News & Rumors

BlackBerry Storm: Official Press Release, Hands-On Initial Reviews, Websites Launched and More!!!

by Kevin Michaluk

on 8 Oct 2008 12:48 AM

137

BlackBerry Storm Crazyiness!

Wow. I don't even know where to begin. Fall asleep on the couch for an hour, wake up just after midnight and the Internet has gone BlackBerry Storm'n mad!!! You now have a WHACK LOAD of information about the BlackBerry Storm to browse through and digest... it's crazy, and it's good. Dive into it:

Other New BlackBerry Storm Related Links at CrackBerry.com:

Video: CMO of Vodafone Talks BlackBerry Storm >>
BlackBerry Storm Hands-On Reviews >>
Video: BlackBerry Storm Video Airs on CBS >>
Video: Verizon BlackBerry Storm Hits the Streets! >>
First Look at the BlackBerry Application Center >>
BlackBerry Storm User Guide >>

I'll keep updating the links above as they continue to roll in. And you can scroll down for more Storm action. C R A Z Y. Be sure to post all of your reactions and thoughts and questions in the comments to this post!

Filed Under: News & Rumors;

137 Comments

Posted by Achronas Wednesday, Oct 08, 2008 1221 days ago

HOLY SHIT!

This is completely AWESOME!

Posted by Anonymous Wednesday, Oct 08, 2008 1221 days ago

It would be awesome if there was wifi. Check out VZW terms:

---------------------------------------
DATA PLANS AND FEATURES

Data Plans and Features (such as NationalAccess, BroadbandAccess, GlobalAccess, Push to Talk, and certain VZEmail services) may ONLY be used with wireless devices for the following purposes: (i) Internet browsing; (ii) email; and (iii) intranet access (including access to corporate intranets, email, and individual productivity applications like customer relationship management, sales force, and field service automation). The Data Plans and Features MAY NOT be used for any other purpose. Examples of prohibited uses include, without limitation, the following: (i) continuous uploading, downloading or streaming of audio or video programming or games; (ii) server devices or host computer applications, including, but not limited to, Web camera posts or broadcasts, automatic data feeds, automated machine-to-machine connections or peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing; or (iii) as a substitute or backup for private lines or dedicated data connections. This means, by way of example only, that checking email, surfing the Internet, downloading legally acquired songs, and/or visiting corporate intranets is permitted, but downloading movies using P2P file sharing services and/or redirecting television signals for viewing on laptops is prohibited. A person engaged in prohibited uses, continuously for one hour, could typically use 100 to 200 MBs, or, if engaged in prohibited uses for 10 hours a day, 7 days a week, could use more than 5 GBs in a month.

For individual use only and not for resale. We reserve the right to protect our network from harm, which may impact legitimate data flows. We reserve the right to limit throughput or amount of data transferred, and to deny or terminate service, without notice, to anyone we believe is using an Data Plan or Feature in any manner prohibited above or whose usage adversely impacts our network or service levels. Anyone using more than 5 GB per line in a given month is presumed to be using the service in a manner prohibited above, and we reserve the right to immediately terminate the service of any such person without notice. We also reserve the right to terminate service upon expiration of Customer Agreement term.
---------------------------------------

So, basically, they control what you do. And even if you are not doing anything illegal, they can terminate your service. Fuck that. That's why I want WiFi. If I'm sitting in my house, doing only legal shit, I don't wanna the data usage nazis knocking down my door.

Posted by Achronas Wednesday, Oct 08, 2008 1220 days ago

No WIFI!!

OMG, lets all be little Bitches about it and go cry to your iPhones because it has WIFI.

How bout you just fall in a well.

WIFI is not the Holy MF'n Grail in the cell phone world.

So get off your high horse and use your GD laptop or desktop for christ sake, are you really that lazy that you have to use your phone instead of getting off of ass and use a TRUE computer?

Just do us all a favor and never disgrace this site by looking at it again Jackass

-Now for all of you who are loyally ready to defend him because WIFI is your Crack Cocaine, I'm not saying it wouldn't be nice, I'm just stating that, really realistically, how many times is Verizon going to terminate your service? And to add on top of this, WIFI is not very much faster if any at all than Verizon network that it would make a huge difference in the first place. So go F*** yourselves and leave us be, it's just another thing for someone to Bitch about.

Posted by owl Thursday, Oct 09, 2008 1220 days ago

Why do you need so many F-Words to express your opinion?

Posted by Achronas Thursday, Oct 09, 2008 1220 days ago

I don't... I just went off the deep end little bit there, I'm just so sick of everyone complaining about every little detail.

So, I apologize to those of you I offended with my language.

Posted by dannykb24dj2 Thursday, Oct 09, 2008 1220 days ago

Kevin, dude!!! Take a break, you deserve it man. I dont know HOW you do it, but you do. Great work. Thank you, but seriously, you can take a break now =)
(if you want)

Posted by Anonymous Thursday, Oct 09, 2008 1220 days ago

just another phone, what's the big deal...

Posted by Bla1ze Wednesday, Oct 08, 2008 1221 days ago

LOL!! All those sites were under embargo till 12:01, Telus site is messed up though.

EDIT: Nevermind, Ad Block was on and for some reason Telus site always gets filtered.

Posted by Anonymous Wednesday, Oct 08, 2008 1221 days ago

this thread will explode in 3, 2, 1...

Posted by skyys Wednesday, Oct 08, 2008 1221 days ago

IT... HAS... BEGUUUUUN!!

Posted by Achronas Wednesday, Oct 08, 2008 1221 days ago

Geeez.... After reading that.... I can't stop drooling... how close is this thing really?

Does it come with that BA cradle and the three faceplates?

What's all of this?

Posted by woodyou Wednesday, Oct 08, 2008 1221 days ago

who cares about the bold ???? anyone ?

Posted by Anonymous Wednesday, Oct 08, 2008 1221 days ago

O..........M............G.............I cannot breathe........

Posted by Anon Wednesday, Oct 08, 2008 1221 days ago

This is GREAT! Read all the reviews and I'm thoroughly impressed. I can't wait to pick up this phone (especially after that bastard ass Tmobile Dash just exploded on me). Can we get definite date and price though, Verizon?

Posted by Anonymous Wednesday, Oct 08, 2008 1221 days ago

check out blackberry.com as well for a lil more infO...

can't wait for this..does ANY Verizon associates have a release date yet!?!

Posted by daveizzle06 Wednesday, Oct 08, 2008 1221 days ago

CAN SOMEONE TELL US ABOUT GPS!?!?!?!?!?!

AHHHHH
all these reviews and they verified no wifi but didnt say if GPS was locked down with VZW or not!!?>!

Posted by Primate Wednesday, Oct 08, 2008 1221 days ago

One of the reviews says that you can use BBmaps for free but if you want voice turn by turn and such you will need VZnav.

Posted by daveizzle06 Wednesday, Oct 08, 2008 1221 days ago

that is awesome. i already have the best navigation in the world. its called Lexus Nav on my IS 350. All i needed was the ability to use google maps etc for findig locations near me, etc

Posted by Anonymous Wednesday, Oct 08, 2008 1221 days ago

From the PCMag review...

"The GPS radio is open to both Verizon's own VZ Navigator and third-party applications such as BlackBerry Maps and Google Maps."

FINALLY VERIZON!

Posted by Anonymous Wednesday, Oct 08, 2008 1221 days ago

From the PCMag review...

"The GPS radio is open to both Verizon's own VZ Navigator and third-party applications such as BlackBerry Maps and Google Maps."

FINALLY VERIZON!

Posted by editguy Wednesday, Oct 08, 2008 1221 days ago

I didn't think I was interested in a touchscreen, but suddenly I'm reconsidering!

Posted by Bla1ze Wednesday, Oct 08, 2008 1221 days ago

Screw the phone I have my Bold, I'm more excited over the developer tools, fomcl!!!

Posted by whitenessj Wednesday, Oct 08, 2008 1221 days ago

A: No Wifi seems like a punk but the verizon network is fast across the board not just some areas.
what about the 4G network they have been talking about...is that hits may adn this can support it.then forget wifi anyway.
B: anyone else notice the nice copper and black backs in the engadget gallery? (adds a nice personal touch)
C: not too surprised by the hardware acceleration. remember iits a business and telecommunication device not a toy!
D:THE DOCK IS A GREAT ADDITION, i have had many of VZW ppl tell me they thought the dock was going to be an extra, but by the writeups looks like a new alarm clock has made its way to the bedside!

Posted by skyys Wednesday, Oct 08, 2008 1221 days ago

I'm curious how the browser holds up. Wondering if it uses the pinch/squeeze zooming method or something else.

Qoute from Engadget:
"...but when it comes to browsing, media playback and other forms of consumer-friendliness, RIM still has a ways to go."

Wish they would elaborate. What makes the browsing and media playback not consumer-friendly in Engadget's eyes? Just a thought.

Posted by whitenessj Wednesday, Oct 08, 2008 1221 days ago

pure speculation, but i woudl assume that agian w/o video acceleration they are aludeing to a what i would call "less interactive experiance" in my previous pda phones the ones that suffer in browsing are slighty less fluid at scrolling or flicking through thumbnails.
Example: We all know hoe the iphone adn ipods scroll from album to album in a horizontal "slide" motion, wel i woudl think that w/o acceleration they dont liek the menu style.
~~~Most of this i beleive will be mostly style issues they have. Not with the phones ability to do what it does well, rather a comparions to what other phones like it do better (or differant) depending on how u look @ it

Posted by Anonymous Wednesday, Oct 08, 2008 1221 days ago

In the press release at the first link above it says:
Browsing is Fast and Easy

Customers will enjoy a full HTML high-performance browser that works in either portrait or landscape orientation. Navigating Web sites is fast and easy with the touch-screen interface that lets users double tap to zoom in and slide their fingers to scroll and pan.

Icons along the bottom of the display allow for quickly accessing Web sites, switching between "Page View" and "Column View" as well as the ability to toggle between "Pan" mode and "Cursor" mode. The enhanced browser supports file downloading, streaming audio and video (RTSP), and with its built-in RSS support, new content from supported Web sites can be automatically pushed to the user.

Posted by The Original Rude Boy Don Dadda Wednesday, Oct 08, 2008 1221 days ago

Hey Mon, whats wit all this monkey business ya know. This ting be like buck, buck, buck. Wish we had crazy tings like this on the island. Oh well, we leave them tings for you bumbaclot boys. When you cross them briges to babylon up da mountain of zion everyting gon be irey rassclot.

Posted by Anonymous Wednesday, Oct 08, 2008 1221 days ago

AMAZING!!but still no pricing or release date. Hopefully by days end Wednesday we can get some info.

Posted by Anonymous Wednesday, Oct 08, 2008 1221 days ago

i think pricing will probably be in direct competition with the iphone

Posted by DawnGP143 Wednesday, Oct 08, 2008 1221 days ago

WHEN CAN I HAVE IT VERIZON????????

Posted by Pea_Sea_Ess Wednesday, Oct 08, 2008 1221 days ago

Its nice to read all of these hands on reviews, but what we all want, at least i think we all want, is to read Kevin's hands on review. Come on RIM or somebody out there in LaLa Land, get Kevin a phone so all of his 300,000 + members can see what he has to say.
Thank you.

PS. i like the fact that all the reviews are diggin the keyboard thing.

Posted by Anonymous Wednesday, Oct 08, 2008 1221 days ago

I haven't seen an icon for blackberry messenger on any photos of this thing? Maybe its inside the instant messenger icon? This thing better have BBM or else thats a major deal breaker.

Posted by mr. Hi-Definition Wednesday, Oct 08, 2008 1221 days ago

So far so good. I'm actually impressed with the hands-on that Engadget and Gizmodo had. I was drooling over those crisp pictures for at least 10-15 mins. I really hope Verizon doesn't enforce a data cap on this device and allows tethering because if I use it and like it a lot I might just have to think about making the move to the dark-side. I love BlackBerry push email but I love my iPhone 3G's data speeds, browser, and text imput so if I can get the best of both worlds with the Storm, that would be it for me.

Kevin where is your hands-on? Aren't you supposed to be the addict?

Posted by derekdevine Wednesday, Oct 08, 2008 1221 days ago

I'm switching, its a done deal.

Posted by Anonymous Wednesday, Oct 08, 2008 1221 days ago

fyi, there is cnet review as well.

Posted by Anonymous Wednesday, Oct 08, 2008 1221 days ago

whaaaaaaaaattt??? no video acceleration at all!? :( that was something that i thought itd have for sure. bah, im upset. might have to go w the iphone or g1 phone.

Posted by FrenchCrackberry Wednesday, Oct 08, 2008 1221 days ago

No Wifi on the Vodafone one

Posted by Kevin Michaluk Wednesday, Oct 08, 2008 1221 days ago

yeah... WiFi will be coming on RIM's NEXT touchscreen device... Muhahahahhaha :)

Posted by Queen4111 Wednesday, Oct 08, 2008 1221 days ago

I agree! TMO and ATT will probably have the 9520 with WiFi.

Posted by Michael L Wednesday, Oct 08, 2008 1221 days ago

nice info

i just love this site

phone looking good

Posted by Anonymous Wednesday, Oct 08, 2008 1221 days ago

this phone is gonna rock, who cares about wifi, you want wifi take your laptop. great job kevin for getting all this info up here i been checking this site every hour for new storm news...im addicted to the storm and i havent even got it yet!! anyone else feel that way? verizon please give a date before we all go crazy

Posted by Digital_Cataclysm Wednesday, Oct 08, 2008 1221 days ago

Yesssss! It sounds like from the reviews, RIM did its homework, and excelled on the one thing most BlackBerry users were most concerned with - how's that touchscreen gonna be for typing and navigating?

This is great news, I was so hoping for a few reviews on the Storm to finally come about - it's pretty much settled now, I'm 99% sure at this point I'll be trading in my Curve for one of these when they hit the stores. WoOt.

Posted by norphin Wednesday, Oct 08, 2008 1221 days ago

Oops. Your bb.com/storm link leads to the Telus site.

Posted by BabiCakes Wednesday, Oct 08, 2008 1221 days ago

I guess it's time for me to settle my debt with Verizon...or get my girlfriend to get me a plan....hummmmm. Decisions....Decisions....

Posted by Valace2 Wednesday, Oct 08, 2008 1221 days ago

Ya know what I find frustrating, the fact that Verizon posted that alert site and had us all line up like sheep to punch in our e-mail addresses and for what? No follow up at all and that was weeks ago. So now all the "official" releases go out and still nothing. You would think that if they gave a crap we would have recieved something by now. I know that if I start recieving crap e-mails not pertaining to the Storm, I am gonna be pissed. I am a VZW customer and am in lust with the Storm, but I would like something from them to justify all that crap about the site, or maybe that was a ploy, hoping that it would shut us the hell up, and maybe get us to stop calling their stores. I dunno. They need to give us a release date soon.

Posted by MacDobhran Wednesday, Oct 08, 2008 1221 days ago

I completely agree. Just what WAS the purpose of signing up on that website??

Posted by Valace2 Wednesday, Oct 08, 2008 1221 days ago

I know I am venting here, but from a marketing standpoint what is the use in throwing all this out there and not saying when it will get here. If they wait till the end of november what do they have left to tell us to continue building the hype??? Everything is out there. They have to announce that it's coming in a couple weeks. Otherwise all of this has been a waste.

Posted by lcfut Wednesday, Oct 08, 2008 1221 days ago

from what i gather in the press release the VZW is the 9530 and the Vodafone is the 9500.
both support the 3G network.

my question is - once AT&T gets their act together with the 3G network (as kevin found out in his NY trip) anyone know if an unlocked Storm will work on the AT&T network?