If you follow the BlackBerry blogs and forums, by now you're thinking the OS that shipped on your Storm was not the one originally intended to be shipped with the device and that the appearance of two stickers on your Storm's box helped confirm this story. I just received a statement from RIM 'clearing up' the confusion...
Explaining the presence of two stickers:
1) The official code shipping with the BlackBerry Storm from Verizon Wireless is "v4.7.0.65 (Platform 4.0.0.82)." This information appears in the Options / About section on the handset. The first number (v4.7.0.65) is the software version that appears on the bar code sticker applied to the outside of the BlackBerry/Verizon Wireless box.
2) A limited batch of bar code stickers was initially printed with an incorrect software version number (the last two digits of the number was incorrectly listed as .82 instead of .65) and the stickers were applied to several thousand boxes. The error was detected early (and prior to launch) and new stickers with the correct software version number were printed and applied to the boxes over top of the incorrect stickers. Again, this only involved a relatively small batch of boxes.
3) There is not and never was a software version 4.7.0.82. A blogger noticed the incorrect sticker (underneath the correct sticker) on a box provided to him by Verizon Wireless and posted a "theory" suggesting (as a potential explanation for the second sticker) that the software may have been "downgraded" at the last minute and the blogger further speculated that this may have been due to a "security vulnerability". It is very important to note that the blogger clearly and voluntarily stated upfront that it was only a theory. In fact, the blogger even described it as a "conspiracy theory" and wrote the following in his original post: "I want to preface this by saying that the following statements are my opinions and hypotheses, and have not be confirmed nor denied by any of sources of mine or official contacts at either corporation. It should serve as a nice little ‘conspiracy theory,' though."
4) The theory was incorrect. A software version 4.7.0.82 has never existed and there was no such security vulnerability. Further, the software was not downgraded as incorrectly theorized. The simple explanation for the presence of two stickers on a relatively small batch of boxes is that a limited number of misprinted stickers were discovered on boxes prior to launch and were covered with new (correct) stickers.
So that's the official word. Leave your thoughts in the comments to this post!
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105 comments
I dunno. I call BS on this one. Even CX seemed to agree with the original theory for BGR. How does this explain the "shortage" on stock and everything? When I got mine at the store Friday morning the tech told me they were there all Thursday night flashing the phone to the "current" OS. Anyway's here's hoping to the new OS very shortly
Sounds like RIM is telling "Lies to Me"
Then does that mean the sluggish OS is going to stay sluggish?
Exactly. Whether it was true or not, this theory gave RIM a great excuse for why the OS is sluggish (which hopefully WILL be corrected in a future OS upgrade) and the widespread shortages. Denying it, especially if it's the truth, is ridiculous. Now people will blame RIM for the shortages and slow OS instead of blaming the ghost in the machine (a bug that was caught at the last minute, which doesn't reflect too baldy on RIM). I'm not saying they should lie to their customers, but they shouldn't be so quick to "set the truth straight" when this theory works in their advantage.
If this were true then how come demo versions at stores are running a higher software than the phones released? Also how come the shipments were downsized and there was mass shortage? And my friend who works for RIM says that there is going to be a new software out soon, so i find this hard to beleive, especially since reps said there would be a new software out soon.
every single Storm out there has this sticker so a "relatively small batch" means every single one released on Friday and through the weekend?
Got mine at lunch on 11-21 and it only had the .65 sticker on it. There wasn't anything under it except the box.
Walked out with my single-sticker box at 8AM on launch day.
Yep, same here. .65 on the box. Got it Friday at 8 AM.
Me too. I got 2 storms and both didn't have two stickers. They both run perfectly fine. I can type almost as fast on the storm as I can on my bold....very fast. One thing everyone has to remember is that you can set the type speed to fast and you can set the hover, tap interval, and sensitivity. Also there is a 250 page "User Guide" (not the one that came with the product. And this user guide has lots more tips and tricks, stuff that's not in the verizon guide. Things like selecting a specific point in your message where you want to edit. Without knowing the tip, it can make your frustrated. But the tips works great. You click to select a point, then point again somewhere around the selected point (don't click). The cursor will turn into a halo, then you drag the halo to the exact point where you want to edit and take your finger off...bamm!!! Great tip, get the full user guide at: http://na.blackberry.com/eng/deliverables/4448/BlackBerry_Storm_9530_Sma...
Furthermore, if your OS is really acting up I suggest you go to Verizon's site and they have the download for the OS....reload it.
I agree is the :sluggish OS is going to stay sluggish"?... I was hoping that was the reason why my BB is slow.
They gave you all that info, but couldn't shed some light on if/when an OS update would be available to fix the many shortcomings of the Storm?
Ok fine, while it may be true that a version 0.82 doesn't exist, we do know that higher versions DO exist, and there are multiple accounts suggesting that the units were flashed with an older version the night before. Seems that the best thing for RIM and or Verizon to do would be to really come clean and assure consumers that the buggy, slow OS will not be the final word and that an update is coming soon.
That being said, hopefully getting mine tomorrow!
Also, note that although the RIM statement does deny the security flaw, it does not deny that the OS was downgraded...
i take back my last comment. wasn't reading carefully (too many things to do at the same time...)
When I picked up my phone on Friday (Eugene, OR), I was handed a slip of paper with upgrade instructions and was told by the service rep that I would be getting a text message later in the day notifying me that an upgraded operating system was available for download...still waiting. So don't give up, it is out there and will be coming in the near future.
You know why I believe this? Because it makes sense.
(ie. I'm not paranoid)
People were flashing the OS the night before because all those phones had to be shipped well ahead of the lauch date, which means the final OS was probably still in testing. If you have the tech to flash the phones last minute, why not use it!
There were people who reported having the correct version number on their box, so saying "they all had a 2nd sticker" is incorrect.
I mean, doesn't it seem like a huge coincidence that the platform number matched the supposed version number? Anyone?
funny you say that since i work for an indirect channel and all 800 units we got had the sticker, and all the Corporate stores, as well as Best buys in our area had it...o and not to mention the other indirects ahd the same problem, I ahve yet to hear of anyone with the correct sticker, not to say that it dosen't exist but out of all the units we had and disttibuted this was not true.
My Storm was a BestBuy pre-order and my box only has 1 sticker and it's the correct one. Picked it up on Saturday.
see thats what i mean i jsut hadn't heard of it so i am glad it can be confirmed
My store got their (11) Storms around 2PM on the 21st. Part of this whole ordeal is that the majority of phones were shipped the day before launched.
There is still some hope for the OS. My storm has platform 4.0.0.76, not 4.0.0.82 as mentioned in the press release. That may explain some of the problems.
The one I played with in the store on Sat was slow as hell. I kept hearing the comments from EVERYONE it was slow and the iPhone is much quicker. So what RIM is trying to say is that they shipped the phone knowing it was so slow and terrible or they trying to cover up for a security flaw and emergency downgrade the few they seems to have had to sell. Either way the is all BS because both Verizon and RIM screwed up this launch soooo bad. I'm still waiting for my order to "process" from Friday at 2:30pm. If there is no fix to how slow the phone operates this phone will be going back in 30 days even though I had such high hopes and a crackberry desire for it. That is.. Whenever it finally gets here. >:-O
I tried one Friday at the local store. I was not impressed. i will take the wait and see approach rather than drink the punch.
I love blackberry's, but dont need the dog I saw at the store.
Can someone say the king has no clothes?
Yeah, I considered the Storm but after trying it out, I can't justify paying $100 price difference and a $35 restocking fee to exchange my 2 week old Curve. The Storm has a much better browser and he potential of the App Store/App Center, but I was very disappointed with the OS. My Curve is fast as lightening. But I'm sure OS updates will speed it up and hope my fellow Crackberrians love their Storms!
Would you have preferred they push it back like they did the Bold? I'm a proud Bold user and the phone works great but the wait sucked. I guess it was worth it at this point because I almost waited for the Storm.
It was a heck of a lot more fun blaming Verizon for the fact that I have to until "as late as" December 15th for my storm. Now it looks like it really is a supply / demand problem. I was hoping that the SW problem would be fixed more quickly and that I might get mine earlier - but if there really isn't enough to go around that's a bigger problem to deal with than fixing software on existing phones.
I ordered mine Friday over the phone and was told it would ship that day. I exchanged messages with the sales person today who told me they are updating the OS before shipping, which is the reason mine still hasn't gone out yet. I'll guess we'll see later in the week what shows up... Good storm or bad storm.
i don't know what the deal is with mine. it was sluggish like everyone is saying. then i read to get rid of VZ navigator and that would speed it up. since i have no desire to pay vzw for that POSGPS i decided to remove it using the add/remove thing on the desktop software. apparently in doing so, the storm basically needed to be reformatted. i ran the program, removing VZ navigator and some system languages i knew i wouldn't as i only speak and spell american english. it said it was backing everything up (which it didn't, contacts and settings were lost) and it took about 30-45 minutes to complete. once it was done and i reset everything to how i had it, i check the about page. it now says i am running v4.7.0.65 (platform 4.0.0.76). any ideas on what is up with that? it works just fine, maybe a little faster than before. nothing drastic. i had it crash on me a few times on friday and it hasn't crashed since i did all of that on saturday.
either way, verizon and rim botched the storm's release. the demo phone screwed it up for me. it was sooo laggy and unresponsive. The sureclick didn't feel right. i found the typing to be worse than the iphones. really disappointed -\. hopefully new software can fix all that is wrong with this phone. until then, at least i have the 8900 to look forward to
I'm glad that is all clear now. I thought it was getting a little confusing considering BGR said it was just a theory.
So I ordered my phone on Friday being 7 people away from the last storm so I got free overnight shipping yadayadayada. Fedex says my package is in San Diego now and will be here today. Some of you guys are saying that your phone orders also said they would arrive around now but a delay is happening for quick os flashes. So is it safe to say phone orders will arrive later yet updated and in store orders will arrive today-thurs with no updated os?
It was at my house an hour ago!! whatdoidowhatdoidowhatdoido?!?! Must.... stay ... at school.... can't.... resist....
No, Run Home Forrest... you must have it now! You cant wait for these classes you'll never use to get over... it is calling you, you must answer!
My new every two was up exactly on the 21st (if that's not destiny, I dont know what is). I ordered mine Friday from a store that a friend works at. He was gonna try to hold one for me so I wouldn't have to come in early, but they had such a huge response that they had no choice but to sell it off before I got there. But I got there and ordered it just an hour and a half shy of the dreaded 2pm ET cutoff point. It was overnighted for free, got an instant rebate instead of the mail in (I always forget to do those) and it arrived on Saturday morning to my delight.
I think it was Kevin that had blogged about re-installing the OS to get some performance boost, even though its the same OS version. So I did that and it did seem to help out a little for whatever reason. Overall I'm very happy with my Storm but am anxious to see what the updates will bring.
That there is no need for a software update at this point is kind of sad, as I was hoping some of the lagging would be fixed by the same software upgrade that took care of the debunked "security flaw". Now what motivation does RIM have to push down a new software? The Storm I used at a VZW store was distractingly slow..
My friend has Verizon and bought this phone on Friday and after I used it for a bit it is indeed sluggish. There has to be a software upgrade no matter if the "theory was incorrect."
"A huge number of Blackberry Storm's are now available at your local Verizon Store." Where did the new stock come from you ask? All those loyal followers who stood outside in the freezing cold for hours, returned them, as they were left with a great phone in need of some serious software upgrade loving..
This blows. Really - it does. The phone I love, the software does need some help though...CRAP!
did not think about that, got my phone last friday and loaded the new BB desktop software, and it got an update and when I plugged my device in, is now in process of updating. the story given by verizon may not be a lie, but it is not the WHOLE truth.
The Storm is horrible. Flat out failure to this point. Keep your curves people. Not Rimm's best work. Although I suspect Verizons mandates had something to do with it.
COWARD!! Its funny new OS or not I love my Storm. It is everything I wanted and expected. So it is not lightning fast at the jump who gives a flying leap. Tell ya what I got my Storm from Best Buy used a family members upgrade, swapped my number and everything and I was out in 30 minutes. How long did the Apple huggers have to wait for their beloved Iphones??? 6 hourse in some instances. For those who don't want to give the Storm a chance, take the damn thing back so someone waiting patiently who was screwed by the ebayers can get one of them. AND ABOUT VERIZON'S MANDATE! kiss my a** punk getting sick of hearing about NO WIFI NO WIFI. I haven't had a problem with connection since I got it. Ya know what I like being able to DRIVE around with my Storm without having to stop at a FRIKIN MCDONALDS that has WIFI to get a signal.
I'm tired of defending RIM against iphone owners. I just give up after this release.
1. Who gives a flying leap that it's not fast? Just about everyone except you.
2. Takes a while to get an iphone? You should count the days you're waiting for the non-sucky OS, then count the days you spend fixing the little things that go wrong with it too.
3. I'm a T-Mobile customer, so wifi owns. Even so, I'd still prefer 3g AND wifi than 3g and no wifi. Why in the hell would you not put wifi in a phone dubbed "the iphone killer"?
Stupid and overrated.
What I don't understand is, if BlackBerry owners think the iphone sucks so bad, why's it ALWAYS BB vs. iphone? It's kind of a david vs. goliath concept, with the goliath being RIM. Except in this story, the idiot goliath hasn't learned and most likely will require a battery pull before he gets knocked on his ass again.
Honestly, "Valace2" is not exactly a name unto itself. But I digress...
No WIFI is kind of a big deal. It's not a make-it-or-break-it kind of thing, as VZW's network is very wide and anywhere that you would be able to pick up a free WIFI signal you'd probably be able to get 3G service as well. It's just that an alternative to 3G might be nice every once in a while. WIFI takes up less battery power and is in some cases faster than 3G.
Yes, Apple "huggers" had to wait 6 hours to get their phones, but after 6 hours of waiting they got a phone that works like a charm. Can't say the same for a lot of early Storm adopters.
but at the same time I do think that many people who have the storm in their possession may be in tad bit denial. I, like everyone else on this site, am a crackberry addict. The storm is my third blackberry but i must say im a bit disappointed. Yes some parts of the phone work fine, but other things like transitioning between the vertical and horizontal positions have literally taken 10+ seconds! Also the screen isn't always the most responsive. Thats ridiculous after so much hype for this phone. I expected some problems but not this many. I'm going to wait about 20 days as like many of you I'm PRAYING for a software update but if it doesn't ouhappen then I will be forced to take this beautiful piece of machinery back and either re-purchase it when the lagging is ironed t or wait till the Bold/Storm combo blackberry comes out :) as im more than content with my curve till then.
Went into one Verizon store on Friday evening, they were already sold out, and too many people by the store demos. The rep had her storm in her hand so I asked if I can see it. Played around with it for about 5 minutes - it was quick, applications came up quickly, orientation switched nicely, etc...
On Sunday, went to the Verizon store in the mall and tested out the demo model. This was definitely not the same Storm I played with on Friday. Very sluggish and unresponsive. I will wait for the SW fix to come out before buying mine, but definitely has potential from what I saw on Friday evening.
after the desktop software updated the device, is still version .65 but is now platform .82.
so like I said, maybe not a lie, but not quite the WHOLE truth either.
have not yet played with it any to see if it makes any difference,
here's hoping, or it goes back in 27 days.
I love it, it just needs to WORK
While I'm waiting for mine to come...the thought is to give it 30 days and see if RIM/VZW make good and roll out an awesome update. If they don't and it's looking like they never will, and the performance is really that bad, return it and pick up something else...but what? There's no way I'm switching from big red. I think I'll be holding onto my gen 1 Q (don't judge me) for a little while longer just in case. On the other hand, I'm pretty used to dealing with sluggishness and the occasional crash with my Q, so maybe I won't even notice it with the Storm haha.
I'll just wait until this comes to AT&T. It might be delayed as much as the Bold but it will work - :P
I tested out my friend's demo Storm on Thursday night and it was horrible. If I remember right, the OS version was 4.7.0.61. From what I understand, a lot of demos are running that version, which is ridiculous. Most people base their decision to buy on what they experience with those demos, you would think they would update them to give the buyer the best experience possible. My Storm running .65 is blazing compared to that one, here's hoping that the next update will give a similar leap.
I updated my OS today, and now it runs fast, rotates fast and apps come right up.
Legolus