Storm 9530 - My Thoughts One Year Later...

[jlanelson]

So here I am after having my Storm for just over a year now, reflecting back on how the phone has been. Keep in mind I've had Blackberries over the past 7 years now and I've seen a lot of different smartphones come and go.

Since I'm a sales rep, I take whatever phone my boss gives me and I learn it inside and out so that I know how to troubleshoot when problems arise. The Storm was a love/hate relationship for a lot of people. Yes there are a lot of phones with that kind of relationship, but this was very evident with the first Storm. When the 9530 was released it had OS .76 which at the time seemed ok, but after a week, I came to realize that there was room for improvement. The touch screen was finicky and I got tired of seeing the hourglass.

I was soon introduced to the "unofficial" OS updates. Where did these magical OS updates come from and why wouldn't Blackberry or my service provider support them? If they have made improvements, I figured "hey why not" and I gave it a shot. Low and behold, with each and every OS upgrade (and I've been through all of them!) there have been minor changes and improvements. My only complaint is that the OS update process should be foolproof for people who are not familiar with their own computer. For example, most of the problems people encounter would be avoided entirely if they simply wiped the device with BBASK instead installing the new OS on top of the existing OS. "Uncaught exception error" would pop up all the time unless I completly wiped my BB, but I only discovered that from reading Crackberry. The general public doesn't come here, so there should be OS upgrades readily available and dummyproof for the majority of the public instead of just us hardcore people at CrackBerry!

I have been on .419 since it came out and I now have a Storm that I have almost nothing to complain about. It's taken a year, but at least RIM hasn't put the 9530 on the back of the shelf to collect dust. The fact that they keep making tweaks based on what we say here on the forums shows that RIM does care about its customers and works proactively to fix problems.

Now that the Storm2 and iPhone are available on Telus, do I still feel the same way? Thats a loaded question. I very much enjoy my Storm1, but the Storm2 has double the memory and four piezoic pads to allow for faster typing. The memory boost is a bonus, but the screen seems to take more effort now. I can type faster, but I really don't mind typing my original Storm. I am not especially fond of the way the screen clicks on the S2...maybe I would get used to it after a while. I'll cross that bridge if my boss decides to give me one.

Now if you compare the Storm1 or Storm2 to the iPhone - then we are talking about some serious competition. Why? Play with the iPhone and see how EASY to use it is. It may not be as customizable as Blackberries are, but I don't have to wait for the phone - it can keep up with me in typing, closing programs, surfing the internet, etc. In fact the Safari browser is amazing. I friggin love it! I enjoy surfing on my phone again! The BB browser is in dire need of an upgrade since I can't even go to half of the websites I normally go to due to incompatability issues.

There are some really good points to the iPhone, and some things I wish it could incorporate from Blackberry. BUT overall, the iPhone is a slick and refined unit and RIM needs to be taking notes on what people like about the iPhone because my sales this year were focused on Apple - RIM isn't in the spotlight anymore.

These are the iPhone attributes that I admire:
-the unit is solid. SOLID. My Storm makes creaking noises when I push the plastic on the sides.
-no hourglass. It has no hesitation or random reboots. The OS is more stable and VERY easy to use.
-the touchscreen is responsive and lightyears ahead of any other Smartphone on the market. There is no comparison when I use the maps feature on a Blackberry vs iPhone.

So...with all that said, if my phone wasn't provided for me by my employer, which phone would I choose? I don't know. I want to say iPhone, but I have been using BB for so long and I am so accustomed to the OS that I feel I would be a traitor if I said I wanted an iPhone. Overall I prefer using the iPhone. If there were a way to get BB Messenger on the iPhone the decision would be easy, but this is the first time in years that I have been unable to choose one phone over another without a doubt as to which is better. As I said before, I really hope RIM is looking at the iPhone as a very viable threat. Especially because Telus and Bell are selling iPhones like hotcakes. RIM had their chance in the spotlight in Canada for a long time, but now they need to bring it up a few notches and really kick it into gear to keep up with the competition...

[jlsparks]

Good analysis, thanks.

[mobiledevice]

all the storm series needs is a faster browser

[Rooster99]

Originally Posted by mobiledevice

all the storm series needs is a faster browser

From the OP "I don't have to wait for the phone - it can keep up with me in typing, closing programs, surfing the internet, etc. ". Only one of those referred to the browser.

I'm a gadget guy, so I love how the Berry can be customized. And I run my own business, so I appreciate its power for a business person - the iPhone doesn't even ship with a Task app, nor do any of the good iPhone Task apps sync to Outlook! And my systems background appreciates the power of BES for centralized admin. That's why I went with a Berry when I was looking to set our company's smartphone direction a year ago.

But about a month ago I actually tried an iPhone for an extended period for the very first time. Wow! I can see why people love it, I really can. Fast, smooth ... Very un-Storm. And that doesn't count the browser.

I'm still using my Storm, and thanks to it I now appreciate what a smartphone can do. But after my own year with a 9530, what I really want is the business apps and customizability (new word?) of a Berry crossed with the user experience of an iPhone.

- R.

[mwille64]

I have the Storm 9500 for roughly 15 month and after going through almost ALL leaked upgrades since, my conclusion is as follows:

The hardware is OK; I can live with that bit of flimsiness compared to the iPhone. What sucks is the OS. The OS has serious quality issues. Here is a list of problems:

• Random software crashes, OS freezes and re-boots
• Memory leacks and too little apps memory
• 5-10 minutes re-boot time
• Whilst the email, contact and calendaring functionality is second to none, gadgets and most importantly the phone functionality sucks...
• The camera has mega delays
• The speech recognition is hopeless
• Almost no 3rd party software runs without problems, in particular themes
• Upgrade business is complicated and unreliable, downgrades are close to being impossible
• The browser is slow and limited
• The sound during phone calls is pretty bad
• Make 3-4 10 minutes phone calls and the battery is drained (for that I always carry 2 spares with me !!!)
• When data syncs occur during a phone call then anything can happen including re-boots
• Incoming calls are often dropped (my wife is at a point that she says there will never be a budget again for a BB phone !!! as she never reaches me)
• BB Maps is extremely slow. Driving a car at 50+Kmh renders the software in-operational
• The only thing that works relatively fine is the playing of mp3 and video
• OS 5 (maybe not designed for a Storm 1) is so unstable that I gave up on it after trying 3 different leaked versions.
• When draining the battery to a point that the BB shuts down, all data is lost and the device needs to be re-registered with our BES (that is true for any BB device...we have many different models in our company)

Did I forget anything?! Never mind, the list is too long anyway...my next phone is anything but a BB (Storm)...and more likely an iPhone.

[Gil718]

@Mwille - I don't really care to start a whole drawn out discussion but I seriously don't have any of the problems you described.
But I also never used the 9500 so I don't know the differences.
I don't use bb browser, I use opera.
And I uninstalled bb maps as soon as I got the phone and been using google maps without a problem.

I think most of your problems can be fixed with a proper installation of the latest 5.0 OS.

And I pretty much agree with the OP on all points.

[mobiledevice]

Originally Posted by mwille64

• Random software crashes, OS freezes and re-boots
• Memory leacks and too little apps memory
• 5-10 minutes re-boot time
• Whilst the email, contact and calendaring functionality is second to none, gadgets and most importantly the phone functionality sucks...
• The camera has mega delays
• The speech recognition is hopeless
• Almost no 3rd party software runs without problems, in particular themes
• Upgrade business is complicated and unreliable, downgrades are close to being impossible
• The browser is slow and limited
• The sound during phone calls is pretty bad
• Make 3-4 10 minutes phone calls and the battery is drained (for that I always carry 2 spares with me !!!)
• When data syncs occur during a phone call then anything can happen including re-boots
• Incoming calls are often dropped (my wife is at a point that she says there will never be a budget again for a BB phone !!! as she never reaches me)
• BB Maps is extremely slow. Driving a car at 50+Kmh renders the software in-operational
• The only thing that works relatively fine is the playing of mp3 and video
• OS 5 (maybe not designed for a Storm 1) is so unstable that I gave up on it after trying 3 different leaked versions.
• When draining the battery to a point that the BB shuts down, all data is lost and the device needs to be re-registered with our BES (that is true for any BB device...we have many different models in our company)

user error

... all except the browser and limited app memory

[kinggeoff]

10 minute reboot?! yikes. something is wrong there

[mwille64]

Originally Posted by mobiledevice

user error

... all except the browser and limited app memory

What can a user possibly do wrong if in the middle of a call the damn thing reboots and it takes 5-10 minutes to be back online?

To make it a point, it never is a user error if a device or software clearly doesn't function as designed.

We have 3 Storm users and all have the same problems. Two of them experienced IT technicians more than capable to handle a Storm.

One of them is me. I'm actually the IT Manager and BES admin for the co I'm working for. And as such I admittedly use the Storm to a certain extreme for business and personal things alike.

What I have listed are real problems. And I'm not the only one reporting them. Just do your home work and research the web a bit.

[mobiledevice]

Originally Posted by mwille64

What can a user possibly do wrong if in the middle of a call the damn thing reboots and it takes 5-10 minutes to be back online?

Your OS install is bad or you're running apps that make the phone reboot. This has never happened to me.

Originally Posted by mwille64

To make it a point, it never is a user error if a device or software clearly doesn't function as designed.

If you mess the device up with poor maintenance or by putting ridiculous 3rd party flop software on it, it becomes user error.

Originally Posted by mwille64

We have 3 Storm users and all have the same problems. Two of them experienced IT technicians more than capable to handle a Storm.

Says the guy with the list longer than my arm of problems I've never experienced in the year I've owned the phone.

Originally Posted by mwille64

One of them is me. I'm actually the IT Manager and BES admin for the co I'm working for. And as such I admittedly use the Storm to a certain extreme for business and personal things alike.

Maybe your boss should hire someone who can use the phone correctly.

Originally Posted by mwille64

What I have listed are real problems. And I'm not the only one reporting them.

user error

Originally Posted by mwille64

Just do your home work and research the web a bit.

no u

[mwille64]

Originally Posted by Gil718

@Mwille - I don't really care to start a whole drawn out discussion but I seriously don't have any of the problems you described.
But I also never used the 9500 so I don't know the differences.
I don't use bb browser, I use opera.
And I uninstalled bb maps as soon as I got the phone and been using google maps without a problem.

I think most of your problems can be fixed with a proper installation of the latest 5.0 OS.

And I pretty much agree with the OP on all points.

1) If you have not used the 9500, how can you dismiss my findings?

2) We are BES users. Only BB browser is allowed.

3) Google Maps aren't good in Malta. Google has no proper maps nor does it offer any routing (again for Malta)

4) Please point me to a download of an OS 5 version that you believe works on a 9500 and I will give it another try. And as we are at it, point me to proper procedures as there aren't any around that I wouldn't call being close to hacks. I'm saying this from a normal user point of view (taking my techi head off for a moment)

[hope_it_works]

Here are my feelings om my 9530 after 13 months......taken from my post on another forum.


I'm planning on it as soon as a few more Android phones come onto Verizon.
Coming from a Storm I 9530, I'm hoping for a few changes.
Overall, I think the 9530 has been a pretty good phone for me, other than the Suretouch. I went though 5 in 8 months. One was an insurance replacement, so it doesn't count, but the other 3 had bad screen clickers. The one I have has been good as far as that goes, but I still have a few bones to pick with it.
Do I hate my Storm?? No...I just don't like it much, even though I tried.
I don't like the clunky browser......it's slow, even with Javascript disabled.
OS 5.0.328 helped the phone, but it still freezes, and still has memory leaks.
You would think RIMM would have figured things out after all these years.
E-mail is quick and easy, but otherwise is nothing to write home about.
I would much rather have my images with my emails, as well.............
Radio use is touch and go with my Storm, where my wife's LG is much better overall, and I do regular *228 updates, as well.
The phone does strange things on a regular basis. One of it's favorites is the speakerphone kicking in for 2-3 seconds, then back to handset.
It also resets quite a bit,too, and I do regular battery pulls every other night, and very few Apps. I have even gone through my apps, thinking an app may have been trouble, but nope. Verizon offered me the 9550 Storm 2 through a multi-fru, but I didn't feel like pushing my upgrade date ahead by 20 months, so I still have a 9530. The only advantage of going to a 9550 Storm 2 is that the screen will probably work better. Otherwise, it's the same old RIMM phone, and I'm not doing it anymore, considering I pay a premium price every month to have a smartphone.
I am hoping one of the Android phones will be better for me.
Since I'm not a fan of Motorola at all (for many reasons), I am steering towards the Eris, which seems to be a better phone if you don't want a physical keyboard, and it gets 2.0 or better.
I think I'm gonna stick it out a bit longer though, and see what comes up in the next few months.
I have a feeling I am gonna find what I'm looking for.......a touchscreen smartphone that's fast, reliable, and works with minimal issues. That doesn't seem like much to ask.......

[mwille64]

Originally Posted by mobiledevice

Says the guy with the list longer than my arm of problems I've never experienced in the year I've owned the phone.
Maybe your boss should hire someone who can use the phone correctly.

Originally Posted by mobiledevice

If you mess the device up with poor maintenance or by putting ridiculous 3rd party flop software on it, it becomes user error.

Maybe you should stop insulting me and my intelligence, just because you don't like what I have to say. I have not addressed you or anyone else for this matter in a negative or personal manner.

And as to my technical abilities, I have played with technology when most members here where probably still in their diapers (no offense of course, just fact). And I had my first mobile phone in use when most people just got used to the idea of a fax machine. So please don't patronize me.

[gmz73]

I'm pretty new to Blackberry, I got the Storm 9530 in May and I thought it was just ok. I did the .328 update when released but I didn't know about wiping the device before installing the new one. Although I was really happy about the improvement I've noticed the 'uncaught exception error' popping up more and the memory drains daily unless I do QuickPull. So can I back up the device on my computer, wipe it and reinstall the OS? Any pointers would be appreciated...do you have to use a program to wipe it? Help a girl out. : )

Also my home charger stopped working, it would say 'charger not recognized.' It will only work if I turn the phone off, plug it in and then turn it back on. Same goes for car charger. Only computer usb worked without fault. Needless to say I had to get a case with a sleeper function to save the battery.

[twester65]

Originally Posted by gmz73

I'm pretty new to Blackberry, I got the Storm 9530 in May and I thought it was just ok. I did the .328 update when released but I didn't know about wiping the device before installing the new one. Although I was really happy about the improvement I've noticed the 'uncaught exception error' popping up more and the memory drains daily unless I do QuickPull. So can I back up the device on my computer, wipe it and reinstall the OS? Any pointers would be appreciated...do you have to use a program to wipe it? Help a girl out. : )

Also my home charger stopped working, it would say 'charger not recognized.' It will only work if I turn the phone off, plug it in and then turn it back on. Same goes for car charger. Only computer usb worked without fault. Needless to say I had to get a case with a sleeper function to save the battery.

You should upgrade to .419. The charging issue was common under .328 - but I haven't seen it happen with .419. Apparently VZW was sending out new phones for this issue. I guess because they can't recommend a leaked OS.

My experience over the year has been good after the first couple of months. This is my first BB and it's been pretty solid. I'm a happy customer. I'm sold on RIM devices. And I switched to Verizon at the same time I got my Storm. That experience has also been very good.

I'd be interested in seeing a video of someone having extreme difficulties with their phone. I wonder if it would be enlightening. I say that because my own experience is so much the opposite.