Verizon has just released OS 5.0.0.328 (MR3) for the 9530. It's on the SmithMicro site, or you might be able to download it directly from Akamai. The filename is 9530AMEA_PBr5_1_.0.0_rel508_PL4.2.0.128_A5.0.0.328.exe
MD5 (9530AMEA_PBr5_1_.0.0_rel508_PL4.2.0.128_A5.0.0.328.exe) = ffa7f776c24607048721817379c17ad9
The md5sum of the official Verizon release differs from the copy CrackBerry leaked.
It's rather ironic that the carrier that is arguably the slowest to approve software releases for the BlackBerry was the first to release OS 5.0 for any BlackBerry device. This is only the third software update for the Storm in 11 months. Verizon is due to release the Storm2 in a few days, which will be the first BlackBerry to ship with OS 5.0 on it.
Hat tip to Chuck for the name of this post. Ever since Verizon shipped their new BlackBerry, the 9530 Storm, everyone has been complaining about how miserable it is to use. I'm not sure how much testing goes on, but take a look at the dates of various OS releases and leaks:
24-Nov-2008 – Official Verizon launch, OS 4.7.0.65.
04-Dec-2008 – Bell Mobility Canada releases OS 4.7.0.76, 10 days after Verizon launch.
08-Dec-2008 – Verizon releases OS 4.7.0.75, 14 days after official launch.
18-Dec-2008 – OS 4.7.0.83 leaked, 24 days after official launch, 10 days since last release.
28-Dec-2008 – OS 4.7.0.85 leaked, 34 days after official launch, 10 days since last leak.
12-Jan-2009 – OS 4.7.0.86 leaked, 49 days after official launch, 15 days since last leak.
21-Jan-2009 – OS 4.7.0.90 leaked, 58 days after official launch, 9 days since last leak.
01-Feb-2009 – OS 4.7.0.99 leaked, 69 days after official launch, 11 days since last leak.
11-Feb-2009 – OS 4.7.0.103 leaked, 79 days after official launch, 10 days since last leak.
23-Feb-2009 – OS 4.7.0.109 leaked, 91 days after official launch, 12 days since last leak.
10-Mar-2009 – OS 4.7.0.114 leaked, 106 days after official launch, 15 days since last leak.
The leak dates are approximate, but basically you've got a new leaked release every 11 days, with the last official release from Verizon being more than 3 months ago. Since Verizon released 4.7.0.75 there have been 8 leaked releases! These releases have added an incredible amount of stability and usability. Major features have been added too including the ability to use a full QWERTY keyboard in portrait mode now (instead of SureType) and the new iPhone knock-off text selection.
So what's the deal with Verizon? How much crap does an OS from RIM have to go through before they'll ship it? If they care that much about the quality of an OS, why did they release the Storm with such a turd of an OS like 4.7.0.65? Even if there are bugs with 4.7.0.114 there is no way that the overall user experience could be any worse than that of 4.7.0.75.
On Twitter Boy Genius mentioned that he heard the next official 9530 update from Verizon would be at the end of March – 127 days since the launch of the device and 113 days since the last official release. It's almost a sure thing that if that date holds true VZW will release an OS older than 4.7.0.114 which was leaked yesterday (March 11th).
Finally. A few months ago VZW unlocked the GPS on all 8×30 devices running OS 4.5, but the only application that could use it was BlackBerry Maps. Since VZW is carrier equivalent of the cranky old man yelling at kids to get off his lawn, that also means that only 2 out of their 3 8×30 devices have OS 4.5 available, the 8130 and 8330.
An official Verizon release of 4.5 for the 8830 won't be out until mid-March, but Bell Mobility has an official release of 4.5.0.127 that will work just fine (delete Vendor.xml).
As of Feb 24, 2009 the latest available official or leaked OS 4.5 releases for CDMA BlackBerrys are:
Still no love for the GPS on the Verizon 8×30 devices, but the ball is in Google's court now.
I said it near the end of August, now there's a slightly more official story confirming AT&T's shitty actions.
From the article:
In an act affecting owners of 2G cell phones on AT&T Mobility’s network, including the highly visible, and originally highly expensive first generation iPhone, Open for Business has learned that AT&T has been quietly sacrificing 2G signal strength in an effort to speed up the build out of its next generation 3G network.
Consider my horn tooted.
UPDATE: BGR picked up the original story and Ronen over at BerryReview has noticed 3G coverage where he didn't have it previously.
