If you're one of those people who likes to live on the bleeding edge of BlackBerry software updates, head on over to CrackBerry to get your latest fix. General consensus in the site's forums seem to indicate that the 9500 Storm for Vodafone is faring a bit better after the update than the identically-labeled Verizon counterpart that leaked a bit back. Unfortunately, from the looks of things, RIM hasn't hit every bug on its first "netbook," but if 4.7.0.83 or 4.7.0.78 just ain't cutting it, be sure to head over to CrackBerry for the full lowdown on how to score another .02 (or .07).

Read - CrackBerry Blog post
Read - CrackBerry Forums thread

We've got a whopper this week over at Classic's Ask Engadget, and we're soliciting your help. Real simple: what's the best smartphone available for under $200 on contract? And... go!

Clearly, Mike Lazaridis has the chops when it comes to running a business. What he clearly lacks, however, is a firm definition of the term "netbook." To his credit, we still feel the exact boundaries for netbooks have yet to be determined (fret not, Psion Teklogix is hammering out those details), but calling a BlackBerry Storm one is -- how do you say? -- a bit of a stretch. During a recent sit down with RIM's president, CNET Asia heard the bigwig answer like so when questioned about viewing netbooks as competitors: "No, I think I can put netbooks in here [referring to the BlackBerry Storm]. These are netbooks. They are just smaller." Wait, Mike -- don't you think smartphones are more like MIDs or UMPCs? Or do we just have you all wrong here?

[Via phoneArena]

We're not really sure where to begin with this one, because the awesomeness is so thorough and so intense that we're basically at a loss for words; we'll see what we can do here, though. In brief, a HoFo poster has thrown up what appear to be slides from a Rogers event detailing the carrier's release plans for the better part of 2009, and seriously, if you name a badass handset, odds are it's here. Samsung will apparently be bringing the 8.1-megapixel Pixon, for starters, and Sony Ericsson will be throwing its name into the huge-cam hat with the C905. Turning our attention to Windows Mobile, the X1 is scheduled for release "around August if not sooner," Motorola brings the lowly Q11, and HTC adds the Touch Pro, the Touch Viva (an unusual choice considering HTC's intention to send it to emerging markets), and possibly the Touch 3G. Nokia will be offering the 5800 XpressMusic in the middle part of the year, Moto will be bringing a pair of 5-megapixel phones in the VE66 and ZN5, and finally, it seems RIM is signed up to bring the all-GSM 9520 Storm with WiFi -- a feature sorely missing from the Verizon and Vodafone versions -- and a 3G remix of the 8200 Pearl series flip that'll have a front-facing cam for video calling (yeah, no joke, they offer it up there). So look, AT&T, you have two options here: either crib off this presentation and make it happen, or we hope you get bought by Rogers. Your choice.

[Via Engadget Spanish]

If you're a Bell customer left out in the cold without the Storm you'd been desperately hoping for, odds are you're not alone -- to call quantities "limited" would be a gross understatement -- but we've got a bit of bright news to close out the year. We've been told that Bell is getting ready to release a bunch of Storm stock to kick off Boxing Day festivities with a bang, and more units will continue to filter in throughout the week. Heads up, though: they're still only at "select" locations and we suspect there won't be enough for everyone that wants one, so we wouldn't get all lackadaisical about running down to the store, you know?

It's not clear what has changed at this point, but a brand spankin' new firmware for the Storm versioned 4.7.0.83 has just leaked out onto the interwebs. The good news is that -- if our math is right, anyway -- 83 is a considerably higher number than 76, so we're hoping that this cut incorporates all the changes in 4.7.0.76 that didn't make it into 75, the upgrade officially released by Verizon not long ago. If you're bold enough (pun intended) to give it a go, let us know how it treats you, alright?

We're still no closer to determining just how many BlackBerry Storm sales have been reversed by now, but either way, said handset is reportedly Verizon's "best-selling device." Interestingly, it's up to your best guess as to what that really signifies, as the quantity of Storm devices sold remains tightly under wraps. In other words, you could take that to mean it's the bestselling right now (highly probable) or that it has already outsold all other VZW handsets in two short months (not at all probable). In other, more substantiated news, RIM has proclaimed that it sold 6.9 million smartphones between September and November of this year, which -- coincidentally enough -- is exactly how many iPhone 3Gs that Apple sold through in its Q4. So RIM, whenever you feel like dishing out that exact figure that only everyone, everywhere is waiting for, we'll be listening.

[Via Silicon Alley Insider]

If you've been hemming and hawing about pre-ordering a BlackBerry Storm 9530 from Future Shop, you can stop now and ponder on all the time you've wasted. Once that's done, you can saunter on down to your local Telus shop (or, you know, the carrier's website) in order to purchase RIM's very first touchscreen BlackBerry. Nothing too special about this version -- just that it's $249.99 on a 3-year contract, $449.99 on a 2-year agreement, $549.99 on a 1-year deal or $599.99 with no strings attached.

Update: Seems we're hearing and seeing all kinds of hollering that while the Storm has launched, it's more of a soft launch and the real meat of the shipping won't get underway 'til January 2009. Telus' online store shows the handset's status as "on backorder" and a tipster's told us the same. Though to appease the masses Telus has kicked the LG Dare and BlackBerry Pearl out for $0 and the BlackBerry Curve for $49. Decisions, decisions, huh?

[Thanks, kjb_ninja and RileyFreeman for the update]

[Via mobilesyrup, thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Most of the world probably missed this stunt because of how short lived it really was (thanks, NYPD!), but at any rate, we found it wacky enough to pass along. Back in late November, a few Peek faithful donned prisoner uniforms and walked around chained to BlackBerry Storms on the day Verizon launched the touchscreen RIM device. Naturally, Verizon officials were none too pleased, and everyone involved in the protest was asked to leave shortly after they arrived. Thanks to the wonders of YouTube (vid's after the break), you'll be able to watch it over, and over, and over again. Death to contracts... er, something!

[Via SlashGear]

Read - Peek's take on the event
Read - YouTube video of the prank

We're certain it has been a painstaking weekend for you Storm-owning Mac users, but the long-awaited OTA download for the first firmware update is finally available. For those somewhat confused, the update we covered on Friday was exclusively available via the Windows-only RIM Desktop Manager application; now, Storm owners can suck down v4.7.0.75 without a liaison. Early reports are pretty positive, with jkOnTheRun noting that the troublesome lag that came bundled with the handset was now all but history. The 14MB download (plus installation) is said to take around 20 to 30 minutes, so fire yours up and let us know how things turn out.

Lo and behold, Verizon's taken a break from releasing low-end Nokias for just long enough to officially release its first Storm update -- which just happens to be the same one that's been floating around on the interwebs for a few days now, 4.7.0.75. Anyone unwilling or unable to connect to their PC to nab the update can wait until 9:30 Pacific this evening, when it's said that an over-the-air version of the same software will hit the airwaves. Best of luck, upgraders!

[Via CNET]

Update: We've given the update a shot, and Mac users should be warned that there doesn't seem to be a good way of shoehorning the goods on to the phone at this point -- probably better off to wait for the OTA.

Pretty much anyone that wants 4.7.0.75 on their Storm has it at this point, but for the remainder of the unwashed masses, the golden opportunity should come tomorrow. We're hearing that Verizon is officially releasing the tweaked firmware ahead of the weekend, which would make it the first Storm update to see the light of day in an official, Verizon-approved capacity since the phone's release a couple weeks back -- so if you're dealing with nasty bald spots where you've torn out hair from reboots, lags, or voice dialing weirdness, hang tight. In the meantime, though, you might want to just bite the bullet and shave your head, because those patches are seriously freaking us out.

RIM no doubt got a boost of confidence from AvianResearch's sales numbers a few days ago, but it looks to be in a bit of a gloomier mood today, as it has been forced to slightly lower its third quarter profit and revenue outlook. Apparently, instead of the previously forecast revenue of $2.95 to $3.10 billion, RIM now says it's expecting to rake in just $2.75 to $2.78 billion, with its adjusted earnings now expected to be 0.81 to $0.83 per share, and not $0.89 to $0.97 per share, as previously forecast. According to RIM's Jim Balsillie, the company is laying most of the blame on "product launch timing, general economic conditions and foreign exchange volatility," but it has nothing but good things to say about the Storm, which it says has "experienced particularly strong momentum in recent weeks." It further added that the Storm's first day of sales drew a record number of new net subscribers for the company, and that it also managed to pull in a record number of weekly net subscribers additions in the last week of the third quarter. Those interested in such things can look for the final numbers to be released on December 18th.

[Via mocoNews.net]

We suppose this comes with the territory when you're dealing with a major new smartphone on a major new (or heavily tweaked, anyway) platform that's in its launch infancy, but there's already a second new firmware floating around for the Storm. Actually, "floating around" isn't a great term here since Boy Genius Report isn't giving up the goods -- but the site appears to have obtained 4.7.0.76, which would be exactly 0.0.0.01 higher than the leaked firmware from earlier in the day. They've posted a laundry list of improvements and changes, giving us hope that the handset is on RIM's fast track to being as solid as it needs to be; unfortunately, no one knows when it'll be released, or if it'll simply be rolled into another build down the road. Keep your chins up, Storm users.