Exclusive BlackBerry Storm 2 shots!
By Jacob Schulman 
posted May 14th 2009 11:44PM
posted May 14th 2009 11:44PM
[Thanks, BBninja1389]
posted May 14th 2009 11:44PM
Now that we've thrown 'em off the trail, use the form below to get in touch with the people at Engadget. Please fill in all of the required fields because they're required.
Looks UGLY to me...
I agree the first BB Storm looks better but the software was so buggy and sluggish.
Sure, but does it still have that clunky click screen and sluggish software?
Plus the web browser kinda sucked.
was it the software or the hardware that was bad for the first generation?
IMO, it was a combination of both. The screen acting as a button was a great idea, but was hard to press down in corners. Im sure this can be easily addressed by putting two buttons rather than one. However, it was really the buggy software that really took most of the glamor from the Storm, which seems to never have been really addressed.
A real shame in my opinion because they have the ability for OTA upgrades, which beats the iPhone's need of a computer. Too bad RIM never really bothered releasing any updates.
@ wako
i thought they did release updates that helped a lot right after the storm shipped? were these not OTA?
well if WinMo gets OTA updates as promised and Android already has them, looks like Apple could be late to the party on that. Wonder if 3.0 supports that.
@chambo
yeah they have released OTA updates. But what im trying to say is that they dont release enough updates to fix all the bugs. The Storm IMO, still does not feel as polished despite being on the market for so long. The iPhone (when first released) for example had updates that addressed issues almost immediately.
@Mason A little from column A, a little from column B.
I've had my BB Storm since November, and a couple things really stand out: the lack of Wifi was a big mistake in international territories where unlimited download caps don't exist *at all*, I have a 1GB cap but if I went past that it would cost me 2c per KB... that's per kilobyte! no joke, 1000 times more expensive than the similar iPhone offering (2c per MB).
On the software side, its clunky and ineligent. The browser was hacked by Vodafone to be even more stupid than usual, nothing in comparison to the iPhone. Scrolling is jittery and doesn't have any sense of inertia.
Most of all, its the interface that lets the Storm down, its slow to respond and isn't as polished as the iPhone's.
Until they fix the software, and more than just a speed boost - it needs a rethink/redesign, the blackberry storm v2 will be just as craptactular as version 1.
would be fantastic if the screen protector could have been taken off for the shots lol
but great pics of a cool phone! will be interesting to see how this one goes. not something i'd switch to verizon for, but if a gsm version was available for a good price, i'd totally bite.
I had heard at first that this was a GSM model that was being looked at. But then I remembered something. The original Storm was a hybrid of both GSM and CDMA. Something that someone else mentioned about it was that the "Activation Required" message only comes up on CDMA... as a SIM-based device would say "Insert SIM". So I'm thinkin... this is going the exact same route as the original storm and going CDMA/EV-DO + euro-GSM/UMTS for North America and full-out world-band GSM for Europe.
I'm hoping this comes out as an amazing device, really. I love my Telus Touch Diamond, but Win-Mo has its issues sometimes. For me, the musts are wi-fi, highspeed wireless, and the ability to install more than 128mb of data in the device... more like being able to install programs to both internal storage and a memory card. here's hoping...
Nope! The original Storm (Verizon's) is EVDO + Euro HSDPA + World (quad-band) EDGE... If you get it unlocked you can use it on AT&T or T-Mobile - check out my blog: http://tnkgrl.wordpress.com/2009/02/22/life-with-the-blackberry-storm/
I have used the Storm 2 myself and I can confirm the following:
The buttons are not touch-sensitive. They are flush, but can be pressed just like a normal button.
The radio is CDMA 1xRTT/EVDO with Quad-band GSM functionality.
The prototype I was using ran BlackBerry OS 5.0.
Wi-Fi IS included.
Under that little property of RIM sticker on the back, you'll find a VZW logo.
The screen has multiple "press points", so speed typing is finally a possibility.
The screen is far easier to push than the original 9530 and has much less travel.
Improved Media application, with multitouch.
All the prototypes I've seen appear to be made in Canada unlike the later Storm I's which are manufactured in Hungary.
Thanks to pic 3, we know our tipster rides in an Infiniti G35.
Useful? ...no?
or possibly a 09 maxima.
It was in November that the storm was released and since December people have been waiting for this magic software update that will make things all better. Its may15 already and still no official update I am sorry but to me it seems like you all early adopters just got shafted. By the time that magic OS update comes out the new storm will be out and sorry to say with Verizon this wont surprise me, just remember it took almost a year for the 6.1 release for the 6900 right when nobody cared anymore and still no official update for the 6850 and the 6950 just got released.
The lack of an official update isn't at the fault of RIM, it's Verizon's fault. There are MANY leaked updates which are much, much better than Verizon's official software, and everyone else (Bell, Telus, Vodafone) have all released official updates of OS 4.7.0.122 or higher. However, all of RIM's OS' up to 4.7.0.141 have failed Verizon's internal "tests"...
Needless to say, I'm running 4.7.0.141 and it makes this phone great. Not perfect, but great. In fact, anything from .109 and up makes it feel like the phone it should've been at launch.
Maybe the first Storm is beyond fixing with software updates, and that is why Storm 2 is on its way?
The original Storm came out a little premature, OS wise, but in the 6 mo. since its release a steady stream leaks have improved it to the point where I would say it is just a little short of fantastic. The latest - apparently the last before Storm owners start getting 5.0 of their own - is silk.
Wonder if VZW is working on a trade-in program for current Storm owners. Since the Storm 2 will have OS 5.0 -- maybe that is why there hasn't been an update for the current Storm. This will definately increase customer loyalty, but would definately be expansive.
when will they learn that all blackberries need a keyboard, thats like drivin a car with touch sensitive controls, it just wont work!!!!
Those little "key board" buttons are why I never got a BB until the Storm. They are just too small for my hands and fingers. I'm in sales and travel everyday, by car, I can one thumb text & email on the Storm with no problems. I've had mine sense 1st week of January and haven't had any problems to speak of. It just works, I get my email updates in the field (work and personal) I have very few apps, Calendar, VVM & Google maps with GPS get used the most. I just hope any new OS they have for the II will also work on the original. I'd be nice not to have to get a new BB every year just to keep up with the OS.
/rant on
The funny thing is - I've over all these months since the Storm came out I've heard how terrible it is etc.
Yet when I've actually talked to people with Storms and they demo some of its capabilities for me
because I've asked them how they like it and what it does for them, they sure do seem like
they work nicely... I find more and more myself taking what Engadget and their commenters
say with a grain of salt. Especially with all the hate poured on the BB Storm.
(Not a Storm owner, I'm a G1 user (and yeah, we've gotten our share of slagging too) - Almost
makes me think if its not a "fruit phone" it's crap - which is why I hope the Palm Pre shuts all
the "fruit phone" fanatics up for a while (including its Engadget staff supporters).
Do all freeking smartphone/devices have to be like the "fruit phone"????
I think not...
There is still plenty of room for innovation in this sector
/rant off
Don't get me wrong, I love reading about goodies and gadgets here.
I think a good job is done here with covering stuff.
all the above is just MHO.
cheap VS us salary