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Don't take this one as news (or even rumor) at this point, but rather as something that's popped up in the CrackBerry forums that makes for an interesting discussion for a Tuesday morning. CrackBerry member PensHockey posted the image above last night that was emailed to him from a friend - along with a subject title of Tropic (and no body text) in the email....
After doing some quick research (could be wrong), it appears that internally (to RIM) that the "9990" model number does actually exist but doesn't seem to point to a new device - rather it is classified as Storm 2 hardware. The 9990's 5.7 OS could be/should be experimental/newer firmware for the Storm 2 (which for a long time now has been referred to as the 9550), though at this time the 5.7 version number displayed is definitely new/unheard of by most, so we're not fully sure what the scoop is here. It seems unlikely that 5.7 software would ever be "released" anytime soon (5.0 is the next rollout and we've heard that 5.2 is the next iteration to becoming). We don't **think** the image is a photoshop at least, but who knows, stranger things have happened. It really wouldn't be that hard to do up a wallpaper like this and take a photo. While version 5.7 software seems crazy, the fact images like this are not meant to be seen by the public (assuming it's a legit image of course) doesn't mean RIM could do some funky labeling on some internal test builds. Or, this could easily be BS. As said above, it's not news or rumor, but an interesting photo that showed up in the forums that we decided to post to the blogs to make for some discussion and there is some evidence that the 9990 is a model for the Storm 2.
So what's this mean right now? Not much. The next-generation Storm is still a few months away from being released, and in the meantime a lot of work is being done on the firmware and things like device model numbers can change (but I wouldn't start calling the 9550 the 9990 just yet!). When I posted the video of the Storm 9550 in action the other week, which displayed an OS that was still in early stages, it was made clear to me that the final OS should be running smooth and offer up some enhancements not yet reflected in the firmware I was running (it seems there could be a bit more to the new touchscreen technology than initially meets the eye). I still owe y'all a follow-up Q&A post which is coming, but have been holding off on posting that for a bit (variety of reasons). Stay tuned. Have fun in the comments. Who calls photoshop? Who argues it's legit?
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Riders On The Storm Aug 4, 2009 at 9:55 am
With the screen size, it does look like the Storm 2, however doesn't the Magnum have a 360x480 screen? That is the same size as the Storm, could this be the Storm 2 for GSM, maybe the Magnum?
urbanjeff Aug 4, 2009 at 1:45 pm
I will wait for the STORM 3 Landing in February.
LOL
agband Aug 4, 2009 at 9:54 am
Does that say v5.7.0.151? How the hell would it be at 5.7 already? I call BS on this.
Kevin Michaluk Aug 4, 2009 at 10:05 am
yeah... could easily be BS. je ne sais pas. time will reveal all i guess.
syb0rg Aug 4, 2009 at 10:13 am
Wouldn't 5.7 be the touch screen version of 5.0? like 4.7 is the touch version of 4.0?
LoSt180 Aug 4, 2009 at 10:53 am
Not really, it's just the OS version. The new Tour has a 4.7 OS and it's not touch screen.
Dave12308 Aug 4, 2009 at 8:20 pm
It was simply named 4.7 because it wasn't a major NEW revision, and thus took the next number in line.
neverhavemoney Aug 4, 2009 at 10:11 am
Hey everyone,
I have done this too. Make photoshopped images, open them up on my storm and take pictures of them. This is clerely that. The work is great but when you look at the phone itself it looks EXACTLY like the storm 1 and not 2...
Just my imput!
Ben
SilverLight98 Aug 4, 2009 at 6:10 pm
I agree... looks like a storm 1 not 2. look at the chrome/ bezel side. Its thinner on the storm 2
sgtmilstack Aug 4, 2009 at 10:13 am
The 9990 could be a super Storm (or other touch screen class) and 5.7 could be the OS that revamps their lineup and adds serious features. That would be the siht, if true, of course!
oldTimePens Aug 4, 2009 at 10:17 am
It's the branding for the storm 2. I'd put money on it.
warhed230 Aug 4, 2009 at 10:30 am
The person that cut & paste this should of gone all out & gone with the 10,030!!!
OME6A Aug 4, 2009 at 10:38 am
Could it be a Storm model with a front-facing camera for video calls? Since RIM says some 2010 models will have them:
http://tinyurl.com/ngynsq
BuddyBlackberry Aug 4, 2009 at 10:38 am
I hate teasers... Don't tell me whats to come unless it is concrete... but it do sounds interesting though......
experiment 626 Aug 4, 2009 at 10:38 am
How come it only lists 3G? Not WiFi as well?
John_5_24 Aug 4, 2009 at 10:40 am
I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss it. I read online that the 9990 with OS 5.7 is capable of generating 1.21 gigawatts of power. You would NEVER have to recharge. RIM is obviously way ahead of the game.
Kevin Michaluk Aug 4, 2009 at 10:41 am
I want it!! Put some solar cells into that'll keep it recharginging constantly during the day. That's what I'm talking about!
ccecc85 Aug 4, 2009 at 3:04 pm
1 POINT 21 GIGAWATTS! 1 point twenty - one giga-watts!
Shinjira Aug 4, 2009 at 10:46 am
It's definately photoshopped
If you look on the blackberry ninja site there was a recent post in wich he stated wich builds for all the Blackberry´s are in the works including Storm 2.
So this is BS and coming to think of it i don´t think RIM will make 2 Storm 2´s like Apple did with their iphones (16 gig and 32 gig)
So truelly bogus in my opinion
SurrealCivic Aug 4, 2009 at 10:54 am
W T F!
ka3yan#CB Aug 4, 2009 at 11:00 am
Someone is laughing their a$$ off right now!! LOL!! Good one!
Xopher Aug 4, 2009 at 11:01 am
No Wifi listed for the radios. If all new generation CDMA Berrys are supposed to have WiFI.....
TallyHo Aug 4, 2009 at 11:06 am
I call BS....
After every Micro Edition there is a colon. After each colon is a character return. All except one that is.
Micro Edition Media Version:2.1 should be
Micro Edition Media Version: 2.1
If that line was simply running out of space, it would have pushed the 2.1 to the next line.
Photoshop Fail!!!
dylanmail Aug 4, 2009 at 11:31 am
I agree with TallyHo. Great catch. Busted!
dgburns Aug 4, 2009 at 11:15 am
How hard would it be to "photoshop" 4.7.0.151 (which IS out from Iusacell in Mexico for the Storm 9530) to 5.7.0.151? I don't have my 151 running Storm handy, do the other numbers line up with what 4.7.0.151 says???
MajorXero Aug 4, 2009 at 12:52 pm
The rest of the numbers don't match up but changing different numbers here and there wouldn't exactly be difficult. Some of the numbers don't follow a logical pattern and look like they were just moved up to the next number for the sake of looking more "advanced". It also looks like the screen edge and bezel of the 9530. Compared it to mine. Completely fake. Still getting the Storm 2, though.
imiller Aug 4, 2009 at 11:39 am
no wifi?? interesting
addictedtoblackberry Aug 4, 2009 at 11:39 am
yah......it seems like too much improvement. like the adage goes, if it sounds too good to be true...
joansin Aug 4, 2009 at 11:49 am
Hope somebody enjoys their moment of fame here. I am just ready to get my 9550. No sense in teasing and messing with crackberry addicts!
JRSCCivic98 Aug 4, 2009 at 11:54 am
Just FYI, the 105 branding is Verizon.
Jeeverz Aug 4, 2009 at 12:09 pm
But but I want the 9900 Pluto :(
thablackguy#CB Aug 4, 2009 at 12:09 pm
either way. i'm getting the storm 2 when it comes out lol
330eye Aug 4, 2009 at 2:10 pm
No interest without WiFi.
fishbowl007 Aug 4, 2009 at 2:13 pm
I call BS
1magine Aug 4, 2009 at 2:38 pm
Not even close.
thor84sh Aug 4, 2009 at 3:09 pm
i think it's a fake
Platform 4.2.0.101 is the Platform on Storm 9500 with 5.0.0.140
and Software 5.7.0.151 looks like an edited 4.7.0.151
i Think this screen cames from an Hypridebuilde who likes to Play with editing *.alx Files
michael styles Aug 4, 2009 at 3:09 pm
PhotoShop Peeps, even if this was possible there would be more photos leaked from other places.....let's hold back a lil for further judgement.
DoinItWright Aug 4, 2009 at 3:45 pm
That "Micro Edition Media Version" line is definitely not right. There would be a space in there. Whoever did this wanted it to seem more advanced so they changed it to 2.1, but ended up with not enough space to fit it. Also, ... its just way too coincidental ... 4.7.0.151 ... 5.7.0.151. C'mon. And the platform version is the same as a 9500 runing 5.0.0.140? No way. I call BRAVO SIERRA!!
TallyHo Aug 4, 2009 at 3:51 pm
Hey, I already caught the Micro Edition Media Version line like 15 comments earlier :P
I do agree though......epic fail!
njbourne23 Aug 4, 2009 at 4:31 pm
I think that it's intriguing really, i mean we do have a name of a tropic rolling around right? who knows maybe this is the Storm 3. RIM can't just be working on the Storm 2 they have a be many steps ahead of that and let the process trickle down. When it gets close to release then we hear about it so maybe........just maybe this is a new OS or a new Storm that will be in the works later on....i just hope i win one when Crackberry throws a contest! <<<------ Kevin please not this! ;-D
mbs Aug 4, 2009 at 6:50 pm
I call shenanigans on this one.
WhoolioPreludee Aug 4, 2009 at 7:57 pm
Forget 5.0 release 6.0!
WhoolioPreludee Aug 4, 2009 at 8:03 pm
I call BS. The picture is real but the screen is nothing more than a typed up document on notepad and displayed on the storm. Where is the blackberry logo and writing in blue? BS BS Bs
TehPatty Aug 4, 2009 at 10:12 pm
Just sayin... :oP
chicano323 Aug 4, 2009 at 10:23 pm
can anyne really say its the new phone i mean it would of been more beleivable with the rest of the phone in the pic right? i mean whats if its just a file with the info in it?
but if it is then cool hope it comes out a.s.a.p.
crackberryvirgin Aug 5, 2009 at 12:17 am
I just hope it's a non Verizon touch screen phone!
redefinescience Aug 5, 2009 at 8:09 am
or its an edited screenshot viewed on the device ..... and with that editing, you wouldn't need photoshop, ms paint would do you fine
rolliesandoval1975 Aug 5, 2009 at 4:37 pm
If you go to about on your phone you see that there is a blackberry logo on top of page. i can easily make this on my memopad... stop trying to bring up false hopes....
Quikszilva Aug 6, 2009 at 2:55 am
If you remember the previous vids of the storm 2 you will realize that the phone in this pic has that same click touch screen like the storm 9530, same gap, same silver border, and if you look really close you can kinda see a scratch on the left of the casing. I would at least think if the damn storm 2 is still in the works they would take better care of it than that, sheesh!!! But what ever,Epic PHOTOSHOP phail < (all fillipino like, lol)
phoenixgi Aug 7, 2009 at 10:26 pm
I'm personly going with potentialy real, there is know we could know everything the BB is trying out, this could very well be a Alpha for a phone we will be seeing a few years down the road, these things take more then a year to engineer, build, program and so on. But, Eh, who knows, the posibility also exists that becouse of this image, if it was real BB COULD (though I wouldn't be supprised if they didn't bother also) change the Model / OS numbers if they wanted to. So I guess it's possibile we could never know.