Blackberry Storm 2: Not a Lot of New Features, But Improvements in Current Features

On October 28th, Verizon placed the new Blackberry Storm 2 on their shelves. The BlackBerry Storm2 with BlackBerry® OS 5.0 has several new features including new SurePress™ “clickable” display technology and built-in Wi-Fi®. A Large (3.25″), dazzling high-resolution 480 x 360 display at 184 ppi compliments the Capacitive touchscreen with integrated functions (Send, End, Menu, Escape), and the new SurePress technology makes clicking the display practically effortless
There’s 2 GB of onboard media storage and a microSD™/SDHD memory card slot with a 16 GB card included. The new BlackBerry OS 5.0 includes improvements such as typing accuracy and selection improvements, as well as usability and visual enhancements: inertial scrolling, spin boxes that make it easier to set dates and times, gradient shading on buttons, and more use of animation. The BlackBerry® Browser is improved with faster JavaScript and CSS processing as well as support for Gears and BlackBerry Widgets
Blackberry Storm2 includes a 3.2 megapixel camera with autofocus, Image Stabilization (IS), flash and video recording capabilities. There’s Bluetooth® (v2.1) onboard, with support for Secure Simple Pairing, hands-free headsets, stereo headsets, car kits and other Bluetooth peripherals. Built-in GPS, V Cast, a respectable App catalog, and support for Verizon Wireless’ Mobile Broadband Connect tethering service round out the additions.
I played with the new Storm2, and was reminded of the iPhone 3G and 3Gs evolution- same phone with faster processing, and more sophisticated versions of the same features. SurePress works better with four piezo-electric buttons (instead of 2), which live under the screen, provide for better response. App-toggling is faster, and the camera takes decent shots. Having said that, I’m not a huge fan of the Storm2. It tries to do too much, and doesn’t succeed in any category with excellence. If I were to get a Blackberry, it would be the Tour. The Blackberry line, as a whole, is solid. Why try to compete with iPhone. You’ll lose.
The BlackBerry Storm2 smartphone is available through Verizon and other Verizon retailers now for $179.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement on a voice plan with an Email and Web feature or an Email and Web for BlackBerry plan.