UPDATE: VZW VIDEO!: BlackBerry Storm is launched internally to VZW staff

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iamwiz82

Lifer
Jan 10, 2001
30,772
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Originally posted by: loup garou
Originally posted by: iamwiz82
Originally posted by: loup garou
Originally posted by: originalbadman
Originally posted by: loup garou
Wait...SureType only in portrait mode?

Yes, i believe so

Lame.

It'll take about 30 seconds from the release date for someone to write up a small app that will make suretype available in both modes.
Read the edit of my original post...SureType sucks.

Ok, I thought you were insane for wanting Suretype. ;)

Anyways, someone will write an app that will allow QWERTY in portrait mode.
 

Woofmeister

Golden Member
Jul 18, 2004
1,385
1
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I assume the use of QWERTY in landscape mode only is a question of screen real estate rather than lack of capability. It's obvious from the photos that the QWERTY keyboard is too long to be comfortably used in portrait mode.
 

iamwiz82

Lifer
Jan 10, 2001
30,772
13
81
Originally posted by: Woofmeister
I assume the use of QWERTY in landscape mode only is a question of screen real estate rather than lack of capability. It's obvious from the photos that the QWERTY keyboard is too long to be comfortably used in portrait mode.

Correct, but I am sure a 'keyboard' similar to WinCE/Mobile could be created pretty easily.
 

loup garou

Lifer
Feb 17, 2000
35,132
1
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Originally posted by: Woofmeister
I assume the use of QWERTY in landscape mode only is a question of screen real estate rather than lack of capability. It's obvious from the photos that the QWERTY keyboard is too long to be comfortably used in portrait mode.
The screen is about the same size as an iPhone's, no? No problems typing comfortably on my iPhone's qwerty keyboard in portrait mode here.
 

Woofmeister

Golden Member
Jul 18, 2004
1,385
1
76
Originally posted by: loup garou
Originally posted by: Woofmeister
I assume the use of QWERTY in landscape mode only is a question of screen real estate rather than lack of capability. It's obvious from the photos that the QWERTY keyboard is too long to be comfortably used in portrait mode.
The screen is about the same size as an iPhone's, no? No problems typing comfortably on my iPhone's qwerty keyboard in portrait mode here.

I don't have an iPhone, but from the pictures I've seen, the QWERTY keyboard used in portrait mode is much smaller than the one used in landscape mode. BB may just have decided not to bother with a smaller QWERTY implementation in portrait when the landscape mode is the superior mode for a wider keyboard.

The only other possibility is that there are numerous BB users who've now gotten used to SureType from their BB Pearls and 7100s and won't go back to QWERTY and so BB is offering them SureType on the Storm in the only mode that makes sense.

I do agree with you that a QWERTY option in portrait mode would be nice. After all, every BB to date with a QWERTY has used that keyboard exclusively in portrait mode.
 

pm

Elite Member Mobile Devices
Jan 25, 2000
7,419
22
81
Originally posted by: DivideBYZero
Originally posted by: iamwiz82
Why the need for wifi?

Exactly. With an 'all you can eat' data plan what's the point?

For those times when you don't have a Verizon signal.

I had a similar discussion with an IT guy at work about my iPhone. I wanted to add it to the corporate wireless network and he asked me why - since I had an unlimited data plan. I said that it's because I work in a lab and there's no cellphone signal in there. Being able to send/receive email is kind of handy - it's one of the best ways that my wife has to communicate to me when I'm roaming around the lab. She emails, and then I check my email over WiFi.

I'm not sure that this is a dealbreaker for me. But it is a bit disappointing for me for what I use my phone for.
 

Woofmeister

Golden Member
Jul 18, 2004
1,385
1
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Agreed. VZW's crippling of WiFi is very disappointing and the unlimited data plan on VZW's EVDO network does not quite fill the void since (as people have already pointed out) there are lots of places where you can't get a cellular signal but could switch over to WiFi.

On the other hand, I pay $10.00 a month extra for the privilege of using my my BB as a wireless EVDO modem for my laptop since I hate being nickeled and dimmed for access to every WiFi network I encounter on the road and the EVDO network is usually more reliable and easier to connect to.

Lack of WiFi is not a deal breaker for me, but it would be nice to have it.
 

iamwiz82

Lifer
Jan 10, 2001
30,772
13
81
Originally posted by: pm
Originally posted by: DivideBYZero
Originally posted by: iamwiz82
Why the need for wifi?

Exactly. With an 'all you can eat' data plan what's the point?

For those times when you don't have a Verizon signal.

I had a similar discussion with an IT guy at work about my iPhone. I wanted to add it to the corporate wireless network and he asked me why - since I had an unlimited data plan. I said that it's because I work in a lab and there's no cellphone signal in there. Being able to send/receive email is kind of handy - it's one of the best ways that my wife has to communicate to me when I'm roaming around the lab. She emails, and then I check my email over WiFi.

I'm not sure that this is a dealbreaker for me. But it is a bit disappointing for me for what I use my phone for.

I've never been a VZW customer, but is their network that bad? I'm with AT&T and cannot think of a time when I didn't have cell service when I needed to access the Internet.
 

Deeko

Lifer
Jun 16, 2000
30,213
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In a building? There are rooms in buildings that, for one reason or another, don't get service, but may have wifi.
 

Ns1

No Lifer
Jun 17, 2001
55,418
1,599
126
I've never been a VZW customer, but is their network that bad? I'm with AT&T and cannot think of a time when I didn't have cell service when I needed to access the Internet.

I have 1 deadspot...in my cubicle :(
 

pm

Elite Member Mobile Devices
Jan 25, 2000
7,419
22
81
Originally posted by: iamwiz82
I've never been a VZW customer, but is their network that bad? I'm with AT&T and cannot think of a time when I didn't have cell service when I needed to access the Internet.

I don't think Verizon's service is particularly bad - although I've never been a Verizon customer either. I was using it as an example because the Storm is launching on Verizon.

What I do know is that I work most of my day in a very large laboratory space inside of Intel that is virtually completely filled with prototype computer and test equipment and that no one's cell phones work in there. It's probably due to the fact that we have literally hundreds of computers that don't have cases around them and there's a huge amount of EMF in the lab, but the only cell phones that work at all are a special emergency access phone that some of the security and technicians are supposed to use in emergencies. For everything else, there's no signal at all. But, we have blanket WiFi in there and it works great and that's how my wife and I mostly stay in touch during the day.

My situation is obviously not at all common and so this example is only specific to me, but I do think there is a case for having a smart phone that can access WiFi for times when there isn't cell coverage and you want internet access.
 

Woofmeister

Golden Member
Jul 18, 2004
1,385
1
76
My experience with VZW is that it's actually the best service available. It's what keeps me with VZW even though they generally have the worst phones and they charge you for every feature possible.

I travel all over the country and with VZW I know when I land that I will have EVDO service.
 

Woofmeister

Golden Member
Jul 18, 2004
1,385
1
76
Cool. Seidio is already working on a case for the Storm. Seidio is the only company I know of that makes a holster for phones with skins and cases attached. That's right, you can keep your BB skinned with Seidio's awesome Innocase and still use Seidio's holster. It even has the magnetic "sleeper" function. This is the one I'm currently using from my VZW 8830.

A Seidio Innocasecase and holster will be the first accessory I'm going to buy for the Storm.
 

Muadib

Lifer
May 30, 2000
17,978
861
126
Originally posted by: iamwiz82
A price, a price, my kingdom for a price!

Vz can't price it any higher than the iPhone. They lost a crap load of subs already due to the iPhone, and when you factor in that the Storm doesn't have wifi, I think they need to undercut it. I'm going to guess $150.
 

iamwiz82

Lifer
Jan 10, 2001
30,772
13
81
Originally posted by: Muadib
Originally posted by: iamwiz82
A price, a price, my kingdom for a price!

Vz can't price it any higher than the iPhone. They lost a crap load of subs already due to the iPhone, and when you factor in that the Storm doesn't have wifi, I think they need to undercut it. I'm going to guess $150.

But their red 8830 is currently priced at $150 w/ 2 year contract.
 

Muadib

Lifer
May 30, 2000
17,978
861
126
Originally posted by: iamwiz82
Originally posted by: Muadib
Originally posted by: iamwiz82
A price, a price, my kingdom for a price!

Vz can't price it any higher than the iPhone. They lost a crap load of subs already due to the iPhone, and when you factor in that the Storm doesn't have wifi, I think they need to undercut it. I'm going to guess $150.

But their red 8830 is currently priced at $150 w/ 2 year contract.

True, but I think they are going to have to do some adjustments. At&t raised the bar, with their pricing of the iPhone. Vz would be foolish not to follow suit.
 

iamwiz82

Lifer
Jan 10, 2001
30,772
13
81
If they price it at $150 with a contract we'll be a two-Storm family.

Anyone want to by an 8800? :D
 

Woofmeister

Golden Member
Jul 18, 2004
1,385
1
76
There's no way the Storm is going to be available for less than $250. There is a captive market of a couple of million of VZW customers who are locked into BBs by their corporate IT departments.

That's a lot of pent-up demand for a media-friendly BB, even in this economy. If I had to bet, I'd say $250 with a two-year contract.