I’m just getting back from the Blackberry Storm Launch Party here in LA.  Getting in was a breeze.  I just texted a 5 digiit smart code and later showed the SMS at the door for entry.  Unfortunately, I wasn’t offered any VIP or press access, which was a little disappointing, but in all fairness I’ve been slow to post some Verizon phone reviews in recent – perhaps they’re punishing me.  Once inside – it was held at the Avalon – I was pretty underwhelmed.  The event was far from full, the ‘sponsored drinks (Blackberry Bubbly and BlackBerrytini) were not discounted and they had one BB Storm on hand for 800+ people.  To make matters worse, the Blackberry girls seemed far from educated and looked at me cross eyed when I made mention of the word ‘accelerometer’.  But the worse had yet to come: they wouldn’t let us take pictures of the device.  No press credentials, nothing to compromise, right?  So I squeezed off a few shots and nabbed some video, all while being chased down by the day hire Blackberry girl.

I got a few minutes with the Storm. I’m an avid iPhone owner, which heavily skews me, but I’m not digging the click screen.  After a quick fondling, I’m convinced it’s more gimmick than utilitarian.  In order to feel the ‘click’ I had to press the screen longer than justified.  Strangely enough, and this might just be something that needs tweaking, but the app I was in (I don’t remember) wouldn’t register my keystrokes unless I accomplished the clicked, even though the screen reacted by showing a ‘depressed’ key.  I held my iPhone up to the Storm for comparison’s sake; afterall the iPhone set the touchscreen bar.  The first thing I noticed was that the Storm’s screen didn’t appear as bright.  And where as the iPhone has a blueish hue the Storm’s was a bit more red.  Unfortunately, I couldn’t get my hands on the Storm long enough to make any more judgements, but I’m convinced it’s not an iPhone killer.  Although, it should be a nice upgrade for BB fans, that is assuming they work out whatever bugs they didn’t want me to capture on camera.

As for music, I managed to catch a little Queens Of The Stoneage, who seemed solid.  Foo Fighters came on an hour later.  I only stayed for three songs – I had to leave early – but they rocked!