BlackBerry Storm 2 vs. BlackBerry Storm: The complete specs
As expected, Research in Motion today released the specs for the BlackBerry Storm 2 (9550), and it really does appear to be mostly the same as its predecessor, except with crucial improvements in the areas that disappointed users most.
| BlackBerry Storm 2 (9550) | BlackBerry Storm (9530) | |
| Size | 4.43" x 2.45" x .55" | 4.43" x 2.45" x .55" |
| Display | 3.25" (480 x 360) capacitive multitouch/gestural | 3.25" (480 x 360) capacitive touch |
| Memory | 256 MB Flash, 2 GB on-board storage | 125MB Flash, (192 MB RAM), 1 GB on-board storage |
| Network Support | Dual Band CDMA/EV-DO Rev A., Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE, single band UMTS/HSPA | Dual Band CDMA/EV-DO Rev A., Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE, single band UMTS/HSPA |
| Connectivity | 802.11b/g/d/i, Bluetooth 2.1 +EDR1) Integrated GPS with A-GPS Capabilities | Bluetooth 2.0, Standalone GPS, A-GPS |
| Battery | 1400 mAhr Li-Ion, 5-6 hours of talk time, 11.2-12.7 days of standby time | 1400 mAhr Li-Ion, 6 hours talk time, 15 days of standby time |
| Imaging | 3.2 MP Video/ 2x zoom AF camera with flash and image stabilization | 3.2 MP Video/ 2x zoom AF camera with flash |
Weight
| 5.64 oz. |
5.47 oz. |
|
The major upgrades in the Storm 2 are the inclusion of Wi-Fi, the increase in storage, and the "next-gen" Surepress interface. Surepress was intended to mimic the click of a mouse with a touchscreen, where any contact with the screen would highlight selections, but actions only took place when the screen was pressed into and clicked. Unfortunately, with a single point of contact behind the screen, the original Surepress user experience was somewhat unrefined. Research in Motion is promising much better accuracy with the new Surepress, which has four points of contact instead of just one. The company says this gives the onscreen keyboard (especially the portrait mode keyboard, which was highly imprecise) better responsiveness, and should provide a more engaging touch experience.
The Storm 2 is going to launch later this month in the US (through Verizon), Canada, and the UK. In Canada, it's expected not only on Rogers Communications, but also BCE Inc. and Telus. In the UK, it's expected to arrive on Vodafone, where the device will reportedly be free with a two-year contract of at least £35 per month. American carriers have not yet disclosed how much the handset will be subsidized.