Friday, March 18, 2011

BlackBerry Storm 9550 : Specs | Price | Reviews | Test

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BlackBerry Storm 9550 : Specs | Price | Reviews | TestThe new BlackBerry Storm 2 9550 by Verizon is shaping up to be. sorry it was the number 3 selling smartphone in North America. It will get much better reviews than the Storm 1 because of the software improvements. Reviews. See what the industry's saying about BlackBerry® Storm™ smartphones. Last Year when Research In Motion (RIM) launched the original BlackBerry Storm, it was their first handset to feature a touch screen (a clickable one at that). Theoretically, it had everything to be successful and was dubbed as the iPhone killer.

But it became clear that this attempt fell short: An aging OS, lack of Wi-Fi and the utter failure of the SureType technology (yes, the one that made the screen even more cumbersome to use) .The bugs and other software issues that riddled the BlackBerry Storm were solved thanks to subsequent updates. But the damage was done. 

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BlackBerry Storm 9550 Reviews

Neither did it ‘kill’ the iPhone nor was able to please BlackBerry fans. A year later, RIM decided to fix it by redoing the screen and introducing newer Piezo technology to prevent those accidental clicks. It does address most of those things we criticised about the earlier Storm. It is faster, more stable and more accurate while typing. Wi-Fi connectivity is present and the on-board memory has been doubled. In all, this certainly is an improvement over its predecessor. However, it still lags in the areas of Web browsing and faces stiff competition from Samsung Omnia and Motorola Droid. But more importantly will it manage to wash away the bad memories and gain back support from BlackBerry lovers, read the review to find out. One Comment/Review on “Blackberry Storm 2 9550 Smartphone Technical Specifications”.

BlackBerry Storm 9550 : Specs | Price | Reviews | Test

Design

Resemblance:

When you first hold the Storm 2, you would mistake it for the earlier model. Visually, there is not much of a difference. The overall feel of the device is very much the same. Apart from the slightly sleeker design and the newer navigation buttons, it is identical to its predecessor.  That is a good thing, because the device feels well built. But what caught our attention is the weight of the device. The Storm2 9950 has dimensions of 112.5 x 62 x 13.9 mm and weighs 5 grams more than the predecessor Storm. Although by sheer dimensions it does not seem so, the Storm 2 is noticeably bulkier than many keyboards-less phones. Not the kind of phone you can carry in a tight jeans pocket. The battery door latch mechanism, similar to the one found on the 8520 is welcome. The speaker has moved from the back of the bottom, thus making it easier while you lay down the device.

Controls:

The physical controls are easy to reach and there are handy shortcuts for silent mode and volume. It is wide enough to avoid that cramped feeling one associates with touch screen keyboards. The keys are made of rubber instead of silver (another thing taken cue from the 8520). The largest design difference one would notice is the functional keys present below the screen.  The original Storm had four physical buttons each separated. This time, all these are incorporated right into the screen. The Piezo electric effect is working as we had no problems whatsoever this time. RIM has managed to combine Piezo and capacitive technology in a way that the screen responds only when touched with bare skin.  The BlackBerry storm 2 9550 has an upside when it comes to expansion as it has a removable battery and a microSDHC slot.

Display and the new SurePress technology:

The display, measuring at 3.25 inches with a half VGA (360 x 480) resolution is simply gorgeous. The touch screen also features a built in accelerometer and a proximity sensor that turns off the touch screen when on a phone call to prevent accidental mispresses. But did not the early Storm have the same dimensions? Yes.  The changes made here are pretty subtle; Subtle enough not to be noticeable.  While RIM still calls the touch screen technology of the Storm2 as SurePress, its implementation is entirely different from that of the Storm. The newer SurePress technology makes it easier to click and with multiple input sensors, typing is even more accurate. The screen actually gives an impulse that simulates the feel of a click. Thus, the Storm 9550 does a better job of replicating the feel of an actual keyboard.

Keyboard:

The full QWERTY Keyboard can be used in both portrait and landscape mode and the phone offer auto-correction. And also, the display does not move like it did earlier. The Piezo electric system works far more efficiently as it requires less conscious effort to use. It also allows for key rollover and faster typing. If you would want to capitalize a letter, all you need to do is press the Shift button while typing.  In a regular message, we had to manually type only a few words, which in a way, is better than the original.  While it does take time to get used to actually pushing down to invoke most actions, this necessity involves slowing down of every task on the phone. Typing is relatively slow as one still cannot truly move to the next key before the screen is back into position. This slowdown is a hindrance; it ruins the main advantage of a touch screen being intuitive.  One is always left guessing the phone’s response to one’s behaviour.  While this new technology sets BlackBerry apart, it would take some time to get used to it.

Interface

An x.0 release indicates reworking of a program in a major way.  It signals a major shift in how things work.  The same can be held true about the new BlackBerry OS 5.0 in a few areas. Inertial (momentum based, that is) scrolling and threaded text messaging are finally supported. These were much necessary additions in a business centric phone such as the BlackBerry.  Auto-correction is also included. It does not work as well as Apple’s or HTC’s but is still an appreciative effort. The Blackberry 9550 also supports multi touch gestures for copy and pasting by placing a finger at one end to cut/copy and the other at another end to paste. The menu animations are slick and the scrolling smooth. There was little time lag making it the zippiest interface ever.

BlackBerry Storm 9550 : Specs | Price | Reviews | Test

Features

Connectivity and Data:

The Storm 9550 is a global device having partners in Europe. The phone is CDMA focused but also supports GSM and EDGE.  The Storm2 also supports Wi-Fi which is welcome. But Wi-Fi does not help much; it only provides a more reliable connection and saves images on 3G fees.  Surfing over Wi-Fi is not really quick as the browser loads all the data and images before displaying unlike the iPhone or HTC Hero where one can start reading and scrolling before the page loads. It also supports Bluetooth 2.1+ EDR and the HSP, HSF, BAP, SPP, A2DP/AVCRP and DUN profiles.

Camera:

Recording video and Photography on the 9550 have remained virtually unchanged. The 3.2 mega pixel camera performed better than the original one. Photos taken by it looked sharp even on a 20 inch desktop monitor and that justifies the one second taken for the auto focus to kick in before the shutter is pressed. The level of detail was impressive even in indoor lighting. But occasionally, the images had some graining to them. One would have to wait for about 3 seconds to take another shot and that is a tolerable wait. The interface has been reworked slightly and the entire image is displayed on screen unlike the Storm when the bottom was cut off with some controls. There are BlackBerry applications that allow you to upload these pictures to Facebook, Flickr or other services.

Video clip footage looked good when played back to full screen on PC. Moving objects looked a bit blurry, but the overall 480 x 352 resolution footage was good enough.

BlackBerry App World:

BlackBerry App World gives users access to over four thousand applications for their phone. While they are more than enough, it is little when compared to over 10000 apps for the Android market and 85000 for the iPhone App store.  There are apps for Facebook, MySpace, Flickr, Docs to Go and even Brick Breaker. These apps need to be downloaded on first use and then they are available as shortcuts on the phone. The American Service Provider Verizon has applications such as VZ Navigator, City ID and Visual Voicemail pre- installed. All of these apps have a monthly fee if the user installs them.  Eerily, one needs to have a PayPal account to buy the premium apps.  The best part of the BlackBerry apps is how well they are integrated into the rest of the phone. For example, after downloading the Facebook app, there is an option to upload photos to your profile from the picture library.

GPS:

The Blackberry Storm2 9550 Smartphone is preloaded with the VZ Navigator that was able to create a route between London and Edinburgh in about 15 seconds. We liked the way it showed traffic along the way. Not only can the app perform local searches, but do them also along the way.  The turn to turn directions were loud and there was a significant difference in volume between the instructions and the specific street and locality names.

Messaging:

There have been upgrades in the SMS application; the most notable of those is the threaded text messaging.  So, it becomes easier to follow a conversation that was not conducted through e-mail. A greater sense of control is provided. You can set notifications to repeat for each type of message (SMS, email etc.) for individual contacts. There are more smileys too. The Storm2 9550 features all forms of messaging such as SMS, MMS, and personal email over BIS and BES, IM clients such as GoogleTalk and AIM. They have certainly made better to use thanks to the better keyboard.

Web Browser:

The Web Browser has been reworked to give faster loading times. The earlier Storm took about 50 seconds to load the site of the New York Times while the Storm2 took just 20 seconds. While it was decent enough in the earlier releases, the newer one is better at rendering sites that use AJAX. Even refinements in the touch screen benefits web browsing. Despite more RAM and a fast processor, some tasks feel slow. You still cannot use pinch gestures for zooming as on other phones neither can you open new tabs while browsing. While the overall surfing experience is good, it would be better if RIM integrates a WebKit based browser.

Multimedia:

Multimedia is a segment where the 9550 excels. It has its own media player that has now been broken up and is now visualized as a folder with each component as an independent application. There is 2GB built in memory and a 16GB micro SDHC slot for all its music, pictures and video.  The media player supports MP3, WMA, WMA ProPlus, AAC, AAC+ and eAAC+ formats. One can buy tunes online using V Cast Music with Rhapsody.  A cheaper alternative is transferring tracks from a PC. While downloading songs over Wi-Fi is slow, transferring non DRM tunes from a PC to the Storm2 with the BlackBerry Media Sync program is easy.  It is faster to scroll through photos on the Storm2 than its predecessor. The video looks great and the interface is clean. The storm 2 9550 phone supports MPEG4 and WMV video files for playback.

Software:

There is nothing new here. Like always, things are simple and straightforward. It has the capacity to store virtually unlimited amount of contacts and with each contact being able to hold 3 email addresses, 2 work phone numbers, 2 home numbers, a mobile, pager, fax and a BlackBerry PIN number. You can store home and work address as well as birthday dates. These contacts have user definable contacts and each entry can have a custom picture and a ringer.  Lives up to the expectations of a true Business phone, doesn’t it? Like its earlier version, the home screen contact search is missing. While the keyboard is accessible in the full menu, you cannot search the contacts by name or number.  Voice dialling is excellent and is handled by pre-programming the left soft key.

The Calendar is another robust feature. It can be managed either on the phone or a PC. Using the BlackBerry Enterprise Server you can remotely manage and sync it wirelessly.  You can also create appointments and options such as reminder and recurrence are present as well. One can also mark appointments private for extra security. Basic PIM tasks such as Memo Pad and Tasks along with a simple calculator are also available.

BlackBerry Storm 9550 : Specs | Price | Reviews | Test

Performance

Call Quality:

We tested the dual mode (CDMA and GSM) RIM BlackBerry Storm and the call quality was good. The audio and voice quality had minimal background noise.  Neither did we experience any dropped calls nor had a problem using an automated voice system. However our callers reported that the voice sounded distorted and activating speakerphone made our voice sound muffed. On the contrary, speakerphone calls sounded clear and loud.  Pairing up using Bluetooth was easy.

The 9550 uses the same processor as the Storm but with increased memory and better software, the phone felt better to use.  The accelerometer was able to change as soon as we rotated the phone. We had no problems whatsoever using applications as we did not encounter any of the performance issues that plagued the Storm.

Battery Life:

Because the Blackberry Storm 9550 is a world phone, the band that is being used affects battery life. We recommend charging once a day as moderate usage will drain most of its charge.  With light to moderate usage, you would likely charge it every other day.  While Talk time is 5 and half hours, it can last 11 days without usage. So, the battery life is pretty decent.

Package:

At first glance, the box that the Storm 9550 comes is of the same design as the earlier Storm, only slightly smaller. They are identical except for the picture of the phone and technical details. The box feels heavier thanks to the additional weight of the Storm 2. Well, whoever cares about the package, what is inside it matters.

What’s in the Box?

The Storm2 ships along with a 16 GB microSD memory card, rechargeable battery, microUSB international charger, USB cable, wired 3.5mm stereo headset, pre installed SIM card, quick reference guide, documentation kit and a global support kit.

Warranty:

There is a warranty of one year provided for the BlackBerry Storm 9550 from the date of purchase.

Verdict:

Despite the similar design and software, the RIM BlackBerry 9550 is not a really bad phone. In fact the phone easily can win the most improved award in the smart phone category.  Many improvements have been incorporated and all the previous problems (lack of Wi-Fi, unnatural scrolling and the screen mechanism) have been solved. The new touch screen is a pleasure to use than its predecessor. The phone is great when it comes to taking calls and viewing email. The increased onboard memory and the new OS make the phone snappier to use.  However, the web browser is poor compared to the one on iPhone and HTC Hero. RIM also has to do a lot of catching up in the application store segment. But the main thing that worries us is how the phone would perform in the market. Most improvements in the phone are to cover up all the faults of Storm2. Mean while, competitors of RIM such as Apple and Android have had superior upgrades, thus outpacing the BlackBerry. Do not get us wrong. The BlackBerry Storm is a great phone that appeals to BlackBerry lovers looking for a touch screen phone. If you want a solid keyboard, Palm Pre, Apple iPhone and HTC Hero are some feasible options.

BlackBerry Storm 9550 Mobile Phone - Technical Specification Table

Manufacturer RIM
Model Name BlackBerry Storm 9550
2 G Network GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3 G Network HSDPA 2100   CDMA2000 1x EV-DO
Announced 2008 September
Dimensions 112.5 x 62 x 13.9
Weight 160 g
Display Type TFT capacitive touch screen, 65K colors
Display Size 360 x 480 pixels, 3.25 inches - Accelerometer sensor for auto-rotate
Alert Types Vibration; Downloadable polyphonic, MP3 ringtones
Speakerphone Yes   - 3.5 mm audio jack
Phonebook Memory Yes, Photocall
Call records Yes
Internal 2GB storage
Card Slot microSD (TransFlash), up to 32 GB
GPRS Class 10 (4+1/3+2 slots), 32 - 48 kbps
HSCSD No
EDGE Class 10, 236.8 kbps
3G HSDPA
Wi-Fi Yes
Infrared No
Bluetooth Yes, v2.0 with A2DP
USB Yes, v2,0
Camera 3.2 MP, autofocus, LED flash
Features Geo-tagging, image stabilization
Video Yes, QVGA
Secondary No
OS BlackBerry OS 5.0
CPU 624MHz processor
Messaging SMS, MMS, Email and Instant Messaging
Browser HTML
Radio No
Games Yes + downloadable
Colour Black
GPS Yes, with A GPS support
Java Yes - BlackBerry maps
- Document editor (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF)
- Media player MP3, WMA, WMA ProPlus, AAC, AAC+ and eAAC+
- Video player MPEG4/3gp/H.264/WMV
- Organizer
- Voice dial
- Voice memo
Battery Type Standard battery, Li-Ion 1400 mAh
Battery Standby 11 days
Talk time Up to 5 h 30 min
Warranty One year

BlackBerry Storm 9550 Price

Blackberry Storm 2 9550 Unlocked Smartphone. List Price: $239.95. Click Here [Via eBay]

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BlackBerry Storm 9530 : Specs | Price | Reviews | Test

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BlackBerry Storm 9530 : Specs | Price | Reviews | TestBlackBerry Storm 9530 : Specs | Price | Reviews | Test. BlackBerry Storm 9530 Review. The BlackBerry Storm 9530, hyped as the iPhone. When we did our full battery drain test, the phone lasted 7 whole hours. RIM BlackBerry Storm 9530 specifications. also known as RIM BlackBerry Thunder. The main tasks to be executed are to write phone news/reviews/articles. The BlackBerry Storm, the first BlackBerry with a touchscreen, is now available exclusively in the U.S. from Verizon Wireless.

The Storm outperforms most BlackBerrys with its crisp, innovative touch-button screen. Boasting a 3.2 megapixel auto-focus still and video camera, the Storm impresses by packing numerous features into its sleek and sturdy form-factor. There is a lot to like about this device, including its sharp display, a camera, and applications like Visual Voicemail, but there are still some glaring problems.

RIM BlackBerry Storm 9530 full specifications with in-depth details. Even after updating its operating system with Verizon's new patch, there is still lag present in a lot of applications which hinders the phone's functionality in many areas. And the lack of Wi-Fi and QWERTY keyboard, and unrelenting fingerprints detract from the innovative hardware. There are issues that Verizon and RIM will be able to address via further firmware updates, but there are others (read: lack of Wi-Fi) that can only be incorporated into future Storm versions.

Touchscreen smartphones are certainly a big hit right now. If you consider Apple’s ever-popular iPhone, HTC’s well-received Touch lineup, and many others, touch is a high-demand feature. Manufacturers are certainly taking note of this fact. Traditionally speaking, the BlackBerry line of smartphones share a common layout with a QWERTY keyboard located beneath a standard (i.e. non-touchscreen) display.

Considering the popularity of touch, you can imagine that Research in Motion wasn’t going to hold out on creating a touchscreen device forever. As to be expected, the company received a lot of hype when it announced the first ever touchscreen BlackBerry smartphone in October of last year. But as the BlackBerry Storm 9530 officially hit the scenes late last year, it was met with mixed reviews.

We’ve been checking out Verizon Wireless’ version of this smartphone for over a month now. Instead of rehashing the same stuff that you’ve seen in other reviews, we’re going to look at this BlackBerry in terms of how it is different from other smartphones (not just other BlackBerries), and how well it will meet the needs of both business and personal users. In light of the fact that Amazon is now offering the Storm for just $99, it’s also important to consider what you’ll get for the money.

BlackBerry Storm 9530 : Specs | Price | Reviews | Test In years past, BlackBerries were most popular for business users who wanted easy access to email while on the go. As smartphones have evolved and become more widespread, however, we’re seeing more and more consumers carrying smartphones. Smartphones with touch screens have attracted the attention of many non-business users, perhaps because of the shiny interfaces they often provide.

The BlackBerry Storm’s clickable touchscreen is what sets the Storm apart from other touchscreen devices we’ve seen to date. We’ll discuss interactions with this screen more later, but it’s important to keep in mind that you must touch the screen to select a command and then press the screen to “click.” Other touchscreen devices simply require a single tap of a finger or stylus to initiate an action.

Research in Motion took its experience in producing business-centric devices and has incorporated many of the company's well-liked and well-known organizational and communication features into the BlackBerry Storm. Because you interact with the Storm in a manner that is unlike any other BlackBerry to date, the new interface affects the way the way applications look and feel. However, the changes are minor so most BlackBerry users will still feel right at home. In the end, some users will welcome the change while others may dislike the new interface. In addition to traditional business applications and features, the BlackBerry Storm also incorporates a number of consumer-friendly features, including a camera, application store, GPS receiver, and media player/manager. Read on as we discuss more about this rather interesting smartphone. BlackBerry Storm 9530 mobile phone review, specifications and price check. The ultimate catalog for mobile phones, smartphones and PDA news, reviews.

Specifications

  • Dual–band 800/1900 MHz CDMA/EV–DO Rev. A networks; Quad–Band: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz GSM/GPRS/EDGE networks; Single–Band: 2100 MHz UMTS/HSPA networks
  • Global SIM Card preinstalled
  • 128MB Flash Memory, 192MB RAM, 1GB on–board memory
  • microSD memory card slot with 8GB SanDisk card installed (device supports up to 16GB)
  • 4.43 x 2.45 x 0.55 inches (HxWxD)
  • Approximately 5.47 oz. including battery
  • Standard Lithium Cell (1400 mAh)
  • Up to 270 minutes of talk time
  • Up to 372 hours in standby
  • 3.25-inch color TFT LCD (480x360 pixel) with support for over 65k colors
  • 3.2MP camera w/flash, autofocus, and video capture
  • Integrated speaker and microphone
  • Media Player
  • Bluetooth v2.0 including A2DP for Stereo sound
  • SurePress touchscreen with portrait and landscape views
  • SureType and multi–tap onscreen / virtual keyboards in portrait mode; QWERTY virtual keyboard in landscape mode
  • BlackBerry 4.7 Desktop Software with integrated Email, Phone, SMS, Browser, Calendar, Address Book, and additional organizer applications
  • BlackBerry Internet Solution (BIS) which can integrate up to 10 personal email accounts
  • BlackBerry Enterprise Solution (BES) – works to provide functionality such as single mailbox integration, remote address book look up, and more
  • Polyphonic + vibrate ring tones
  • Text, Picture, Video, and Instant Messaging
  • VZ Navigator
  • Visual Voice Mail compatible
  • Mobile Broadband Connect capable (Windows only)
  • Instant Messaging applications for BlackBerry
  • V CAST Music with Rhapsody (Subscription, Wireless, & PC downloads)
  • Password protection and keyboard lock 

    In the box:

    • 1400mAh Lithium Ion Battery
    • 3.5 mm Stereo Headset
    • BlackBerry Travel Charger with International Adaptor Clips
    • USB Data Cable
    • 8GB SanDisk microSD memory card (preinstalled)
    • SIM Card (preinstalled)
    • Documentation Kit (including BlackBerry Tools CD)
    • VZAccess Manager CD (including User Guide)
    • Quick Reference Guide
    • Global Support Kit BlackBerry Storm 9530 : Specs | Price | Reviews | Test

    Desaign

    At first glance, the BlackBerry Storm is likely to remind you of other BlackBerry devices, but without a QWERTY keyboard. The front of the device has a high-gloss finish that looks good, but tends to attract fingerprints. Even the four hardware buttons (send, menu, escape, and end/power) at the base of the display tend to show some fingerprints. Thankfully, we didn’t notice a degradation in performance when the screen was fingerprinted.

    BlackBerry Storm 9530 : Specs | Price | Reviews | Test The BlackBerry Storm is a bit deceiving in terms of its looks: When we first picked up the BlackBerry Storm, we thought it had a slightly larger footprint than Apple’s 3G iPhone. Upon closer comparison, however, the Storm is actually a tenth of an inch shorter than the iPhone and has the same width. The difference is that the Storm is a tad thicker than the iPhone and is also a bit heavier (5.47 ounces compared to the iPhone’s weight of 4.7 ounces). These graphics from sizeasy help put things in perspective (Black represents the Storm, purple represents the iPhone):

    BlackBerry Storm 9530 : Specs | Price | Reviews | Test Above the display on the top side of the device, you’ll find the lock key and the mute key. These keys are flush with the top of the Storm and are denoted with grey icons. Because the keys are flush and don’t have large, white icons to call attention to them, they’re hardly noticeable, as you can see in the picture below. The fact that these buttons may be easily overlooked is not necessarily a bad thing, though, since users tend to like sleek, clean designs.

    BlackBerry Storm 9530 : Specs | Price | Reviews | TestThe sides of the device and part of the back have a soft touch black finish. On the left side of the Storm, you’ll find the left convenience key which is used to open the voice dialing application. There’s also a microUSB port for charging the device and connecting it to a computer. The right side of the device contains the phone’s 3.5mm headphone jack along with volume keys and a right convenience key which opens the camera, initiates auto focus, and takes a picture. A 3.5mm headphone jack isn’t standard on all phones these days (for instance, the HTC Touch Diamond uses USB headphones or an adapter). Consumers who intend to use the phone as a portable media player (and those who are picky about which headphones they use) will definitely appreciate Research in Motion’s inclusion of the 3.5mm jack.BlackBerry Storm 9530 : Specs | Price | Reviews | Test

    BlackBerry Storm 9530 : Specs | Price | Reviews | Test The majority of the back side of the device is consumed by the brushed metal battery cover. When removed, you’ll see the phone’s SIM card and microSD memory card slot. Above the battery cover, you’ll find the phone’s 3.2MP autofocus camera lens. Below the battery cover is the phone’s speaker. There are little feet on either side of the speaker so that the it isn’t muffled if you set the phone on a desk, for instance.

    BlackBerry Storm 9530 : Specs | Price | Reviews | Test

    Interface

    As we hinted up on earlier, the BlackBerry Storm uses a clickable touchscreen display. The phone also has a built-in accelerometer that automatically rotates the screen’s display whenever you turn the device on either side. Unlike some phones which have very limited accelerometer functionality, the Storm's accelerometer will rotate the display in most applications.

    The clickable touchscreen display takes a little getting use to, especially if you’re accustomed to using a traditional touchscreen device. First, you must touch the area of the screen to select a command or button. Then, once the command is highlighted, you must press the screen to invoke the command. (You don’t have to lift your finger from the screen once an item is selected, and the control eventually becomes very quick and automatic.)  This control method works pretty well whenever there is a large icon, but in instances where there’s a long list of clickable items (such as in the BlackBerry Help screen), it’s easy to select an item and then accidentally change the selection before you click the screen. I have relatively small hands, but even so, there were also plenty of times where my hand and fingers would block my view of what was selected.

    When browsing the Internet, touching the screen quickly (touch, not click) will zoom in on a page. To zoom out, you can press the escape hardware button. Zooming in is very helpful for reading text as well as when attempting to select clickable items.

    BlackBerry Storm 9530 : Specs | Price | Reviews | TestThe Storm’s Home screen has on-screen buttons for easy access to Messages, SMS and MMS, Contacts, Calendar, Browser, VZ Navigator, and Visual Voicemail. By pressing the menu key, you’ll see a scrollable list of icons which include links to various applications, settings, phone functions, and more. One of the icons found in the phone’s menu is a link to the Application Center. Although not a full-blown app store, the Application Center does provide access to a handful of applications that you can download and install on the phone.

     BlackBerry Storm 9530 : Specs | Price | Reviews | Test BlackBerry Storm 9530 : Specs | Price | Reviews | Test BlackBerry Storm 9530 : Specs | Price | Reviews | Test

    To scroll in any scrollable screen such as a webpage, email, or document, you simply flick your finger across the screen just as you would with the iPhone or another touchscreen device with similar functionality.

    Whenever you need to type, the Storm displays one of three keyboards automatically based on the field you are typing in and the orientation of your device. In portrait mode, you can switch between the SureType Technology keyboard and the multi-tap keyboard. Both keyboards combine more than one letter on each key. The SureType keyboard combines two letters onto each key and uses a QWERTY layout. SureType will predict words as you type them. As its name implies, you must tap the multi-tap keyboard multiple times to type a desired letter. For example, to type the second letter on the key, you must press that key twice. In landscape mode, the phone will display a full keyboard that uses a traditional QWERTY layout with one letter on each key.

    Made For your LifeStyle

    Often, smartphones are significantly slanted towards either business or consumer use. The BlackBerry Storm offers a good blend of both, making it perfect for the business user who wants a fun device or the general consumer who wants serious organizational and email functionality along with multimedia capabilities. The phone offers standard organization functions as well as a variety of communications technologies to keep the business user connected to the office. It also offers plenty of multimedia features for entertainment as well.

    Business users will appreciate that the phone incorporates BlackBerry’s renowned email capabilities. The Storm also supports BlackBerry Enterprise Server for over-the-air synchronization with business accounts. Any time you need to edit a Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint file, you’ll be able to do so from the device thanks to DataViz’ Documents To Go. With 1GB of on-board memory and an 8GB microSD flash card, there is plenty of storage space for all of your important documents as well as numerous multimedia files.

    BlackBerry Storm 9530 : Specs | Price | Reviews | Test BlackBerry Storm 9530 : Specs | Price | Reviews | Test

    The Storm can also serve as a high-speed modem to provide Internet access on your laptop. Because the phone supports Verizon Wireless’ Global Phone and Global Email services, you’ll stay connected regardless of your location.

    When you’re off the clock and ready for some downtime, the Storm’s media player lets you watch movies and view pictures and slideshows in full-screen mode. There’s also a 3.2MP camera with video recording capabilities, flash, variable zoom, and image stabilization to help you capture memories. The camera takes pretty decent pictures, though serious photographers will still appreciate the optics found only in a standalone camera.

    Email doesn’t have to be strictly for business on the Storm. In addition to catering to business emailaccounts, the Storm has no problem connecting to a variety of personal email accounts from providers such as Yahoo!, Gmail, or Hotmail. Setup is relatively easy, as well: In just a few taps, we had a Hotmail account set up on the device with an icon to access the messages directly from the home screen.

    BlackBerry Storm 9530 : Specs | Price | Reviews | Test

    BrickBreaker and Word Mole are the only two games that are preloaded on the device. A popular game that many users are sure to recognize, BrickBreaker makes use of the phone’s clickable touchscreen, allowing you to click to launch a ball and then slide your finger across the screen to move the paddle.

    Word Mole may remind some people of a spin-off of a crossword puzzle. The object of the game is to form words using the letters that are found in a “garden.” As you form words, new letters appear. To challenge you, “holes” will appear within the garden as dead spaces that make it harder to form new words. You must complete a certain number of words in order to move on to the next level before the time expires.

    BlackBerry Storm 9530 : Specs | Price | Reviews | Test BlackBerry Storm 9530 : Specs | Price | Reviews | Test

    The Storm also features VZ Navigator with traffic data to help you find your way to a meeting or entertainment spot. While navigating, the software provides turn by turn voice instructions with spoken street names. VZ Navigator also offers local search capabilities as well as movie and event listings and weather reports.

    BlackBerry Storm 9530 : Specs | Price | Reviews | Test BlackBerry Storm 9530 : Specs | Price | Reviews | Test BlackBerry Storm 9530 : Specs | Price | Reviews | Test

    Many of the applications within the Application Center target consumers. Here, you’ll find download links to install applications such as V CAST music, Flickr, Yahoo! Messenger, Google Talk, Windows Live Messenger, AOL Instant Messenger, MySpace, and Facebook. Once these applications have been installed, you’ll find them by opening the Applications icon from the main menu.

    BlackBerry Storm 9530 : Specs | Price | Reviews | Test BlackBerry Storm 9530 : Specs | Price | Reviews | Test

    Performance & Conclusion

    During our tests, there were a few instances in which the phone appeared sluggish. There were also times in which we tapped and clicked an onscreen button and received no response. After tapping and clicking once or twice, the device generally responded. It’s hard to say what caused these issues. The Storm has already received a few over the air updates. Some of these updates seem to have resolved a few issues, but some still remain. It’s possible the company could release future updates that would solve the problems, though Research in Motion hasn't made any announcements in that regard.

    Even with the few issues we experienced with the touchscreen and an occasionally sluggish device, the problems were not common enough to prevent us from using the device all together. In fact, the large majority of the time, the device worked perfectly and we didn’t experience any of these issues.

    Call quality while talking on the Storm was very good. The phone's speaker was adequate as well, and the "feet" that are on either side of the device make a positive difference when you set the phone on a desk during a conversation using the speakerphone feature.

    Because the Storm builds upon the popular BlackBerry interface, anyone who has used a BlackBerry device in the past should feel comfortable with the Storm. Even though it has a different form factor than previous BlackBerries, the Storm offers many features and input options that you may already be familiar with, such as the SureType keyboard. For users who desire tactile feedback when entering data on a phone, the Storm’s clickable touchscreen definitely provides a noticeable response.

    Battery life on the Storm was acceptable. There were days where we was able to use the device throughout the day and for part of the next day without charging it. Of course, your experiences will vary depending on how much you use the phone’s data, GPS, Bluetooth, and voice capabilities.

    BlackBerry Storm 9530 : Specs | Price | Reviews | Test

    We have yet to see a perfect smartphone that is always 100% responsive and quick to action. Despite a few glitches here and there in terms of the phone’s performance, the Storm is an acceptable device overall. We like the fact that Research in Motion has struck a balance between business and consumer use.

    The saying, “If it’s not broken, don’t fix it” definitely applies to the BlackBerry Storm’s interface. For years, Research in Motion has enjoyed great success with its BlackBerry operating system and user controls. Thankfully, the company stuck with what it knew and didn’t try to overhaul the device in order to make it work with a touchscreen. Instead, the company utilized similar menus and controls as are used in other BlackBerry devices and simply added touch controls.

    Considering the Storm is a first-generation touch screen BlackBerry, the company executed fairly well on this first effort. We’re anxious to see how Research in Motion takes what they’ve learned from developing and marketing the Storm and incorporates those lessons into future devices. BlackBerry Storm 9530 Price in India, BlackBerry Storm 9530 Features, BlackBerry Storm 9530 Specifications, BlackBerry Storm 9530 Review. The Storm 9530 is part of the cell phone & service test program at Consumer. Blackberry storm 9530 was released yesterday, so i check the specifications about that. BlackBerry Storm 9530 Reviews | Smartphones | Review Centre.

    At the time this article was published, Verizon Wireless offers the phone for $199.99. And as we mentioned earlier in this article, some outlets are selling the Storm for less.

    BlackBerry Storm 9530 Price

    The best price of Blackberry Storm 9530 in India is Rs. 11990. The price has been sourced from 9 online stores in India as on 18th March 2011. Click Here [Via eBay]

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