Archive for October, 2009

Yes, the biggest improvement in the Storm 2 is the typing technology and the ease at which you can type on the touchscreen. Typing on the Storm 2 is a more reassuring feeling versus the 9530, and it is far easier than typing on other touchscreen devices such as the iPhone. Another huge improvement is the addition of WiFi.

But what about everything else? There are a host of small improvements on the Storm 2 that don’t get as much exposure but will provide you with a little added comfort.The SIM card is easier to remove

The BlackBerry Storm2 has a little opening in the back of the SIM card slot that helps in removing your SIM card. On the Storm 9530, you had to use a technique involving pinching the top of your SIM card, pulling up slightly and pulling out. For someone who switches SIM cards a lot, this is a great little improvement.
Personally, I wasn’t elated about the battery cover on the Storm 9530/9500. The original Storm required you to lift two latches on either side of the battery door, and it wasn’t the most convenient system. The Storm 9550 has the same battery door opening as the Curve 8520, making it much more convenient to open.
Where the original Storm had a lock button, it has been replaced with a power button. This is a nice change in that the button serves a dual purpose. It will put your device in lock/sleep mode and if you hold it down, your device will power off.
The convenience keys are rubberized
The new rubberized convenience keys have been showing up on all of RIM’s latest devices including the Curve 8520. Like the trackpad, this seems to give the device a longer shelf life and will go a long way to keeping your device pristine.

Nothing really crazy new here since OS 5.0 has been leaking for quite awhile but for those of you not sporting the latest OS there is some great detail in the description. You should check out all the features at this link but I will highlight some of my favorite below.

flagemail Flag for Follow up – Using BlackBerry Device Software version 5.0, any email messages that are flagged for follow up on the email application on the computer will have that information reconciled with the email message item on the BlackBerry smartphone and shown next to the subject in the Messages application as shown in the image below. This includes any customizations to the flag such as reminder information, or the type of follow up required (for example, For Your Information or Call) as shown in the image below.

autocorrect-complete

Auto Correct / Word Completion – A feature previously only available on BlackBerry smartphones that use SureType® technology; Auto Correct/Word Completion is now available in BlackBerry Device Software version 5.0 for QWERTY based smartphones

Synchronization of Multiple Contact Folders or Address Books – Multiple Contact Folders or Address Books can be configured for synchronization to the BlackBerry smartphone with BlackBerry Device Software version 5.0. See KB18080 for more information on using this feature.

Volume Overlay – Volume overlay will display volume indicator over top of any application if the volume level is adjusted. Depending on what output is currently selected for the media being played the icon will change to indicate what level is being adjusted. An example of the volume overlay on the home screen is shown below for reference.

resize-images Photo Resize when Sending or Sharing – When sending a photo or picture you are presented with a list of options that resize the image before it is sent to its destination.

Support for Bluetooth 2.1 and Secure Simple Pairing – Bluetooth 2.1 support has been added to BlackBerry Device Software version 5.0 along with Secure Simple Pairing (SSP). SSP simplifies the pairing process in the following ways when used with compatible peripherals:

* Peripherals without a screen or keyboard do not require a pairing key to be entered on BlackBerry smartphone
* Peripherals with a keyboard generate a key on the BlackBerry smartphone to be entered on the peripheral
* All other peripherals display a key on both the BlackBerry smartphone in the peripheral and prompt for confirmation that the keys match

Support for Metadata via Bluetooth AVRCP – For Bluetooth peripherals that support AVRCP and can display song data this information will be sent from the BlackBerry smartphone to the associated peripheral.

notification-indicator Notification Indicators on Folders – Using BlackBerry Device Software version 5.0, any folders that contain applications that put a notification on the home screen of the BlackBerry smartphone show an indicator on the folder of the application. For example, in the image below BlackBerry® Messenger has a new notification present that is shown on both the top of the home screen and on the Instant Messaging folder where the BlackBerry Messenger application resides.
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Today, the inPulse smartwatch for BlackBerry gets official. As we reported previously, the inPulse smartwatch is not a BlackBerry Smartphone on your wrist, nor is it manufactured by Research in Motion (nor is RIM developing an accessory like this on their own – this is the “BB watch”). Rather, the inPulse smartwatch is manufactured by Allerta, a new Waterloo-based start-up focused on intelligent smartphone accessories, and works as a companion to your BlackBerry Smartphone to notify you of incoming BlackBerry messages/events.

inPulse smartwatch for BlackBerry Tech Specs & Key Features

* 1.3″ full colour organic light-emitting-diode (OLED) display
* Bluetooth® v2.0+EDR
* 150 mAh lithium-ion polymer battery
* Glass lens and full metal body
* 22mm interchangeable wrist band
* Vibrating motor
* Micro-USB port (for charging)
* Over-the-air firmware updates
* Dimensions: 51mm height x 38mm width x 12mm depth

Jumping over to the inPulse FAQ page reveals other key stats. Battery life is slated at ~ 4 days depending on use and can be recharged in about 30 minutes via standard microUSB cable. To use the inPulse wristwatch you must also install an app onto your BlackBerry that runs in the background. Cool feature – you can set the inPulse (clock, timers, multiple alarms) right from your BlackBerry. It can receive firmware updates wirelessly, and will work on all BlackBerry Smartphones running OS 4.3 and up.

As for price, the inPulse smartwatch rings in at pretty reasonable $149 USD. It’s available for pre-order now (not taking payment yet but you can get on the waiting list), with the first consumer shipments scheduled for February 2010. For more info, you can check out the press release below, visit getinpulse.com for more product info and to pre-order, and check out the inpulse blog at inpulse.tumblr.com to stay on top of developments.

Google has just released Google Maps 3.2 and its a pretty nice upgrade. I was really hoping they would finally tie it into your Google account but no luck. Version 3.2 brings layers to the table which are kind of like overlays on your map.

Layers are useful because you can overlay transit maps or even Wikipedia entries over a map. Here It Is Check It Out..

Download 3.2 at: m.google.com/maps

Check out this official AT&T unboxing and walk through video of the BlackBerry Bold 9700 Smartphone.The BlackBerry Bold 9700 will be available in the coming weeks. You can check out the Bold 9700 on AT&T’s website for more info…

RIM broke their mold today by not announcing their latest device at midnight EST like they always do. Together with T-Mobile they announced the BlackBerry Bold 9700. I am so glad it was not called the Bold2. While T-Mobile gets the title for the first BlackBerry with 3G and UMA Wi-Fi calling AT&T is conspicuously missing from the announcement. I really hope this is not another Verizon/Storm2 situation.

T-Mobile plans on selling the Bold 9700 “in time for the holiday season” whatever that means for $199.99 with a 2 year contract. You can catch more at www.blackberry.com/bold9700.

In RIM’s press release the specifically mention the two different flavors of the 9700. One for T-Mobile and one for the rest of the world. This is because T-Mobile runs their 3G over the non-standard 1700Mhz AWS band. That means the different configurations will have:

* UMTS/HSDPA 2100/1900/850/800 MHz and quad-band EDGE/GPRS/GSM
* UMTS/HSDPA 2100/1700/900 MHz and quad-band EDGE/GPRS/GSM

Finally,a James Bond gadget for the rest of us. The highly anticipated Blackberry Bluetooth watch has been sighted, and early details (and pictures!) have been revealed.

According to Crackberry, the device isn’t intended to replace your Blackberry, but rather is meant to be used on those occasions when your phone is tucked away and you want to quickly check whether a message is urgent, or can wait a few minutes until you’ve pulled over/your friend has finished talking/you’re done with dinner.

Here are some initial renderings of the product:

features of the Blackberry watch, from Crackberry:

* it has been designed specifically for use with BlackBerry Smartphones from the ground up – developed by a new BlackBerry-dedicated accessory company

* it features an OLED screen that we hear is “big, bright and beautiful” and optimized for displaying text clearly, and thanks to OLED has solid battery life

* it’s designed to show you notifications and previews of messages arriving on your BlackBerry

* judging by the filename of the photos as they were sent in to us, we’re thinking it’s going to be branded the inPulse smartwatch

The Blackberry watch isn’t made by Research In Motion and is not a Blackberry-branded device. It’s being manufactured by inPulse and was designed specifically for use with BlackBerry Smartphones.