Blackberry Storm

Everyone that knows me should be able to testify I’m a major Mac fanboy. They’ll also be able to tell you that I carry an Apple iPhone. Those very close to me will also be able to affirm that I must reluctantly carry a second cell phone for work related purposes. When it came time to upgrade my work cell from the old Blackberry 7250 (I think), I decided to go with the NEW Blackberry Storm (as cool as it sounds to be a dual wilding iPhone Cowboy). After receiving the Blackberry Storm I came to see it’s pros and cons as it sat side-by-side to my iPhone and all it’s wonderfulness! One thing I will say, is at this point in the Storm’s OS, I cannot even dream of comparing it to the iPhone, so I hope you will settle for just a review of the Storm itself (I’ll try to be unbiased!). So here Goes:

Form Factor/ Hardware

The overall feel of the phone is pleasing. It’s not awkward for me, or cumbersome for regular phone use. Not too thick, or heavy. The arrangement of the buttons around the face of the phone are typical of the Touchscreen form factor, with the nice benefit of dedicated “send” and “end” hard keys. The battery cover is much easier to remove than some of the old Blackberries, but still seems snug as to not just pop off. After removing the battery cover, and the battery itself, you are able to remove the SIM card….which is VERY hard to do without a pointy instrument of some sort (i.e. paperclip). There’s also a slot for a Micro SD memory card (8GB came with mine). My biggest complaints of the hardware go to the screen itself. While it is large, and produces bright colors, and a nice resolution…it moves! I DO NOT like the fact that the screen is not snug in the display bezel. I think this shows signs of either a rushed job on the manufacturing, or just plain old lack of judgment in design. That being said, I also am wary of the “lock” and “mute” keys at the top of the bezel. I forsee these keys will stop responding in the future. Overall battery life was fairly decent, no complaint there.

Software / OS

The OS version is identical to that of the Blackberry Bold (with the addition of the touch screen functionality). While the OS performs well on the Bold….the Bold is without a touch screen. This is the one factor that makes it absolutely unfair to even try to compare the Storm to the iPhone. Blackberry cut corners and instead of creating a new OS targeted specifically for touch screen devices, they took an OS that is normally navigated with a freakin’ scroll ball and added touch screen functionality to it. The iPhone doesn’t have every feature that’s available on smart phones, but it’s OS was made specifically for the form factor and touch screen making it a dream to navigate any application or feature. Thumbs down for you RIM, go back to square one on the drawing board and don’t come out when you’re ready to make money, come out when the product is ready, and the money will come on it’s on! That rant aside, the overall OS isn’t that bad, just the awkward feel of the UI. A little more bad news before I get to any Pros, the Application Store. The Blackberry App Store is a big joke. It’s been a while since it’s release and there are still only a handful of apps available. There are a ton of apps available to various Blackberries with a similar OS to the Storm….it shouldn’t take much effort to port them over. The iPhone App Store opened with 500 apps, and it was a brand new platform!!! Now, I do like the Turn by Turn GPS app (even though the phone seems to stop charging while using this app, even though it’s  plugged in). The first software update greatly enhanced the OS’s response to the accelerometer while changing from landscape to portrait view. I do like the different options for the keyboard in landscape vs. portrait view as well. None of the other applications were any different than other Blackberry models with virtually the same OS, not did I see any added benefit to any of the Apps from the touch screen

Call Quality / Reception

Call quality and reception are the two greatest features of this phone, and they have very little to do with the device. Verizon’s service is excellent in the area where I work (inside a huge concrete Parking Deck!)…and everywhere else for that matter!

With all that said, I would give the Blackberry Storm a 7 out of 10, but RIM definitley needs to go back and redesign the OS around the touch screen form factor. I will mention that I just had to send my Storm in for repairs/replacement. The two major problems that I’ve read about, heard about, and experienced myself are:

• The Storm will randomly shut itself down. I keep my screen locked, and it does it anyways, even when the battery is fully charged (or close to it). I just have to power it back on and everything is fine, but there’s the potential I missed a support call or text from a server going down.
• The Storm shuts off, and decides to not come back on. I charged it for 48 hours with no luck whatsoever. Tried a brand new battery with no luck. Different chargers made no difference. Looked around on Blackberry forums, and it looks like the problem is rampant.

Hope this helps anyone wondering about the Storm!

-Phenix

The updated Mac mini is just as rumors foretold: Core 2 Duo processors running at 2.0 or 2.26 GHz, NVIDIA 9400M graphics, and 120GB, 250GB, or 320GB 5400 RPM drive options. It also features the same port array as recently leaked photos have shown. Surely there is someone who can explain to us the logic of having both Mini-DisplayPort and Mini-DVI ports—we’ll let you know if we can get a statement from Apple. And yes, the Mac mini does in fact now have five USB ports. Five! The Mac mini starts at the same $599 as the previous model.

The iMac has been updated with faster Core 2 Duo processors running at 2.66GHz, 2.93GHz, and 3.06GHz; NVIDIA 9400M graphics; and for the 24″ model, discrete NVIDIA GeForce or ATI Radeon graphics cards. Hard drive options include 320GB, 640GB, or 1TB 7200 RPM drives. It doesn’t appear that LED backlighting has come to the iMac yet, however. The FireWire port has been updated to FW800, and the external display port is of course Mini-DisplayPort. A 20″ model starts at $1,199, and 24″ models start at $1,499.

The new Mac Pro is a whole new “beast,” according to Apple. The machine uses Intel’s Nehalem-based quad-core Xeon processors in either a 4- or 8-core configuration, with a “Turbo Boost” for the high-end 2.93GHz 8-core system, which can push the clock speed as high as 3.33GHz in bursts. Of course, 1066MHz DDR3 ECC RAM is standard, with four-core systems maxing out at 8GB and eight-core systems maxing out at 32GB. Apple offers NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 or ATI Radeon 4870 HD graphics card options, including the option to run up to 4 NVIDIA GT120s to drive up to eight 30″ Cinema Displays. And, all four FireWire ports are the FW800 variety. Like the other models, the external design remains the same. A quad-core Mac Pro starts at $2,499, and an 8-core model starts at $3,299.

Apple is stressing the environmental aspects of all three machines as well. All new desktops are BFR and PVC-free (including arsenic-free glass on the iMac), have highly recyclable enclosures, meet Energy Star’s more stringent 5.0 requirements, and are rated EPEAT Gold. We’re not sure if that is enough to keep Greenpeace off Apple’s back, but it sure sounds like Apple is continuing to emphasize that it takes the environment seriously.

It appears that all the machines are available immediately from Apple’s retail stores. The online Apple Store lists Mac minis and iMacs as shipping within 24 hours, and Mac Pros are shipping in four business days.

original article found here @ arstechnica

-Phenix