The Storm 2.5 is said to be a CDMA-based model, so if it is indeed launching here in the United States, it is more than likely destined for Verizon, and Verizon only. The body of the new Storm model will be the same as the previous version’s, and feature the same SurePress, Piezo-hybrid touchscreen technology. It’s where the differences are, that this device will get all of the attention.

The Storm 2.5 is pictured running BlackBerry 6, which RIM has already said won’t be heading to the original Storm, or even the Storm 2. Other differences include a 5MP camera on the back, a rumored 624MHz processor, and it will have 512MB of RAM inside. There’s no word on a release date or pricing, as RIM hasn’t even come forward and officially announced the device yet, but it looks like the Storm line-up is getting very interesting. Or, the 9570 could indeed be the Storm 3, and we just managed to grab a model number for it.

[Update]: So, it looks like the screenshot of the model number and Operating System version wasn’t enough, as the BlackBerry Storm 2.5 9570 has just broken cover, in all of its glory. Showcasing the same aesthetics as the previous Storm model, it definitely doesn’t look different, but we know that the difference is on the inside, where it (really) matters.

[via BBLeaks]

You can download the new firmware – OS 5.0.0.328 - from here; you’ll also need BlackBerry Desktop Manager in order to install it to your Storm.  Let us know how you get on in the comments: initial criticism of the Storm was widespread, so we’re keen to hear how this might change your opinion of the touchscreen smartphone.

[via Crackberry]

According to the rumors that were provided to Phone Arena, it looks like the BlackBerry Storm 2 (9550) is set to launch on September 15 over on Telus. As a refresher, the Storm 2 is promoting a better screen for typing on that SurePress keyboard/screen, as well as hefting along for the ride some WiFi goodness (which the first version was sorely lacking). And, if you’re keeping tabs, then this means that it’s been less than a year since the launch of the first Storm, which is probably either a good thing or a bad thing, depending on how you look at it.

As videos are showing, there’s been an obvious improvement from the previous model to the upcoming version. When it comes to RIM and their BlackBerry phones, it’s better late than never, and we’re sure that a lot of people will be picking up the latest iteration. Will you be one of them?

[via Phone Arena]

Now it’s worth noting that this is very early hardware and software – in fact CrackBerry say there’s already newer, changed versions of each – but already they reckon it feels nicer in the hand and better constructed than the original smartphone.  It’s also more user-friendly, particularly the new touchscreen which still moves when you “click” but without the same frustration as on the Storm 9530/9500.

The software, mind, will be little changed over what RIM have in line for the upcoming OS 5.0 update for the first-gen Storm, but it’s that tweaked hardware – which CrackBerry describe as “what Storm 1 should have been” – which may make all the difference.

Update: YouTube pulled the video after a copyright claim by RIM

The BlackBerry Storm 9550 will also have a 3.2-megapixel camera, 360 x 480 capacitive touchscreen and use BlackBerry OS 5.0.  GSM/EDGE support will be quadband.

As for the GSM version, contrary to original expectations it will be a counterpart to the new 9550 model rather than the original, more controversial Storm.  While there’s no release date for the Verizon handset, the GSM UMTS AT&T Storm 2 could arrive “relatively soon”.

[Image via Engadget]

Video hands-on after the cut

Elsewhere, the casing has been slimmed down and polished, making it feel “a wee bit higher end”, and the hardware front panel buttons of the first-gen Storm have been replaced with softkeys integrated with the touchscreen.  Build is mainly plastic, with metal trim on the edges and a metal battery cover. 

Unfortunately the device they had hands-on time with wouldn’t let them past the license screen, so things like haptic feedback are still unconfirmed.  We do know that the Storm 2 does have a 3.2-megapixel camera with autofocus, standard 3.5mm headset socket and USB charging port.  Once you’ve finished with the video below, there are plenty more photos to be found here.

[viddler id=e562d97&w=437&h=288]

In fact BlackBerry handsets occupy three spots in the top five, with the Storm holding position three and the BlackBerry Pearl (not including the clamshell model) at number four.  The T-Mobile G1 comes in at fifth place. 

Analysts at The NPD Group put the BlackBerry success down to Verizon’s “aggressive marketing of the BlackBerry Storm”, together with the buy-one-get-one promotion.  That, plus its low price and presence at four US national carriers, pushed the Curve ahead.

Obviously you need to take out a two-year Verizon service agreement in order to get that price, but it certainly beats Amazon’s previous best figure of $149.99 after a $100 rebate.  Right now Verizon Wireless themselves are offering to BlackBerry Storm 9530 handsets for the price of one, though they’re still asking $199.

We’d still call the Storm an acquired taste – its unique “clicking” touchscreen seems to polarize opinion, and we generally find ourselves with the negative charge – but it’s undoubtedly a good multimedia handset.  If your BlackBerry use tends to be more video playback with a little messaging on the side, you could find a cheap bargain here.

[via Gear Diary]

Slacker station caching, which is exclusive to BlackBerry devices, allows you to store your favorite stations on a memory card – rather than stream them over whichever network connection you’re using – and as such have access to them even when there’s no signal to hand.  It also saves on battery life: Slacker claim it reduces battery consumption by as much as 5x.

A free download, the app gives you artist bios, album reviews and artwork, and has both portrait and landscape interfaces suiting the Storm’s rotating GUI.  You can get the Slacker for BlackBerry Storm app by visiting www.slacker.com/ on your handset; you’ll automatically be offered the download link.

Press Release:

Slacker Announces Availability of Mobile Radio Application for the BlackBerry Storm Smartphone

Free Slacker Personal Radio Mobile Application Features Touch Screen Navigation and Station Caching

SAN DIEGO, CA – February 4, 2009 – Slacker, Inc. today announced the availability of the free Slacker Mobile application for the BlackBerry® Storm smartphone from Research In Motion (RIM) (Nasdaq: RIMM; TSX: RIM). BlackBerry Storm users* can now listen to their favorite Slacker radio stations anywhere they go, whether they are connected to a wireless network or not – a Slacker Mobile feature exclusive to BlackBerry® smartphones. The application, which is optimized for the handset’s unique touch screen, is available as a free download by visiting Slacker.com from your BlackBerry Storm.

The Slacker Mobile application provides BlackBerry Storm smartphone users in the U.S. with a personalized music discovery and listening experience, pulling from over 100 expert-programmed Slacker stations, over 10,000 artist stations or a nearly unlimited number of the listener’s own custom-created stations. Features include vertical as well as horizontal modes, an intuitive interface optimized for touch operation, as well as “peek ahead”, allowing the listener to see a preview of the next artist and album in their stations’ rotation.

Slacker station caching, an exclusive feature for BlackBerry smartphones, enables listeners to store favorite stations on a memory card, allowing the Slacker Mobile application to play without a network connection, reducing battery life consumption by up to 5 times that of a streaming playback, and enhancing application performance. In addition, BlackBerry smartphone enthusiasts can enjoy Slacker Personal Radio while doing other tasks such as emailing, instant messaging or web browsing.

The Slacker application for the BlackBerry Storm smartphone includes detailed artist bios and album reviews for each song, providing the ultimate resource for music discovery. The Slacker Mobile application works with the free Slacker Basic Radio service, along with Slacker Radio Plus and Slacker Premium Radio subscription offerings.

“The Slacker Mobile application for the BlackBerry Storm offers an engaging and intuitive mobile listening experience that takes full advantage of its unique features,” said Dennis Mudd, CEO of Slacker. “With an intuitive touch screen interface as well as station caching, BlackBerry Storm owners can now easily enjoy their favorite music wherever they go.”

Slacker Personal Radio, available online at www.Slacker.com, enables listeners to personalize over 100 professionally programmed stations or create, edit and share their own Personal Radio stations. Slacker listeners also have easy access to artist profiles, album reviews and cover art on the web, with the Slacker G2 portable and now on the BlackBerry Storm smartphone.

Slacker Mobile for the BlackBerry Storm offers:
• Free music library featuring millions of songs
• Optimized for Storm Touch Screen operation
• Vertical and Horizontal modes
• High-quality stereo playback from cached stations and all streaming wireless connections
• Over 100 professionally programmed genre stations
• Create custom artist stations
• Station caching for music playback anywhere, greatly improved battery life and accelerated application performance
• Multi-tasking – listen to music while doing email
• View artist biographies and photos
• View album art and reviews
• “Peek Ahead” artist and album preview
• Pause and skip songs
• Rate songs as favorites
• Ban songs and artists you don’t like

Pricing and Availability
The Slacker Personal Radio Mobile application for the BlackBerry Storm smartphone is available immediately as a free download by visiting Slacker.com from your BlackBerry web browser or visit www.slacker.com/blackberry for more details.

OS 4.7.0.90 leaked in late January, and was credited with being one of the most stable releases for the smartphone to date.  Initial reports are suggesting that version 4.7.0.99 might better even that unofficial build, with early users reporting faster app loading, email and web browsing, faster camera performance, and fewer freezes.

However at least one Storm owner has reported that the Korean language option is now missing from his device (Chinese and Japanese remain), while another continues to experience issues with MMS sending.  The onscreen keyboard is also smaller, which may be an issue to some users.  You can find a huge feedback thread here, with more details.

[via IntoMobile]

Three layers are involved.  Firstly there are two separate polycarbonate screens, one over the Storm’s touchscreen and front-panel buttons and the other over the camera and flash.  Then there’s a high-impact polycarbonate shell, which OtterBox call “a captivating combination of style & protection”, but I’d call black and chunky.  Finally, a silicone skin goes over, to cushion the smartphone from bumps and shocks.

There are cut-outs for the audio jack and keys, plus slots for the speakers and microphone, and they throw in a holster which supports the Storm’s magnetic proximity sensor that automatically shuts off the display.  The OtterBox case for the BlackBerry Storm is available now, priced at $49.95.

Press Release:

A Captivating Combination of Style & Protection, the OtterBox for the BlackBerry Storm smartphone

Fort Collins, COLO.—Stop traffic and turn heads with the OtterBox Defender Series™ case for the BlackBerry® Storm™ smartphone from Research In Motion (RIM) (Nasdaq: RIMM). Offering complete interaction with the keys, BlackBerry® SurePress™ touch technology, sync/charge, USB port, camera and more, this case provides a captivating combination of looks and defense from bumps, drops and scratches.

Three essential layers on this case safeguard your BlackBerry Storm smartphone from whatever the day brings:
Layer 1: two built-in polycarbonate screens, one over the smartphone screen and buttons and a separate one over the camera and flash.
Layer 2: Hi-impact polycarbonate shell
Layer 3: Silicone skin to absorb bump and shock
Access your audio jack, as well as the convenience, lock, mute, volume and navigation keys right through the case. Acoustic vents safeguard the microphone, speaker and receiver while maintaining clear sound transmission. The ambient light sensor also remains functional through a polycarbonate window.

Carry your smartphone hands-free with the included ratcheting holster. Also, the BlackBerry Storm smartphone features a magnet proximity sensor which automatically shuts off the display to maximize battery life when stored, a feature fully supported with the OtterBox holster.

From hectic travel to on-the-go work and weekend schedules, the OtterBox for the BlackBerry Storm smartphone unites recognized Defender Series protection in a sleek design ideal for any lifestyle.

Additional Information:

Environmental Protection:
Drop and Shock- Protection against drop, bump & shock
Water Protection- Not tested or recommended for water protection
Dust Intrusion- Dust does not enter in a sufficient quantity to interfere with satisfactory operation of equipment
Colors:
Layer 2: black
Layer 3: black
Belt Clip: black
Dimensions (Case Only):
4.76 x 2.80 x 0.90 in (120.90 x 71.12 x 22.86 mm)
Approximate Weight (Case Only; including layer 1):
0.179 lb (81.2 grams)
About OtterBox:

Founded in 1996, OtterBox is highly respected in the design and production of rugged and semi-rugged cases to safeguard technology and other valuables.

Built upon fundamentals of hard work, creativity and perseverance, OtterBox is the innovator of premier protective solutions for leading global handheld manufacturers, wireless carriers and distributors.

For more information, visit www.otterbox.com or call 888-695-8820.OtterBox, never out of its element!

There’s also talk of more free memory with the new firmware; one user observed their Storm jumping from 36MB free when running v4.7.0.75 to 47MB free in v4.7.0.90.  Camera functionality is also said to be quicker, as are screen rotations.

Remember, updating your phone with unofficial, leaked firmware can lead to a broken BlackBerry and a void warranty.  SlashGear doesn’t recommend unofficial updates; we’d much prefer if RIM, Verizon and Vodafone themselves pulled their finger out and released them properly.

[via Engadget Mobile]

” I think I can put Netbooks in here [referring to the BlackBerry Storm]. These are Netbooks. They are just smaller” Mike Lazaridis, co-CEO, RIM

Unfortunately CNET don’t go on to challenge Lazaridis on his claim, nor go into where netbooks and smartphones such as the BlackBerry differ.  The interview proceeds to touch on RIM’s upcoming Application Store and what focus they have on touchscreens in future handsets; hardware keyboard addicts will be pleased to hear that RIM see touch-sensitivity as just one relevant input method, and don’t envisage transitioning all devices over to touchscreens.

“What a touch screen allows you to do is have a full-screen device. You are not taking up space with the keypad, yet at the same time, people love these [physical] keypads. So I believe people like different things. Not everyone drives the same kind of car, wear the same kind of clothes and carry the same kind of mobile device. People will choose the devices that they like, and if you look at what we are doing with the Pearl Flip for example, we are creating different kinds of devices for people who have different needs and desires” David J. Smith, Senior Director, CDMA Handhelds, RIM

As for features in upcoming devices, both execs play RIM’s cards close to their chest.  The differentiating factor in 2009, they suggest, will be improvements in network speed, which will allow increased functionality from web-based and web-enabled – rather than necessarily phone-based – applications.

The update follows a similarly unreleased firmware, version 4.7.0.83, which was spotted in the wild earlier in December.  That too improved responsiveness, as well as tweaking the camera performance and on-screen keyboard.  However no update has conclusively addressed all of the significant issues users have complained of since the Storm’s launch.

As with any unofficial update, you install at your own risk.  While many users have reported a more stable and usable handset, there are others complaining of shorter battery life and alternative instabilities; in some cases, pulling the battery and forcing the smartphone to reset has righted some of the problems.

[via CrunchGear]

Video demo and more first impressions after the cut

Forum member dmglakewood did a fresh install on his Storm and noted the following changes:

-Starting Memory 48.5 -Portrait to landscape, very quick ½ second if that to flip. -Camera quality seems much improved -Camera speed still laggy it may be a little faster but I don’t think so -Exiting programs seems a lot snappier. Before my phone would kind of lag when exiting a program back to the homescreen. -Music/Media player, doesn’t have the hiccups but I haven’t used it too much just yet. -Keyboard – WOW that’s all I can really say. The keyboard can actually keep up with my fingers now -Browser – Well I only have 1 bar right now, but the browser is a lot faster. I’m not sure what they did to it but mobile sites and google are almost instant. I also went to Yahoo Sports a page I view a lot on my storm and I would say it loaded up in 1/3 the time it usually takes.

Other suggest that the accelerometer is faster (though some users report it’s actually slower than before in the home screen) but that now the Storm can sometimes miss clicks in the corners of the display.  Of course, as an unofficial leak you try firmware 4.7.0.83 at your own risk; installing it could affect your handset’s warranty or even break it altogether. 
[via Crackberry]

Video of the Peek protest after the cut

On the back of the uniforms was a “Parole Date” suggesting that Storm buyers wouldn’t be released until November 21st, 2010.  While the people in the street appear entertained, Verizon were less enthusiastic.  They called the police, who politely but firmly asked the Peek people to leave.

In case you haven’t heard, Peek’s eponymous device is a basic, email-only alternative to a whizz-bang smartphone.  Costing under $100 (in fact a recent sale saw it at just $50) with a $20 all-you-can-eat monthly service charge, it recently won Time Magazine’s Gadget of the Year 2008 award.

It’s unclear whether the update will work on Storm 9500 models sourced from other European countries.  There’s no suggestion of language support (in a worst-case scenario your English/Italian/French/etc. Storm could all of a sudden refuse to speak anything but German) and the download page itself says the firmware is solely for the use of Vodafone Germany customers.

Many BlackBerry Storm owners have found their devices to be buggy or glitchy, including keyboard problems, screen rotation issues and general instability.  According to previous leaks, Verizon Wireless has a second update in the works for the 9530 CDMA/GSM version of the RIM touchscreen smartphone.

[via BGR]

In fact, after a full day of use the Storm still has 50-percent of its power left, a big improvement on the standard firmware.  There are also less obvious, but no less useful, tweaks, such as the font size automatically growing when you switch from portrait to landscape in the browser.  It’s not all good news, though; overall data connectivity has become a little more sluggish, and the camera app has taken a turn for the worse.

Unfortunately there’s currently no way to get your hands on 4.7.0.76; nobody knows if it’s going to be an official release (the thinking is yes, but without confirmation we can’t say for sure) and BGR aren’t offering up their leaked copy.  Hopefully before it hits handsets Verizon and RIM will have a chance to work on those few bugs identified.

For starters, switching portrait to landscape is even faster than on .75. We’re talking half a second to make a clean switch. No more “double keyboards” (half SureType, half QWERTY) on the screen.

After around a full day of use, our battery is sitting pretty at 50%. This is probably a 25% increase over .65. We can’t say how much better it is than .75 since that wouldn’t be fair seeing as how it wasn’t in use for long, but we believe there will still be an improvement.

There was this annoyance where you’d go to tap on an icon, it wouldn’t select if you tried to tap it fast. That’s all cleared up here…

This was in .75, but DTMF tones in the phone application no longer lag and cause you to hit the wrong prompts, etc.

The issue where the keyboard sometimes disappears when you are typing is still there.

In the browser, if you tapped once in the .65 build, the bottom navigational toolbar would hide and so would the top status bar. In .75, only the bottom bar would hide but the top bar would stay. Here in .76, both hide again.

In the browser, when you flip to landscape, the text size is increased tremendously. It scales up to fit the width of the page. Very helpful.

There has not been one reboot so far. In .65 there were probably two a day

There’s a weird bug where sometimes the back button doesn’t actually work. Can’t figure out what causes this to happen. Oh well.

When navigating through the music player, playing MP3s is probably 50% better than .65 and 20% better than .75. Very, very quick.

When navigating through photos, thumbnails appear almost instantly. Even on the Bold it sometimes took a while to load, and it loaded them one-by-one. Here they basically just pop-up after a second or two.

Overall data connectivity feels a little slower in our non-scientific tests. Web pages take a little longer to load and we get the infamous BlackBerry clock when sending messages and Messenger nonsense.

The camera application has way more problems than it started out with. For instance, the green autofocus rectangle no longer appears, the bottom navigational buttons flicker on and off, and it’s just all around chaos. The camera app in .75 was a little better than .65 so don’t get too worried, we’re sure this will be cleared up.

Elsewhere, rumors have been ramping up about Microsoft’s possible entrance to the consumer cellphone market. According to the latest sources, an NVIDIA Tegra-based device blending Zune media capabilities and Sidekick messaging expertize is already in the offing. Codenamed ‘Pink’, there’s even talk of it making an appearance at CES 2009.

Something else finally hitting the stands at the start of next year is the Garmin nuvifone, the sat-nav company’s GPS-heavy touchscreen cellphone. Captivating when we first saw it, many months ago, has delay after delay robbed the nuvifone of its charm? Until then, we’ll sate ourselves with the Samsung Omnia SCH-i910, fresh to Verizon and reviewed by our good selves here.

Dell has done its bit to push higher-capacity solid-state storage into buyers’ reach, with the arrival of a $100 32GB SSD option on the Inspiron Mini 9 netbook. Meanwhile, Verizon pushed out a BlackBerry Storm OS update that, it’s hoped, will begin to change the tide of opinion claiming the touchscreen handset needed a few more trips through quality control before it was fit for public consumption. If you’ve got a Storm yourself, let us know how you get on with the new firmware.

In other reviews, Sleek Audio’s SA6 in-ear headphones only got better with the cord-snipping W-1 Kleer wireless system, while we found that Apple has tweaked the MacBook Air into what could be the finest ultraportable notebook on the market. We also revealed that SlashGear will be one of your fifty chances to win in the HP Magic giveaway: over $6,000 of top tech toys that would put an end to your desperate Christmas shopping.

This update OS 4.7.0.107 (Application Version .75), is suppose to address multiple bugs in OS v4.7.0.65, including the sudden change in volume when using a wired headset. Users using a wired headset while listening to music are reporting at sudden increase in volume to the highest level. Another issue reported occurs when using voice-activated dialing, customers often experienced muted incoming audio when trying to use this feature.

The last commonly reported issue is the all too familiar spontaneous rebooting of the handset.  Often times the BlackBerry Storm will reboot itself while using multimedia applications or while sitting idle. We will be testing out this update the next few days in hope that these issues have been resolved. We will be sure to keep you updated as to our findings.

[Via BlackBerryNews]

The end result is a smartphone that can be used with T-Mobile’s 2G voice network and Verizon’s 3G data network, though not at the same time.  GSM or CDMA selection can only be switched between, not simultaneously active.  However VZ Navigator reportedly works as usual with both Verizon and T-Mobile’s networks.

While unlocking your Storm using a Verizon-supplied SIM code will not affect the warranty, reflashing it with third-party software will likely leave you high & dry should something later go wrong.  That, plus the absence of US 3G compatibility, leaves us not recommending this hack to others.

The purpose of the list is not so much to reassure customers that their faults are known and being addressed, but to prevent Verizon reps from handing out replacement Storms for those affected.  We experienced several bugs and unpredictable restarts when reviewing the Storm ourselves.

Some of the issues seem somewhat inevitable to a manufacturer making its first orientation-switching touchscreen device, while others – volume jumps to the highest level when using headphones – are less excusable.  It’s Verizon’s workarounds that are most laughable, however, particularly the final suggestion.

Issues to be resolved by the first OTA update (Maintenance Release 1) – December, week 1:

• If a customer receives a call while listen to music at low volume using a wired headset, the music volume may suddenly increase to the highest level (!). Interim recovery instructions: Lower the volume using the buttons on the side of the handset.
• When using voice-activated dialing, incoming audio may be muted. Interim recovery instructions: Enter the menu and select “Activate Handset or Speaker”.
• The handset may reset itself while sitting idle or while using multimedia applications. No interim recovery instructions provided.

Issues to be resolved by a subsequent Maintenance Release:

• Customers may intermittently lose email connectivity via CDMA and/or international roaming modes. Interim recovery instructions: Main menu -> Manage Connections -> Select mobile network -> Turn radio off, then Turn radio on. If this does not resolve the issue, pull the battery.
• When powering on the handset, the radio sometimes does not turn on. Interim recovery instructions: Main menu -> Manage Connections -> Select mobile network -> Turn radio on. If this does not resolve the issue, pull the battery.
• Pressing the send key while the device is in landscape mode will open the phone application in portrait mode, but the speed dial function may not work. Interim recovery instructions: Press escape until the home screen appears, then press the send key with the handset in portrait orientation.
• Sometimes entering characters on the virtual keyboard doesn’t work. Interim recovery instructions: Re-select the character.

The occasionally sluggish performance comes down to RIM’s choice of processor.  On the surprisingly small mainboard there’s a Qualcomm MSM7600 CPU, which may be the latest from the company but lacks the grunt to keep up with what the Storm is offering.  The mechanics of the SurePress touchscreen – which is a clever idea but can get frustrating – are also laid bare, with a single button in the very center of the display.

It’s that single button that makes presses on the periphery of the screen so tricky, a particular problem when you’re trying to type with the Storm in landscape orientation.  More photos at the link above.

[via Hack-a-Day]

Meanwhile, Apple released firmware 2.2 for the iPhone, bringing with it Street View and over-the-air podcast downloads among other things.  Check out the full details of the upgrade here.  That release was followed in short order by QuickPwn for v2.2.  What the new firmware didn’t include was MMS messaging, but that might be arriving sooner rather than later if Mobispine have their way.

Microsoft launched the New Xbox Experience this week, but the update was mildly soured by the sudden disappearance of hundreds of Sony Pictures movies from Netflix.  Sony Pictures maintain it’s not an Xbox 360-specific problem, merely one of licencing, but if our commentors are anything to go by their protests are falling on deaf – or doubtful – ears.

ASUS’ Eee Top ET1602 had its official launch in Taiwan on Thursday, a 15.6-inch touchscreen desktop.  It’s the first of a range of similar all-in-one nettops, according to company CEO Jerry Shen, which they’ll need if they’re to compete with MSI’s just-revealed Wind Neton machines.

We’ve had a few exclusive unboxings this week, with Sleek Audio’s W-1 Wireless headphones adapter, the Nanovision MIMO UM-710 and UM-730 USB displays and Apple’s new late-2008 model MacBook Air all dropping into the SlashGear postbox.  We also took a hands-on look at HP’s Touchsmart tx2 multitouch Tablet PC.

Meanwhile in reviews the HP Mini 1000 netbook, those cute Nanovision displays and Samsung’s Behold all got put through their paces.  Finally we looked at HP’s xw6600 and xw4600 workstations and came away impressed: if you’d like to win the latter machine, make sure you check out our SlashGear HP workstation giveaway!  Good luck!

Your two hundred bucks gets you the Storm, an international travel charger, a SIM card for accessing GSM networks when you’re doing all that travelling, a USB cable to hook the smartphone up to your computer, an 8GB microSD card and the battery.  If our experiences are anything to go by, you might want to pick up another battery given that the Storm seems to guzzle power.

We found the handset to be impressive for a BlackBerry, but still displaying various teething pains that – hopefully – will be fixed with the upcoming software update.  SurePress, the unique “clicking” touchscreen, is more of a subjective matter, and we’d recommend would-be buyers stop by their nearest Verizon store to at least try it out before they sign up.

[thanks Paul!]

Considering the Storm’s impressive display, it would be criminal for media performance to fall short.  Here, thankfully, RIM have delivered the necessary goods: audio quality is excellent, both through the standard 3.5mm headphone socket and – more surprisingly – through the very clear speaker, while video playback is every bit as smooth and color-rich as you’d hope.  Verizon bundle the smartphone with an 8GB microSD card (the Storm can take up to 16GB cards) and hooking up to a PC or Mac via USB lets you drag & drop tracks and clips across.  Alternatively, install the included Desktop Manager software and BlackBerry Media Sync will suck the files out of iTunes and into the Storm.

That is, as long as they’re DRM-free (i.e. not actually bought from the iTunes store): unfortunately the list of compatible files does not include any DRM-protected tracks.  The Storm plays MP3, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, WMA and WMA ProPlus audio files and MPEG4, H.263, MPEG4 Part 2 Simple Profile, H.264 (encoding and decoding 30 fps) and WMV video files, but so far only Rhapsody to Go subscription tracks can be loaded and played successfully.  We’re expecting Verizon to update the Storm with V CAST Music and Video soon, which should give users more media opportunities (and more opportunities to spend money, of course).

Images and video are a strange mixture of the successful and the lacking.  RIM have obviously given some thought to the browsing interface and how best to tailor it to finger-control, but regular delays in the photos actually loading meant I’ve spent more time twiddling my thumbs than thumbing through galleries.  It’s frustrating, because picture quality from the 3.2-megapixel camera is very good.  Once you get past the slow autofocus – this is not the device for taking action shots with – color reproduction and sharpness were both impressive.  I’d actually rate the Storm’s camera as better than the 5-megapixel one on the HTC Touch HD.  The flash has mixed results, being inevitably weaker than what you’d find on even the most basic of point & shoot cameras.

It’s video recording that lets the Storm down when it comes to imaging, and there’s a very good chance that it could be an early software issue.  Right now it’s hit and miss to get an in-focus shot, one that doesn’t break up on panning, or even one that correctly saves at all.

Navigation takes advantage both of the Storm’s GPS chip and assisted GPS (A-GPS) whereby triangulation from the cellular network is used to speed the hotfix.  You’re spoilt for choice as to apps – VZ Navigator, BlackBerry Maps and, a quick download, Google Maps – but none of them particularly shine.  Of the three, VZ Navigator works best and has the most functionality (here RIM’s own app falls particularly flat) including live traffic updates, spoken directions and local search, but then you’re also paying $8.99 a month for it.  Google Maps offers the same routing, search and traffic options, but lacks spoken directions.  In our (admittedly limited) testing with the Storm, GPS accuracy seemed good.

Browsing on the Storm is, by virtue of the touchscreen, better than it is on the Bold.  Considering we described the Bold as the best internet browsing device RIM have made, that instantly slots the Storm in at the top of their chart.  However, compared to other devices – not just the iPhone, either – the RIM browser is patchy and prone to either slowly, incorrectly or simply not rendering pages at all.  The UI feels partially cooked too, with the absence of kinetic scrolling (where you flick the page around, and it continues to move afterward) and lack of pinch-gesture zooming both bizarre omissions.  What that adds up to is a browser that can make panning around pages slow, both from rendering and from physically scrolling.  Opera, the webkit-based Android G1 browser, or the iPhone’s Safari all do a far better job of making mobile surfing appealing.

Call quality, thankfully, is excellent.  In fact someone might need to talk to the Storm about underselling itself: the signal meter seems reluctant to indicate beyond 3-4 bars much of the time, but I had no voice calls that were anything other than crisp and clear.  Performance with a Bluetooth headset was similarly good, and the speakerphone was so loud I needed to turn it down a few notches.  While on a call you can access all of the usual apps, but the data connection is put on hold; whether that is an issue for you depends on how often you surf while chatting, but it could grow to be a significant frustration if you’re using the Storm as a tethered modem with your laptop.

My primary concern about the Storm remains the display – or, more accurately, the “SurePress” technology.  Battery life (which is still too early to call; we’ll update with our findings after using the Storm a while longer) and occasionally lagging or glitchy software can hopefully be tweaked into satisfaction with a firmware update, and word on the street is that RIM is already planning the first.

What no software update can change is the physical interface and, while it’s certainly innovative, I’m not entirely sure it’s necessary.  A straight capacitive touchscreen is, frankly, enough: the SurePress system is simply too tiring over extended use and still not as accurate as hardware buttons would be.  Couple it to the slightly brainless auto-correction and you have a BlackBerry that, actually, isn’t really all that hot at hardcore messaging.

I’m also finding it tricky to forgive Verizon and RIM for the absence of WiFi.  Yes, the carrier’s data network is pretty pervasive, but we’re not talking blanket coverage and there are plenty of times – in the office, for instance, or at home – where it would make far more sense to use a faster broadband connection via WiFi.  Similarly, cutting the Storm off at dualband HSDPA rather than the more complete triband smacks of unnecessary bitterness toward those who would readily pay Verizon the full cost for an unsubsidized handset and use it on a different network.

It only seems fair to consider the BlackBerry Storm on two levels: as RIM’s first touchscreen device, and as a rival among the rest of the smartphone crowd.  With the former, the Storm marks a noticeable change of direction for RIM.  SurePress is a neat trick, but it’s neither as touch-intuitive as the iPhone’s display nor as messaging-accurate as the BlackBerry Bold’s hardware keyboard.  Where the Storm actually shines, in fact, is, as a media device, and I certainly won’t tire of its video playback performance.  A better browser and more mature gestures and you’d have a pretty clean sweep.

Among the rest of the current smartphone crowd, and the BlackBerry Storm becomes trickier to justify.  Without the excellent hardware keyboard of the Bold – and the lackluster SurePress performance – it’s tricky to identify its niche.  Software that feels slightly flaky around the edges is just another black mark.  I had high hopes for the Storm, and in a way I still do since firmware updates could make a world of difference, but in its present state it sadly falls short.

BlackBerry Storm poor performance video

Rating:

2 out of 5 gears

I started off with a rating of 3 out of 5 gears, and then dropped it down to a 2.5. But after all the performance issues I’ve experienced today, I’m sad to say that the Storm now rates at 2 out 5 gears. Since RIM is on top of things and working on fixes for these issues, I’ll revisit the rating in the future. That being said, I cannot in good conscience recommend the Storm as it currently stands.

The issue is apparently one concerning security, with a flaw identified at the eleventh hour that required the handsets be reflashed with a tweaked software version.  That will delay deliveries, and while all Verizon stores should have at least some stock it won’t be as many as initially predicted.  Exact figures haven’t been revealed, but one corporate store expecting 100 Storm 9530 handsets will now be receiving 20 on Thursday, 40 for Friday, 40 for Saturday, and so on.

Non-Verizon stores will have to wait for their stock, with the carrier’s own outlets taking priority in the new, staggered roll-out.  There’s talk that Best Buy’s launch will actually be pushed back rather than advertize the Storm but not have any to actually sell.

If the 480 x 360 touchscreen wasn’t enough to make the Storm special, the wireless bands it supports are the finishing touch.  Verizon heralded the Storm as a true worldwide handset, and for once they’re not joking: as well as being dual-band CDMA 800/1900 with EV-DO Rev.A support, for use in the US, it also has 850/1900 GSM/GPRS and 2100 UMTS/HSPA support, for use in Europe and Asia.  What that means is that Verizon users no longer have to leave their phones switched off if they travel abroad.

Elsewhere, the Storm is equally capable.  Internal storage amounts to 1GB, expandable via microSD card, plus there’s 128MB of flash memory.  While there’s no WiFi (thanks to Verizon’s veto) you do get Bluetooth 2.0 supporting the mono/stereo headset, handsfree, phone book access and serial port profiles.  A standard 3.5mm headphone jack is a happy inclusion, as is the 3.2-megapixel camera with flash that, although lacking in megapixels compared to the HTC Touch HD, at least exceeds that of the iPhone 3G.  The Storm also has integrated GPS.

Moving around the device, on the top there are the lock and mute buttons on the top left and right sides, respectively, hidden as capacitive controls in the black screen surround.  On the left there’s a dedicated voice-dial button, while on the right there are volume up/down keys and the camera shortcut key.  The headphone jack is also on the right side.  Finally, from left to right on the front, there are call, menu, back and end-call buttons.  Holding down the menu key brings up a task list from which you can switch between running apps.  The Storm measures 4.43 x 2.45 x 0.55 inches and weighs 5.5oz.

Persuading loyal business users that they can be just as productive with a touchscreen as with hardware keyboard takes some doing.  RIM’s answer to this is ClickThrough: developed with Synaptics, it’s a brand new type of interface, a hybrid of haptics, capacitive touch and tactile sensors that mimic physical buttons while still offering the infinite flexibility of onscreen controls.  ClickThrough works on two levels: to highlight a menu option, say, you give the sort of light tap that you might on an iPhone.  To press a key, or select an option, you press down harder and the haptic sensors “click” to give physical feedback of your press.

That might sound complicated, but in use it’s a straightforward concept to grasp.  Gestures, scrolling and highlighting are just as smooth as on the iPhone, but there’s also the physical feedback from the rest of the BlackBerry range.  If anything, we’d compare it to the click of the BlackBerry trackball, it really does feel as though there’s a layer of hardware buttons just beneath the display.  The Storm also supports multitouch input, including simultaneous input for two-finger typing.

OS is RIM’s latest, v4.5, with the new BlackBerry GUI and the same updated iconography and menus as seen on the BlackBerry Bold.  The controls have had a slight size update, however, to better suit them to finger input, and the general layout is predictable and straightforward.  As with the Bold, the hardest thing to get used to is the reworked icons; if you’re a long-standing BlackBerry user, factor in some time to get used to the new, streamlined pictures.  Ironically, new users will probably find it easier than the old OS, to whom the massed menu pages full of tiny detailed icons could be intimidating.

Preloaded applications include RIM’s usual messaging suite, here with support for HTML email, attachments and inline images, their organizer and SMS/MMS.  Much of the email rendering is done off-handset on the BlackBerry email servers, and while we say HTML it’s not exactly full support.  Still, basic formatting (such as bold, italic and underline) and included images are arguably all you need on a mobile device, and the rendering speed benefits are pleasant.

Attachment handling is courtesy of Documents to Go, from DataViz, offering compatibility with Word, Excel and PowerPoint files.  RTF and PDF files are also supported, though only as attachments, but all can be edited on-device.  The Professional edition of the app, a roughly $70 upgrade, offers spellchecking and advanced formatting options, among other things, but we can’t exactly see ourselves doing major editing on any smartphone.

The browser is also the same as on the Bold, with a dedicated search box to query Google, Wikipedia and Dictionary.com, and better access to bookmarks.  Navigation is certainly more straightforward than using a trackball, but to be fair we’re still playing with the browser and will come back to this important feature in part two of our review.  Right now, though, we’re less than impressed with the accelerometer responsiveness: it takes 2-3 seconds to transition between portrait and landscape orientations.  BlackBerry Maps, the new media player and the camera/video app are all present, together with a new Facebook for BlackBerry program and a Flickr browser.  We’ll also be covering these applications in part two, but we can say now that the Facebook app doesn’t seem as comprehensive as that on the iPhone, and the Flickr software is very much bare bones in terms of features.

What we do want to touch on now is, ironically, the touchscreen.  More importantly, our key concern with it: text entry.  Our issue is in maintaining accuracy using ClickThrough; in landscape mode particularly, it can be difficult to both aim at the correct key and simultaneously press straight down on it without your thumbs sliding to the left or right.  After typing pretty much consistently for the first fifteen minutes or so, we found our accuracy was slipping; down, perhaps to 85-percent.  Compounding that, the auto-correction suffers from being less stringent and responsive than that on the iPhone.

In short, it’s proving to be an acquired taste.  While ClickThrough does make sense for those familiar with hardware keyboards, having to physically press the whole screen simply to confirm an URL or dismiss a dialog box gets tiring.  At this early stage – and we recognize that we could get better used to things over the next couple of days – we find ourselves wishing that RIM had given us the option to turn ClickThrough off, at least under certain circumstances.

Where the BlackBerry Bold scored well on battery performance, it looks as though the Storm could be a victim of its beautiful display.  Having unplugged it from the charger at 7.30am this morning, it’s been receiving email all day, used for a tiny amount of surfing and no instant messaging, and for two or three short phone calls (all of great quality); the battery meter is already down to a single bar.  To be fair, Bluetooth has been switched on throughout, but considering it’s now a staple of business life that doesn’t exactly fill us with confidence.  We’re hoping that a few more charge/discharge cycles – which at this rate will happen soon! – will stretch some more life out of the battery.

In part two of our Verizon BlackBerry Storm 9530 review look at the media functionality, including the music and video players, together with camera and GPS performance.  We’ll also been exploring the browser and comparing it with that other multitouch marvel, Safari on the iPhone 3G.  Finally, we’ll be looking at how the Storm performs as a phone, in voice calls and general sound quality.  You can find part two of the SlashGear Verizon Wireless BlackBerry Storm 9530 review here!