2.4 million launch pace seen by the iPhone 3G -- the phone the Storm had hoped to unseat as sales champ. The WSJ speculates that the relatively timid response stems from buggy or otherwise "clunky software" that crippled the user experience and performance at launch only to be (partially) corrected later via software updates. An abysmal scenario which echos the buggy 2.0 software that accompanied the iPhone 3G at launch. Now, instead of pleading for mercy at the feet of disgruntled consumers, RIM co-CEO, Jim Balsillie, calls the post-launch scramble part of the "new reality" of making complex cellphones in large volumes. A Verizon spokesman noted that return percentages are measurable in single digits (standard for a smartphone) adding, "The sales and performance of the device have lived up to our expectations." Fine, but when expectations are high that the consumer experience will be poor, somehow that doesn't sound like a victory to us.
New Storm OS 4.7.0.90 leaked, includes QWERTY keyboard in portrait mode
As you know, a new beta OS for the Storm has made its way into the wild. Although we haven't had a chance to give OS 4.7.0.90 the what-for ourselves, those of you who have certainly have a lot to say. The big news for both 9500 and 9530 users is that there is now a QWERTY keyboard in portrait mode -- no more flipping the phone around just for an ill-advised late night tweet! Besides that, users have noted an increase in overall stability (unless you're trying to listen to music -- more on that in a moment) and some visual enhancements (including the older-look application folder and fonts that are slightly larger). Additionally, when the device is locked, the screen doesn't light up every time you bump it -- good for battery life. And as one user noted, the charging issue "which plagued OS version 88" has been resolved. Unfortunately, there has also been plenty of chatter about buggy multimedia players -- at least on the Storm 9500. Users have complained about music and video playback crashing the phone, fast forward not working, and an overall video performance decrease. Brave Blackberry fans can hit the read link to browse the forums and maybe even download the new OS for themselves. More images after the break.
Yet another Storm firmware leaks out of the Waterloo sieve
Okay, so now we're up to 4.7.0.90 for both the Storm 9500 (Vodafone's model) and the 9530 found on CDMA carriers. At this point, there certainly doesn't seem to be any desire on RIM's part to keep these things under lock and key, so it makes you wonder: how long does the carrier validation process go on for these things? We have to believe Verizon, Vodafone, and others are all going through each and every Storm firmware with a fine-tooth comb trying to decide which to release to their customers -- but when you look at the sorry leaked-to-official firmware update ratio, it's a pretty depressing state of affairs for your average Storm user who isn't tracking forums. At any rate, there's no solid word on everything that's new in 90, but early reports have it being generally faster and more stable than anything before it -- a placebo effect, perhaps, so we'll have to keep watching the sitch for a while.[Via BlackBerryNews]
BlackBerry Storm to support Global VZ Navigator in Q1?
While Verizon Wireless isn't exactly following hot on the heels of AT&T with its purported Global VZ Navigator, phoneArena has it that the carrier's BlackBerry Storm will become VZW's first handset to support the software later this quarter. Not that such news is a big shock given the worldly capabilities of this here smartphone, but it's still good news for globetrotters who'd rather not carry a dedicated PND. We're told that the service will go for $20 per month, with Mexico, Canada, France, Italy, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom being supported right out of the gate.
Ask Engadget: Best BlackBerry handset right now?
Make no mistake, the hottest thing going in the mobile realm just now is the Palm Pre, but that's not to say RIM hasn't gained a lot of attention with its most recent outpouring of smartphones. Max has chimed in with this week's Ask Engadget question (which was sent in via ask at engadget dawt com), and it's all about the latest and greatest BlackBerrys. "I'm considering purchasing the BlackBerry Bold, but the news about the Storm and even the Curve has me intrigued. Which would your readers recommend for a new BlackBerry owner, and why? Pros and cons for each would be excellent." We don't need to reiterate just how high the pedestal is on which the Curve 8900 sits (yes, even today) in the minds of the BB faithful, so we've no doubt that it should be included in this conversation. Go on fanboys, defend your dialer below.
Which BlackBerry would you recommend?
Hey, Mobile reader -- have we got your attention? Good. Head on over to this week's Ask Engadget inquiry on Engadget Classic and bestow upon the world some of your awesome knowledge. The question itself is pretty simple, but we'll implore you to hop over and read the whole thing yourself before blurting anything out.
Storm firmware leakfest continues with 4.7.0.86 for 9530
If we've learned one thing over the years from our incredible powers of observation, it's that if you're using a BlackBerry, odds are you're an "x-treme" individual. You know, the kind of person who goes five over on the interstate, springs for the extra spicy bucket of wings, or stays up past 9PM on Saturdays. In fact, they're often so wild and crazy that they replace their safe, sensible, carrier-approved firmwares with leaked copies of newer versions. For those of you who fall into that category and own Storms, you might want to check out this new one, 4.7.0.86, that's just a touch newer than the 85 build leaked for the 9500 not long ago. No word on what exactly changed, but it's got to be awesome. Go on, do it, you daredevil, you.
4.7.0.85 leaks for the Vodafone BlackBerry Storm 9500
If you're one of those people who likes to live on the bleeding edge of BlackBerry software updates, head on over to CrackBerry to get your latest fix. General consensus in the site's forums seem to indicate that the 9500 Storm for Vodafone is faring a bit better after the update than the identically-labeled Verizon counterpart that leaked a bit back. Unfortunately, from the looks of things, RIM hasn't hit every bug on its first "netbook," but if 4.7.0.83 or 4.7.0.78 just ain't cutting it, be sure to head over to CrackBerry for the full lowdown on how to score another .02 (or .07). Read - CrackBerry Blog post Read - CrackBerry Forums thread
Most supreme smartphone for under $200 on contract?
We've got a whopper this week over at Classic's Ask Engadget, and we're soliciting your help. Real simple: what's the best smartphone available for under $200 on contract? And... go!
RIM's president calls BlackBerry Storm a small netbook
Clearly, Mike Lazaridis has the chops when it comes to running a business. What he clearly lacks, however, is a firm definition of the term "netbook." To his credit, we still feel the exact boundaries for netbooks have yet to be determined (fret not, Psion Teklogix is hammering out those details), but calling a BlackBerry Storm one is -- how do you say? -- a bit of a stretch. During a recent sit down with RIM's president, CNET Asia heard the bigwig answer like so when questioned about viewing netbooks as competitors: "No, I think I can put netbooks in here [referring to the BlackBerry Storm]. These are netbooks. They are just smaller." Wait, Mike -- don't you think smartphones are more like MIDs or UMPCs? Or do we just have you all wrong here?[Via phoneArena]
Leaked Rogers slides make us want to move to Canada
We're not really sure where to begin with this one, because the awesomeness is so thorough and so intense that we're basically at a loss for words; we'll see what we can do here, though. In brief, a HoFo poster has thrown up what appear to be slides from a Rogers event detailing the carrier's release plans for the better part of 2009, and seriously, if you name a badass handset, odds are it's here. Samsung will apparently be bringing the 8.1-megapixel Pixon, for starters, and Sony Ericsson will be throwing its name into the huge-cam hat with the C905. Turning our attention to Windows Mobile, the X1 is scheduled for release "around August if not sooner," Motorola brings the lowly Q11, and HTC adds the Touch Pro, the Touch Viva (an unusual choice considering HTC's intention to send it to emerging markets), and possibly the Touch 3G. Nokia will be offering the 5800 XpressMusic in the middle part of the year, Moto will be bringing a pair of 5-megapixel phones in the VE66 and ZN5, and finally, it seems RIM is signed up to bring the all-GSM 9520 Storm with WiFi -- a feature sorely missing from the Verizon and Vodafone versions -- and a 3G remix of the 8200 Pearl series flip that'll have a front-facing cam for video calling (yeah, no joke, they offer it up there). So look, AT&T, you have two options here: either crib off this presentation and make it happen, or we hope you get bought by Rogers. Your choice.[Via Engadget Spanish]
