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This also doubles as a handy flashlight in a pinch.With the originalversion of the operating systemand moderate use (mostly data as opposed to voice), I was generally able to get about two days of battery out of the Storm.

Even after updating itsoperating systemwith Verizon’s new patch, there is still lag present in a lot of applications which hinders the phone’s functionality in many areas.

This results in a cap on how fast you are able to type on the Storm regardless of how accurate you become.this won’t be a problem for an occasional user,but if you’re a power-user on the fast track to arthritic hands, stick to the Bold.

Although the newest RIM products (specifically the Storm and Pearl Flip) are more consumer friendly, there are still some kinks to be worked out.

You can navigate the page by dragging your fingers across the screen.

Resting your fingers on hypertext will highlight the link, and you can select it by pressing in the screen.

I haven’t come across a situation where I’ve had to use this feature, but it could come in handy under the right circumstances.The Storm’s lack of Wi-Fi is most obvious when browsing the Web.

Using one of these, you slide your fingers across the screen to select an item or to shift between two items like the iPhone.

I’ve since learned that I can rest my finger on the button first and then press in the screen to select.

If you’re typing quickly on the phone, it’s possible for your fingers to move too quickly for the screen to come back up before you need to press it in again.

You can’t use the GSMservice in any place where Verizon’s CDMA network is available, andI didn’t travel to Europe or Asia while writing this review, so I wasn’t able to test this feature.The Storm’s webbrowser is leagues ahead of other BlackBerrys.

- The Storm features BlackBerry maps as well as Verizon’s VZ Navigator.

- The application center offers a centralized place on the Storm to manage OTA updates for applications.

And the lack of Wi-Fi and QWERTY keyboard, and unrelenting fingerprints detract from the innovative hardware.There are issues that Verizon and RIM will be able to address via further firmware updates, but there are others (read: lack of Wi-Fi) that can only be incorporated into future Storm versions.

In short, even when correcting misspellings on the fly, the touch screen is no replacement for a regular keyboard.The Storm’s creators kept its designsimple and functional.Ithas a trapezoidal shape with rounded edges.

In my opinion, the Storm is still one revision away from becoming the phone that RIM and most users want it to be.TechTarget provides enterprise IT professionals with the information they need to perform their jobs - from developing strategy, to making cost-effective IT purchase decisions and managing their organizations’ IT projects - with its network of technology-specific Web sites, events and magazines.

The ease of navigation for the Storm showcases the best browsing experience I’ve seen on a BlackBerry, andis better than what I’ve experienced onmost other smartphones.You can tell the browser to represent itself as the BlackBerry browser, Firefox, or Internet Explorer.

Now, the pictures flip more reliably, but there is still lag when trying to flip through a whole scroll of pictures.With the touchscreen and letter/item highlighting, typing on the Storm is easier than the iPhone, but not nearly as easy as typing on a hardware keyboard.There are inaccurate strikes inherent with any small keyboard, but the button-screen is, in some ways, a major downfall for this phone.

- The Storm boasts Visual Voicemail, which displays on the screen who left you a voicemail and how long it is.

Locking the phone can take up to four seconds after depressing the button and leaves room for improvement; unlocking is quicker.Verizon’s CDMA call quality on the Storm is consistent and good.

I discovered that with a suave flick of my hand I could prompt the phone to switch quicker, but the novelty of that trick got old fast.The updated OS addresses the major lag problems associated with the Storm, but it still doesn’t work as seamlessly as it should.

RIM is relying on its name to be able to build buzz around the device, but unfortunately it largely fails to deliver an infallible device that would live up to BlackBerry users’ high expectations.The touch screen is cool, but I’m not sure it’s a better solution than alternative navigation methods.

If you have larger fingers, this could be a serious problem.Though there are some inconsistent screen features that need development, the brightness of the screen is rock solid.

The hard buttons on the front of the phone mean you can still pick up and end calls, and even call the last person in your call log.The last question about screen design is how long can it last.

The screen dominates the front of the phone, and there are four simple buttons on the bottom: talk, the BlackBerry menu key, return, and end/power.

You can navigate the menu by dragging your fingers to move across rows or columns and selecting items with a tap.When I first picked up the Storm, I would just click right onto a button to select something the way I’m used to on an iPhone.

The exclusion of Wi-Fi bars the Storm from consideration as a truly capable device.The Storm’s list of applications and messaging services is another testament to its consumer-centric orientation.

After snapping a pic, the photo is displayed along with options across the bottom of the screen including new picture, set picture as a caller ID or home screen, rename, delete , and send..

However, the large, crisp screen is nonetheless phenomenal and is easily the best feature of the Storm.The sharp screen with its button-like functionality is a major selling point; the abundance andusefulness of the preloaded applications give users plenty to play with out of the box, and the camera is exceptional.

Although the latter can hopefully be rectified with an update, users should be able to buy a reliable device that performs as promised out of the box with no updating necessary.As a smartphone enthusiast, I like the Storm because it represents the start of a new generation of touchscreen-based devices from RIM.

The screen is so bright that I reset it to 10% and even at this level the screen is readable indoors and out.Under ideal conditions, the screen works well, and is pretty fun to use.

Boasting a 3.2 megapixel auto-focus still and video camera, the Storm impresses by packing numerous features into its sleek and sturdy form-factor.There is a lot to like about this device, including its sharp display, an auto-focus 3.2 megapixel camera, and applications like Visual Voicemail, but there are still some glaring problems.

Zooming in or out is as easy as rolling your fingers across the screen.The resolution on the camera is great; however the shutter speed is slow, so there is some blur if the subject is moving.The camera’s menus have a logical layout and are user-friendly.The screen displays the approximate number of pictures remaining, zoom level, flash mode (defaulted to automatic), the flash status, and the status of location-aware features.

It often connects calls faster than ones I make over AT&T’s network, though there is a bit of delay answering callsvia the touchscreen as compared to hitting the talk button on the phone itself.When on a call, the speaker, mute, flash, and add participant features appear as buttons on the screen by default.

This is a convenient solution to opening up individual applications to check for updates.The camera is one of Storm’s strongest assets.When the camera is called up, the screen serves as the viewfinder.

These keys, unlike those on the Bold, are proportional and do not take up more space than needed.The sides of the phone feature one convenience key on each side as well as volume buttons.The back of the phone boasts a brushed metallic finish, with the camera lens and flash near the top of the device.A mute key and lock key crown the top corner of the phone.

are integrated into the send option, in addition the standard email and MMS options.Opening the pictures folder, you can viewyour pictures and thumb through them slide-reel style by dragging your fingers across the screen.Overall, this is among the best of the phone cameras I’ve used, but it’s still no replacement for a digital camera.The video camera also stands out on the Storm.

Those familiar with BlackBerry will find the Storm an entertaining gadget, but hardly the pinnacle of this company’s capabilities.The bottom line is that I’ve been carrying a Storm and a Bold in my pocket, and when I need to use a phone for something, it’s the Bold I instinctively reach for.

the RIM BlackBerry Storm 9530The Storm has some unique features that unmistakably mark RIM’s attempt to capture some of the strong consumer smartphone market that the iPhone currently dominates.

the RIM BlackBerry Storm 9530TheStorm’s touch-button screen is the focus of this smartphone.There are two options for working the screen.

I was able to pick up a generic charger at Best Buy,but charging the phone was a painful process, as the Storm sometimes didn’t recognize the charger.Billed as a world phone, the Storm includes several European chargers in the box.

the RIM BlackBerry Storm 9530, the first BlackBerry with a touchscreen, is now available exclusively in the U.S.from Verizon Wireless.TheStorm outperforms most BlackBerrys with its crisp, innovative touch-button screen.

The most noticeable glitch in the Storm is lag present across a range of functions.When I first powered up the Storm, the persistent lag gave me ample opportunity to appreciate the sharp screen.

The screen would take on average up to four to five seconds to switch between landscape and portrait modes when turning the phone, with only the base applications running.Late last week, RIM and Verizon officially released an operating system update for the BlackBerry Storm 9530 — Firmware 4.7.0.75–and I immediately installed it onmy review unit.

It’s evident that the folks at RIM did their due diligence in researching and designing what the screen should do, how it should do it, and had a clear vision for the Storm’s screen experience.There are a number of othersmaller issueswith the Storm’s display, too.

After keeping the Storm on for 36 hours with only light use (mostly email), I still have 50% remaining life.The .75 OS update also resolves the previous issue of not being able to use the phone while it was charging.I went out of town shortly after receiving my Storm, where I soon discovered the largest design flaw of the phone - it has a micro-USB as opposed to the mini-USB that other BlackBerrys feature.