The official Verizon BlackBerry Storm OS 4.7.0.148 impressions

Posted
by
Kyle McInnes
on June 2, 2009, at 8:18 AM
in Editorials, News, Reviews, Spotlight and Top-Story
. Tags: , , , , .
Comments: 126 responses
126 Comments

verizon-blackberry-storm

The new BlackBerry Storm OS 4.7.0.148 has made some long awaited improvements. RIM and Verizon Wireless have done a good job of meeting many consumer demands. Although the update has been leaked for some time, it is now official and fully tested. You will now find your BlackBerry to be faster, more responsive and the camera has a neat update.

The new selection tool that we found in OS 4.7.0.132 is still around and makes the copy and paste system much easier. When selecting text, you get a little box that can be slid either way to adjust your selection. Before this update, it was very difficult to select text because it was hidden beneath your fingers. Now you can select text accurately.

One of the major updates to the BlackBerry Storm includes an improved camera interface. When you take a picture with the camera, you’ll see a preview rather than a white screen. This is helpful because you’ll know immediately whether to take another, or save the file.

Another great update to the BlackBerry Storm comes with a slightly better web browsing experience. The latest Storm update makes for a more stable BlackBerry Browser experience. The latest browser update also comes with a little green “Go” button, which should help those new to the mobile browsing experience. Other than that, expect pages to look a little better, with pictures being clearer and the browser a little faster to load.

Before the most recent update, users had to download applications such as TalkLock, to ensure that they wouldn’t press the mute, end or speakerphone button during the call. This has been fixed in the most recent update along with a few other simple adjustments to make the phone experience more enjoyable. The signal strength indicators are more accurate and calls sound a little clearer.

Overall, this is a really great update to the BlackBerry Storm and I have a new-found love for the device.

Download the Verizon BlackBerry Storm OS 4.7.0.148 from BlackBerry.com.

See pictures of the complete changelog for the latest BlackBerry Storm update.

Permalink

Post Comment

← Older Comments
Newer Comments →
  • Derek

    i cant even download it, it says that i dont have enough memory. ill try deleting some things and ill get back to you

  • Bernie L.

    New update made everything faster. Much better camera function. So far, the only issue I’ve found is when a picture stored on the card or device is set as background, it does not size to the screen as before and there is no “edit” function.

  • http://Blackberrycool Bernie L.

    New update made everything faster. Much better camera function. So far, the only issue I’ve found is when a picture stored on the card or device is set as background, it does not size to the screen as before and there is no “edit” function.

  • Debbie

    I had figured out a work around to get predictive (sure type) in multi-tap portrait mode; then I upgraded and can’t do it anymore. Does anyone know how to get this feature back? I think originally it was a bug but it works great for me.

  • Debbie

    I had figured out a work around to get predictive (sure type) in multi-tap portrait mode; then I upgraded and can’t do it anymore. Does anyone know how to get this feature back? I think originally it was a bug but it works great for me.

  • Kevin

    On 4.7.0.148 does anyone have an issue of getting double or triple letters with just 1 push of the letter? This is the only thing that is really annoying, it is making typing fast impossible.

  • Kevin

    On 4.7.0.148 does anyone have an issue of getting double or triple letters with just 1 push of the letter? This is the only thing that is really annoying, it is making typing fast impossible.

  • Craig

    I have been trying all day to free up enough memory for the upgrade. Every time I delete a program and clear th ebattery there is either no improvment or even worse. Very frutrating.

  • Craig

    I have been trying all day to free up enough memory for the upgrade. Every time I delete a program and clear th ebattery there is either no improvment or even worse. Very frutrating.

  • Kristi

    Ever since I downloaded the upgrade 4.7.0.148 on my Storm, email, and text messages will not open in landscape. It is very frustrating. Other than that everything else is good.

  • Kristi

    Ever since I downloaded the upgrade 4.7.0.148 on my Storm, email, and text messages will not open in landscape. It is very frustrating. Other than that everything else is good.

  • Kristi

    ok! Took the battery out for 20 minutes… now it is working fine for now.

  • Kristi

    ok! Took the battery out for 20 minutes… now it is working fine for now.

  • thekilby

    I got the update and my phone crashed… It sucks! The letters on the keyboard are crooked and everything runs slower, not to mention my battery life is about 4 hours (not using it). I went to the verizon store and the gave me a new battery, did nothing. ANy suggestions?

  • thekilby

    I got the update and my phone crashed… It sucks! The letters on the keyboard are crooked and everything runs slower, not to mention my battery life is about 4 hours (not using it). I went to the verizon store and the gave me a new battery, did nothing. ANy suggestions?

  • Craig

    That surprises me. Once I deleted a few apps (Forbes was the worse) (I never did find out a location that informed me of the memory usage for each app) I did the update and gained some 30mb’s of memory. Additionally, the typing has improved a 1000%. Still have not figured the “balloon” part for going back over text yet. Battery life did not change either way. I would delete all nonessential apps and add them back one at a time and see if you can locate the culprit. Had to do that once myself and one of the games was running in the background. Once I deleted it I was fine. The BB system makes it very hard to do any diagnosis.

  • Craig

    That surprises me. Once I deleted a few apps (Forbes was the worse) (I never did find out a location that informed me of the memory usage for each app) I did the update and gained some 30mb’s of memory. Additionally, the typing has improved a 1000%. Still have not figured the “balloon” part for going back over text yet. Battery life did not change either way. I would delete all nonessential apps and add them back one at a time and see if you can locate the culprit. Had to do that once myself and one of the games was running in the background. Once I deleted it I was fine. The BB system makes it very hard to do any diagnosis.

  • Joe

    I too have a huge battery drain after the update. I could get 24 hours or more before the update, now it is dead in 8 hours. I don’t use VZW Nav, so that can’t be it. Wonder what is wrong?

  • Joe

    I too have a huge battery drain after the update. I could get 24 hours or more before the update, now it is dead in 8 hours. I don’t use VZW Nav, so that can’t be it. Wonder what is wrong?

  • Bernie L.

    Another glitch. When recording video, zoom doesn’t work.

    Criag, try clearing your browser cache, cookies, etc. Maybe???

  • Bernie L.

    Another glitch. When recording video, zoom doesn’t work.

    Criag, try clearing your browser cache, cookies, etc. Maybe???

  • Steve S

    I downloaded the update and the started the upgrade process, that was at 10:00 am it is now 6:30 pm and I cannot access anything on the phone the screen is just black, I called Verizon tech support and was told the the upgrade fried my phone and I would have to have it replaced. I would like to know why RIM would create a update that has the possibility of making your phone useless, it seems to me that the upgrade should have been tested for any defects before they released it. In my opinion the upgrade is really a downgrade. A phone that does nothing is not an upgrade

  • Steve S

    I downloaded the update and the started the upgrade process, that was at 10:00 am it is now 6:30 pm and I cannot access anything on the phone the screen is just black, I called Verizon tech support and was told the the upgrade fried my phone and I would have to have it replaced. I would like to know why RIM would create a update that has the possibility of making your phone useless, it seems to me that the upgrade should have been tested for any defects before they released it. In my opinion the upgrade is really a downgrade. A phone that does nothing is not an upgrade

  • Steve S

    I downloaded the update and the started the upgrade process, that was at 10:00 am it is now 6:30 pm and I cannot access anything on the phone the screen is just black, I called Verizon tech support and was told the the upgrade fried my phone and I would have to have it replaced. I would like to know why RIM would create a update that has the possibility of making your phone useless, it seems to me that the upgrade should have been tested for any defects before they released it. In my opinion the upgrade is really a downgrade. A phone that does nothing is not an upgrade

  • Steve S

    I downloaded the update and the started the upgrade process, that was at 10:00 am it is now 6:30 pm and I cannot access anything on the phone the screen is just black, I called Verizon tech support and was told the the upgrade fried my phone and I would have to have it replaced. I would like to know why RIM would create a update that has the possibility of making your phone useless, it seems to me that the upgrade should have been tested for any defects before they released it. In my opinion the upgrade is really a downgrade. A phone that does nothing is not an upgrade

  • chris

    the only problem i have with the update is everytime i answer or make a phone call it answers it staright to headset with none attached or bluetooth connection off and i have to enable handset to hear anything really frustrating any suggestions

  • chris

    the only problem i have with the update is everytime i answer or make a phone call it answers it staright to headset with none attached or bluetooth connection off and i have to enable handset to hear anything really frustrating any suggestions

  • Jessica

    On mine it says that i dont have enough memory and i need to delete some personal info. and wen i do it still doesnt work i deleted 3 songs and all my videos and soe of my pictures.

  • Jessica

    On mine it says that i dont have enough memory and i need to delete some personal info. and wen i do it still doesnt work i deleted 3 songs and all my videos and soe of my pictures.

  • Craig

    Jessica:

    You are working with very low memory users and probably on your media card anyway. You need to delete apps that you installed after you purchased the Storm. sync it back to your desktop, delete all apps added, power off, remove battery, wait a few minutes, insert battery and once booted up, check your memry again to make sure you are there. You should be, so immedately do the upgrade. Once the upgrade is finished you can back to the desktop and resync most of what you deleted and if not go get them again.

  • thekilby

    Does anyone have the web address of the introductory email that the staff sends to your storm with all the free applications, such as Google Maps, Trapster, Slacker, etc…? I had to get a new storm and lost everything including contacts. FML

    Thanks

  • Craig

    Jessica:

    You are working with very low memory users and probably on your media card anyway. You need to delete apps that you installed after you purchased the Storm. sync it back to your desktop, delete all apps added, power off, remove battery, wait a few minutes, insert battery and once booted up, check your memry again to make sure you are there. You should be, so immedately do the upgrade. Once the upgrade is finished you can back to the desktop and resync most of what you deleted and if not go get them again.

  • thekilby

    Does anyone have the web address of the introductory email that the staff sends to your storm with all the free applications, such as Google Maps, Trapster, Slacker, etc…? I had to get a new storm and lost everything including contacts. FML

    Thanks

  • thekilby

    I had the problem with the battery and just took it in and they replaced the phone, so far so good except I lost all my apps and luckily i backed up some of my contacts on my cpu. Good luck

  • thekilby

    I had the problem with the battery and just took it in and they replaced the phone, so far so good except I lost all my apps and luckily i backed up some of my contacts on my cpu. Good luck

  • Bill P.

    I just updated my BBerry Storm. Wow. Awesome. And it was so easy. I heard a few stories on the web of difficulties. But the people I spoke with over the last few days, incuding an older bartender, assured me it wasn’t so bad. In fact, it was easy. When I got the notice for downloading on my screen, I panicked. Then I ignored it. Later, I plugged the unit into its docking charger, took a deep breath, pressed okay a few times, then took a nap. When I awoke an hour later, the update was complete and working very fine. Sure, I had to re-acknowledge permissions and settings on a few apps. Big deal. People are starving and being blown up in other parts of the world. I’ll take a few app-resets, thank you. And my storm really does respond MUCH faster, cleaner, and it does a much better job of understanding what I am trying to type with my big thumbs.

    So, for a non-techie like me, I am quite happy. Thanks BBerry Storm Team! You made my day.

  • Bill P.

    I just updated my BBerry Storm. Wow. Awesome. And it was so easy. I heard a few stories on the web of difficulties. But the people I spoke with over the last few days, incuding an older bartender, assured me it wasn’t so bad. In fact, it was easy. When I got the notice for downloading on my screen, I panicked. Then I ignored it. Later, I plugged the unit into its docking charger, took a deep breath, pressed okay a few times, then took a nap. When I awoke an hour later, the update was complete and working very fine. Sure, I had to re-acknowledge permissions and settings on a few apps. Big deal. People are starving and being blown up in other parts of the world. I’ll take a few app-resets, thank you. And my storm really does respond MUCH faster, cleaner, and it does a much better job of understanding what I am trying to type with my big thumbs.

    So, for a non-techie like me, I am quite happy. Thanks BBerry Storm Team! You made my day.

  • Jamal

    I am trying to update to the new software, but it keeps telling me “Not enought available memory to complete upgrade. Delete 5.5MB of personal data and then resume upgrade.”
    When I look at my memory it seems I still have 8 gigs of free space, I have like 5 pics and no songs – I’m not sure whats the issue.. ANY IDEAS??

  • Jamal

    I am trying to update to the new software, but it keeps telling me “Not enought available memory to complete upgrade. Delete 5.5MB of personal data and then resume upgrade.”
    When I look at my memory it seems I still have 8 gigs of free space, I have like 5 pics and no songs – I’m not sure whats the issue.. ANY IDEAS??

  • Jamal

    I am trying to update to the new software, but it keeps telling me “Not enought available memory to complete upgrade. Delete 5.5MB of personal data and then resume upgrade.”
    When I look at my memory it seems I still have 8 gigs of free space, I have like 5 pics and no songs – I’m not sure whats the issue.. ANY IDEAS??

  • Craig

    You have three types of memory: Application, Device and Media Card. The memory that they are talking about is application memory. Go to options, memory and you will see application memory. That is the one that you need to get to 5.5. Therefore, the only way to get it up to size is delete applications. The only problem is that I have never found out a source that will tell me which application uses how much memory. So you do a little russian roulette to determine which one or more than one that will do it for you. Remember to power off and remove battery for a few minutes before powering back on to really erase the application and reset the Storm.

  • Craig

    You have three types of memory: Application, Device and Media Card. The memory that they are talking about is application memory. Go to options, memory and you will see application memory. That is the one that you need to get to 5.5. Therefore, the only way to get it up to size is delete applications. The only problem is that I have never found out a source that will tell me which application uses how much memory. So you do a little russian roulette to determine which one or more than one that will do it for you. Remember to power off and remove battery for a few minutes before powering back on to really erase the application and reset the Storm.

  • Rob

    I am having major issues with the newest update. It keeps telling me I have to free up space. So far I have deleted every email, every text, every photo, and have done 5 or 6 battery pulls, and its still not enough.

  • Rob

    I am having major issues with the newest update. It keeps telling me I have to free up space. So far I have deleted every email, every text, every photo, and have done 5 or 6 battery pulls, and its still not enough.

  • Bill

    has anyone had a problem viewing the screen in the daylight? I can never see anything on the phone when I am outside. Any help would be appreciated.

  • Bill

    has anyone had a problem viewing the screen in the daylight? I can never see anything on the phone when I am outside. Any help would be appreciated.

  • iStorm

    Bill, check your setting in Options -> Screen/Keyboard

  • iStorm

    Bill, check your setting in Options -> Screen/Keyboard

  • iStorm

    Rob, backup your contacts/Apps/Settings and do a “Wipe Handheld” in Options -> Security Options -> General Settings, press Menu key and select Wipe Handheld.

  • iStorm

    Rob, backup your contacts/Apps/Settings and do a “Wipe Handheld” in Options -> Security Options -> General Settings, press Menu key and select Wipe Handheld.

← Older Comments
Newer Comments →