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RIM queues up its iPhone killer: the Blackberry Storm
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Research in Motion, the maker of the popular line of Blackberry smart phones, just announced its answer to Apple's iPhone: the Blackberry Storm.
The Storm does away with the tiny, chiclet-style keyboard for other Blackberry devices are famous, and devotes the reclaimed real estate to a 4.4 inch, 480 by 360 pixel, touch sensitive display.
Many Blackberry lovers explain their attachment to thumb keyboards by citing the tactile feedback that real button-pushing provides. On a virtual keyboard, like the one that Apple's iPhone sports, you tap away at the glass with no further feedback than the tick-tick sound effects that squirt from the device's speakers.
As far as I'm concerned, what the keyboard-less smart phone lacks in tactile feedback is more than made up for in bigger screen size, but maybe I'm just insensitive like that.
The good folks at RIM, however, think they've come up with a way to deliver both screen size generosity and satisfying finger feel: they've turned the Storm's entire touch screen into one big button.
I had a chance to spend a few minutes with the Storm during a briefing with RIM and Verizon Wireless a couple of days ago, and I can report that the one big button approach, which RIM's calling ClickThrough, works rather well. The mechanism is balanced such that all my virtual button presses had the feel of real button-strokes.
Also notable in the new device is 1GB of onboard storage for your files and music and whatnot -- it's a far cry from what Apple includes on its iPhones, but much more storage than your typical smart phone. Also, the Storm comes with an expansion slot that's to come pre-populated with an 8GB memory card.
The most disappointing thing about the Storm is its missing WiFi radio. As you may have divined from reading my earlier entries, I'm a big fan of WiFi, and I consider it essential for any super-max spyphone-type device I might want to carry.
RIM and Verizon Wireless told me that there's simply no need for WiFi, given that Verizon Wireless' bespectacled Can You Hear Me guy has ensured absolute coverage in every possible cranny into which you might roam.
I think the omission has more to do with discouraging Storm users from stepping around Verizon Wireless' own services--for instance, by reusing the broadband connection you're already paying for to make VOIP calls, rather than use up the minutes on your plan.
With that said, RIM used some of the space that a WiFi radio won't be occupying to stuff enough different cell radios into their new device to keep Storm-toting world travelers connected all around the globe.
I'm much more likely to come within range of WiFi than within range of Europe on a typical day--but then again, I don't like talking on the phone in the first place.
For more info on the device, check out RIM's site here.
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