Hello and Welcome! ****Disclaimer: This is an end user review only and as thus i cannot guarantee individual satisfaction of any product i review, only a thorough viewpoint from an unbiased third party. This products' capability to win you the prize, impress your mate or woo your boss is not implied or expressed!****
All reviews are based on testing executed on a Blackberry Storm 9530 OS updated from RIM (which is 4.7.75 current; no beta, cracked, or leaked OS) with 45mb free file memory (a few apps have been deleted, such as the sample pics, to gain memory), and 2-3 current profiles installed. This is to emulate as close as possible an experience most end users will have.
Introduction
Following is a thorough review from an end user standpoint of the
Storm Today Plus - Hidden theme. We'll Explore its overall quality, capability, fit and finish, highlight its successes and take a look at any possible bugs or compatibility issues.
A link to each app reviewed is included in the review! Rating System
Ratings in catagories are assigned marks from 0 to 5 for satisfaction, with 0 being abysmal and 5 being absolutely outstanding. The scores are then tallied at the end for a total cumulitive score and verdict! Scoring categories are uniform allowing for differing product. This is to be as neutral and unbias as possible.
The Storm Today Plus - Hidden Overview Direct Link to Reviewed APP! STORM Today Plus - Themes BlackBerry Software - Crackberry Store
The Storm Today Plus - Hidden theme is a unique and fresh look on the capable "today" build idea. The Storm Today Plus - Hidden has an overall feel and build that is very smooth, smart, compact and clean. It is to the point with a tidy finish and pertinent design that glows with utility, function and form. The layout is a breath of fresh air into this tried and true format with smart bold font, well blended colors and crisp alignment that speak to the business minded (shall we say, OCD?!) professional.
In portrait mode this theme features 2 hiden docks that slide into view from both the bottom and the left middle side. The side dock features 3 changable icon positions, the bottom dock featurs 4 changable icon positions and there is the famous top right changable icon, giving he user a total of 8 assignable desktop icons. Both docks hide form view when not in use and either dock will hide when the other is activated. There is a constant "message" icon that resides on the home desktop screen up near the top bar, nicely placed and unobtrusive. The home desktop features a hidden "today" view of both messages and calendar that appears as messages and activities become pertinent. The top bar features a large central clock with time and date, battery meter (with % of power), signal meter, sound profile icon (clickable), alarm (hidden when off), and JC Designs customizable clickable icon on the top right.
In landscape mode icons display in the non optional (as of yet) storm layout.
In both Landscape and portrait main icon menu view, the "touch highlight" is a brilliant "nean icon glow" around the icon selected (differing from the solid blue of the standard zen theme built in) by design of the theme.
Overall Quality Review
The Storm Today Plus - Hidden is very smart and clean theme! From the ground up this one keeps things efficient and fun with a bold, smart and upbeat layout. Its stance and looks murmer sweet bliss to those on the go that need a quick fix of order with uncompromising style. The simple color pallet and well placed lines keep this theme well dressed and in command, perfect for all applications. Packing unique features and personalization, this theme looks capable of closing the deal!
Upon downloading and running it through the gauntlet the details emerge! On to the facts!
Capability:
Rating: 4 of 5
Scoring a solid 4 out of 5 The Storm Today Plus - Hidden comes to the table with a host of features demonstrating how capable it is at taking care of business while flashing a stylish smile that shows how charming it is at play. That business side shines with the two user arrangable sliding hidden docks on the home desktop allowing the user up to 8 icons of choice (including the top right icon). The message icon smartly stays put on the home desktop allowing the user to opt out of having that icon in the docks. The hidden "today" messages and calendar stay just that: hidden, displaying themselves on the home desktop only when pertinent.These entries will stay hidden until the "calendar" or "message" icons are highlighted, which will then promt the "today" view on the desktop of these items displaying new messages only, and the day's activities. This clean and very user friendly layout allows for that splash of user style by not obstructing the user customizable desktop background with a permanent today view, yet with a single tap populate all the "today" details necessary.
Bravo, Hidden! As always the top right custom icon is so smart, it should have been a standard in the OS build from the manufacturer (good work!). Big delivery from the Storm Today Plus - Hidden with that 4 of 5. I would love to see 1 to 2 more icons on that left hidden sliding dock though, and this bad boy would be dangerously close to 5 of 5!!!
Compatability:
Rating: 5 of 5!
This theme scores an outstanding 5 out of 5 with a solid platform and having very few issues being compatable with the current OS from RIM (4.7.75). When switching from the Preloaded zen to this theme, there are reletively few issues with complete theme conversion. As always, best results for converting themes are executed by a device reset of your choice. This theme runs faster than many others tested, with quick transitions between screens and applications. There is an occasional tiny stall at times when swapping from portrait to lansdscape, which is common on all themes, even the preloaded zen theme.
Fit and Finish:
Rating: 4 of 5
Very complete, clean and astute overall look and feel! This theme is instinctive to use, and lends itself to ease of use. The elegant yet subdued simple style creates a harmony of function. The alignment is uniform with a touch of color just where it is needed. Enough can't be said of the hidden today views and the hidden sliding docks that really give the desktop a modern fluid motion and "clean slate" feel. Using this theme always inspires a smile when the docks wisk in and out of sight! Scoring a respectable 4 of 5 here as well, the today plus - hidden could take it a step further and close in on that big 5 if the left side sliding doc had slightly larger icons, and by adding a theme wallpaper to the locked landscape view!
Successes:
Rating: 4 of 5
The real success with the Storm Today Plus - Hidden is how WELL all the smaller pieces blend to create such an easy and user intuitive feel from the get go! Big highlights would be those 2 sliding hidden docks and the hidden today views that give the right touch of scope when needed. Bringing 8 arrangable icons to the home desktop, hidden docks, hidden "today" and doing it all without sacrificing speed sets a new standard! This theme,
short and sweet, succeedes by having all the pieces work in harmony. I would love to see this theme take the competition out with a first round K.O. by adding 1-2 more icons to the side sliding hidden dock and making them slightly larger!!
Quirks and bugs:
Rating: 5 of 5!
This is where the
REAL jewel lies! Putting this theme through the haybarn yields a top notch theme, that has very few issues! Only a single time was i able to make an appointment stick in the calendar "today" on the desktop, and upon a fast hard reset, it was gone. And this was after extensive testing of the "today" view, the sliding docks and the messaging prompts. An unyielding amount of messages and appointments were plied across the theme in an attempt to throw a kink in the works, and the theme came out looking like a champ!
Well done!
*******
Post note: Plazma beta build bugs can be completely avoided by remembering to do a hard reset of your choice upon theme switch.
Issues because of the "beta" status of Plazma are not discussed here as they are clearly present in all themes that may be on a beta plazma build. As such, i fully expect that JC Designs is fully aware and intends to update these as they have done in the past.*******
The tally:
Total Rating: 22 out of 25!
The Verdict:
Harmony and function with a unique sparkle of hidden flare! This theme delivers big with utility, mobility, style and no-nonsense capability! This is a real standard setter in terms of stability! JC Designs drops a bomb with this big winner, and those in need of a top-tier "Today" layout with quality hidden features allowing for a personal flare and O.C.D. satisfaction should not pass this up!!
Final Thoughts:
This one is a must have! Big props on the hidden sliding docks and the hidden today/messages home desktop! Completely impressed with the speed and stability! I would love to see 1-2 more icons added to the left sliding hidden dock and make them a touch bigger, as i can never have enough of a good thing!!
Well worth the money! This one has function and form in spades!! Direct Link to Reviewd APP! STORM Today Plus - Themes BlackBerry Software - Crackberry Store
In conclusion, I hope everyone got something from this review! It always takes a good bit of time to put a program through the wringer from all angles to test its capability and durability, and then write up a full review that is informative and easy to understand.
Comments and suggestions are always welcome!
Thanks For stopping by!
MrCbr
Thread Author
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Theme Review: Storm Today Plus - Hidden by JC Designs! 
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