Photos: Hands-on with the BlackBerry Storm
We've finally got to play with the BlackBerry Storm and it's not bad at all. The clickable screen takes some time to get used to, but so far we like it
Today the BlackBerry Vodafone press minibus turned up at Crave Towers to give us a sneak peek at the new BlackBerry Storm. Before we could say, "We won't all fit in there," three of us were crammed into the dark, leather-upholstered van, with BlackBerry and RIM representatives holding Storms.
The first thing you notice about the Storm when you see it in real life is it's every bit as good-looking as the press pictures. A large touchscreen is surrounded by a solid casing and metal back. It feels like a quality product that will last some time.
Unlike the other touchscreen phones out there, the Storm's screen is clickable, which takes some getting used to, especially when texting using the onscreen keypad. It won't be to everyone's liking and we think many people will find it annoying.
Because the screen can be clicked, a gap had to be left around the edges so that it can pivot. We suspect this will fill up with dirt, lint and other assorted grundig. That said, the screen itself is very sharp and provides a vibrant viewing experience -- similar to the BlackBerry Bold's screen. Click 'Continue' for more pics and deets.
It's a relatively thin phone and features curved edges that make slipping it into and out of a pocket very easy. RIM has used quality materials, giving the Storm a premium look and feel -- it looks every inch the high-end phone.
On the back of the BlackBerry Storm is a 3.2-megapixel camera, which we tested out very quickly. The camera takes surprisingly sharp shots and even in low light seemed to handle itself well, but further testing is needed. Below you can see the metal battery cover.
Similar to the HTC Touch HD, the BlackBerry Storm features a 3.5mm headphone jack, so you can plug your cans straight in. As we say time and time again, consumers want standard headphone jacks, so can you guys make more like this pls? kthxbai.
Our first impressions of the Storm were good overall, but only time will tell if people really like the clickable touchscreen. It's an unusual concept that works better in some contexts than in others. Expect a full review soon.