BlackBerry Storm mobile phone review

Comments

• I was waiting for my contract to expire so I could upgrade to the 3G iPhone, when I heard about the Samsung Omnia. Then, just as I was about to go for the Omnia, I heard about the Storm. I'm already using a Curve, so I think RIM has made the phone I've been waiting for - all the bells and whistles of a touchscreen with the practicality of a Blackberry. I think I may have to pay a visit to my nearest Vodafone shop tomorrow! Posted by Joe, England
• I don't see the issue with a single day battery life myself - I sleep with my phone charging overnight at the moment anyway, so that's not big hardship.
  
  Further, bear in mind that they've been extensively testing the battery hungry apps too, if you use it in a business sense (as RIM undoubtedly intend for the majority of its users) I would imagine you'll be fine.
  
  Now can I justify buying myself out of my current contract to pick one of these up? Of course I can! But tomorrow could be expensive, with Guitar Hero World Tour released as well... Posted by Rob, England
• On the summary page the Storm is listed with an FM radio, and in the verdict you mention that the Storm browser supports Flash...
  
  This is contrary to the specifications and other information floating around the web, can you confirm that it does have FM and the browser supports Flash?? Posted by Jeff Palmer, UK
• Jeff, it seems we've got both those bits wrong. The FM radio was a wrong ticked box and on further questioning with RIM the browser doesn't unfortunately support flash either. I've edited the review accordingly Posted by stuartmiles, United Kingdom
• Great review, can't wait to get mine, just wish vodafone would pick a delivery date already!! Posted by Alx, UK
• i'm really looking forward to getting this phone but am gettin pretty impatient with its forever delaying release by vodafone!!!!
  
  wish they would hurry up as i think its worth waitng for!! Posted by shane, england
• Hi i noticed in the review that it says that the storm comes with 3 different key pads including the standard phone key pad. But no other review or the storm specs mention it.
  
  Does it actually have a standard phone key pad? And how easy is it to interchange between the lot. Can I specify the phone to be on standaed key pad mode for texting and normal key board for surfing and emailing? Posted by Tazz, UK
• Tazz,
  
  When you set up the phone it gives you a choice of which keyboard you want to use. As standard whenever its in landscape mode you get the full qwerty keyboard however unlike the iPhone you can't get the full qwerty in portrait view.
  
  In portrait mode you get to choose between the T9 keypad (standard phone keyboard to you and me) or the SureType keypad, which is like the BlackBerry Pearl (ie two letters per key).
  
  Interestingly when it comes to typing in passwords, the portrait keypad always selects the T9 variant so you don't make a mistake.
  
  Hope that answers your question.
  
  Stuart Posted by stuartmiles, United Kingdom
• I've had one for a week now. Used to have 8800. Keyboard on storm is VERY inaccurate. The pressing of the screen you just about get used to, but only just - shame there is no option. In fact the whole thing is generally lacking in options to change things.
  
  The weight/gravity sensor thing in it is very sluggish - it flips the orientation of whatever prog you are using, but you have to give it a jolt sometimes, at others it simply never changes.
  
  Battery life is terrible. You may think that I'm just playing with it too much, but actually I have been in my office this week and have hardly had to use it compared to when I am normally on customers sites. The 8800 used to last me 3 days with my standard usage (normally very high), but with this one week of lower than usual usage the Storm has lasted for no longer than 12hrs without a charge. Two of my colleagues got the phones on the same day and they are also experiencing dire battery life.
  
  The screen's nice though! Posted by Danny, UK
• I went out and got the Storm based on the positive reviews of it I'd read (including this one), and have to admit that I have become increasingly disappointed with it over the last 10 days.
  
  Not only is the Storm very slow, but the touchscreen keyboards are difficult to use and I seem to spend more time trying to correct my typing than I do looking at web pages. The buttons and navigation throughout the Storm also seem counterintuitive, and I often find that menu items above or below the one I am touching get selected. Incorporating the trackball of previous BlackBerries as an additional navigation tool could have saved this from being such a big problem.
  
  The camera is also an utter disappointment - I wasn't expecting too much with only 3.2 megapixels, but my Curve takes better (and quicker) pictures with it's measly 2.0. I've never seen a camera phone take so long to snap a picture, to such poor results.
  
  I've also got the same problems with the accelerometer as the previous post, it seems with respond too much or not at all. It's also a bit frustrating that some applications only seem to work in portrait or landscape, but not both settings. "Bedside mode" is also a hassle, as I cannot dock the phone without the Storm automatically turning itself into a clock - and having to press several (unresponsive, touchscreen) buttons to get it out of that mode is unnecessary.
  
  After getting on so well with the Curve, and resisting the hype of the iPhone, I really, really wanted this to be the touchscreen phone I had been waiting for. Sadly, I think RIM could have put a bit more polish on the Storm before releasing it. Mine is going back to Vodafone tomorrow. Posted by Joe, England
• Joe, you can set the settings of the bedside mode in options so it doesn't do any of the things you don't want it to do - like turn the radio receiver off. Just press the BlackBerry button when you see the clock Posted by stuartmiles, United Kingdom
• I had the Storm delivered on release and i couldn`t be more pleased with it, i have big thumbs and yet the QWERTY is fine i mainly use the landscape keyboard and if i'm on the move the suretype and after the initial switch over from an N95 to this i can honestly say i would not go back, if your still correcting lots of mistakes you must have thumbs like trowels.
  
  I don't have a history with Blackberry's this is the first one i`ve had, and i have to say i'm impressed, i`ve taken photos which take no longer to shoot that my old N95 obviously they aren't as good 5mp down to 3.2mp but still passable for a phone not built around the camera like the Pixon for example.
  
  The desktop software works well drag and drop job done, not had accelerometer problems it can be a little sensative at times but only occasionally when held at a wierd angle, and the battery life is fine for an all singing all dancing phone just charged it after 2 days of average use, some music, messaging all the time and some internet usage and it still had a bar and a half left when i plugged it in. I read these annoyed reviews and wonder if i'm using the same phone to be honest.
  
  As a life long hater of apple and what they stand for the Storm not only is a great phone in itself but wipes the floor with the iPhone. And as happy as it makes me to say this isn`t just my opinion iPhone wielding friends and colleagues have been impressed and in some cases converted. And in march when the Storefront comes online it will in my opinion be the well derserved final nail in the over hyped under featured iPhone coffin. Posted by Kal440, United Kingdom
• Kal440 - I hate to say it, but like you, I wonder if you've been using the same phone as everyone else...
  
  I have just sent mine back after two weeks of trying - and wanting - to like this phone. It looks great, I loved the big screeen for browsing the web - I so wanted to like it. But in the end I had to admit defeat. Its impossible to correct errors in text, in fact sending a simple sms can take ten minutes after you've repeatedly got the wrong number come up and then struggled with the awful keyboard; pressing the screen and nothing happens - then pressing it repeatedly untill it suddenly takes you through miltiple screens. Constant freezing of the screen; missing phone calls 'cause you press the answer button and nothing happens. And as for battery life - beyond useless. A few phone calls and a few messages, maybe consult the diary and you are looking at around 5 hours - even if its on standby pretty much all day you will struggle to get 8 hours use out of it - impossible if you are on the road.
  
  My advice - if you area teenager who wants great web browsing and a sexy looking gadget - buy one. If you are a serious business / blackberry user who lives and dies by email and messaging, if the balckberry is your mobile office - then AVOID AT ALL COSTS!!!
  
  (Must add - vodafone have been fantastic throughout and even swapped after 19 days for a bold - no quibble. Fantastic service) Posted by Lee99, United Kingdom
• I have had my Storm for about a week or so now, and i love it. I use mine for both business and pleasure and it works great for both. Email and web browsing are great.
  
  So far there are only a few apps out there for it, but so far i have found a weather app, down load for free OTA (Over The Air) from http://blackberry.weatherbug.com/storm/storm.jad from your blackberry browser.
  
  A youtube app from http://www.google.com/mobile/blackberry/ enter your phone # and they will sms you a link where you can download OTA.
  
  With the 8 gig SD card that comes with it i can put several movies on it and the video quality is amazing, much better than the iphone (which i returned within a week due to not being able to do anything business related with it). Which is great when you are bored and stuck in a hotel.
  
  It does have some bugs, but i'm sure RIM will be working those out in future firmware updates.
  
  Editing text was could be a hassle, but once i saw this youtube video with some tips http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qpxf28ja67Q editing has become much easier.
  
  One of the biggest selling points for me was the ability to edit word and excel documents from my blackberry, as well as using it as a modem to connect my laptop while on the road.
  
  Over all i give it a 7 out of 10, once more apps are released for it, and RIM works out some of the bugs i will give it an easy 9 out of 10. Posted by JFoy, USA
• This phone is a disaster and I hate it. Texting is a nightmare, the screen has a mind of its own and lately, it just totally and completly stops working. I am so angry with this piece of crap, I may go to the iphone and dump Blackberry forever. Posted by skip Panettiere, usa