BBerryDog » BlackBerry Curve 8530

BlackBerry Curve 8530 gets official OS 5.0.0.1000 from Bell Mobility & Virgin Mobile

Jamie Ivy — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 17:26:37 +0000

Bell Mobility and Virgin Mobile Canada have released OS 5.0.0.1000 for the BlackBerry Curve 8530. I know of several people still rockin the 8530, so this update comes as a welcomed surprise. If your with different carriers remember to delete the vendor.xml file, and your good to go. As always, backup your data before installation. For assistance, check out our How-To Guide section on our website. There you will find information on How-To Backup your data, and How-To Upgrade your OS.

Here is the link to download the official OS 5.0.0.1000 from Bell Mobility.

Here is the link to download the official OS 5.0.0.1000 from Virgin Mobile Canada.

Let us know how you like the new update, and any new features you come across. Leave your comments below.

via: BBerryRocks

BlackBerry Curve 8530 vs BlackBerry Curve 9330 (3G)

Gunnar Saxon — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 10:00:21 +0000

The 8530 is what started it all, at least for me. Almost a year ago (mid-November), I picked up my first BlackBerry and have been mildly content with it ever since. Of course, when I first bought it, I knew nothing of build quality, memory, internet speeds, etc. I was just enamored by my first bout with a smartphone. When I started writing for BBerryDog and learning more about RIM, I started to expect a lot more of them than what I got with my 8530.

…Enter the 9330.

I have to say that I am not blow away by the 9330, but it is a huge upgrade over what I am using at the current moment. It’s easiest at this point to compare and contrast the two phones. While the similarities are astounding, the difference make the 9330 well worth spending extra cash on.

How They Compare

The form-factor of the 8530 and 9330 is almost identical. Upon using the 9330, I found that there was no familiarization period with the keyboard as they are practically identical. Both phones still have the dedicated media keys on top (which I have mixed feelings about), a 3.5mm headphone jack on the top left, mini usb directly under the jack, and 4 soft keys (a volume rocker on the right and two programmable shortcut keys on either side). The camera resides at 2.0MP with no flash on both devices.

I am overjoyed that they kept the form-factor of the 8530 when making the 9330. One of my favorite parts of my phone is that it is so light and thin at 3.7oz and 0.55”. The phone is extremely pocketable, making it great for just sliding in and out of your pocket. My biggest problem with this “upgrade” is that RIM failed to deliver a better camera on the 9330. 2.0MP is just atrocious, as smartphone cameras go.

How They Differ

As far as appearance goes, the only difference between the two is that the 9330 has a shiny, gray bezel around the face of the phone and also lacks the rubber spacers between the 4 face buttons (send, BlackBerry button, back, end/power). According to the specifications offered by Big Red (Verizon), the 9330 and 8530 have the same screen resolution, but I have found that the 9330’s screen has a much more crisp looks to it. I noticed darker darks, lighter lights, and overall better contrast.

Both phones use a 1150 mAh battery said to give you approximately 252 hours of standby time. For the past few days, I have been using my 8530 only for texting and calls (calls have lasted a total of 6:37 with 217 texts) and the 9330 for tweeting (50+ refreshes plus my own tweets) and browsing. The 8530 had to be charged once on Friday in the middle of the day. Both phones had been off the charger since 6 and both had gone through the rigors of being enclosed in cement containers (classrooms). The 9330 still held half of it’s charge after tweeting almost all day. I had sent 4 texts from the 8530 and was in the yellow (under 20%).

My favorite part of the 9330 has to be the keyboard. If you’ve ever used an 8530, the keyboard is the most unstable phone keyboard I’ve ever used. The keys slide all over the place, often resulting in mistypes and buttons not being completely pressed. Thankfully, I did not run into this issue with the 9330, as the keyboard is very tight and responsive. The trackpad was also wobbly and poorly constructed on the 8530, which is not the case with the 9330. The 9330, above all else, has fixed all the issues I had with the physicality of the 8530.

So Should I Spend My Money On This?

My simple answer would be no. If you want the best BlackBerry you can get your hands on without breaking the bank, then the 9330 is definitely the way to go. The 8530 is really what got me to where I am right now, but I can’t, in good conscience, recommend it to anyone, not with the other devices out today. If you don’t plan on being a hardcore user, and the BlackBerry is mostly just for email, then the 9330 wouldn’t be a terrible choice. However, if you want a high-quality smartphone you should probably go with something like the 9650. It’s a little more expensive, but I would definitely say that’s your best bet.

BlackBerry Curve 8530 gets official OS 5.0.0.973 from Sprint

Jamie Ivy — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 07:43:17 +0000

Thanks to the tip dropped by Kingofrage, we now know that Sprint has released an official update for the BlackBerry Curve 8530. OS 5.0.0.973 has officially hit RIM’s website and is available for download for those of you who are interested. I know this is not the OS 6 update that BlackBerry users have been patiently (or not) been waiting for, but it’s a step in the right direction. Some will say this is nothing more than wishful thinking, but I still remain optimistic that RIM will include the Curve 8530 in the OS 6 device updates. Click on the link below to download the official update for the BlackBerry Curve 8530, and remember to backup your data prior to installation.

BlackBerry Handheld Software v5.0.0.1596 (Multilanguage)

Package Version: 5.0.0.1596
Consisting of:

Applications: 5.0.0.973
Software Platform: 4.2.0.422
File name: 8530AMEA_PBr5.0.0_rel1596_PL4.2.0.422_A5.0.0.973_Sprint_L.P.exe
File size: 107.01MB

Note: The Software Platform and Applications version numbers can be found under Options-About screen on the handheld.

Here is the link for the official OS 5.0.0.973 from Sprint.

For those who may need assistance, we have a complete How-To Guide section on our website. If you have questions about How-To Backup your data, or How-To Upgrade your OS, click on the links I have highlighted. These guides are there for you to use. If you have additional issues not covered in the guides, leave your comments below and we will do our best to answer them for you. Also, if your going to be downloading OS 5.0.0.973 tell us what you think of it. Thanks again Kingofrage, keep those tips coming.

BlackBerry Tour, Bold, and Curve in que for software updates from Verizon starting today

Jamie Ivy — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 17:09:25 +0000

Verizon Wireless will be sending out software updates for the BlackBerry Tour, Bold, and Curve starting today at 6:00 PM EST. While most hope for OS 6, the word we are receiving is Verizon has not updated their website yet for the new release. We will keep our fingers crossed in hopes that this is finally what everyone has anxiously been waiting for. Here is the official word from Verizon:

Verizon Wireless will have software updates available for the BlackBerry Bold 9650, BlackBerry Curve 8530 and BlackBerry Tour 9630 starting today at 6pm EST. These updates include software enhancements to all three devices. For more information about the updates and instructions on how to download please visit www.vzw.com/boldsupport, www.vzw.com/toursupport or www.vzw.com/curve8530 support depending on your device.

As soon as we get confirmation on the update we will post it on our site. So, are you as anxious as I am to get your hands on an official OS 6 update? Leave your comments below.

via: CrackBerry

BlackBerry Curve 8530 has arrived at Boost Mobile

Gunnar Saxon — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 20:09:48 +0000

Although quite late in the game (almost a year after it’s debut) the Curve 8530 has arrived at Boost Mobile. The 8530 will cost you $249.99 and you won’t have to sign away your soul in a contract. The unlimited plan is $50, which allows you to use all the data you want. This is the first 3G enabled BlackBerry to hit Boost Mobile. No news yet on the quality of the carrier in regards to this particular device, but if you plan on picking this up, please let us know how you like it!

via: IntoMobile

BlackBerry Curve 8530 OS 5.0.0.886 Leaked

Gunnar Saxon — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 21:21:40 +0000

Well pups, with all the hype of the Torch and BlackBerry 6, it has been quite a while since our last leak (which we were used to seeing almost weekly). As it always is with leaks, please make sure you know what you’re doing (if you don’t please refer to our How-To guide on the subject). Also, we cannot be held responsible for any instabilities that this leak may bring, so proceed at your own risk. You can find the links to the file here. Comment below and let us know of any problems or improvements you encounter!

via: BBLeaks

BlackBerry Curve 8530 receives official OS 5.0.0.847 from Metro PCS

Jamie Ivy — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 14:29:42 +0000

Owners of the Curve 8530 haven’t been getting much love lately when it comes to OS updates. With the BlackBerry Torch release and all the media attention BlackBerry 6 has been receiving, it feels as if other BlackBerry devices have been pushed to the back burner. I’m glad to report that Metro PCS has just released an official 5.0.0.847 OS update for the Curve 8530. With this update being officially from RIM it should be a solid install, but it looks like your standard, run of the mill update to fix minor bugs and improve overall performance. If you run into any problems, or have any questions about installation check out our How-To Guide for upgrading your OS, and don’t forget to backup your data prior to the update.

I like the fact that RIM is taking care of all there customers when it comes to updates. Nice to see companies like RIM wanting to go that extra mile and not completely dropping off the older models from their schedule. Also, report back with any new findings you come across. Leave your comments in the section below. You can download the official update by clicking here.

via CrackBerry

Verizon to EoL Curve 8530 and Storm 9550?

Alex Hosefelder — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 04:39:52 +0000

Remember when the Storm2 9550 and the Curve 8530 were released? It was not that long ago, was it? Yet Verizon seems to be giving those two an End of Life after not even a year. It would only seem logical to EOL these two if there were some replacements on the way. The Curve 9300 series should replace the 8530, and the Storm2 is getting a refresh for OS 6 (maybe this is the Odin refresh we read about?).
The exact details of the EOL notices are the following:

BlackBerry Curve 8530:
The Curve2 is end of life – Final Shipments August
Refer to the “Stock Check” tool in POS for on hand availability
Device will retire on 8/1, replacement coming in Q3/Q4

BlackBerry Storm2 (9550):
The Storm2 is end of life – Final Shipments August
Refer to the “Stock Check” tool in POS for on hand availability
Device will retire on 8/15, replacement coming in Q3/Q4

When I first read this I was speechles. Since the Storm2 hit the German market, I wanted to have one and now that I have one, it will be replaced? I was so excited when I heard that OS 6 is finally on its way to the users and now – looking at my “old” Storm2 – my excitement just hit the basement and is hiding far beyond zero. It’s cool to have an Odin Refresh, really, yet I don’t want to spend so much money, just so I can have a Storm2 “refresh” that is capable of running OS 6.

Do you think it’s worth it? Feel free to express your thoughts in the comments.

via: BlackBerryCool

8530: a horror story

Gunnar Saxon — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 16:15:40 +0000

I will first preface this with the fact that I still love my BlackBerry. As an upcoming college student, I have found the organizational tools found stock on BlackBerry invaluable. But here is a caveat for anyone who has considered the 8530.

On Wednesday morning, I woke up at 8:00. Upon rolling out of bed and reaching for my phone, I found that it was too hot to hold, and that there was no charge in it, even though it had spent the night on the charger. I used one finger to maneuver the trackpad to my battery application, and opened it up to find that my battery was approximately 145 degrees fahrenheit. Needless to say, this scared me quite a bit.

After about 25 minutes of fretting, I decided a battery pull was in order. After pulling the battery and reinserting, I found that it immediately began to heat up all over again. I plugged into my computer to see if I could reboot the OS (what I assumed was the problem) with no luck, as the battery died in the middle of the upload. Now my BlackBerry wasn’t just hot, it was also bricked.

I will have to give big props to the ladies and gentlemen over at the Verizon Store, as they hooked me up quickly and were able to get a new phone shipped to me in two days. The woman who helped me (her name was Shenna) said this is a recurring problem with the Curve 8530 if it was bought before January. The post holiday season 8530′s seem to be fine, but the first batch had something awry.

Have you had any issues with your 8530 self-destructing?; be sure to let us know in the comments!

The BBerryDog theme is coming in assorted colors, now available for 83xx

Taylor Martin — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 16:15:33 +0000

There were a few of you requesting the BBerryDog theme in different colors, so we’re (when I say we’re I mean Don from Dream Themez) here to deliver. As of right now the only other color available is crimson from Today’s iPhone, but they will be coming in the assorted colors associated with PhoneDog’s network sites, TmoNews, Today’s iPhone, and DroidDog. (Therefore, green, fuchsia, and orange are left as you can see in the picture below.)

To download your new, red BBerryDog theme, click here. As of right now it’s only available for the 85xx, 96xx, and 9700. Also, we have also received quite a few requests for a BBerryDog theme for the 83xx series. Your wait is over! You can now download the red version here from your BlackBerry Browser (blue version pending). Don is spread pretty thin between work, being a contributing editor, and making themes, so if the color you’re waiting for is not available yet, it is coming, but it may take a little longer than originally expected. He is working diligently on these themes for us and we want to make sure there is a flavor out there for everyone. So anyone who wants to show a bit of gratitude, you can follow Don on Twitter, or ask us about how you can donate. Also, if you’re an MMA fan like many of us here at BBerryDog and Don, check out Don’s other theme site Dream Themez MMA, and Unfiltered MMA where Don is a contributing editor.