Reviving a dead BlackBerry Curve 3300

The other day, I had the opportunity to revive a dead BlackBerry Curve 3300. The device simply didn't turn on. Removing the battery and reinserting it did nothing. When I connected it to my PC, the device was recognized, so I used BlackBerry Desktop Software and I tried to reinstall the OS (flash the ROM). That didn't work, but when I went to flash an older ROM, the device woke up and it started working.

Why didn't the device turn on? Was it stuck? Did the ROM get corrupted? I have no idea. I also don't know how long the device will continue to work, so I encouraged my coworker to get a new smartphone ASAP.

BlackBerry Curve 8530

The BlackBerry Curve 8530 will be appearing on Verizon Wireless and Sprint. The best part about this particular smartphone is its price: less than $100. Forget the little trackball. This new model has the optical trackpad. I wonder if that will reduce or increase the incidence of any repetitive motion injuries related to people cranking the trackball or repeatedly pressing buttons on a 4-way navigation D-pad.

The Curve 8530 will come with the BlackBerry operating system version 5.0 and will have your standard BlackBerry screen (not a touch-screen). T-Mobile has a very similar version: the BlackBerry Curve 8520.

I'm a big fan of touch-screen navigation, so you'll never see me carrying one of these. However, if you're looking for an inexpensive BlackBerry that also includes Wi-Fi and GPS, then the Curve 8530 is a nice option.

BlackBerry Curve 8520 is on T-Mobile

The BlackBerry Curve 8520 is now on T-Mobile. Unlike the BlackBerry Storm, the Curve does NOT have a touch screen. Therefore, navigation is limited because you can't tap on the screen. On the BlackBerry Storm, you can actually use some multi-tap gestures to increase your productivity. For instance, you can highlight an entire section by using some multi-tap gestures. If you're a healthcare professional (or student), get a smartphone that has a touch screen. It will make your life so much easier when you're actually using your device as a medical reference.

Top Selling Smartphones in 2009 (1st Quarter)

According to some market research conducted by NPD, the top selling smartphones for the first quarter of 2009 are:

1. RIM BlackBerry Curve (all 83XX models)
2. Apple iPhone 3G (all models)
3. RIM BlackBerry Storm
4. RIM BlackBerry Pearl (all models, except flip)
5. T-Mobile G1 (running Android)
   

Surprised to see that the iPhone is #2? Since Verizon Wireless is now offering some BlackBerry models for free, I'm not surprised by these results. I think I am surprised that the G1 running Android is so popular.

BlackBerry Curve 8900

Are you excited about the BlackBerry Curve 8900? It's going to be the thinnest and lightest QWERTY BlackBerry Smartphone.

The folks at Brighthand are saying that it will have Wi-Fi instead of 3G. Did I read that correctly? Doesn't sound right to me. You can get your e-mail anywhere, but you probably can't use it to tether. Image source: Brighthand