Inside the BlackBerry Storm!
Posted in Devices on 22 Nov 2008 17:54 by Kevin Michaluk | 19 comments

Storm Teardown

BlackBerry Down!! I sure hope the guys at phoneWreck.com can put 'ole humpty this Storm back together again, or else it's crying shame considering the launch day shortages! But if you want to see what makes RIM's first touchscreen phone work, click the image above to see a full teardown and review. Crazy Schtuff :-)

[ via Engadget ]

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Comments
By: heyload2 | Date: Sat, 11/22/2008 - 18:32

I can't get one, but they can tear it apart?

Bummer for me.

By: mpkav | Date: Sat, 11/22/2008 - 19:02

I bought my storm at bestbuy on the 21st. My verdict still isn't out. It's definitely a different phone. it will take some getting used to(like any new phone). It shut off on me once, I hope I just hit a wrong button and it's not buggy. It's a great feeling and looking phone. My friends with Iphones are trying to get their paws on it and I won't let them near it!!! I gave up a curve for the storm, I hope I don't regret it.

By: Blank (not verified) | Date: Sat, 11/22/2008 - 21:01

My greatest concern is wear and tear on one button. I would pay for an additional warranty coverage, if available, that would cover this.

By: rpc930 | Date: Sun, 11/23/2008 - 00:28

The Accelerometer (or whatever sofware is used) to switch the device from landscape to portrait etc... seems sluggish. Stay tunned !

By: Snipes | Date: Sun, 11/23/2008 - 01:45

I said this over in the stacks...

I think that to improve accuracy and speed of typing, there should be a button in the center of each quadrant of the screen...

By: vsa1977 (not verified) | Date: Sun, 11/23/2008 - 03:15

iPhone from Apple may have developed a new standard for the smartphone industry. With it’s amazing touchscreen, full featured html browser, google maps with GPS, enterprise email support, ipod, stocks, weather, calendar, application store, etc etc, it has wooed millions of people from across the globe.

But even with it’s extensive feature list, there are a few key elements missing from the iPhone, some of which the BlackBerry Storm may do better than the iPhone thereby making it a safer bet than the iPhone... Yep, I meant safer. I have my reasons… and here’s why http://smartphone-guru.blogspot.com/2008/11/blackberry-storm-safer-bet-t...

I can’t wait to get myself the Storm…

By: blackduck | Date: Sun, 11/23/2008 - 05:10

You'll have to excuse me, I got lost on my way to the contest page for that "What would you do for a BlackBerry Storm?"

This should be done to other brands, not to a precious BlackBerry! In fact, I think more people ought to do this to iPhones with a hammer!

(and all the BlackBerry faithful said: AMEN!)

By: Anonymous (not verified) | Date: Sun, 11/23/2008 - 07:45

Gave up my Curve for the Storm. Got the last one. Had it for 4 hours before returning it. Took 10 minutes to locate drivers. (no kidding). End call button wouldn't do anything. Couldn't D/C call, return to home screen, power off. Also phone won't support needed work applications (yet) and can't customize look (as with Curve). Happy to have old phone back. Will try again in 6 mos or wait for Bold

By: Blumtain (not verified) | Date: Sun, 11/23/2008 - 08:16

In my Blackberry 8700g, I can send SMS Text with more than 160 characters. It will just appear as multiple SMS Text to someone receiving the SMS Test.

In Storm, it does not allow me to do it. It just display this message "Field Full" if you try going beyond the 160 characters limitation. I cannot find an option to change it.

Is this a limitation of the phone? Imposed by VerizonWireless? Now I have to compose multiple messages if its more than 160 characters.

By: Delegator | Date: Sun, 11/23/2008 - 10:18

I told my wife about the launch day shortages. I also related my experience with the live demo unit they had at the store. It seemed sluggish in both the accelerometer and in launching applications.

She said, "What's the big deal with getting something like that on the day it comes out?"

Now, I'm as much of a techno-geek as the next guy. I bought a new MacBook Pro on the day they came available. I'm an early adopter pretty much across the board. But, in this case my wife is right. I'm actually happy that my New Every 2 doesn't come up until January, because by then we'll have a better feel for whether RIM and Verizon will work out the OS kinks, improve performance and stability, and so on. Plus, things like accessories (higher capacity battery, cases/skins, etc.) and applications will have time to catch up a bit.

Right now I still think this is a very cool device. But the early buyers are going to pay a bit of a price for hopping on board before it's fully cooked. I hope it works out for those who buy them, and for RIM. (And I also hope that they look into making a version that actually does wi-fi, but that's a whole other story).

By: bx2md | Date: Sun, 11/23/2008 - 10:20

WOW !! I feel like a kid opening stuff up and seeing how
they work
this is yet another great find KEV.

By: Pr4mncplus | Date: Sun, 11/23/2008 - 10:39

I have had the Storm now for three days with NO problems. Yes, it does take some getting used to but not much different from any other new gadget coming to market. I have already uploaded numerous ring tones - no problems with playback. Loading drivers from the 9530 CD and the CD for BlackBerry User Tools took a matter of minutes and allowed my pc to see the Storm. Loaded over 40 pictures which upon viewing on the Media page looked absolutely stunning - comparing to the Ipod Touch my wife owns and the Storm looks even BETTER. Beautiful color and detail. The short clip from Babylon AD is spectacular and my next task will be to load some Office Clips to watch. I also changed the wallpaper with a favorite photo with NO problems. I purchased the black skin for the phone along with the belt clip holster. I have NOT had any problems so far. The phone works flawless and the only issue I need to work on is typing on the portrait and landscape view keyboard versus the QWERTY keyboard that I've been used to. The auto function to correct your words is remarkable. So far, I would give my Storm an A+.

By: Anonymous (not verified) | Date: Sun, 11/23/2008 - 11:35

does anybody know if the updated os will make the storm any better

By: Anonymous (not verified) | Date: Sun, 11/23/2008 - 11:52

^^^^^^Nope. The next OS is actually going to make it worse. Much, much worse....

By: Anonymous (not verified) | Date: Sun, 11/23/2008 - 21:11

I was not impressed by the Storm at all...I'm just going to get the curve for now even though its been out...I'm sorry but BB messed up with this phone..

By: ovadalimit | Date: Mon, 11/24/2008 - 04:39

The weak screen button press on the lower left that many are experiencing (myself included)... that big gaping hole is introducing a lot of flex into the plate!!

By: Grokr | Date: Wed, 11/26/2008 - 06:55

http://forums.crackberry.com/f86/those-still-confused-about-screen-click...

Some people are putting a business card folded in half between the battery and back cover and it solves the click problem at the edges.

Hopefully this isn't on too many units otherwise there will have to be a recall. I'm still waiting for mine and I hope mine works well.

By: Jeffrey Ross (not verified) | Date: Wed, 11/26/2008 - 09:18

So this is why I returned the Storm last night. The wobbling was driving me nuts, it was like typing on a original Pearl keypad but worse...the whole screen moves!! Agghhh.. And here I thought that the new technology consisted of a futuristic ultra-thin membrane on the screen that let you 'snap' on the screen, so what do you get? One big wobbly screen acting as one giant button, great idea...for a kid's phone. Looks like it's time for a Bold or an iPhone. Good job RIM.

By: pumasniper00 | Date: Wed, 01/14/2009 - 19:41

I wans't sure if you could see the radio components in the 9530. I just don't understand how they could come up with the 9520 (with Rogers) and it should have Wi-Fi... Could it just be disabled on the 9530 until a new firmware from the 9520 is installed? I'm guessing it may be GSM and CDMA as well?

 
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