New Pictures of the BlackBerry ThunderStorm! :)
Posted in News & Rumors on 22 Jul 2008 12:17 by Kevin Michaluk | 92 comments

BlackBerry Touchscreen

Is it the BlackBerry Thunder? or the BlackBerry Storm? Or is it a Verizon Storm and Vodafone Thunder? Maybe we should just call it the ThunderStorm until we know for certain. Either way, these new images of the touchscreen BlackBerry's camera and media player apps (courtesy of BlackBerrySync!) have me salivating. Two more shots after the jump.

BlackBerry Thunder

BlackBerry Storm

 

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By: Lil Whoa (not verified) | Date: Tue, 07/22/2008 - 11:38

Hot! Let's hope it has on-board memory of at least 16gb plus an external memory slot. That's a big loss on the Bold imo.

By: BabiCakes | Date: Tue, 07/22/2008 - 11:38

I don't care if it is on Verizon....I'm getting this!!
One way or the other!!

By: CGSCOT | Date: Tue, 07/22/2008 - 11:47

We've seen the media player & camera before...would really like to see the home screen / icons, e-mail, web browser & everything else....we just keep getting media player stuff !

By: Kevin Michaluk | Date: Tue, 07/22/2008 - 11:50

We saw the media player and video player/recorder before. These are the first shots of the camera app. The full screen view finder looks great!

By: CGSCOT | Date: Tue, 07/22/2008 - 11:56

Yeah it does look good, sorry don't get me wrong I think it looks fab just would be nice to see other OS features & more on the keyboard / e-mail.....I take it these are all leaked anyway or promo shots.

By: cigardj | Date: Tue, 07/22/2008 - 11:50

As much as I love my Curve with its real keyboard, I may need to convince myself to carry two BB's. I am one of those people that is still sketchy about touchscreen, but I love BB so much the risk my be worth it. Unlike it Iphone, it needs to be a great phone and message device first and a bells and whistle device second.

By: BBCool_Simon | Date: Tue, 07/22/2008 - 11:57

It's definitely the Thunder, guy. Ignore Giz.

By: Msty (not verified) | Date: Tue, 07/22/2008 - 12:05

When does this become available?

By: jetsafl | Date: Tue, 07/22/2008 - 12:12

I'm just waiting for my one year contract on my LG Voyager to end in early 2009 and I'm going to get this. I was thinking of going BB anyway and this seals the deal. Just wish it had a little more of the Bold styling to it, kind of looks a little boxy.

By: Erick H (not verified) | Date: Tue, 07/22/2008 - 12:17

The day this is released I'm going straight to a Verizon store and buying one, ending my four years with Alltel (though they are going to be the same company) and my short run with my Pearl 8130 (even though I love the Pearl). Hopefully it will live up to the hype.

By: DanMc (not verified) | Date: Tue, 07/22/2008 - 12:20

Looking at the last screen it says 1 of 1257 I assume songs. Like an earlier poster stated...I hope it has a good amount of internal storage and microSD support. I plan on carrying lots of music and snapping pics and vids..as well as downloading third party apps.

By: Markxxx (not verified) | Date: Tue, 07/22/2008 - 12:30

these are really just renders; honestly I could have just taken the previous pictures of the thunder and stuck a picture of the eiffel tower in the middle myself.

These pics are not really anything we haven't seen before

That said, I am really excited about this phone comming out.

By: BerryGuy25 | Date: Tue, 07/22/2008 - 12:35

I like BB Thunder a lot more than BB Storm. If it becomes the Thunder, I will have a Thundercats theme on my phone, lol. Anyhoo, having dealt with touch screen devices a lot in the past like the iPhone or the HTC Touch, I really hope that the experience would be more like the iPhone and more. Of course RIM will go beyond our expectations but when it comes to touch screen devices, Apple has done a good job with the iPhone. Only thing though, if this phone isn't going to be 3G, then I won't even bother. I really hope they announce 3G last minute prior to it's release.

By: BigVDawgy | Date: Tue, 07/22/2008 - 13:10

It's on Verizon, their EVDO is 3G.

By: matrix2004 | Date: Tue, 07/22/2008 - 20:56

The word is, its 4G capable but its EV-DO REV C.

By: 4d4m (not verified) | Date: Tue, 07/22/2008 - 14:03

The 3G term is a bit ambiguous and AT&T is a bit behind the times. I've had high speed data from Alltel (EVDO like Verison) for a long time now (1.7 Mbps down) which blows away the slightly better than dial-up speeds we get up here from AT&T. Granted we don't have 3G yet but it just shows you that their behind when it comes to bandwidth.

I for one am really excited to be able to get this on Verison and seeing a bit of CDMA love. (Even if they are going to abandon CDMA.)

By: Anonymous (not verified) | Date: Tue, 07/22/2008 - 14:20

thunder, Thunder, THUNDER BLACKBERRY!!! Hoooooooooo!

By: skyys | Date: Tue, 07/22/2008 - 15:59

lol wow that was a nice trip back to my childhood.

By: msblueline | Date: Wed, 07/23/2008 - 10:53

I had an idea of where that was going... Pretty good! It fits... Snarf snarf... lol

msblueline

By: Queen4111 | Date: Tue, 07/22/2008 - 12:42

I'm definitely getting this.

Plus it's with Verizon, the #1 cell phone service network.

By: Stonewall | Date: Tue, 07/22/2008 - 12:52

Come on Kevin....may the powers to be get one in your hands for a review before anyone else....and of course SOoooooon would be nice as well. Everyone pray to the "Release Date God's"!

By: Anonymous (not verified) | Date: Tue, 07/22/2008 - 12:53

I could really use some more information on this phone. I can't make up my mind on which phone I should wait for!

Whats with that little gap between the screen and the buttons?

By: Stang68 | Date: Tue, 07/22/2008 - 18:14

I see the gap, too. I guess it is there so that you dont accidently hit a button on the screen when you are really pressing the back, menu, call, or end button. I guess it makes sense. Im sure they did testing to see if that distance between the buttons is good.

By: sickofwaiting (not verified) | Date: Tue, 07/22/2008 - 13:01

this phone is as much a figment of RIM's imagination as the mythical Bold.

By: Hi-Definition | Date: Tue, 07/22/2008 - 13:16

We all are hoping that the final production unit of this model will have the 'premium' look to it...because so far the shots we've seen of it; are a bit lackluster I must say.

And yes; these aren't "new" images...they're simply existing images we've seen of the device; albeit with a different image (i.e. eiffel tower) stuck on the screen.

By: skeptic (not verified) | Date: Tue, 07/22/2008 - 13:34

is it me, or are the landscape pics a different size phone than the portrait pics. in all of the thunder/storm pics i've seen so far, the portrait pics of the phone make it seem squarish, like the curve...where the landscape pics make the phone long-ish, similar to the iphone design. i'm not sure which to believe.

By: DonnyG2 | Date: Tue, 07/22/2008 - 13:37

This is bought! I'm just tired of these iphone lovers talking about their phone. Blackberry tops them with this one by far, hopefully!

By: JRSCCivic98 | Date: Tue, 07/22/2008 - 14:19

The mockups are nice, but can we get some real pics already?

By: llasso | Date: Tue, 07/22/2008 - 14:25

I like it so far! hope i get to love it as well!

By: Anonymous (not verified) | Date: Tue, 07/22/2008 - 14:59

I want to see pics of the side and back. I want to know how think it is going to be, and just what the rest of the phone IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE.

By: axxman | Date: Tue, 07/22/2008 - 15:18

I had been dead set on cancelling my sprint line, paying the etf and getting the bold, but this one has me rethinking that. Not crazy about verizon but maybe if verizon gets it, sprint wont be far behind.

will have to do a side by side comparison with the bold in order to decide. cant wait to see how the OS works, this should give the iPhone a run for its money.

By: jta1188 | Date: Tue, 07/22/2008 - 17:59

In case you missed it the first 5000 times, the Thunder is a lifetime exclusive on Verizon (in the US) and Vodafone (outside of the US).

Translation: The phone will not work on Sprint (even though it is CDMA), T-Mobile, or at&t.

By: netcujo | Date: Tue, 07/22/2008 - 21:39

I don't understand the details of contracts between vendors and service providers. The Thunder/Storm (whatever) looks awesome to me. I would love to hold out for one. However, we have tried Verizon and the service just isn't up to par in my area (especially at home.) So, they have this great looking phone but will miss a sale because of the poor service in my area. For me, the clearest calls come from AT&T (we tried Sprint and Verizon before settling.) Now, most of the family we talk to is on AT&T also becuase of the free anytime talking with somebody on the same provider. So, even if Verizon did start giving great service, I probably wouldn't be able to afford to switch. I also think it stinks (for folks that like the iPhone) to be stuck with AT&T. I don't mind AT&T, I just think it's unfair to be forced to use them if you want one of "their" phones. I personally would like to see every phone available to every service provider, but my ideas are sometimes quite simplistic. :)

By: sniickers | Date: Wed, 07/23/2008 - 02:39

In case you zoned out those first 5000 times, RIM stated Verzion will have exclusiveness if they maintain sales quota. And seeing how they charge way to much for their services, it shouldn't be too much longer till other carriers get the Thunder. Also a friend of mine at Sprint said they will get it a few months after Verizon releases it. Now I know a lot of people say things like, "I have a friend at so and so carrier who said this and that." But my friend has never been wrong about Sprint stuff, and has no reason to lie. Might I also mention she is in Corporate Marketing.

By: jta1188 | Date: Wed, 07/23/2008 - 03:05

Wow, you really aren't the sharpest tool in the shed, are you? Do you think I'd have made such a comment if I wasn't aware of the details? Judging by your response, I'll assume you can't read, so I'll summarize the first 40 or so posts for you: People want this phone. Lots of people. In fact, several have said they'll switch providers to get it.

So, let me help you put 1 and 1 together. Lots of anticipation = lots of sales. Lots of sales = lifetime exclusive. Lots of anticipation = lifetime exclusive.

Now if Verizon (which by the way should be the largest wireless provider in the US by the time this is released) can't possibly meet the sales quota, why would this fact be advertised in the first place? The rumors already show a HUGE marketing push a month or two before this is released.

And I'm glad your friend is so well informed about a phone that hasn't even been acknowledged by RIM yet. As a matter of fact, she seems to know more about its release than RIM itself, so the real question is, why aren't you updating us with more information?

By: sniickers | Date: Thu, 07/24/2008 - 02:43

First you can throw every kind of insult to justify your easily hurt feelings but it means nothing. But just like you, many people will get online and say anything, even about the Thunder. So just in case you may never have read anything else on-line. Many people everywhere want an iphone, yet many don't get it because they don't want AT&T service. (And I assume the price of it is a factor as well.) Just like I, which whom I would gladly pay up to $600 for the Thunder will not switch from Sprint to Verizon to get it, unless of course Verizon decides to offer more affordable voice/data plans. In my opinion nothing beats the 99.99 SEP plan from Sprint. It is convenient for me as well as many others. Now you should reference you question in the third paragraph to RIM, probably not because it squashes most of your debate. Oh, an another thing, just food for thought. Did Apple ever throw in a clause with AT&T over their exclusiveness with the iphone? And if you hadn't notice, RIM doesn't have a history of doing bad business practices of making one phone for one carrier. But once again, food for thought. But in conclusion, there is so much more I can say that shows your inadequateness, and contradictions in your response. But I know it, and don't need to prove it. It just lets me know not to waste anymore time with what you have to say. Good day!

By: Anonymous (not verified) | Date: Thu, 07/24/2008 - 23:53

ALL I AM GOING TO SAY TO THIS LITTE ARGUMENT IS THAT I AGREE WITH JTA1188 ON EVERYTHING, NO MATTER HOW MUCH IT IS SOME ONE WILL BUY IT, ME PERSONALLY IT CAN COST $500 WITH OR WITHOUT CONTRACT AN I WILL BE THE FIRST ONE IN THE STORE BUYING, I THINK NO MATTER HOW MUCH IS GOING TO COST IS BLACKBERRY IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THE BEST THINGS IN THE WORLD.... I KNOW ABOUT 100 PEOPLE THAT I WORK WITH THAT ARE DYING FOR THIS PHONE TO COME OUT THEY DON'T CARE IF THEY HAVE TO SWITCH CARRIERS OR NOT... WHICH IS WHY I AM GLAD VERIZON BOUGHT OUT ALLTEL, THEY ALL USE THE SAME ANTENNAS ANYWAYS SO THE SERVICE WILL STILL BE THE SAME, AND FOR THOSE THAT SAID VERIZON DOENS'T WORK WELL IN THEIR AREA, IS NOT VERIZON'S FALT THAT SOME PEOPLE JUST LIVE TO FAR IN THE WOODS... LOL

By: sniickers | Date: Fri, 07/25/2008 - 06:08

I don't know why I bother sometimes. Posting is not my normal activity. However, I never denied that people will buy this. Heck I stated I would buy it! Under the right circumstances that is. But as in my reference to the iphone, people will buy the Thunder....,many! However there will be many more who don't. I admit I am overly excited about the Thunder, but it is not the 8th wonder you are proclaiming it to be. Just like the iphone, it wont end up in everyone's home like a tv. The only hope Verizon has is to help hype it up to get the early adopters on their services before it comes to ther carriers. Do you suppose it will sell more than an iphone? I think not, mainly because of itunes and the iphone being an ipod also. I admit I really like the iphone, but it has it short comings as well as the Blackberries. But RIM has served me well ever since my first one.(6510) And I wont get an iphone unless At&t does what I suggested Verizon do in my last post. But enough about the iphone, don't want to take anymore thunder from well..., the THUNDER! But I assume you think quite "similar", if not just like jta due to your random insult towards people you dont even know. I know major cities where Verizon gets poor service even though antennas are in the area (As well as other carriers). It could be phone related too though. So in conclusion, all this makes me feel even more confident in what my friend said about this phone ending up on at least Sprint. Besides, I wonder what the quota is? But as I have said on another comment in here, lets just wait it it out before we go jumping on people about something that is not even released. :) Good day.

By: Anonymous (not verified) | Date: Fri, 07/25/2008 - 15:23

IN SOME THINGS I WILL AGREE WITH YOU, HOWEVER THE POST ABOUT PEOPLE IN THE WOODS IT WAS NOT AN INSULT IT WAS A JOKE, AND THAT IS WHY I TRY TO AVOID POSTING ON HERE BECAUSE PEOPLE TAKE THINGS WAY TOO SERIOUSLY, I KNOW THAT IT COULD BE DEPENDING ON THE PHONE AMONGST OTHER THINGS, YEAH THE THUNDER IS NOT THE 8TH WONDER OF THE WORLD AND NO ONE SAYING IT IS, THE THUNDER IS GOING TO BE LIKE EVERY PRODUCT OUT THERE IN THE SENCE THAT SOME PEOPLE WILL LOVE IT AND BUY IT AND SOME WILL HATE IT AND SAY BAD THINGS ABOUT IT, THAT'S WHY WE HAVE SO MANY DIFFERENT PHONES OUT THERE BECAUSE PEOPLE LIKE DIFFERENT THINGS. SO FOR NOW LET'S JUST LIVE THE INTERESTING DISCUSSION UNTIL THE THUNDER COMES OUT AND THEN EVERYONE CAN HAVE MORE FUN DISCUSSING IT =o)

By: BerryMedic20 | Date: Tue, 07/22/2008 - 15:32

Will this thing have an accelerometer and multitouch technology like the iphone? If RIM puts that in, along with a good browser and a bunch of memory (at least 8 gigs), they could have a real shot at competing with iPhone consumers.

By: saranya | Date: Tue, 07/22/2008 - 18:06

read around. multipoint haptics (not the technical term but I'd like to trademark it now), multitouch screen (still not word on if the resolution will match the bold).

By: skyys | Date: Tue, 07/22/2008 - 18:49

rumor is that the Thunder will be sporting a slightly better resolution than the Bold. Thunder's 360x480 vs the Bold's 320x480.

By: Anonymous (not verified) | Date: Wed, 07/23/2008 - 20:09

is this going to have wifi!? is this going to be a world phone?

By: C4U2NV | Date: Tue, 07/22/2008 - 16:30

THUNDER / STORM
Who cares what its called im getting this phone.. its gonna be hot!!

By: URUTUM | Date: Tue, 07/22/2008 - 17:29

Ten mistakes this new BB shouldn't make!!!!!!!!!

http://www.macworld.com/article/134469/2008/07/whatsmissing.html?t=213

By: Stang68 | Date: Tue, 07/22/2008 - 18:12

Check out the first picture, the one of the camera mode. There is a folder icon in the bottom left corner with "+200" written in it. This tells me that you can take over 200 pictures with this device. That means it has to have amazing onboard memory! YES!

By: Michael LC (not verified) | Date: Tue, 07/22/2008 - 18:49

I thought the "+200" was the ISO setting.

If you look at the music player, however, it says "1 of 1257".

By: JRSCCivic98 | Date: Tue, 07/22/2008 - 20:55

Yeah man, that icon is indicative of ISO. If that's legit, that'll be a first for a BB camera. No one would put an ISO setting on a cheap ass 2.0MP camera... Here's wishing it's at least 5MP.

By: sniickers | Date: Wed, 07/23/2008 - 03:02

I can just about assure you this is not for ISO settings. Some low grade digital camera's don't even offer that. On my Pearl and Curve, with a 2gig card installed, I get +200 pics at an average of 650kb a pic. But if this phone being shown doesn't have a card installed it, at an average of 1Mb a pic for a 3.2mp camera translates into over 200Mb of memory space outside of the operating system and applications. So it would be safe to say it will have at least 500Mbs or more of internal memory storage. More than likely about 8gigs or more to compete in the multimedia side of things, which this phone is obviously designed to do.

By: Anonymous (not verified) | Date: Thu, 07/24/2008 - 00:25

so the +200 on the folder.. is how many pictures left you can take, not ISO. on my Pearl, if i keep my memory card in my phone, it reads +200... take the card out.. the number drops drastically. an come on guys.. the '+200' on the image above is on a FOLDER.. folder = storage. now does an ISO setting on a camera have anything to do with a folder? not that i can think of..

 
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