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eWEEK Labs Walk-Through: BlackBerry Storm 9530 Smartphone
by eWEEK Labs
Touch Away
By going without the thumb keyboard of its other BlackBerry siblings, the Storm can boast a large, touch-sensitive 480 by 360 pixel display.
Web Browser
One of the best uses of the BlackBerry Storm's new display space is Web browsing.
Portrait Keyboard
The Storm sports a built-in accelerometer, like Apple's iPhone devices. When held in portrait orientation, the Storm offers up the RIM two-letter-per-key keyboard configuration found on devices such as the BlackBerry Pearl.
Landscape Keyboard
When held in landscape orientation, the Storm's software keyboard spreads out into a traditional QWERTY format. We found it easier to type with the larger-button, portrait-orientation key configuration.
Browse Away
We experienced snappy file transfer speeds while using the Storm's Web browser.
Menu Button
In typical BlackBerry style, the Storm offers a pop-up, context-sensitive menu for carrying out most operations.
The Eye of the Storm
The Storm carries a pretty standard built-in camera, with a rather bright flash.
Removable Battery
The Storm's battery, out of which we squeezed over 6 hours of talk time, is removable and user-replaceable.
Storage and SIM
The Storm ships with an 8GB SD card preinserted, along with a SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card for using the unit's included GSM radio.
Side Buttons
In addition to its button-like touch-screen, the Storm carries physical buttons for controlling volume, locking the device screen, muting the sound, using the camera and launching the voice dial application.
Application Center
The Storm offers a small set of applications to install—mostly instant messaging applications at this point.
Application Control
True to BlackBerry form, the Storm offers a long list of security features, including granular application controls.
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Research In Motion, the mobile and wireless device vendor known best for its often-imitated Chiclet-style thumb keyboards, has produced its first touch-screen device, the BlackBerry Storm. The BlackBerry Storm's most striking feature is its nifty SurePress touch-screen, which combines the flexibility of software-based input with the tactile response of physical buttons. Click on for some pictures of the Storm smartphone that we've taken during our tests so far, and then read our review of the device.