Verizon has the Storm site up and running!

credit: www.crackberry.com

We just heard word that Verizon has updated their Storm marketing site.  It site has some cool flash video showing the capabilities of BlackBerry’s Storm (aka my new phone). Still no official release date announced, but we are guessing that it will begin pre-ordering this week. Likely to start shipping late next week.

If interested, check out the Verizon site.

Also, check our new store for Storm accessories.

BlackBerry Bold, on AT&T November 4

Well, now you can FINALLY get your hands on a Bold (in the U.S.)  Since nearly every other land-based location in the world already has it, AT&T has finally given us a date of release.  November 4 it is.  Oh, and it’s $299 with a 2-year contract…holy crap, that’s expensive.

You may know that I was all for the Bold back in the Winter, Spring, and Summer…then it just took too long and I heard about the Storm coming for Verizon.  Now the Bold is old news for me, and I’m holding out for the Storm.  Good news is, the Storm is looking to ship on Verizon only 10 days after the Bold on AT&T.  Yep, the Storm is due November 14.

Looks like RIM will have a solid 3rd quarter this year.  Good thing since their stock (like everyone else’s) is currently in the crapper.

What say you?  Bold, Storm?  Something else?  Don’t care?

BlackBerry Storm Release on Verizon, Possibly Delayed

I’m reading news around the web stating that the Storm release on Verizon is to be delayed until mid-November.  The reports are saying that the Storm is just going into Verizon’s “Technical Acceptance” phase, which generally takes about 4 weeks to complete, barring the unforeseen boogers in the product.  If true, that puts us out to November 12′ish before I can get my order into Verizon.  That’s 1-2 weeks later than I’m expecting.

If the recent BlackBerry Bold news is any sign of bad things to come (i.e. unprecedented browser issues, sales halts in Europe due to defects, and AT&T continually delaying the release), then this could be bad.  Especially for me, who is still holing on to the old Palm Treo 650 right now and really looking forward to resting it in piece(s).

If I hear more about the delay, I will update.

BlackBerry Storm on Verizon, November 2

Thanks to CrackBerry, we have our hands on an updated screen shot of an internal Verizon spreadsheet.  On it, the release date of my upcoming gadget, the BlackBerry Storm. So, November 2nd is a Sunday…which makes me hope that the week prior to that, I will be on the phone with a Verizon rep putting in an early “business customer”.  Can’t wait.  Only 3+ weeks to go!

AT&T scared of Verizon’s BlackBerry Storm?

Well, lookey here. AT&T is showing signs fear, due to Verizon’s upcoming BlackBerry Storm release. If you don’t know, the Storm is the closest thing to an iPhone killer to be created. Thanks to BoyGeniusReport and CrackBerry for tracking down this supposed internal AT&T announcement.

It is directly a hit to develop the Anti-Storm movement. It doesn’t even infer anything, it’s a direct hit on Storm, very interesting. Smells like someone (i.e. ma bell) is shaking in her shoes.

Here’s my take, then I want to hear yours.

The photo says Storm does not have multi-touch, but BB and Verizon marketing disagrees. The Storm is listed as a multi-touch device. So, WTF AT&T with the possible lies?

Pintones Ringtone Loader For Blackberry.

Sure, iPhone has a central store, iTunes. No dispute, Apple has a centralized controlling location to get iPhone apps…though that’s limiting, since Apple does not officially allow any 3rd-parties to create/distribute iPhone software. With BlackBerry, you can get software form several 3rd party developers/distributors. So, I do love the iTunes model, but I dispute that Apple being fully governing is better for consumers.

iPhone is integrated with iTunes for on the go. Big F****ng deal. BlackBerry is going to have Slacker support, Rhapsody support, and others out of the box.

iPhone has WiFi.   In a word, “ouch”.  Point iPhone, and finally something accuracte from AT&T propganda.

iPhone has three bands.  So what?  Storm with have CDMA and GSM coverage.  It’s a WorldPhone, so both have full coverage.

iPhone has GPS and maps.  C’mon AT&T, have you done any homework?  Storm has GPS and Google Mape, plus other GPS software options.

iPhone has rich HTML email.  OMG megatons, so will the Storm.  Man, this ad is terrible, and filled iwth mistruths.

iPhone uses Safari (which is based on webkit).  So, the Storm browser is built on webkit too.  Again, no win for iPhone.

You know, until now, I was not a fanboy of the Storm, but I was interested in it.  Now, thanks to AT&T’s BS fest, I’m now really looking forward to hands-on iPhone / Storm head-to-heads.

Rant over.  What say you?

Verizons BlackBerry Storm Email

I just got a chill as I received my first email message titled “Thank You for Your Interest in the BlackBerry(r) Storm(tm)“. Looks like Verizon’s marketing campaign for this new BlackBerry beauty has begun. You already know that I will be getting this day one, but what about you? Do you have interest in this? Will you drop your current BB for this…(or more invasive) will you migrate to BB because of this phone (like I am doing)? Please leave comments and let us know what say you.

BlackBerry Storm keeps me on Verizon

Good news Verizon, I’m staying. I was 1 and a half feet out the door to AT&T (after five years with you and Palm OS). You had all but lost me to AT&T and the Bold. Great news Verizon, you have a kick-ass Storm about to drop, and the Bold is old news to me. Storm = Touchscreen, WorldPhone, etc, etc….who cares about the Bold and AT&T anymore?

Verizon, you have shown that you can truly innovate, and for that….you have won my business back for a 5th device and 2 more years. Well done Verizon.

BlackBerry Storm in testing at Verizon….delayed

Thanks Boy Genius…..although, I’m pissed to hear about the delay, I’m not at all shocked…it is Verizon afterall.

Storm, or Bust!

Ok folks, it’s time to shift gears and talk phones.  For my long time readers (all two of you), you know that I have been a Palm OS and Palm hardware fanboy since 2004 (long before My Gadget, Game & Gizmo Obsession ever existed).  In fact, look at my archives, you will see this blog started as “My Treo Obsession” and was solely dedicated to the Treo 650 and his brethren.

Well, it’s 2008 (for a few more months at least), and I’m in a different place (literally and figuratively).  I’m still rocking both a Treo 650 and a Treo 700p (more on the dual device thing later), but that will all end before all the leaves turn red and fall to their annual demise (at least here in Massachusetts).

Yes that’s right, I’m done with both Palm OS and Palm hardware.  First, Palm OS….dude, it’s been four years since any real updates have come out.  You are still producing more products on that old-old-old school OS (i.e. the Centro).  Move on, get the new OS shipping for gosh sakes.  Second, Palm hardware.   I love Palm hardware.  The Treo 800w and Treo Pro are making me drool.  I could own one of them immediately if it were not for my employer.

You see, I’m now working in the corporate world, and my employer has a love affiar with RIM and Blackberry.  So, unless I want to cough up $250+ for my own device, and $120 per month for voice/data, I need to comply.   And with those numbers, comply I will.  Why, you ask?  I’m cheap and I love gadgets.  Put those two together, what do you get?   Me saying “later Treo, hello Blackberry”.  Just like that.  Call me fair weather, but that’s how I roll.

The Blackberry 9350 Storm is supposed to drop on Verizon (my current carrier) sometime this Fall.  I hear it’s looking to be in October.  It’s going to be CDMA and GSM, which is huge for my argument to my boss.  “Look boss, it can be used by our preferred vendor, Verizon, and it’s a world phone for when you need me to travel to San Paulo.”  NOTE:  I’ve never actually been to Brazil, but you never know.

And for the gadget geek in me.  This is the first touchscreen Blackberry… …ever.  Can you say “bleeding edge”?  That’s where I like to live, except, I’m personally not so fond of the actual bleeding.  I’m going to get just about all the things I need in my next device.  Let’s list ‘em for fun:

• Touch screen
• A2DP (bluetooth stereo audio)
• Media player
• Lot’s o’ storage space
• snappy fast interface (we’ll see about this one)
• high-speed data (i.e. 3G)
• GPS
• Wireless sync (mail, calendar, etc).

Granted, I no longer will have a physical keyboard (no slider, nor front-facing qwerty).  It’s all on-screen (i.e. iPhone).  No keyboard will be hard for me to swallow, but what the hell….let’s see if I can handle it.  So, I will get to start some iPhone wars, which will be fun.

I have to thank a few folks for this happening.  First and foremost, my employer for requiring only Blackberry devices to be allowed network access.  Second, AT&T for begin so dumb and losing my potential business by delaying the Bold month-after-month.  Third, Palm for not innovating….you know what Palm, my employer used to supply Palm’s and Treo’s to employees, but gave up when they just couldn’t complete with the Blackberry capabilities.  Now, my employer restricts Palm’s on the corporate network.  Fourth, Verizon.  If the rumor is really true, Verizon is stepping up for the first time in history (as far as I know) and being innovative with their devices.  It is a first time that I’m truly excited to be on Verizon.

So, what say you users of Palm, Windows Mobile, iPhone, and BlackBerry?  Any excitement over this, or is it just me?  Are you looking forward to me and our Associate Writer, Pabel, to go head-to-head with the iPhone vs. Storm battles?

Verizon Treo 700p ROM Update…We (may) have a problem!

I’ve waited a week, and found little feedback on the updated ROM.  See last weeks post of the updated ROM availability.

I looked at www.palminfocenter.com (no comments). Checked www.mytreo.net (4 comments, no complaints). Checked www.treocentral.com (no upgrade complaints, though several posts mentioning issues with the *228 activation issue.)

Based on the TreoCentral reports, the *228 activation issue is still an open item and Verizon is working on a resolution (this is based on posts from yesterday). I will wait a couple more days before running the ROM update, since the last thing I’d want to do is “brick” my 700p and have to go back to the 650.

I’ll send an update once I progress.