Mobile

Introduction

The Happy successor of the first mobile phone in the industry named storm, BlackBerry Storm 2 9520 is now proudly covered with its touch screen and some corrections. It took a year for RIM to release an improved version of its first trial that has not really won success, even among some BlackBerry worshipers. Usually business-oriented for their reliability and safety, BlackBerry cuts a path more likely and at the same time finds new audience, for more younger generations.

Especially criticized for being slow and its simple interface but considered too complex for the uninitiated, the manufacturer has happened to make adjustments? Let us see.

Package Content and Accessories

Normally, the boxes contain BlackBerry accessories with great finishes. In our case, the Storm 2 was taken with a micro USB charger with another brand...

A box typically consists of a standard set: imitation leather holster, headphones, AC charger, the microphone and USB cable to connect to the computer terminal.

Design and finishing

The Storm 2 phone is almost identical to the first Storm mobile: heavy and bulky, made of plastic and reinforced by an apparent structure in chromed metal and brushed. The edges are also covered with a plastic rubberized grip for better grip.

On the front, no buttons, only the touch screen, mixed with technology SurePress that allows to use shortcuts like Lift, Menu, Back and End. This technology is very special - we like it or not - and mixes a touch interface with a click of the "validation" physically. Unsettling at first, it must actually be imagined as a real keyboard and buttons, which must operate effectively under pressure.

On the sides of the left flank we find a configurable button (default voice command) and the micro USB plug for PC connection cable or adapter. On the other hand, the volume buttons + and -, the 3.5mm jack for headphones or handsfree are placed, and finally a shutter for the camera, with gradual development. At the top of the mobile, two discrete buttons are used to mute the microphone during a conversation and pause / unlock the mobile.

A small LED (also configurable) is present near the speaker, showing an alert message as unread. At the rear of the Storm we find the 3.2 megapixel camera with LED flash and autofocus function. Below, the rear seat is removable, allowing access to the battery, the SIM card and the location of the microSD memory card.

The screen size is nice and bright. The interface is very simple, with blue highlight effects.

The weight of the mobile phone is heavy enough, 160 grams, or 5 more gram than the old version that could already fit in the pocket or in anybody's hand quite easily. Anyway, this terminal inspires strength, a real brick.

But if the motive appears to be robust, the brushed aluminum back cover is very prey to scratch ... so be careful not to scratch or to rub too much. The micro USB socket on the side is not covered with a mask, so dirts can accumulate. A regular check on the same is therefore required from time to time.

The system "SurePress" to use the touch screen to select an item on the screen and confirming a selection by clicking physically was a bit surprising as it was soon embarrassed by the "clack clack" sound of the screen, reminding just as the click of a mouse. Very painful and very discreet in a waiting room for example ...

The front-panel buttons are rather impractical because it is often blocked by the premature wear. On our mobile testing, the back button works very poorly at times and we must push very hard to operate it. The buttons at the bottom of the screen lock and unlock when mechanically actuates the button "Power" is pretty impressive as a system, but not very effective because the button "Power" is still widely available accidentally.

While using

At startup, the waiting time before using the Storm 2 exceeds 5 minutes lacking initialization sequence. For some after a reboot or initial boot, you can either go for a coffee or spend some time waiting.

Once back at the PIN, a tutorial provides an introduction to the interface and also for operation keys, shortcuts, use the full keyboard, alphanumeric or upcast. The SureType input method is a kind of T9 which, RIM, greatly facilitates for the preparation, while ensuring that the spelling is consistent with what we wanted to type. Not very obvious and unconvincing in some cases. Personally, the most convenient yet full QWERTY keyboard is in landscape mode.

Once the initial parameters are configured and BlackBerry account created and linked to the terminal, it is possible to start the experiment.

It is not to say, BlackBerry is synonymous with sobriety. The interface is serious, refined, neat ... The main menu shortcuts are modular, they can at any time be moved, hidden, or placed in a subfolder rather than root (and vice versa).

BlackBerry also rhymes with security. Most of the commands and data can be encrypted on "simple" setup. Thus, confidentiality remains guaranteed and protected by the system in a way to access sensitive or confidential files. This time, only Backberry offers such a wide protection against all foreign incursions and manipulations.
The problem is that we find a system as complex as Windows: panels configurations is incomprehensible and endless. You must really be an expert to figure it out and know what you configure. For others, it quickly gets lost and the case is dropped ...

If the BlackBerry does not seem open to "new" there is nevertheless a kiosk applications and games, which are pretty well finished and integrated into the system. For example, the Facebook application installs not only a "user interface" as iPhone or Android, but also includes profiles of your friends in your phonebook and contacts already binding on this request. In addition, through the BlackBerry Internet Service and its system of "Push", you will also directly receive alerts from Facebook. Finally, it is possible subsequently to write a message directly to Facebook from the outbox by incorporating it in the menu "send a Facebook message".

Other applications are downloadable via App World, unfortunately in very limited quantities and often payable. Another drawback is the requirement to reboot after you uninstall an application, so it can be harmless.
We also note that in our mobile test, the brightness of sensor is not in top form and has a slight malfunction, the light from bright to very bright at times are not necessarily useful.
The battery can hold on for several days in GSM mode (2G), but falls rapidly in use of 3G mode and other applications that require resources continuously. During normal operation, the Storm 2 can hold at least two days of battery usage. But beware, once the battery level reaches low, the battery tends to drain very fast!

Features

The Storm 2 is the successor of a Storm, first touchscreen from Blackberry, daring RIM mixing technology and philosophy with the current trends: social networking platform downloads, big screen to play videos, etc.

You will however need to register with BlackBerry to enjoy the facilities provided, creating a new account with the unique PIN code of the device. So make sure you are not mistaken when recording.

Sadly, and despite the addition of RAM, it is very slow in implementation, to start a program or even open an image of the photo gallery. It is however very flexible, can adapt the interface for each user type, and many items are customizable, from the type of vibration on the order of icons in the menu, through the theme itself can be changed if we put a few dollars there through the App Platform World.

Timing is also a strong point of the BlackBerry, offering to import contacts, emails and calendars from Facebook. Google Sync can do the same for its Gmail and merges the coincident components, add a number, email address or an avatar photo with ease.

Faults noted, the accuracy of the interface for mode posting or selection of text is very weak. And despite a capacitive screen, not multitouch program.

Multimedia

Without being revolutionary, the media player adapts to read music, photos and video. A good variety of audio and video formats are supported: MPEG4, H.263, H.264, WMV and MP3, AAC, AAC +, eAAC +, WMA, WMA ProPlus.

The interface is slick and still provides the basic elements: progress bar with movable cursor, next / previous, stop, play, pause ... You can also manage playlists, or share multimedia content freshly filmed or photographed through Facebook or other applications installed.

The sound that comes out of speakers (front and back) is very clear and limpid, same comes from the sound output jack 3.5mm. The videos are in good quality and smooth, the colors are bright and pleasing to the screen.

Camera and Video

Definitely one of the low points of the Storm 2 phone. Limited to 3.2 megapixels, the quality is not really good enough, not to mention the slow development. There is very little option to the limited image quality, the size of the picture of geolocation, stabilizer and where to save files. The LED flash is adjustable, but gets pretty random pictures, which are often exposed and blurry ...

The size of the video recorder does not exceed 480 x 352 pixel, which is lower than VGA yet classic. For video quality, it 's the same as for the pictures: poor.

Functionality

The capabilities of the BlackBerry Storm 2 9520 are multiple ranging from synchronization tool that has the calculator, Internet browser to import calendars from computer or from a remote server without forgetting the mapping software and instant messaging PIN.

Moreover, it is possible to complete their kit by browsing the online kiosk. It may in this way enhance the Storm 2 to its needs. To stay sober, there are no widgets that are sailing on the home page. Only the battery status and network, and the clock is displayed, with shortcuts for wireless connections, Bluetooth and 3G and sound profiles (loud, silent, vibrate ...).
On board, there are also handheld software to read and edit Microsoft Office files types XLS (Excel), PPT (PowerPoint slideshow) or DOC (text editor).

The voice command is also present, which is increasingly rare since its return to the latest versions of Android. This works very well if we spelled out letter by letter or digit by digit. But this is not always easy or quick to pass this command. It is best to use voice commands and accurate pre-recorded messages.

Internet connectivity

The Storm 2 comes with all the connectivity currently available: Bluetooth, WiFi, GPS and 3G +.

This ensures a permanent connection with a quick access panel to configure its connection mode, enable or disable them just as the homepage. To get there, nothing more simple, just click in the area of the network status.

Featuring thousands of application, the kiosk named App World offers online applications of all kinds, but mostly paid. The average software applications or third turn of the Bedchamber cost $3, which does not really encourage anyone to download in the blues (no visual of the application).

If Google Maps is missing, a GPS software will make navigation on the road or on by foot. Against all odds, the location can be found quickly and accurately. There's even a voice and arrow signs to help guidance, both vocal and visual. It is possible to save favorite locations and POIs, as well as share them.

The Web browser is correct and fits more or less then the size of the screen. Most often, websites are displayed in the format for the mobile, which makes access lighter and faster, but less complete. The transfers are generally fast enough when 3G coverage is available.

Conclusion

Long reserved for an elite professional, these little marvels of technology such as the BlackBerry mobile phone open gradually to a larger audience. RIM takes advantage of this opportunity by focusing on the tactile, more likely, but forgets to simplify the operation.

We end up with a hybrid touch/physical, occupational/trendy, functional/slowness. The balance remains in the middle, which does not make this mobile phone Storm to be ignored, but affordable and quite original. Menus will be more streamlined with less complex parameter to return by itself but not very intuitive.

The media is not highlighted, focusing on the "minimum well done". Extremely effective for those who want to make a personal assistant, only slightly less efficient with its magic screen and a physical keyboard device, and now reasonably well endowed in memory system, it is still not up to date later on mobile Web browser ecosystem and its application is far from equaling than that of Apple. But it has the merit of being one of the few alternatives to the iPhone character.