REVIEW: BlackBerry Storm 9530 Smartphone
BlackBerry Storm 9530 Smartphone Review
BlackBerry Storm 9530 Phone, Black (Verizon Wireless)
Manufacturer: BlackBerry
Designed to satisfy the needs of both consumers and business customers, the BlackBerry Storm smartphone offers a revolutionary touchscreen that dramatically enhances the touch interface and enables easy and precise typing. The world's first "clickable" touchscreen responds much like a physical keyboard and also supports single-touch, multi-touch and gestures for intuitive and efficient application navigation. Whether traveling to Europe or Asia, the Storm provides globetrotters the freedom of reliable global connectivity with Verizon Wireless's reliable, high-speed 3G CDMA network here in the United States and compatibility with GSM networks abroad.
 The SurePress touchscreen with tactile click response allows you to accurately navigate and type messages on the BlackBerry Storm. |
 The Storm's built-in accelerometer automatically switches the screen between landscape mode and portrait modes as it rotates. See larger version. |
It's compatible with the V Cast Music and V CAST Music with Rhapsody services, which enables you to purchase songs through your phone and download them via Verizon Wireless's fast EV-DO data network. You'll also benefit from the phone's A-GPS receiver, which enables you to access Verizon Wireless's VZ Navigator service for turn-by-turn directions. Other features include a 3.2-megapixel camera/camcorder, Bluetooth connectivity for handsfree devices and stereo music streaming, 1 GB internal memory, MicroSD memory expansion to 16 GB, support for up to 10 personal and corporate email accounts, access to popular instant messaging services, and up to 6 hours of talk time.
Verizon Wireless Service
With support for the EV-DO high-speed data standard, you'll enjoy fast access to the Internet and Verizon Wireless's multimedia services (additional charges applicable), with average download speeds ranging from 400 to 700 Kbps and peak rates up to 2 Mbps. (Learn more about where EV-DO coverage is offered.) The V Cast Music service enables you to download songs instantly to your phone, or purchase music through your PC and transfer the files to your phone. If purchased from your phone, you'll receive two copies of the song: a Windows Media Audio Pro Plus format at 64Kbps stereo is sent to your phone, and a Windows Media Audio 9 format at 160Kbps stereo is sent to your account in the V CAST Music online store for downloading to your PC. V Cast Music offers nearly 2 million songs, with more being added all the time.
In addition to the V Cast Music service, this phone is also compatible with Verizon Wireless's V CAST Music with Rhapsody, which enables you to access this exclusive digital music service for RealNetworks and for MTV Networks. V CAST Music with Rhapsody delivers unlimited monthly access to music on up to three Rhapsody-compatible mobile phones and players and online on multiple PCs and Web browsers. In addition, customers who purchase music over-the-air are able to download the master copy of the songs or albums to their PCs free of digital rights management (DRM) software that restricts how and where music can be played.
The V Cast Video service enables you to stream or download video clips to your phone from a variety of news, entertainment, sports, and weather channels, including CNN, ABC News, E!, CBS Sports, The Weather Channel, and VH1.
With this GPS-enabled phone, you'll be able to access Verizon Wireless's VZ Navigator service (additional charges applicable) for voice-prompted turn-by-turn directions, heads-up alerts, local search of nearly 14 million points of interest in the US (such as landmarks, restaurants and ATMs), and detailed color maps. And Verizon Wireless's Chaperone service lets you easily locate your loved ones from your cell phone phone or PC in real time. After defining a zone, such as an area designating a school or summer camp, you'll be sent an alert via text message when the Chaperone handset enters or leaves the zone.
With BroadbandAccess Connect (subscription required), you can use your smartphone as a modem for your notebook when you connect the two using a USB cable--or open a Bluetooth connection--enabling you to access the Internet or your company intranet. The tethered modem capability is ideal when you're traveling and need to use your notebook to check email, access corporate networks, or download large files like presentations and reports. And with BroadbandAccess Connect, you won't have to buy an extra PC Card or other devices.
With Visual Voice Mail, you can delete, reply and forward voice mail messages without having to listen to prior messages or voice instructions. Visual Voice Mail is the ideal tool for the busy mobile professional who may need to prioritize which messages he or she listens to first.
 In addition to its messaging capabilities, the Storm features a 3.2-megapixel camera and multi-format media player. See larger version. |
Global Connectivity
The BlackBerry Storm allows for global roaming--from Europe to South America to Asia--and also provides 3G data speeds on select international networks, giving you high-speed connectivity when you're abroad. The Storm offers Verizon Wireless's fast 3G EV-DO Rev. A/CDMA connectivity in the United States, and UMTS/HSPA (2100 MHz) and quad-band GSM/EDGE/GPRS connectivity for use outside the U.S. The Storm comes pre-installed with a SIM card, so customers who plan to travel abroad can activate global service at the time of purchase or by calling Verizon Wireless prior to leaving the U.S. For those who travel abroad frequently, the company's Global Value Plan offers discounted roaming charges on calls made to and from 130 countries.
Phone Features
The first BlackBerry to feature a touchscreen interface, the Storm's large 3.25-inch LCD (360 x 480-pixel resolution) actually depresses ever so slightly when the screen is pressed, giving you the distinct feeling that the screen is being pressed and released with a gentle "click"--similar to the feeling of a key on a physical keyboard or a button on a mouse. The "clickable" touchscreen gives you positive confirmation that you've made a selection, resulting in a highly-intuitive typing experience. In addition to the familiar navigation keys (phone, menu and escape) that are common to other BlackBerry smartphones, the Storm adds support for multi-touches, taps, slides and other touch-screen gestures, so you can easily highlight, scroll, pan and zoom for smooth navigation.
The BlackBerry Storm smartphone also features a built-in accelerometer, allowing its touchscreen to automatically switch between landscape mode and portrait mode as the you rotate the handset--RIM's SureType keyboard layout is available in portrait mode and a full QWERTY keyboard layout is available in landscape mode. Other relevant features, such as cut and paste, are only a touch away for the ultimate smartphone experience.
 Blackberry's efficient SureType hybrid alpha-numeric/QWERTY keyboard appears in portrait mode. |
The on-screen SureType hybrid alpha-numeric/QWERTY keyboard, first introduced with BlackBerry Pearl phones, places two letters on each button of the keyboard layout and the Storm automatically determines which letter is the intended one based on what it predicts you are trying to spell. SureType also learns the words you use most often, further enhancing your typing speed.
View your favorite web sites the way they were meant to be seen with the high-performance web browser that works in either portrait or landscape orientation. Navigating Web sites is fast and easy with the touch-screen interface that lets users double tap to zoom in and slide their fingers to scroll and pan. Icons along the bottom of the display allow for quickly accessing Web sites, switching between Page View and Column View as well as the ability to toggle between Pan mode and Cursor mode. The enhanced browser supports file downloading, streaming audio and video (RTSP), and built-in RSS support--enabling content from supported Web sites to be automatically pushed to directly to you.
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Whether you're on the clock or out-and-about, the Storm has the tools to keep you productive. Access up to ten supported personal and corporate email accounts, including the most popular ISP email servers, using BlackBerry Internet Service. View and revise Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint files using Word To-Go or Slideshow To-Go. And keep your schedule on track with the advance calendar function, which allows you to check appointments or make new ones in just a few clicks.
In addition to the industry's leading mobile email and messaging solution, the Storm supports text (SMS), picture (MMS) and instant messaging (IM) on today's most popular platforms as well as social networking sites. Take your social life on-the-go with Facebook for BlackBerry and Flickr Photo Uploader for BlackBerry applications (pre-installed on the Storm). A Mobile IM feature provides access to Google Talk, MSN, Yahoo!, Windows Live, and AIM instant messaging services.
Handsfree communication is easy thanks to the integrated speakerphone. This phone also provides Bluetooth wireless connectivity (version 2.0), and includes profiles for communication headset, handsfree car kits, and file transfer. With the A2DP Bluetooth profile, you can stream your music to a pair of compatible Bluetooth stereo headphones. You can connect your laptop (either via Bluetooth or wired USB) and enjoy dial-up networking--surf the Internet, send email, and access files from a server.
The media player can play movies smoothly in full-screen mode, display pictures and slideshows quickly and manage an entire music collection (compatible with MP3, WMA, and AAC/AAC+/eAAC+ formats). Playlists can be created directly on the handset and there's an equalizer with 11 preset filters--including Lounge, Jazz and Hip Hop--for customized audio ranges when using wired headphones or external speakers. The Storm has 1 GB of internal memory--enough to store 250 tunes--which can be expanded via optional MicroSD/SDHD memory cards (up to 16 GB in size).
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Other features include:
- 3.2 megapixel camera with variable zoom, auto focus and a powerful flash that also provides continuous lighting when recording video
- Built-in GPS supports location-based applications and services, as well as geotagging of photos
- An ambient light sensor that automatically adjusts backlighting for ideal screen viewing and an accelerometer that allows customers to view applications in either portrait or landscape mode by simply rotating the handset
- Visual voicemail allows you to browse your in-box and choose the messages to listen to with just a few clicks.
- Record and send verbal reminders to yourself and others with the easy-to-use Voice Notes feature, which allows you to recored, pause, and resume your voice notes in the push of a button.
- Enhanced noise cancellation to offset background noise
- Low-distortion speakerphone
- 3.5 mm stereo headset jack
- Polyphonic and MP3 real-music ringtones
- MicroUSB connector for charging and data transfer
- Removable battery
- Bluetooth version 2.0 with the following profiles: A2DP (stereo music streaming), AVRC (remote control), HFP (hands-free car kits), HSP (communication headsets), DUN (dial-up networking), FTP (file transfer), PBA (transfer contacts)
Vital Statistics
The BlackBerry Storm weighs 5.5 ounces and measures 4.43 x 2.45 x 0.55 inches. Its 1400 mAh lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 6 hours of talk time, and up to 15 days of standby time. It runs on Verizon Wireless's 800/1900 CDMA/EV-DO frequencies while in the United States, and it can connect to 850/900/1800/1900 MHz GSM/GPRS/EDGE networks as well as 2100 MHz UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA 3G frequencies when outside the U.S.
Lowest New Price: USD 49.99
- First BlackBerry touchscreen phone packed with messaging, document editing, and multimedia features; international GSM roaming
- Access V Cast, Music and Video services via fast EV-DO data network; GPS-enabled for turn-by-turn directions; use phone as a modem for your laptop
- 3.2-megapixel camera/camcorder, Bluetooth stereo music; MicroSD expansion to 16 GB; access to personal email and instant messaging
- Up to 6 hours of talk time, up to 360 hours (15 days) of standby time
- What's in the Box: handset, removable battery, international charger, USB cable, 8 GB MicroSD card, user manual
Color: Black
Model: Storm
Release Date: 2008-11-16
Storm Rocks
Enough of the negative reviews by all the Apple Fanboi's.
The Storm is a very solid phone, works great, works like a blackberry. I use mine as a media player in addition to the phone, and it is very good. Much better sound than an ipod/phone... and the camera is one of the best I have ever seen on a phone.
Plenty of apps and it is fast, browser works well.
I am very happy with mine.
novice smartphone owner loves it
It took me a long time to decide to buy the Storm. For someone like me who is happy w/Verizon, the iPhone was out. For someone like me who does not text, I had no preconceived notions about keyboards and texting. I don't give a hang about that.
What I wanted was email access and a replacement for my old Palm C3. I found it. I've loaded two email addresses (I am uncomplicated) and sync'd my old Palm desktop calendar (my Palm died months ago, but I love the Palm calendar) via Google. With the aid of Compulink, it was a piece of cake.
I only say all of this to establish a baseline for your consideration of what I have to say: I love it. I've loaded email, some news links and Pandora for radio (I absolutely love that!). For someone like me who is not big on texting, the various keyboard apps built in work great. The B'berry version memorizes my own commonly used words and smartens up as I use it. Love that.
Why I got rid of my Storm and bought an iPhone
I purchased a Blackberry Storm three months ago. It was my first "smart phone." I wanted to stick with Verizon and this seemed like the best choice. Last week, however, I cancelled my Verizon Blackberry service and switched to an iPhone. Yes, I had to pay a cancellation fee to Verizon, but I don't care. This review explains why I made this switch and I'm GLAD I did.
The Storm is not really a bad product. It does some things very well, i.e., those things that Blackberry devices as a group do well. If your major concern is to gain access to email quickly and efficiently, the Storm will not disappoint. You can configure the Storm for multiple email accounts and have all of the emails come up in a single "messages" folder, something you can't do with an iPhone. It's also convenient to have the choice of deleting emails just on the device or on the server, as well. I found the SureType system for entering text to be easy to use once learned. Many people hate SureType, but with some patience and practice I found it to be terrific. For those who prefer a traditional full keyboard, the recent software upgrade incorporated a full vertical QWERTY keyboard to complement the previously provided horizontal one.
I found the click screen adequately responsive, and the incorporation of swiping and finger-hovering functions is useful. Inputting calendar entries takes a bit of practice with these swiping/hovering techniques, but after a few days I had mastered the skill. The calendar function itself is sophisticated and integrates well with the phone and contacts features. The option to create multiple calendars is a useful feature. And as other reviewers have commented, the clarity of the screen is excellent. The browser system is good and includes a convenient "home screen" where one can search or access bookmarks easily and quickly. The battery is removable, and media can be stored on removable mini-SD cards (an 8 gb card is included).
The various features of the Storm are accessible via small, iPhone-like icons on the home screen, which can be arranged as one wishes. Phone features are quite extensive, although the audio quality of phone calls leaves something to be desired.
So--as a "Blackberry," the Storm performs adequately and its touch-screen features make it find of fun to use. Moreover, recent software updates have ameliorated some of the performance issues that plagued early users. That's the good news.
Now comes the bad news. The Storm has been billed as an "iPhone killer," competition for Apple's highly successful product. It's in this head-to-head competition that the Storm falls significantly short. The fundamental problem seems to be that whereas the iPhone was designed from the beginning to be a multifunction device, the Storm apparently was based upon a design that is not really ideal for what the engineers were asked to accomplish here. The most annoying problems stem from the fact that the Storm is endowed with only very limited application memory. Apparently each time the Storm is started up at least some of this limited application memory is taken up by all of the installed programs. If one installs more than a very few "apps" that use significant memory, the device's overall performance suffers. Moreover there are continuing problems of "memory leakage." Over the course of a day during which apps are opened and closed the available memory slowly seeps away until the Storm slows to a crawl and to regain speed one has to do a "battery pull" to reboot the system and free up application memory. It is telling that one of the most popular applications used by Storm owners is "Quick Pull," a program that functions to reboot the system without the necessity of physically removing the battery.
One can slow this memory leakage by using the pulldown menus to close apps each time they are used, rather than simply hitting the "red phone" stop button to put them away (still open in the background, apparently). This can be a pain: sometimes closing out of an app requires a multiple-step process that becomes laborious. Even if one carefully closes each application the memory leakage proceeds anyway, albeit more slowly. I could never get through an entire day without rebooting the device at least once. Since this takes several minutes, it can be truly inconvenient.
This memory problem poisons the entire Storm user experience. With much fanfare, Blackberry opened up its "app store" not long ago. There are not nearly as many apps available as there are for the iPhone (that's putting it mildly), but theoretically, most of the tasks that iPhone apps perform can now be accomplished through corresponding Storm apps. The bigger problem is that whereas iPhone users can add literally scores of apps to their phones will no real loss of speed, Storm owners must be oh, so careful not to overload their devices and thus slow the operating system down. I recall that when I finally decided to delete the preinstalled Verizon VZ Navigator program the Storm suddenly performed much better overall.
As an entertainment device the Blackberry is barely adequate. It includes a music player that exhibits good sound quality but the system for adding music and synchronizing media with one's computer does not compare with Apple's iTunes. I ultimately found it easier to simply remove the 8gb mini-SD card and transfer my own music files directly to the card, rather than downloading the overpriced Verizon V Cast media or trying to synchronize and upload my music using the provided buggy, slow Roxie software. Moreover, some music fans (like me) will be disappointed that there is no gapless playback with the Storm (meaning that successive tracks that are meant to play nonstop with no gaps will exhibit an annoying instant of interruption).
The Storm can play movies; in fact, the device comes preloaded with a very impressive film preview clip ("Babylon AD")that appears bright and bold on the screen. However, it is difficult to impossible to buy or rent videos to download to the Storm. One can buy programs that enable users to rip DVD's and configure them for the Storm, but compare this "convenience" to the availability of prepared videos for sale or rent via iTunes.
As a photographer, I can attest that all cameras incorporated into cell phones are terrible. The Storm's has some nice features, including a tiny flash and a (digital) zoom function, but the resulting images (and videos) are not very good. The iPhone once lagged in this area (i.e., no video camera) but with the release of the new 3Gs model the devices are now equally mediocre when it comes to photography.
Other Storm problems: It's a good idea to lock the screen when the device is not in use; otherwise pressure on the screen can accidentally start programs and problems ensue. The iPhone uses a top-lock button to lock its screen and finger-slide to unlock it. The Blackberry has a top lock button to both lock and unlock the screen. The problem is that sometimes one clicks on the button to unlock the screen and there is no apparent response. Naturally, one clicks the button again, only to find that the screen finally unlocks but then locks again. This small performance issue can be quite annoying when one is trying to access Storm features during a busy day.
Also, the Storm lacks WiFi. This is not a fatal flaw, but since WiFi where available is faster and uses less battery power, it's something that really should have been included.
Overall, the iPhone is faster, easier to use, can do more, and definitely more fun. Apple excels at creating user-friendly products that get the little things right. The Storm is Blackberry's first attempt at a consumer-oriented smart phone, and it's clearly a work in progress. There may eventually be multifunction phone products that will rival the iPhone, but the Storm is not a serious challenger.
SLOW ? Wait there is a newer Software Update !
I received this phone December 25th 2008 by April 2009 it was already defective the detent was just about gone. Verizon had me trade in my new phone for a reburbished phone. This is nothing at all like a Palm Treo device. This is not a true touch screen.
The response from this phone is only slightly better than the original phone I purchased. It lags badly whenever something is going on like just dialing a phone number manually.
What really frosts me is the fact the sales associate says there were improvements in the works. This phone was released to the public way before the bugs were fixed in an effort to keep up with AT&Ts I-Phone at least in my experience and opinion.
It has very Impressive features but if you don't intend to use Navigation, Email, or all of the bells and whistles.
Don't Buy this phone just yet, and if you do, exercise your right to return it. If you do have a problem or aren't quite satisfied you will be stuck with it if you let the window close on Verizons return policy.
I am told the new software update fixes many of the existing bugs prior to June 1st 2009. The Jury is not in yet.
Love hate relationship... Hate won.
Well, perhaps hate is a strong word here. I don't hate the Storm. I wanted to like it so much that I gave it a solid week even after telling myself I was returning it the next day. Bottom line is, what I really wanted was an iphone, but I didn't want AT&T. So I went with the Storm, as I think Verizon's network is simply the best. So...
Pros and cons of the Storm (with .75 update):
Pros:
Excellent looking screen
Decent Apps
Receiving E-mail is great
It's a Blackberry
Cons:
The screens flips to landscape at odd times and then lags
Actually using the phone was a cumbersome pain; sound quality is poor
Using the tactile click seemed cool at first, but texting was abysmal
Everything was very, very slow even after shutting down apps
Camera would turn on for no apparent reason; unacceptable
My ear would actually select another voice mail when using visual voice mail.
Did I mention typing anything was a huge pain in the derriere?
So, on day six I decided to get the ipod touch 16Gb (no, not the phone). I was literally blown away at how smooth and responsive it was. The Storm was a clumsy oaf in comparison with the interface and apps.
The next day, today, I went to the Verizon store and returned it for an LG EnV Touch and the thing is great. I mean, I can actually use the phone and feel like I am talking into a real phone. I can text with ease and not be frustrated. It may not be the powerhouse that the Storm is, but I'll take usability over flash any day.
Suggestions: The Storm could be great if it were quicker, much quicker and if it gave the option between simple touch or the tactile click.
