This may warrant its own thread, but why does RIM make such heavy OS upgrade's. I went through the .69 package and removed 224 of 422 .cod files - most of them support for non-English languages, preloaded media (video and pics) and apps I don't want (PTT, Blackberry Maps).

I know that additional languages can be deleted with the apploader, but why should people have to do this manually? Couldn't they just ask what languages you want. Plus, why not give people the option to delete the preloaded pictures?

The guy in the next office has a pearl with free device memory of only about 6 MB. That's ridiculous.

Contrary to popular belief, not everyone speaks English. PTT is 'limited' to Cingular's Pearl. Typically speaking, you'd rather have something unlocked, loaded and available rather than not having it on there. Also, do we know the specifics of contracts between RIM, the carriers, and the digital rights owners and/or application vendors for a lot of these modules?

RIM writes the code for the carriers. If a carrier wants to release an English-only version then they can do it. And risk losing customers.

I upgraded from the latest T-Mobile code (.64 I think?) to this release.

I seem to have lost the Task List / To Do List Application.

Can anyone else confirm?

I wish these things would come with release notes.
Anyone see any difference. upgrading from .67 to .69

Jibi, did I say that there should be an English only version? No. I merely said that the software should be written so as to "ask what languages you [i.e., the user] want[s]," with the obvious consequence that only those languages would be loaded. NJBlackBerry, how would a carrier risk losing customers by allowing them an easier option to not load unneeded languages?

Of course, not everyone speaks English. That's why my Pearl came loaded with language files for UK English, Spanish, Mexican Spanish, Portuguese, Brazilian Portuguese, Italian, French, Catalan, Greek, Turkish, Swedish, and German. Did I forget any? My Pearl runs blazing fast now with all of this crap deleted (plus the preloaded ringtones and preloaded pictures deleted]. I just thought that others could benefit from this, and many don't have the time/interest to do it themselves.

^^ What language should it ask in?

was that a third party application? if so, then you most likely removed it by accident and need to reload.

Point taken.

Unfortunately(/fortunately), this isn't Burger King. You order a device and it has the software/OS preloaded with the default configuration. There are no alternate configurations. The customer will receive the device and have the ability to remove these languages if they want to do so. Honestly, it's not that complicated of a process and it's pretty flexible as to the modular add/remove options. I suppose they could send out step-by-step instructions on how to do so, but...

As far as the customer-base, as mentioned, not everyone is English. And unfortunately in the world of big business and cost-effective means of delivery and support, it makes perfect sense what the carriers have done in terms of issuing these devices. Some have chosen to offer the English-only downloads of them, but it's honestly been a while since I've seen one.

If we really want to look at a stupid/un-wise move by someone, just look at the Asian markets that don't even have input support for their native languages. Shame on no one but RIM for that blunder.

Well guys I have tried to search for my answer. I just upgraded to the cingular s/w but I am confused. Why is it that my vendor id is still 100 when I do the alt/race shortcut? Also, my bookmarks are still tmobile. Was I wrong in thinking that this software would basically make this a cingular pearl and get rid of all the tmobile stuff? Any help appreciated.

Thanks!

BTW, I am on Cingular.

Someone should really make a formal changelog for these things...

Why does it take so long for a few bug fixes on anything blackberry related?

Why does blackberry's software download so slow? (Every update < 50 k/s)

Why does it seem like no ones listening?

Why are these things so expensive?

Why is software so expensive? (ffs $95 for idokorro's ssh)

Why is open-source software almost non existant? (note the almost)

hmm I should really learn how to code on the blackberry.

Vendor ID is hard coded to the device.
Splash screens are hard coded to the device.
One a T-Mobile Pearl, always a T-Mobile pearl.
Regardless of what SIM you have.

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows NT 5.0) BlackBerry8100/4.2.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/100)

That sucks. I wish it were like my razr. DL carrier s/w
and that's what you get. Ünbranded is even better. Thanks

Care to share why it downgrades the maps?????

Hey Jibi - how about putting a link to the page with the ALX files in your sig so people don't have to constantly ask you for it?

Stac

Upgrade from .64 to .69 and have had no problem. I like the options for all the themes. Works great!

Most companies, RIM included, plan ahead. So by now, RIM is focusing hard on getting the 8800 out next month. That means less people on Pearl development. Also, they don't fix a bug when one person complains, they need a large group to make enough of a fuss to get the ball rolling. My buddy works over there and told me they have a "task list" of things that need to be fixed and people just post new bugs they've found and they vote on the prioritization of the list. So if your bug isn't anywhere near the top, sitting around and playing Solitaire comes ahead of you.

Get better internet service! Granted I live in Toronto so I'm not far from RIM HQ, but I was downloading at 970KB/s just fine. There have been times where it's a tad slower, but that's when not coming from RIM (such as the O2 OS release a couple months ago).

Because you ask 47 questions in one post. But apparently I have no life so I can take the time to answer.

Ever bought a computer before? Ever seen the price tag for a computer? Now try to estimate the cost of building that same computer with parts 1 millionth the size that can run on a single battery for roughly 2 days and, oh, ya, let you COMMUNICATE WITH THE WHOLE FRIGGIN' WORLD! I understand 1,2,or $300 isn't chump change, but I can definitely see it as justified compared to the feature set.

Now HERE we see eye-to-eye! How can people charge $20,$30,even $100 for BB software!!! I can't remember the name, but there's that full "office suite" program for BB that costs $199!!! Yet I can download OpenOffice for my computer for free. The BB software market is complete BS. The day someone figures out how to decompile COD files into JAR's we'll see a big drop in price because competition will grow immensely among software developers.

See my answer above. I agree, though, that we need more open source projects. And there's really no excuse for it, I mean it's Java we're talking about here! Such a universal language! But it doesn't help that every other mobile phone on the planet uses the standard Java ME platform and BB's have their own "special" Java BB-ME platform.

Yes. Yes you should. Then no waiting for someone to release a program that does something simple that you like, like MAKE A DECENT ALARM CLOCK ALREADY!!! (and then charge $49.95 for it ).

So last night I did the .64 upgrade that Tmo emailed me about earlier in the week. Today I decided to try the .69 upgrade but nothing happens. I cant get it to install. I tried from my lap top with a clean install of the desktop software and then a clean install of the .69 handheld software and then plug in the 8100 and nothing happens. How do I do it manually? I have read several other threads but I haven't managed to find the step by step instructions to do an upgrade. When I did the .64 last night when I plugged in the 8100 I got instant notice than an upgrade was ready but now, as I said, nothing. I am not an idiot but this is completely new to me Thanks!
-Zac-

delete the vendor.xml located in c:\program files\common files\research in motion\apploader

I did that on my main PC and got nothing....I just tried it on my laptop and it prompted me to update. Now I have something to do when I get home from dinner
Thanks!

I was deleting it before I installed the handheld software not AFTER

Updating as I type now (on my main PC)

Hello guys, just one quick question, do you have to replace the platfrom.alx file as well as the blackberry.alx file with jibis download. I just replaced the blackberry.alx and not the platform.alx and everything seems to be working fine.

No. I think this was answered in your other (duplicate) post. Not nice to double post!

The homepage dialing bug still exists; this is getting really old and frustrating.

:(

Does anyone know why it downgrades the BB MAps util.????????

okay i think i am stupid but any help appreciated, i downloaded this software and when i plug in my phone it doesn't ask to upgrade it at all and it just does well, nothing.

its really weird i downloaded and extracted plug in my phone and its as if nothing happens doesn't ask to upgrade.

any clue?

n/m i got it to work, so excuse my stupidity

Something about a vendor.xml I'm guessing???

it amazes me that the same questions are asked over and over again. Like the whole how come i didn't get a prompt to upgrade when i haven't deleted the vendor.xml file yet type thing. I'm not bashing anyone but please this forum is so full of BB info you would be amazed at what you could learn if you searched and read the threads. I was a total new comer to BB's and now I know more than the average joe all thanks to reading and listening

mine is a t-mobile pearl, will this work ok?

I'll take a whack at this one. I think up until now most BB users were business users, so these users just got the company they work for to pay for the software saying it was a business expense. The software developers probably knew this and took advantage. Just my .02.

I am upgrading to the new software and during the "wait for device initialization" , the pearl wont connect. Any ideas??

My maps stopped working when I upgraded to .64 - Once I upgraded to .69 they started working again. Maybe the newer version of the maps (in .64) was buggy?

Any reason to go from .67 to .69? Anyone done this and notice any improvements etc?

It generally takes between 10 and 15 minutes for the BB to boot the first time after new software is loaded. This is normal. Subsequent boots only take a minute or two.

I loaded this on my tmobile phone. I went from the rojers update to this one, and now myfaves is missing...how do I get it back??

I don't use myfaves so this is just a stab in the dark but try Options >Advanced Options >Host Routing Table >click the Pearl and select Register Now. This brings back most apps like that.

thanks