BlackBerry Cool

These will not work in the Pearl. These are actually microSDHC speedclass 6 cards. To use a SDHC card you need a device that supports SDHC. The Pearl 8100 does not, the 8800 and 8830 don’t support it, and I’m not sure of the 8300 and 8303.

For more info please see http://www.sandisk.com/Assets/File/pdf/retail/SDHC1.pdf

Thanks for the distinction and info. We’ll certainly be keeping an eye on new BlackBerry devices and their compatibility with this new format.

No problem.
The big distinction is that the SD devices/cards up to 2GB are 16 bit devices, and the SDHC 4GB to 32GB devices are 32 bit. They are not compatible. Also I am not aware of any SDHC devices or cards that are in mainstream retail right now.

Do you think they’ll be on the way, or would there not be much demand for premium data storage like that for most consumers?

Although you can purchase them at places like Newegg, that tends to be a techie place to shop and I don’t consider it mainstream like Walmart etc. Even with the knowledgeable people who usually get things from Newegg, there are comments like “Make sure your product supports SDHC”, “It only worked intermittently”, “Does not work with…”, “Corrupted files and random data loss.” There are also some positive comments, but in my humble opinon it isn’t mainstream yet.

Although you can purchase them at places like Newegg, that tends to be a techie place to shop and I don’t consider it mainstream like Walmart etc. Even with the knowledgeable people who usually get things from Newegg, there are comments like “Make sure your product supports SDHC”, “It only worked intermittently”, “Does not work with…”, “Corrupted files and random data loss.” There are also some positive comments, but in my humble opinon it isn’t mainstream yet.

The 4gb micro sdhc cards DO work in the Blackberry Pearl if you have firmware 4.2.1.101

http://www.blackberryforums.com/general-8100-series-discussion/85175-prove-what-you-say-4gb-microsdhc-chips-work-pearl-6.html

So I would imagine the BB Pearl will handle an 8GB card as well. If not right away, I’m sure after another firmware update.

It has nothing to do with the OS that you are running and not all pearls work with the 4gb SD card. If you continue to read the post on blackberry forums that you mentioned, only recently purchased pearls work with 4gb cards. One guy from Europe mentioned that he had two pearls and the 4gb card only worked in the one the he recently purchased. It has something to do with the hardware in the pearl. At some point in time RIM starting using whatever hardware is needed to use a 4gb card that wasn’t previously used in early pearls. My guess would be that if you purchased a pearl in the last 6 months you have a good chance that your pearl will be able to use a 4gb card. Even that is not garanteed though. You could receive a pearl that has been sitting on the shelf since the were first introduced and therefore doesn’t have the required hardware. Or you can get one that was just built last week and definately has the required hardware. It’s pretty much hit or miss whethere your pearl will be able to support 4gb cards regardless of your OS your running.

Well actually it does depend on the firmware you are running (Christopher said “OS”, I’m assuming he meant firmware). NO Pearl will recognize a 4GB MicroSD card if they are running a firmware less than 4.2.1.101

I wouldn’t base everything on “one guy in Europe”. I know several people with the Pearl (including myself) that are using the SanDisk 4GB MicroSDHC card after updating the firmware to 4.2.1.101

My original response was to “BlackberryBeard” who said “These will not work in the Pearl.”

They DO work (maybe not 100% of the Pearls in the free world) but they do work on the Pearl.

I’ve had my Pearl since it was offered…back when Cingular was still Cingular and have no problems reading the 4GB MicroSD cards.

I’m just trying to help those who own a Pearl and want a 4GB card, with proof that they can do it. There are too many people saying “Can’t do, Doesn’t work, etc.”

Unless you have concrete proof, you shouldn’t make such blanket statements that something can’t be done.

b4d4ms
BlackBerry Pearl owner running firmware 4.2.1.101
using a SanDisk 4GB MicroSDHC media card.

I just bought a curve 8310 model for my wife. Then I bought an 8GB sandisk microsdhc card that came preformatted.

It worked in the reader device (usb thumbdrive reader type) that came with the memory card. I could access it with windows ecetera. But the curve 8310 would not recognize it. I formatted it with the blackberry and it only formatted it to a 4GB card. But it then worked. So I pulled it out (behind the batter – poor design) and put it back into my computer. Formatted it with windows (FAT32 of course) to 8GB (7.6 useable) and popped it back into the blackberry curve. It works fine now. Not sure if it really needs the “Blackberry” drive label on the card but am happy mine at least recognizes the card I bought.

I just bought a curve 8310 model for my wife. Then I bought an 8GB sandisk microsdhc card that came preformatted.

It worked in the reader device (usb thumbdrive reader type) that came with the memory card. I could access it with windows ecetera. But the curve 8310 would not recognize it. I formatted it with the blackberry and it only formatted it to a 4GB card. But it then worked. So I pulled it out (behind the batter – poor design) and put it back into my computer. Formatted it with windows (FAT32 of course) to 8GB (7.6 useable) and popped it back into the blackberry curve. It works fine now. Not sure if it really needs the “Blackberry” drive label on the card but am happy mine at least recognizes the card I bought.

Question for “happy w/my curve” posted January 13th (or anyone else who can answer):

I also have the BlackBerry Curve 8310, with OS v. 4.2.2.170 (Platform 2.5.0.30). Service is through AT&T.

Problem: the 8310 will not read or play more than 4GB of mp3s on an 8GB MicroSDHC card.

I too could format the 8GB only to 4GB (and not more) usable when I used the 8310 card format option. I could format the card to its full 8GB capacity when I put it in its adapter and connected it via USB to my Vista computer. I used format options 7.6 GB for Capacity, FAT32 for File System, and 64 kilobytes for Allocatin Unit Size.
After quite a few trial and error steps I won’t mention here, I finally got the BlackBerry Desktop Manager software to see all 7.-something gigs on the card while the 8310 was connected via USB. But, when I subsequently disconnected the 8310, the music player application on the 8310 would not read all 7 gigs of songs. It listed some but not all of the unseen ones in artist or album category “unkown.” Those found in the “unknown” section would not play. Most importantly, less than 4 GBs of the 7-plus could be seen and played by the device’s music player.

Like some others who’ve posted I would go via Explore on the 8310 and see most if not all of the 7-something gigs of songs, but those not readable by the device’s music player would not play from the Explore view.

BlackBerry’s site says OS 4.2 supports up to 4GB cards while its 4.3 supports up to 8GB cards. Also, I’ve read that OS 4.3 won’t be released for some time to come. It’s very curious that BlackBerry would say what an unreleased OS will and won’t support.
Does anyone know how to get OS 4.3 now?
Does anyone know how to get more than 4 GBs of songs loaded onto an 8GB card to be fully readable, searchable and playable on the OS 4.2?

Thanks.

Seems to me that 4.3 is already out:

https://www.blackberry.com/Downloads/browseSoftware.do

Isnt that link to the Desktop Software version 4.3? What about the firmware 4.3, does anyone know a like to it for the 8800?

I just purchased an 8 GB micro SDHC for my Blackberry Curve, and I can’t seem to download anything onto it. I don’t think it’s recognizing my memory card. Anybody have any suggestions???

curves only use 4gigs with the 4.2 software so save your cash your only option is taking a risk on some 3rd party 4.5 software and risk either frying your sim or maybe getting lucky and have it work or simply wait till september for the official release from RIM in late september..420 420 420