Now that I'm running the new Blackberry Curve 8900 as my regular device, I took the opportunity to install a new and untested Operating System on my previous BOLD device tonight.
This new OS, version 5.0.0 is very much in alpha mode (not even ready for genuine BETA), and has been leaked from inside Research In Motion (RIM) to some of the Blackberry fan sites on the internet.
Risky move installing an untested OS - many are already reporting application incompatibilities and resets of the device.
BUT, I'm not interested in that. I'm interested in what lurks below as new features for Blackberry users in the future.
On the surface not much visually different.
But here's what I've noticed:
- PROFILES - Profiles are now MUCH more editable, or should I say the editing is much more user friendly.
- NEW: CONTACT ALERTS - in the past if you wanted a special ringtone for an individual, you needed an 'exception' in the current profile, and as such that exception in EACH profile. Now, there is a general CONTACT ALERT setup which gives you this as an over-riding feature. Excellent stuff.
- BROWSER - Has a refined look for the start page, slightly more design in the top address and search bars.
- BROWSER / SEARCH - Now not just Google, but Live, Wikipedia and more, so a direct Wikipedia search is simple!
- BROWSER / MOUSEOVER - Something DIFFICULT about the browser to date is that tiny mouse and needing to zoom to see WHAT you are clicking. I noticed in 5.0.0 there is a HOVER feature showing you the link. Very cool
- BROWSER / GEARS - Interesting to see where this is going. But there is a GEARS setting on the browser - Google Gears etc... not to sure but will watch with interest
- MEDIA PLAYER - Updated Look and Feel - and much better. Initial list of 'all songs' 'playlists' etc, has a song count. Song listing is MUCH faster. Songs lacking detail seem to show in red?
- MEDIA PLAYER - PLAYING - Layout changed - A little more iPod classic style, album cover to left, track info to the right.
- MEDIA PLAYER - CLOSED CAPTION - Help me with this, but I'm guessing subtitles for VIDEOS - does this mean a push to more video integration/download/purchasing?
- MEDIA PLAYER - Searching seems much faster.
- PICTURE VIEWER - WOW - this is SO MUCH FASTER, and the Next/Previous is now a WIPE effect across screen and happens SO FAST it's just great!
- BEDSIDE MODE - Still havent taken my idea of 'turn of DATA' (damn it!), but the have added SOUND PROFILE - so you can simply make it so you go into NO ALERT or SILENT mode in Bedside time.
- CAMERA - Seems updated / same as 8900 now is.
- COMPATABILITY - Struggled to get google mobile site to work out what device I was on, so that will come, but also Gmail and Maps wouldnt work. That COULD be my SIM though. So I wont assume there.
- EMAIL SYNC - Gmail - Now i've been using Gmail on my blackberry for years, as an account setup on the BIS - NOT the Gmail APP. Never before when I read an email does my actual GMAIL account recognise that it is READ - with this OS that seems to be working. if this is a setting long used, I can't find it. It seems to me to be unique to 5.0.0 but I stand to be corrected on that.
- (UPDATED) BLACKBERRY LOGO ON LOAD - I thought this was just on install, but it appears on any reboot you get the Blackberry logo with a progress bar. Looks nice
- (UPATED) FLAG EMAILS - There is a new Menu item in Email called "Flag for Follow up"
Stacks of screenshots below.
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