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BlackBerry Storm Update Impressions
December 5th, 2008 by Todd Haselton
Verizon Wireless just informed us of specific OS fixes in the Storm update. Here’s a quick at-a-glance look:
- Improvements in Bluetooth audio performance
- Improvements in performance for multimedia applications such as video, music, and MMS
- Improvements in display performance in terms of correctly displaying keys when switching between landscape and portrait modes.
It also fixes any accidental powering-down the device may have done in the past, muted incoming audio during voice-activated dialing, audio increases over the headset during incoming calls, and the elimination of a “cannot complete call as dialed” message when users dialed *86.
We have a Storm with the old OS on it, as well as one with the new update so we decided to compare the two. We’ve noticed that the screen switches between horizontal and vertical mode just a hair faster after the update. However, the display still doesn’t recognize every finger press; typing in the phone number for an MMS took longer than it should have. We did appreciate that a Babylon AD trailer, preloaded on the phone, didn’t crash at all during two playbacks: an issue we noticed before.
The Storm still feels sluggish throughout, though, and that’s an improvement that we hope is fixed in an upcoming update. We’d also like to see improved battery life performance, if possible. If you have a Storm, please let us know in the comments section below if the update has helped you.
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5 Responses to “BlackBerry Storm Update Impressions”
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December 7th, 2008 at 2:20 am
I have the Storm, It’s my first trip down BlackBerry lane. I am pretty happy with the trip so far. I just recently turned in the iPhone, that I was very happy with, but I was already a Verizon customer and did not want two contracts. The Storm still has a little more to go before it is flawless. I seem to recall the first gen iPhone having some problems also. Are software problems as big a pain as hardware problems to fix, no. I am sure that RIM will work frantically to fix these problems to keep the storm off the shelves. I am very happy with the video quality, audio quality and the BlackBerry OS. I do miss the Apple App store, but was happy to see Google Maps on the BB. Although the download speeds are not what I was expecting. I live in Jacksonville, FL now, by way of NYC, and my other phone, the Voyager, seemed to be a little bit faster and the iPhone was much faster. Is 3G even available in Jacksonville, FL with Verizon? If so I must be in a bad spot, all the time.
To finish up, I do recommend the BlackBerry Storm to all customers in a contract with Verizon. If you are with AT&T and live in a 3G area the iPhone is just too cool to pass up.
December 7th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
I did not get my phone on the original release date, but got it actually on the day that they released the new firmware. I used it for a few hours at work and noticed how buggy the os felt. I feel bad for the people who had to use it for two weeks without the update because it was terrible.
Once I installed the update most of the original problems were fixed and I now truly appreciate the phone. Only problems I have is difficulty clicking links without using the pointer and even when using the pointer it is tough to get it in the exact place. Typing in address is a pain too, because every time you push the key to change the keyboard to numbers- once you click a number it automatically changes back to letters, without letting you type in the full #. So that adds about four extra clicks for every address in the city. I also don’t use suretype in portrait mode but rather the multitap that i am used to. When using that i think its faster than using the qwerty in landscape. I am sure I will notice a few more bugs in the future, but I would not trade in the phone because of them. I enjoy using it and i’m sure it will only get better with future enhancements
January 8th, 2009 at 1:51 pm
Well its a really cool device but I am going to wait for it till june and hope all the problems are fixed its a gem of a device I dont know how long can I wait …
January 15th, 2009 at 11:28 pm
I’m new to the Blackberry world and honestly its worth it to me. i have the storm i got it for christmas in december. i got it knowing i would have problems but the problems i do have don’t make me want to get rid of my phone. i’m in love with the storm. i just wish sometimes my screen wont get all distorted. or go fuzzy like on a tv. has anyone had this problem?
January 18th, 2009 at 7:55 pm
Well I have the Storm now for a few days now, and a few things I do not like about it.
My Jawbone worked well the first couple of days, but now when ever I try to voice dial, it does not seem to hear any commands.
Typing is not as easy as I thought, maybe just have to get to used to it.
Live messenger installs but does not connect, but be a problem with my service provider Bell.
Hopefully things will get better.
BTW, I have the latest updates