Software
Operating System
OS 5.0 offers a number of goodies, most of which were already seen on the Storm2 – I encourage you to check out this knowledgebase article for specifics. E-mail flags for follow-up and threaded SMS are the most immediately useful features, but those on a BlackBerry Enterprise Server will have a bunch of new stuff, like distribution list sync, meeting attachments and invite delegation, and mail folder and remote file access. Just like with the Storm2, there are a lot of aesthetic updates, like consolidating sharing options under a single menu item, graphical memory management, and easier search in many native apps.
In terms of performance, the doubled RAM (256 MB) is a nice boost – no matter how much archiving you do through App World, you’ll be constantly running out of room with 128 MB. No on-board storage memory, however, is a strange omission. Maybe RIM is counting on carriers shipping these devices with microSD cards already built in (my unit came with a 16 GB card), and honestly, having to organize the two storages can be more hassle than it’s worth. For example, when you plug a BlackBerry with both media card and on-board storage into a computer by USB, it can be tricky figuring out which is which in Windows. Knowing where your phone’s pictures are being saved can be another issue, especially if you spend any amount of time with the memory card taken out.