Here we go again, getting excited about a phone that probably won’t come out until next year. Yes, I’m talking about the Storm 3. A couple of my sources have been talking to me lately about the new Storm 3, and I gotta tell you guys it sounds FREAKING AWESOME!! Everyone knows I’m a huge fan of the Storm 2, but from what I’ve heard so far about the third version of the Storm… I think I’m in love already.
Here are some Storm 3 specs and info that I’ve heard so far repeatedly from my sources:
1. Its being tested by a very limited team (preventing leaks).
2. The phone’s shell is still the Storm 2′s shell with different guts though (To make it hard to identify if the phone is lost or photographed).
3. It does have a 1ghz processor.
4. 8 GB internal memory.
5. 512MB flash memory was what they saw first, but apparently they are now playing with these test phones and have over 1GB of flash memory.
6. It won’t run on OS 6.0. Its gonna be running on an OS of its own. <– Really exciting
7. The phone does have the ability to run widgets and you can personalize it A LOT.
8. 5 MP camera still on it as off now, but like we saw on the 9670, this can change.
9. The screen will be something new we haven’t seen yet (new input mechanism) ,but it won’t work like the Storm 2. Yes, it will have SURE-PRESS, but I’m not sure how they are archiving it this time.
10. Its gonna be Verizon’s 1st or 2nd LTE phone. They aren’t sure if the Android phone will be first or the Storm at this point.
The reason why RIM doesn’t want this phone to leak, or are being more careful about it, is because it would confirm that Verizon will be launching their LTE network (which by the way is already set, but just running tests on as off these days) and its somehow a liability for them.
Again, and as you know, some things could/will change but those are the specs as off today.
ahhh i cant wait… ill probably finally use my upgrade instead of being over priced phones like ive have been doing
I know, the only bad thing is that we might have to wait until March of next year to see this bad boy out. It depends on Verizon though on when they wanna officially launch their LTE network.
iPhone 4 for me untill this device drops :p
Be sure to take the “Hold it right!” tutorial!
Wow Salomondrin, you just made my night. I love how RIM is starting to be more secretive (although you got this info) and i love that they finally care about specs. This whole LTE thing makes me think it will be released wayy later than a year after the Storm2.
any word if it will have cdma/LTE or LTE only?
Great heads up Salomondrin..
All carriers need a Backup plan, so I say it shoud be backward compaitable to EVDO/1XRTT..
That finger needs a manicure bad!
Man I can’t wait… By the time the S3 is out I should be eligible for my upgrade having the S2 and I can only imagine it would be the best transition!! Thx for the heads up Sal!
Damit, Why won’t sprint get a Touch screen Black berry
Blackberry 9800 doesn’t count? It is probably going to sprint Q1
I wish the 9800 would have the hybrid OS that the S3 is getting. -o-
This sounds like the much needed improvement for RIM. I’m an avid Storm fan. I even loved the first one (when it worked). This takes the cake.
The new screen has been rumored to be Synaptics’ ClearPad touchscreen technology. The company has several different renditions of mobile touchscreen operations. Four to all five finger multi-touch on some ClearPad models. It’s pretty innovative tech that does have video demos on the Synaptics website.
If you wanna check it out Sal, and get your intel to thumbs up or thumbs down these rumors, please do. It’ll give us storm fans peace of mind.
im loving the specs so far but if im kicking my Storm2 to the curve and i’m getting an iPhone 4, is just becuz there are tons of apps every week and most of them are great and cheap or even free
RIM got so much work left to do yet… i love my Storm2, but it gets irritating sometimes
You’re leaving Storm2 for an iPhone because of “tons of apps every week?” What kind of apps, games? If that’s the case you don’t want a phone, but a “gaming system.” The Storm has some GREAT apps; some are free, but if you can buy an iPhone, then $2.99 shouldn’t break your bank!
If it is free apps that you want, then you should consider an Android phone! Plenty of power, Configuration options, Apps, Customization options, Speed and services integration! I’m just saying!
Thanks for the GREAT news Sal…we’ve missed you at CB since the S2 finally came out! If it wasn’t for your great info and videos I don’t know how I would have made it! My NE2 isn’t up until June 2011, so I can wait, and in the meantime I will keep loving my S2.
VZW is launching the LTE network in November. So we may see this Q4. IDK if they want Sprint to have the only 4G handsets for long. All initial LTE devices will have to support CDMA as well as LTE as LTE will only be in like 30-40 markets initially and will fill in over 2011 and 2012. It makes sense that it is Q ghz since the QC chips that run LTE are all 1 ghz. They also pretty much support every 3G band so this device may be very portable to other networks. That’s all I can add…Thanks for the info Sal!
Kinda off subject here but Sal what MP camera does the 9670 have? I thought it was 5MP and has always been 5MP?
I’m about to show you a Clam with a 3.2 MP camera
Wow, that sounds pretty good. Next year though? Ouch. Still killer for the Blackberry world though.
But Solomondrin, only 1 GB of flash memory?? Seriously… isn’t that were the OS and Apps reside? 8 GB of on board memory seems pointless to me. I would have rather they split that in half. So 4 GB for flash memory and 4 GB for on device memory.
No OS6?
As much as I like the idea of a really novel OS suited specifically for the uniqueness of the Storm (compared to other BlackBerry devices), we’ve already seen that RIM hasn’t been able to get a grip on the Storm 1 OS, not sure about S2.
I think we would be better off with OS6 on the S3 just in the hopes that RIM will be more familiar with it and ready to tweak it as new bugs are found, especially now that they’ve got another touch screen device in their lineup. I’d hate to have a one-off OS that gets left behind and doesn’t receive the luv ‘n updates that we all know will be needed.
My wild guess is that it’s really OS6, but with a custom shell (ala MOTOBLUR, etc)
Curious about the body. The S4 is said to be well into development with an I-phone thin body makeup. If the S3 is being housed in an S2 container, wonder if there is not some body shaping surprise in-store. If the screen is totally different how could the OS be tested on an S2 body? Unless the screen size is exactly the same as the S2? So many questions.
PS – Glad I found your site Sal. Its my new BB home.
Also – agree with comments regarding memory.
WTF could RIM be thinking? 8 gigs for on-board storageand only 1 gig to share for OS and Apps? Someone is just not getting it.
If it is a 1ghz hope its an ARM and not the SD. ARM has a better graphics controller, memory interface and is way faster.
Good dream bozo,
Solomondrin get out of dream.
.
There is no storm3
the Storm 3 OS is rumored to be QNX OS qnx product is an unix based OS MicroKernal like the iPhone so it will be fast
Very reasonable guess since RIM has been hiring QNX insiders for a couple of years and bought QNX (the company) in April. The QNX Neutrino kernel and Photon GUI would be a good fit, IMHO. I was a senior designer at QNX for 13 years.
I cant wait for this phone to come out! But I hope they beef up the app memory, cause I don’t use a lot of apps, but it would be nice to have the option too load my phone with a million pointless farting apps!
Im just excited about the new OS cause it will most likely try to compete directly against the androids pretty nifty phone line up..If this phone fails to be awesome…Im sorry to say I might get a droid…forgive me RIM.
I wouldn’t get too excited about OS6; after all you can see a good portion of it on Sal’s videos and looks smoother & faster, but hardly any challenge to the newest OSs out there. The same plain, boring icons, no way to customize the look of the main screen, no pictures with contacts, no large pictures on phone screen, even the calendar doesn’t show the current day! – hopefully Sal is correct that a Storm only OS will emerge and make use of the touchscreens capabilities – FINALLY!
“6. It won’t run on OS 6.0. Its gonna be running on an OS of its own. <– Really exciting" Hmm… Android OS would make some sense here and could give RIM the edge that they need on both the available Apps and Back End service integration! + it might save on some R&D, for a new OS, costs! Just a thought!
Sal, I’m going through withdrawal here. Any updates on S3 testing? I need my fix man…
Come on RIM give us the storm 3 this year because I can’t wait tell next for a outdated storm 3 the specs on the storm 3 is this year specs not next year specs rorry RIM
Come on RIM give us the storm 3 this year because I can’t wait tell next for a outdated storm 3 the specs on the storm 3 is this year specs not next year specs sorry RIM
I’m looking a replacement for my Storm. I was hoping for the 9800 but after this I think I’ll just hold up for the S3. All I need now is a date and I’ll be the first in the line!
BTW, the best spec is that it doesn’t need a “hold it right, and buy a rubber band” tutorial
LOL!
Looks like it’s a refresh first to rock OS6, while adding a 5 mp cam, and some other improvements. Then Storm 3 as Sal’s sources have predicted.
http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/19/blackberry-storm-3-detailed-in-training-slide-same-look-more-r/
Really – you’re going to introduce another one of these? I have a Storm 1 and it’s been abandoned. No OS upgrade, no app upgrades. BB needs to give up on this design.
Hey Sal,
Can you tell us about these new training pics that showed up that looks like it could be with the Storm 3, that is running OS 6, and 512MB of RAM, so let me know if you believe that is the Storm 3, or are they just refreshing the Storm 2 to run OS 6.
This is not the storm 3
Guys, it clearly says “Odin Refresh”. Odin being the old name for the Storm. It’s an incremental upgrade.
What I’d like to know is if we can trade in or enhance our current Storm2.
I hope this comes with HD video or else I don’t know what blackberry are up to.
this will be their flagship touchscreen device for the year if they don’t bring out a capacitive version alongside with it.
They really need to make this device happen but it would have benefit them to release it this year. By waiting until next year, they’ll be facing the onslaught of Android 3.0 and iPhone 4G…..
Also, I really hope sure-press dies a fiery heinous death. Just stick to capacitive RIM, ffs.
If you just want a capacitive screen there are plenty choices out there.
Surepress is loved by many and is the biggest thing that makes the Storm unique.
Specs looks good, if so, i might leave android and switch back to RIM!