Verizon Releases BlackBerry Storm Firmware Upgrade

By JR Raphael, PC World |  Mobile & Wireless, blackberry storm, Verizon Wireless 9 comments

December 06, 2008, 8:55 PM — Verizon Wireless has released a firmware update for its Research in Motion BlackBerry Storm device. The 4.7.0.75 update is now available via the phone's Desktop Software Manager -- accessible by connecting your phone to your PC and running BlackBerry Desktop -- and is expected to go out over-the-air by late Friday evening.

The upgrade comes amidst a storm of emotion as BlackBerry fans clash with the numerous reviewers delivering overwhelmingly negative impressions of the device. Perhaps the most attention-grabbing report has been writer David Pogue's piece in The New York Times , in which Pogue stated he hadn't "found a soul who tried this machine who wasn't appalled, baffled or both."

So can tweaked software turn the numerous naysayers around? It seems much of the critical lashing is geared more at the Storm's design and hardware, including its notably absent physical keyboard. Software issues have arisen as well, however, including Pogue's claim of constant "freezes, abrupt reboots, [and] nonresponsive controls."

The firmware update is supposed to correct some of those, including issues in switching between landscape and portrait modes as well as subpar multimedia application performance.

Some blog reports indicate Bell Canada is already one step ahead, distributing version 4.7.0.76 of the operating system.

9 comments

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    Anonymous 2 years ago
    I would suggest all interested to go try one out if they are in the market for a touch screen cell phone. Unfortunately Mr. Pogue sounds of an iPhone user that feels nothing can beat, or should even try to offer a similar experience. It is a shame that it isn't given a fair shake.
    Flag comment  |  Permalink Reply
    Anonymous 3 years ago
    I too was a victim of non responsive screen and reboot at least five times a day nor was I the only one experiencing this issue! Thank you Verizon for stepping up, acknowledging the problem, and releasing a firmware update! Why is Apple hiring EVDO and CDMA engineers?
    Flag comment  |  Permalink Reply
    Anonymous 3 years ago
    I have heard thru our IT guys that the Storm has some problems for network users. Our exisiting BlackBerries have been pretty reliable, although I'd like to upgrade us to the Storms. Any feedback/comments on what the issues are adn whether they are being addressed?
    Flag comment  |  Permalink Reply
    Anonymous 3 years ago in reply to Anonymous
    I've noticed my service isn't as reliable as it was with the Pearl.
    Flag comment  |  Permalink Reply
    Anonymous 3 years ago
    the updates make a huge difference. they should do more reviews with the updated storm so it would be accurate.
    Flag comment  |  Permalink Reply
    Anonymous 3 years ago in reply to Anonymous
    I have a storm on Verizon. I checked my firmware rev and I am at.65. How do I get the latest update?
    Flag comment  |  Permalink Reply
    Anonymous 3 years ago
    I don't understand why large, well-known, news organizations such as the NY Times employ what can only be described as zealots (read: David Pogue). I've not experienced a single issue he reports and am a very satisfied user of the Storm.I've had the exact opposite response from human beings that tried the Storm. All, save the current iPhone users, that have tried my Storm have loved it. In fact three went and purchased one (waiting on delivery) and are excited each time they try mine. The iPhone users only tell me that they don't like the design of the clicking screen.This can easily be chalked up to unfamiliarity and just being different than their iPhone since I need to repeatedly tell them to actually click the screen and not just lightly touch it. Those that I showed it to which aren't current iPhone users have not had an issue using the clicking screen and they have all loved how it gives feedback when you press something.I would suggest all interested to go try one out if they are in the market for a touch screen cell phone. Unfortunately Mr. Pogue sounds of an iPhone user that feels nothing can beat, or should even try to offer a similar experience. It is a shame that it isn't given a fair shake.I hope RIM decides to deliver as many updates to the Storm as Apple does to the iPhone. It may not be the case though since Apple only provides one phone product, the iPhone, and RIM has a wide assortment that are shuffled out regularly. In that respect I don't have an issue with a 2 year life cycle on a phone since I upgrade that regularly anyway.K
    Flag comment  |  Permalink Reply

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