Research in Motion (RIM) is giving itself a second try at a touchscreen BlackBerry with the introduction of the BlackBerry Storm 2. For RIM, old habits die hard as shown by the physical element of its SurePress touch technology. Due credit has to be given to RIM for enhancing its SurePress feature, returning improved tactile feedback on top of multi-press support for a better typing experience. But sized up against the competition, RIM still lacks the usability factor.
With the new BlackBerry OS 5.0, we noticed the user interface to be much smoother; auto rotation for example is much faster than it was on the Storm. You still get the occasional slowdowns with multiple apps running in the background, an effect that is even more pronounced with the BlackBerry Internet Service (BIS) running non-stop pushing email onto our Storm 2 review unit.
The Storm 2’s list of upgrades also included a Wi-Fi connectivity option that completes the wireless package for any smartphones out there. Try not to depend on your Wi-Fi too much though, as it drastically reduces battery mileage, especially on long haul trips with intermittent access to a power point for recharging. If it’s an all-in-one experience that you’re aiming for with the Storm 2, power efficiency is even more important with videos playing back on its 3.25-inch screen with HVGA resolution. The music experience is still pretty much acceptable, though audiophiles will agree that this device has music more as a secondary function.
Some of the more obvious downsides of the Storm 2 are the lack of multimedia buttons for easy media playback. Besides that, there’s virtually no major facelift that we can see versus its predecessor. You do however get the same thickness with a heavier weight of 160g. A few extra grams might not matter much to some, but to the ladies with limited handbag space, the extra mass could be significant.
Other changes include the SurePress feature now extended to the Call/End buttons. Pleasingly enough, with the unit powered down or locked, the screen keeps itself locked, eliminating irritating and unnecessary screen interaction. This is a stark difference from its predecessor’s flimsier clicks that happen with just about every touch. Nevertheless, typing on the touchscreen is still a rather fiddly affair, and we’d recommend that you stick to BlackBerry devices which sport QWERTY keypads such as the Bold 9700 or even the classic Bold 9000.
If you’re a BlackBerry user still stuck on older devices, upgrading to the Storm 2 definitely makes a lot of sense, despite the few issues we had with our review experience. Compared to the original Storm, the Storm 2 does fix many of its predecessor’s shortcomings, and is at the very least, worth your consideration.
BlackBerry Storm 2 Specifications :
Network : GSM 1900/1800/900/850, HSDPA 2100
Operating System : BlackBerry OS 5.0
Display : 3.25-inch TFT capacitive touchscreen, 640 x 360 pixels
Camera : 3.2 megapixel with autofocus and LED flash
Video Support : MP4,H.263,H.264,WMV9
Audio Support : MP3,WMA, WAV, eAAC+, 3.5mm audio output jack
Connectivity : Built-in GPS and Blackberry Maps, Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP support, microUSB 2.0, WLAN 802.11b/g, HSDPA 7.2 Mbps
Storage Type : 2GB internal, micro SD expandability, SDHC supported (up to 16GB)
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