[Racerdj]

Ringer Volume???? Adequate??

[Milleon]

Originally Posted by mahbs786

BlackBerry Maps is loaded and Google Maps can be loaded directly from the Storm using the new Application Loader. Both appear to work with GPS.


Only read below if you want to read about a brief and initial comparison with the iPhone. Not relevant if you are locked into a non O2 contract or don't have an unlocked iPhone!

I was really keen to go back to the excellent messaging capabilties of the BlackBerry having used the iPhone on T-Mobile (factory unlocked from Italy!)

I think the Storm is an excellent step forward for RIM but I'm finding it not nearly as fast or polished as the iPhone which is dissapointing. My main cons so far are:

The classic BlackBerry speed and ease of use just isn't there for me. Screen rotation is much slower than the iPhone, the keyboard in landscape mode needs some getting used to - I keep making mistakes although the portrait mode SureType works well, and the point made above about quick dialling was a key feature for me previously which is missing in the Storm. Need a number of clicks to start dialling a contact. Both maps apps are slow at refreshing, browsing isn't as ingenious, smooth or fast as iPhone although I believe Flash is available unlike the iPhone. Ability to add new and quality Apps fast and cheaply is what makes iPhone special. RIM have taken on the idea with the App Loader but the quality and range is understandably poor at present - hopefully this will improve with time. Phone appears to get hot quickly too - maybe just mine and maybe because I was charging it while using it. Scroll feature is jerky. No wifi which can be a shame if you want to give your tariff a rest and utilise the many hotspots out there. Memory is low bt expandable. Synch software is still not as advanced as iPhone. Youtube image quality is not as good as iPhone (did a side by side comparison) although Storm loaded faster. Locked on Vodafone.

The pros noticed immediately are:

Sharpest display I've seen! Camera and Video Camera are excellent. Messaging is excellent just as you expect from BlackBerry including Push email. App Loader is a welcome feature and will get better. Clickable screen is nice - gives the reassurance of selection but may need getting used to at first. Also may slow down typing if you are a fast typer. Big screen area. Smart looking handheld. All the usual BlackBerry apps and more loaded including MS Office editing software. Internet is fast and best display on BlackBerry to date. Shows the satellites locked on by GPS. Calendar, task, notes are much better than iPhone. Test editing capabilties are better thsan iPhone. Can receive MMS unlike iPhone. LED notification. Notifications alerts are custmisable unlike the iPhone.

I'm sure I'll notice more as I use it.

This was an excellent and very useful review. Thank you.

[Stinsonddog]

Originally Posted by Stinsonddog

Oh my how can they not have home screen shortcuts and no speed dials. Oh well. Since my BOLD is mainly a business device I will stick to that. I still think the best combo is a BOLD and an iTouch

Ok straight from the manual on speed dial - someone confirm this please -

Speed dial

Set up speed dial for a contact

1. In the phone application, press the

Menu key.
2. Click View Speed Dial List.
3. Click an unassigned key.
4. Click New Speed Dial.
5. Click a contact.
To make a call using speed dial, in the phone application, hold the key that you assigned to the contact.

[Jason Mark]

For those of you who are having a problem with the OS not being as snappy as you want it, this will help--> Options>Advanced Options>Applications select Vodaphone Live!>BB button> contect menu>uninstall/delete. Then the device will need to reboot.

Now this is if you don't use this feature. But it does free up some memory and it seems at least to make the device overall snappier.

[Stinsonddog]

Originally Posted by Jason Mark

For those of you who are having a problem with the OS not being as snappy as you want it, this will help--> Options>Advanced Options>Applications select Vodaphone Live!>BB button> contect menu>uninstall/delete. Then the device will need to reboot.

Now this is if you don't use this feature. But it does free up some memory and it seems at least to make the device overall snappier.

If its like the Bold there is still only 128mb of OS memory and I don't know how big 4.7 is, but my Bold is running is 4Omb or so free on reboot and drops to 20 or so with usage. It's not memory leak fyi. For example if you load maps they gotta go somewhere until flushed. Yes you will have to watch was you load. Some apps take alot of memory. I had my BOLD flush my emails which I never had on my Curve. This was with .167 which was a larger build.

[Jason Mark]

Originally Posted by Stinsonddog

If its like the Bold there is still only 128mb of OS memory and I don't know how big 4.7 is, but my Bold is running is 4Omb or so free on reboot and drops to 20 or so with usage. It's not memory leak fyi. For example if you load maps they gotta go somewhere until flushed. Yes you will have to watch was you load. Some apps take alot of memory. I had my BOLD flush my emails which I never had on my Curve. This was with .167 which was a larger build.

No I'm not saying theres a memory leak. All I'm saying is that the removal of this application is making the device not so sluggish, that's all.

[Shaun]

Will traditional screen protectors work on this screen, or does the "click" function cause problems?

[evilblade]

Should work, I have screen protector from factor and it looks like everyone around.

Cheers

[david_uk]

Originally Posted by Stinsonddog

Ok straight from the manual on speed dial - someone confirm this please -

Speed dial
Set up speed dial for a contact

1. In the phone application, press the

Menu key.

2. Click View Speed Dial List.

3. Click an unassigned key.

4. Click New Speed Dial.

5. Click a contact.

To make a call using speed dial, in the phone application, hold the key that you assigned to the contact.

There is indeed a Speed Dial feature as you describe. I think my point was that it requires three "key" depressions compared with a single press from the home screen on Curve etc.

[Jason Mark]

Originally Posted by Stinsonddog

Ok straight from the manual on speed dial - someone confirm this please -

Speed dial

Set up speed dial for a contact

1. In the phone application, press the

Menu key.
2. Click View Speed Dial List.
3. Click an unassigned key.
4. Click New Speed Dial.
5. Click a contact.
To make a call using speed dial, in the phone application, hold the key that you assigned to the contact.

Yes, Stinson is correct and this is how you set speed dial. It's a nice short-cut.

[david_uk]

Originally Posted by Racerdj

Ringer Volume???? Adequate??

Yes, all fine in that department.

Can now adjust ringer/alert volume from 1 - 10. But the ability to repeat an alert has disappeared, bummer as I used to use the same tone but have it repeat twice for email, once for SMS.

[Jason Mark]

Also, heres a video of a production Vodafone Storm and it's rotation time. You'll see it's from landscape to portrait that takes the most time. Also keep in mind that there are already 3 new builds beyond .65. So you all have something to look forward to.


YouTube - Blackberry rotation

Edit: Here is a picture taken with the Storm from the same person who made the video.

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q...g?t=1226773127

[akosnitzky]

Wirelessly posted (Verizon 8830)

Thank you for sharing the videos. I did not realize that it would switch over automatically.

[iteatsbrains]

:O!
I want one. right now.

[rachamphetamine]

Originally Posted by Jason Mark

Edit: Here is a picture taken with the Storm from the same person who made the video.

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q...g?t=1226773127

That was really taken with the Storm's camera? Dang..

[ChesterJT]

Referring to the keyboard taking up a lot of the screen, is there an option to resize it? Like the font or size of the keyboard to free more space up or is it static and unchangable? And for that matter, does changing the font size under options affect how large the typed letters are and by default change the size of the replying-to message so that you have more room to type?

[EdTurner]

Originally Posted by david_uk

Yes, all fine in that department.

Can now adjust ringer/alert volume from 1 - 10. But the ability to repeat an alert has disappeared, bummer as I used to use the same tone but have it repeat twice for email, once for SMS.

Can you turn the volume off for e-mail while leaving the sound on for receiving calls?

[david_uk]

Originally Posted by EdTurner

Can you turn the volume off for e-mail while leaving the sound on for receiving calls?

Yes, there's a Sound Profile named Phone Calls Only.

[david_uk]

Originally Posted by ChesterJT

Referring to the keyboard taking up a lot of the screen, is there an option to resize it? Like the font or size of the keyboard to free more space up or is it static and unchangable? And for that matter, does changing the font size under options affect how large the typed letters are and by default change the size of the replying-to message so that you have more room to type?

(1) No option that I can find to change keyboard size. Of course in portrait mode there's more vertical space - if you like SureType.

(2) Changing font size does not affect the visible area - when replying to a message, you still only see a single line without scrolling.

[evilblade]

David,
Did you find, how to fast forward track or search track? (any progress bar or maybe something similar to space travel - time of tune)

Regards
ps. you can ping me if you want.