BlackBerry OS 4.7.0.99 for the BlackBerry Storm 9530 is available online. I’ve just installed it and haven’t had a chance to notice what the improvements over .90 are, however, I hope that battery life is one of them.
You can download BB OS 4.7.0.99 here…
Is there any hazard with downloading a BB OS from a non-official source? It’s too bad RIM doesn’t have these BB OS updates available, hosted in-house so that consumers have both protection and the ability to get the newest official BB updates for their devices. RIM BB OS updates NOT service provider BB OS updates.
There is really no hazard so long as you back up your Storm before you apply the update and make sure that you have on official version in case something goes wrong.
I have had this installed for a full day and haven’t run into a sinlge issue except for videos being a little choppy for the first 3 or 4 seconds when you start them.
I think this update is a keeper. I just hope that RIM decides to add the ability to just touch the keyboard to make letters press. The full keyboard in portrait mode is kind of nice but still having to click the screen kind of sucks.
Will I void my warranty if I install this?
You won’t void your warranty, but, you probably won’t be able to get support from Verizon or RIM, something you will need a lot of from what I hear when it comes to the BlackBerry Storm.
The number of people that give an opinion on the BlackBerry Storm that don’t have nor ever played with one cracks me up.
From what Mike Novak has heard, you will need a lot of support from RIM and Verizon which you can get if you upgrade your OS.
I support an organization with over 15oo BlackBerrys deployed, 111 of which are BlackBerry Storms. I have gotten official support from RIM on every leaked Storm OS prior to .90.
On the orginal OS and .83, I really needed technical support. On .85 and higher I haven’t actually had any technical issues I couldn’t resolve… Was just making sure that they would support it becuase we have a policy not lock down our users devices if they buy them themselves. Since people are upgrading to the leaked OSs on their own, I wanted to make sure that we could still support them.
Official OS updates coming direct from RIM would be better for BB users. Even “beta” OS updates coming direct from RIM would be better for BB users. There is always a chance of these non-official “leaked” OS updates containing virus’s, malware, adware, spyware, worms and/or Trojan horses.
I realize that most of these firmware updates have not been released by RIM, but it is almost laughable about how many of these firmware releases have come out. I am a long time Blackberry user and I have never seen such a thing. It just goes to show you how “not ready for primetime” the Blackberry Storm really was.
Officially or unofficially, I doubt there has been any other Blackberry device that had so many incremental firmware updates.
So this was not released from RIM ?
jerold,
“So this was not released from RIM ?”
Not unless RIM has started to make ghetto releases of official OS updates from megaupload.com?
Just to be clear. These BB OS updates are from RIM. It isn’t like some third party is creating them independently. It is just that Research in Motion hasn’t officially released them. When RIM officially releases an update, it will appear on their website and you will be able to download it OTA directly to your Storm.
I’d suggest only putting only Official OS updates hosted directly by RIM on our BB devices. IMO the benefit of un-official OS updates is not worth the risk, that goes for all devices and software, not just RIM.
Norman R.
The point is unless RIM is officially putting them out and hosting the OS updates any 3rd party hosted release COULD contain virus’s, malware, adware, spyware, worms and/or Trojan horses putting the BB user at a risk.
I think it’s short sighted to not look at unofficial releases. No one has complained about anything with them, so why not try it? It won’t hurt anything.
Ever hear of a blackberry virus? I haven’t.
You people are funny. I have owned the Strom since release. I returned in after my first 30 days, to then later buy it again, after a 30 trial with both a Samsung Omnia and HTC Touch Pro.
I have come to like the Storm, after accepting is shortcomings and LEARNING THE PHONE. I have been a Windows CE/Pocket PC/ Windows Mobile user form the start. I like the operating system, still to this day, better than the Storm OS. The thing I realized is the the WM OS is not taylored to a touch screen. This won’t happen until 6.5 or most likely 7 comes out.
With that said, on my most recent Storm, I have tried out all software releases (.83 to .99, except for .100 because is it for 9000). They all have their problems and shortcomings. Some make the OS faster (huge plus) while others make certain features unusable. .99 seems to be the most stable out of most, and I definitely like the new portrait Qwerty Keyboard I became accustomed to on the Samsung Omnia. At the end of the day, I have gone back to .75, because it ultimately gives me the least amount of problems, especially with all the programs I have loaded on my phone. I also use my phone for work, so I need to make sure it doesn’t lock up on me. .99 gave me a glorious 45 minute lock up where it only displayed the Verizon symple on my screen. When I took out the battery, it did the same thing. When I hit the power button, it displayed my original screen, but hung on the shut down. Like I said, all UN supported OS releases have problems, and this is why they are officially released to the public.
Honestly, if you don’t know what you are doing, and you heard these loads make your phone night and day, you probably should stick with the latest release of the OS (.75 at writing). If you typically are on these blogs all day, and don’t care if you have to do a reload or go into command line to reset your phone, then go for it. It is almost impossible to Brick you phone, unlike ROM loads for WM devices.
Realize, that most users have to go through Verizon to get support on the phone. In order to get support from V or BB, you need the OS load that is officially released by V. For those who have corporate accounts like the poster before, you can then have a more direct relationship with BB, who may offer greater support on non official loads.
I still believe that the Storm will be a solid device, and even better than the iPhone for emailing and general business apps. As soon as people start coding for this device, you will see an app store equal or better than the iphone, and you will see ridiculous commercials bragging how there is an app for everything. All in good time. Look at the first release of the Iphone. It was a total POS and in many ways it still is. For your multi-media junkies and pretty interface lovers, buy the Iphone and shut up already. For those who bought the Storm, use it as your personal device, and can’t return it, then go to Bplay.com and load the iBerry 2 Today Plus theme on your phone. You will get a more iPhone experience when it comes to the look. For apps, the Storm will always be behind, because of the time of release. To get a better browsing experience, load BOLT, which is discussed on every blog about the STROM/BB.
I hope this helps, and if not, have a good day.
Link is down…
nice comments…
You mention the BPLAY themes, I miss the themes with appointments on it, but says here not available for Storm.
Comments?
You know, I have to say Storm User is right on track about this. I have used several different Smart phones and have to say, I love the Storm. I started with a Palm OS (700p) phone, Moved up to PPC6800(WM6) and then to the BB Pearl. I dropped my pearl ONLY because it was not a touch screen. ( I really liked my pearl.) Out of all of them, I will say I LOVE my storm. Now the Palm OS was one of the most stable ones, but it had a million draw backs.
The Iphone has a lot of good points but come on….Its not a smart phone. When it first released, it was plagued with problems as well. The Only difference right now between the two? I believe Verizon has tied the hands of RIM. There are so many updates to the Storm its unreal but Verizon has only release .75. I am running 103 with-out any issues. Remember, all SMART phones will have issues, ALL OF THEM. They are nothing more then mini-computers so stop all the complaining about this great phone. If you dont like it, take it back and get a different phone. The Storm is right on the money in my book.