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Reviews icon RIM BlackBerry Storm2 9550 Preview

RIM BlackBerry Storm2 9550 Preview

Published on: 01 October, 2009 by PhoneArena Team

Our RIM BlackBerry Storm2 9550 Review is now published - read it here.


Software:

The RIM BlackBerry Storm2 9550 looks like it will be the first unit to officially run the 5.0 software, and our unit had version 5.0.0.164.  In terms of functionality we didn’t notice anything drastically new, though we don’t have a changelog to sift through either.  The biggest change we noticed is threaded text messaging, which was needed a long time ago.  Menu transitions are now animated, the contacts screen gives us some nice customizations and there is some more polish, but overall it is much like the change from 4.5 to 4.6/7, that is to say it got prettier but didn’t really do anything drastically different.

The browser continues to get better.  Though multi-touch is supported on the device to some extent (most notably in executing copy/paste features) the browser does not take advantage of the technology.  It also does not have Flash support, but it does support m.youtube.com.  In general, page rendering was good and it was fairly quick over our Wi-Fi connection.  The browser is leaps and bounds better than what RIM offered just two years ago, but still has to do some work in catching up with Palm and Apple.

Again, this is a preproduction unit, but RIM has some work to do on stability.  There were several times when the phone just restarted itself.  There appeared to be no pattern to this and we couldn’t replicate it when we tried, but we saw it reset itself at least 5 times. In general, responsiveness was good; however, it would just be great if the buttons would work when we wanted them to. We really hope these issues will be fixed by the time the phone launches.


Multimedia:

Camera performance was pretty poor, worse than what we found on the Tour.  Hopefully this gets addressed.  The media player has been broken up, and it now appears as a folder instead of a single application.  Each component still worked the same however.  It had the same BabylonAD  trailer that was on the 9530, but playback was at times choppy even though audio was smooth.  The sound was very good, it now emanates from the bottom of the device instead of the back which is a positive change.

RIM BlackBerry Storm2 9550RIM BlackBerry Storm2 9550RIM BlackBerry Storm2 9550RIM BlackBerry Storm2 9550
Photos taken with RIM BlackBerry Storm2 9550


Expectations:

It would be hard to be worse than the original, and indeed the RIM BlackBerry Storm2 9550 seems to be making strides.  The screen technology is undoubtedly better, and the display quality itself is just as good as the first time around.  In our opinion, even if RIM nails SurePress perfectly, it’s simply a technology we aren’t much interested in.

For more of the latest and hottest BlackBerry devices, please visit our partners from Negri Electronics.

RIM BlackBerry Storm2 9550 Video Preview:
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Our RIM BlackBerry Storm2 9550 Review is now published - read it here.


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User comments

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-1
1.
Resetting? I really hope thats fixed. I would never get the storm 2 just because of how troublesome the first one was. But you would think blackberry could handle touchscreen a little better.

No flash in the browser either?

Yep, just gonna hop aboard the android train.
+1
10.
" In our opinion, even if RIM nails SurePress perfectly, it’s simply a technology we aren’t much interested in."

And that right there sums this preview up pretty well. You decided you didnt like it before youd even touched the phone. Phone arena should remove this article from the site, it is inaccurate and unprofessional.
Reply to this comment
+1
13.
i agree. they should get someone to preview/review this with an unbiased opinion of it and give it the attention it needs to get an accurate review, not just someone who already hates one of the main features of it. shame on you phonearena...
Reply to this comment This comment is posted in response to #10 ( Show )
0
16.
Or maybe how much trouble you had with it sounds like operator error to me. I didnt have ane problems with Storm and Im looking forward to the Storm2.
Reply to this comment This comment is posted in response to #10 ( Show )
Reply to vulgar Hide 3 replies to this comment
0
2.
I am not sure what pre-production model you got your hands on...but other respected forums have tested their pre-production models and are reporting wonderful results. NONE mentioned the rebooting issue, the problem with the menu keys not responding, or sluggishness of the O/S. They report the screen as "rock solid." What O/S was yours running? I hope you got a VERY early one and the others received later models!
Reply to this comment
0
3.
yeah this is definatley phone arenas version because if you go tohttp://www.salomondrin.net/ he has a video of how his old storm 2 clicks and how his new storm 2 that he just got is and its like night and day and listen to the sounds phone arenas makes the same sound that salomondrins old one did but his new one sounds more the like the original storm. once again phone arena makes a great phone, soon to be, sound like a piece of garbage before its released. only reason i come on this site is to get a good laugh about how bad of a job they do at reviewing their phones. its really funny and that guys voice is even better hahaa
Reply to this comment
0
4.
I have been so looking forward to the Blackberry Storm 2 and am THOROUGHLY DISAPPOINTED about Blackberry's decision to continue with the SurePress screen!!!!! The SurePress screen is the #1 reason I passed on the original Storm and its inclusion in the Storm 2 may be the reason I may choose a worthy alternative.

After some experience with the the HTC Touch Pro and iPhone touch screen interfaces, I completely enjoy the feeling of lightly tapping and getting a response. I don't know about most people, but for me THE AWE IN A TOUCH SCREEN IS JUST THAT: YOU TOUCH IT and it works. If I want to press, then I'll buy a phone with buttons, thanks.

I don't know if it's the shortsightedness of some Blackberry executive, the insistence of a design engineer that the technology will catch on like a wildfire, or the desire of Blackberry generally to feel like they've innovated on an already amazing concept, but either way they need to push their big egos out of the way, and just let this phone be great!!!

If somebody can't make this screen work in a way that allows a generally pleasing customer experience, such that the screen is not a liability for the phone, then that person needs to be replaced with someone who can do that, someone more customer oriented and less ego oriented. That will get my business!
Reply to this comment
-1
5.
Was the reviewer reading from a piece of paper? Sounded like a 12 year old reading his book report in front of a class.
Reply to this comment
0
6.
No Flash Player? Come on, I have the original storm and i am one of the lucky ones who hasn't had any problems. But come on, what are the perks of this new storm? Nothing on it is earthshattering enough for me to get it. It needs flash player
Reply to this comment
0
7.
Just for the record they have fairly old software, the OS is now in the late 230ies if not 240ies. :)
0
9.
mines .230...have you found anything more recent?
Reply to this comment
Reply to pkcable Hide 1 replies to this comment
0
8.
Phonearena;

If you're going to PROPERLY preview a new phone that is due some hype then you should do so with the phone that is CLOSEST to the production unit. BUT you didn't. The OS version on this phone, as ALREADY noted is outdated and is the route of all the problems you noted. Salomondrin has already previewed this phone several times and each time with a better OS. If you really wanted to do this the right way you would go and get a phone with a newer OS and see that the bugs you experienced are all gone. Otherwise this review is COMPLETELY useless and you should remove it from your site.

If you're thinking of buying this phone then don't read this preview, the problems Phonearena encountered no longer exist.
0
11.
im not in the business or anything, but id assume pre-production units arent exactly easy to come by. they made it a point to say things are subject to change several times, and that they were not using a final unit. imo they did the best they could with what they had. im sure there will be a proper review when the retail unit is released
Reply to this comment
0
12.
The problem is, things ALREADY have changed and they've made many improvements since the model they have AND THEY KNOW THAT, but they still report on it. It's OK for them to say we have our hands on an early model and to comment on it, but to cal it a "review" is bending the truth, making it sound as though, this phone has many things that need fixed and we thought RIM would do a better job. Wait until a production model or at least a very late pre=production model come out before you start calling it a review of a product. Too many people read that as gospel...let's wait for a "proper review."
Reply to this comment This comment is posted in response to #11 ( Show )
0
14.
they dont call it a "review," they call it a "preview." notice there is no conclusion, and they dont give it a score.

@11 and 13...to me it seems that theyve come to this conclusion after using the devices, not that they went into the review biased.
Reply to this comment This comment is posted in response to #12 ( Show )
Reply to jcom86 Hide 3 replies to this comment
0
15.
I totally agree with opinions here Phone Arena is completely biased in there opinions as far as BB's. All the problems with typing they bring up I have never experienced with my Storm 1. They talk about misspelled words and how bad they are because of typing issues, yet then they say in the video how the auto correct software will fix it and how great it is. I wonder why thy didnt bring up how the Storm 2 will wifi?, and what a truly clear crsip picture it takes. I wonder how the would review a new iphone? Well theyll get there chance with the VZW version in 2010.
0
17.
@jherz6

You say you have never experienced any issues with the Storm 1 but if thats even true, you are probably less that 5% of Storm 1 owners. I work for VZW and trust me, the original Storm was very problematic, and in many was it still is, even with all the software improvements. To this day, we are having many people return them because of the touch screen/software issues, mainly unresponsiveness. So Phone Arena is just stating the truth that MOST Storm 1 owners encountered. The Storm 1 has been a nightmare for us and internal return numbers prove it. However, I can say the Storm 2 is much improved so try it out before you buy it.
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Reply to jherz6 Hide 1 replies to this comment
0
18.
the storm was a great device it had some flaws like almost anyother device out there. people are just spoiled and complain about everything. nothin is perfect especially not a man made device. anyways i cannot wait for thr storm 2 i do wish it looked a little different only because i like colors but i just but a faceplate and the improvements seem great, cant wait to get one.
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  Total: 19 post(s)
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