Some screen shots from Vodafone-branded Blackberry Storm emerge
Some purported screen shots of Vodafone-branded Blackberry Storm have emerged today. If you believe what you see is for real, then you may be a bit disappointed. The resolution on the screen is quite nice but the interface, well, looks just like a Blackberry. Should we be surprised by that? The calendar, email, and browser look incredibly text-based for a touchscreen device that promises to take the world by Storm. Where are all the pretty icons that we can tap on? Let’s hope these images are only a small sample and the rest of the UI is significantly better than what is shown. Otherwise, this is one Storm that may just go out to sea. Hit the jump for some more pictures.
Thanks, Matt!
Not that I have any inside information or anything, but I really don’t understand why Voda wouldn’t just use the same 9530 that Verizon is getting for sure? There’s nothing missing from the 9530 that Voda needs. It has GSM 850/900/1800/1900 and UMTS 2100. More than sufficient for a Voda phone. And it has CDMA 850/1900 for North American roaming on their own network? How does that not make sense? These screenshots would make sense as a Voda BB in N.America, assuming they got the 9530. Wouldn’t it be cheaper for Voda/Verizon to do a joint order and make them ALL 9530s across the board (Atlantic)? Why is that such a far-fetched idea? I mean, if you’re going to go to the trouble of making the 9530 have GSM 850/1900, why wouldn’t you just make it the one version for the one company? That way Voda doesn’t have to roam on AT&T in the states.
Then the 9500 would be for everyone else: Rogers, AT&T, Orange, Telstra, etc.
Seems everyone, including BG, has totally missed the irony of all of this altogether. RIM still hasn’t officially even aknowledged that this device exists. Every time it pops up – pictures of no pictures – it’s different from the last and the truth of the matter is that no one knows what the final version will be like.
So, you all are literally arguing over nothing. And BG and the rest of your crew, I’ve tried to protect you in a previous post, but I have to admit, the more you guys talk, the more it’s apparent to tell this site is really AppleBoyGenius. Kelly just admitted she’s on the Apple bandwagon. Might as well just convert the site now.
I don’t understand why people here are defending a device that they haven’t even used yet against the writings of those who actually have. Everyone of you Blackberry lovers had jumped all over everything negative said about this device and NONE of you have even seen other than in a photo. I have seen several blogs post from people that actually had hands on time with the Storm and hear the same theme: unhappy with the interface; unresponsive touch screen; etc.
MInd you, not everything I’ve read has been negative. But don’t act like BGR is the only site that is pointing out flaws with the Storm. Some of you are wetting your pants waiting for this device to actually bring something half way decent to VZW for a change, but at least wait until it’s in your hands before you start humping it. It may wind up being a lousy lay….
As a continuation of my post, I noticed that CrackBerry has pretty much been destroying you guys on exclusive news for most things BlackBerry lately. Would it be too far for me to speculate that your RIM ninjas are probably in agreement with the rest of your community that you’re heavily bias towards Apple and that they felt no need to send you anything since you only talk crap about it typically.
I’ve noticed that too. BGR used to get all the info first. That’s what made this site so popular. I still like it but their bashing of anything Verizon and the Storm is likely to send some scoops to other sites… as we have seen lately.
BGR is kind of shooting themselves in the foot by being so outwardly pro-iPhone and negative on any other touch phone. When these companies choose to “leak” info on new touch phones its less likely to hit BGR first since everyone already knows BGR will bash it.
@Dingoberry
You need to go sit you ass down next to Windows ME, and Windows CE, damn just because BG reports on apple news, and has a Iphone doesn’t mean anything.
He has said time, and time again, that he has love or blackberry.
If it wasn’t for the Iphone, it wouldn’t be a Blackberry storm. Even I can admit that, and I’m a vzw user awaiting the storm.
@Dingleberry: This site, and many like it, are designed to discuss devices whether they have officially been announced or not. What would be the point of “scooping” information on a device that is sitting on the store shelves? I would think that you had sense enough to know that so either you DON’T or your are just trying to sound somehow superior to the rest of the posters. And if you find this site so biased to Apple then you can alway go back to your buttCrack-berry sites. While you are there, why don’t you see if you have an answer for this? A direct quote from:
RIM CEO Mike Lazaridis: “Try typing a web key on a touch screen on an iPhone, that’s a real challenge. You cannot see what you type.” “The iPhone has severe limitations when it comes to effortless typing. Of course you have more screen space, with more artistic interactions, but that’s not enough. We’ve seen this before when Palm tried virtual keyboards. When they launched the Treo they licensed our (physical) keyboard.”
Now, when exactly did RIM decided that it was a BAD idea for Apple to implement something as useless and difficult to use as a touch screen keyboard but a GREAT idea for RIM to do it? Oh, it must have been the overwhelming success of the iPhone and the fear of direct competition from it that changed their minds. Eh? And I can recall all the hating that you RIM boys did on the iPhone saying that a virtual keyboard would never replace your physical keyboards of the berrys. Now you guys are peeing yourself just to get a taste of the “touch” world that we’ve had on iPhones for over a year now. For all of your hating on the iPhone, you’ve been anxiously waiting for something just like it. Only more boring. Now you have your wish. That is if it’s actually ever released or announced. According to you, it could just be “vaporware”.
Evilhomer, at least you have your name right, cause Homer was an idiot too. You quoted Mike Lazaridis and even with a direct quote you still fail to see that his point is still valid. He said with all that extra screen real estate it’s difficult for very effective typing, which I completely agree with. I’ve tried using an iPhone and it’s pretty shit, especially if you are a heavy typer.
Now, according to these “leaked photos” of the BlackBerry Storm, you notice that he shrunk the screen size to fit a keyboard on it. In other words, he opted for function over form. He never said anything about not doing a keyboard, he said the way they implemented was meant to be pretty and not functional.
So, the BlackBerry Storm – from the photos – is definitely function over form, which is what BlackBerry has always been about. The Apple people are typically retarded in that it’s all about fashion and not about function.
What do you think the real reason Apple doesn’t want to support Stereo Bluetooth headsets is? Do you actually just think they forgot to put it in the phone or that it has anything to do with security?
No, I’d bet every dollar I have that it’s because the White Apple headsets are a status symbol. When you see them, regardless of whether or not you see the device the person is holding, you automatically know it’s an Apple iPod or iPhone. Even in their commercials with colors and shit they only show the white headset lines and the iPod.
Apple = status symbol. So, most of their decisions are based on that symbol. I have no idea why they didn’t do copy/paste or mms or the 20,000 other basic functions the phone should support other than a year from now they can give them to you one by one and all the Apple idiots will think it’s the best thing since sliced bread that they can copy/paste.
evilhomer i am going to hate on you, not because i like bb over iphone but because – your not very bright. clearly from mike lazardis words he was foreshadowing the innovative touch screen device of the storm as it has a unique keyboard that provides real feedback
also, bb has a whole portfolio of prodcuts and only one of those will be touch screen, they are hardly abandonming physical keyboards…
You know what BoyGenius, alot of us hate AT&T as much as you hate Verizon. So why don’t you stop being ass wipe and just come out and say you hate Verizon. If Clay Aiken can come out and admit he’s gay, you can admit you hate Verizon.
Hahaha….BG and Clay Aiken are one in the same.
Anyway, I’ve tried to give BGR so many chances, but it continues to disappoint. Remember that paranoid post about how Verizon was faking the circumstances behind the Storm release that BGR posted last week?
Something is not right when you are the small minority that thinks that the GUI looks bad and is “disappointing.” Of course critique is essential, and we appreciate that. But to knock a touch screen for defects that exist in the current best touch screen phone (iphone) is asinine. Plus, to ignore the obvious aesthetic and functional enhancements of the storm keyboard is borderline disingenuous.
And what an absolutely idiotic thing Kelly said: “If you have a touchscreen, why would you want to push a physical button?” It’s called function over form. Adding one element does not require that you remove one. That’s as stupid as saying having a touchpad and touchpad buttons on a laptop is superfluous or unneeded. I mean, jee, why would you want a physical button if you’re going to have a touchpad? So dumb. So incredibly dumb.
Wow…I really cannot believe BGR anymore. I saw this story on two other blog sites and they seemed to love the pics. How oculd anyone think they look ugly? Then I come here and what a surprise…BG thinks it ugly. *Sighhhh*, I guess I should have been expecting that, coming from a total RIM hater. I love Apple, don’t get me wrong. I have a touch and a MBP. I think the name of this site should be changed to the “Apple Fan-Boy Genius Report”. Apparently this Kelly girl who posted this, and the other Storm stories, is a RIM hater and an iPhone lover. Way to be unbiased, bitch.
http://www.mobilecityonline.com/wireless/store/productdetail.asp?productid=23799
Wow Storm looks great. I prefer Storm to G1.
I was at the Verizon store today and the associate STRONGLY ENCOURAGED me to wait for the “new” blackberry. Curioussssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss!!!
To exit or switch an application on the iJesus phone you have to hit the only button on the phone (in most cases). I don’t get what the big deal is about a touch screen having buttons. The G1 will have a full keyboard on a touch screen but no hating on that? I guess since you can get an unlocked version to work on AT&T it will be ok since it has 4 physical buttons along with the touch screen. I give credit to the iPhone for being extremely innovative but I also give credit for people (namely RIM in this case) taking an idea and pushing it to the next level. If a week after the storm is released Apple says that the iPhone will now come with a capacitive touch screen that lets you feel the keyboard clicks it would never get bashed again. As was said before, Function over Fashion. Know where the priorities of your phone designers lie. fwiw: I have a blackberry and have done extensive testing on the iphone (and have an itouch). Love the iphone as a media device first and foremost. That is something blackberry has really not gotten a grasp on until their new upcoming phones (curve 8900, storm, bold) while not forgetting that the device is first and foremost a PHONE, not a youtube video playing machine that can play games.
Why are there no side on shots of the this phone, how thick is it ? 13.5mm which makes it a brick? No Wifi??
And to think whem there giveaways the same people who basg bg are probably the same people who want to win.
Is this SureType on a touchscreen-only Blackberry. Horrible.
Bold’s res. will be 480×320, since someone asked.
“coldcc Said:
As in blackberry depriving of disabling your right but when it comes to verizon get ready for a crippled gps and certain bluetooth features”
Per the leaked Verizon presentation on the Storm, the GPS will NOT be locked to VZNav only. It comes with “Stand alone and Assisted GPS”.
Oh, and while Verizon has disabled some bluetooth profiles on their dumb and “feature” phones, they have NOT disabled any bluetooth features/profiles on their blackberries, why would you think they have on the Storm?
Figuring that Rim stock went down I think we shall be seeing this phone sooner then we think …………. mid October………… Hint Hint
I seriously sick and tired of waiting for this freaking phone, verizon, get it out already!!!.
I came, in buckets
Man, that’s a slick looking phone. Wouldn’t say no to that. This or a Bold… Hmmmm…
Although, still waiting on that email from BGR to claim by BB Bold prize!
WoW…for once there aren’t as many Apple fanboys on here and the Blackberry and unbiased fans are actually winning and getting their words in. I guess BG has stopped sending his goons to fill up the posts on this Blackberry blogs huh, lol jk.
Kelly does have a point about some of the functions missing on the screen but that does not matter since this can be just simulated screens someone decided to make to create attention and/or a buzz. Also, if the device is supposed to be all touch screen, Kelly, then why does the iphone have a home button? If the blackberry button on the Storm and the other three buttons are so irrelevant, since as you say touch screen devices have no need for buttons, then why have a home button on the iphone at all? Why couldn’t the home button be a touch sensitive option as well?
While this is BG’s site and he has his opinions on what goes on on his site, he cannot always be bias because there are other people who come here to get info on other phones and other networks besides AT&T and the iphone AND Apple. Clearly, you’re anti Microsoft, Verizon Wireless and anything that goes against those aformentioned that you like because every time you make a post about these brands you inject sarcasm and cynicism into it. Even when the Verizon slides leaked about the Storm with all the specs, you entitled it “Verizon tries to WOW us with the Storm” or something to that effect and then went on to list the specs, which were pretty impressive and instead of saying that yes, they did wow you, you noted that the “wow” you were using was Verizon’s word and not yours, implying that even though you believed those specs were quiet impressive, you would not give Verizon the satisfaction of knowing that you actually liked something they were releasing. I know you have a blackberry, as does Kelly and probably your whole team because of your business and what not, but we all know that you have a leaning curve towards your iphone and you make that blatantly clear. Don’t get me wrong. I love your site and have no qualms about coming on here every day just to see what is going on as I do other sites so keep doing your thing. Just don’t continue to bash certain products just for the sake of it because it might turn others away. This post is a clear example where you do not even know if the pics are real but you attribute it to the actual Storm coming out (and completely ignore the 1xEV tag on a Voda product by the way and I know you saw it lol) and say it is dull and old and basically sucks. A little journalistic integrity I would say but that is really not required here since it is doing no harm and is for recreational purposes.
And Evilhomer you always say that Blackberry and Verizon fans this, but clearly you are also a fan of Apple and AT&T as well so don’t knock anyone for their preferences. It is not like I’ve ever seen you posted a comment that solely praised Verizon or the Storm without critism or bringing in the iphone. The posts you say you read about people who have actually used this phone could be as phony as the pics shown above, written by people who just want attention or want to garner interest. Just like how we require proof of anything Boy Genius reports in some form or fashion like the person who claimed he got paid to use the Storm in the mall, unless there was a video or pictures attached to the post you read then it can’t be counted as cridible.