Hurricane Irene: Current Status and Forecast FROM WEATHER.COM

To all our NHC Blackberry Alliance

and

NHC Blackberry NEWS radio friends please be safe

and

careful

to keep informed stay tuned to the weather channel and your local news

 

Hurricane Irene, a large, powerful Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale, continues to plow through the northwest Bahamas, with the U.S. in its sights.

As you can see on our projected path map below, Hurricane Irene will be a very dangerous hurricane as it tracks along the East Coast this weekend. Anyone in the corridor from eastern North Carolina to the Northeast U.S. should be preparing for a hurricane!

As of Thursday evening, the first hurricane warnings have been posted for the U.S.

Interactive map: Hurricane Irene interactive projected path

To access our full collection of maps to track Hurricane Irene and its threats, use the links below or scroll down.

Click to access: Status | Satellite | Model Tracks | Watches & Warnings | Threat Level | East Coast Threats | What people are saying | Get prepared!

TWC’s Exclusive Threat Level for Hurricane Irene

Find out the potential impacts from Hurricane Irene in the U.S. on The Weather Channel’s exclusive threat level graphics below.

• We’ve added an “EXTREME” threat level category from eastern North Carolina to southern New England. According to Hurricane Expert, Dr. Rick Knabb and Sr. Meteorologist, Stu Ostro, “this is a particularly threatening situation and it’s best for people to be on alert.“
• Computer models are currently trending toward a forecast solution of rare potency for portions of the Northeast.
• Irene will be a serious and multi-hazard threat for the major metropolitan areas of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. This includes Norfolk, Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York City, Hartford, and Boston. This hurricane has the potential to produce flooding rains, high winds, downed trees (on houses, cars, power lines) and widespread power outages. Significant impacts along the immediate coast include high waves, surge and beach erosion.
• For North Carolina, the main impacts of damaging winds and storm surge flooding will be confined to the far eastern portions of the state. In addition to the Outer Banks, this potentially includes Morehead City and Atlantic Beach.
• Timing: Irene will make its closest approach to North Carolina late Friday night through Saturday. Northeast U.S. impacts would be Saturday night through early Monday.
• We remain a couple of days away from Irene’s direct impacts along the US East Coast and critical uncertainties related to Irene’s exact track and intensity remain. Stay tuned to The Weather Channel and right here on weather.com for further updates.
  

FOR MORE PICTURES ON PATHS AND INFO CLICK BELOW

BlackBerry Torch 9850 & 9860 Reviews Roundup!

We did a roundup yesterday of the reviews for the BlackBerry Bold 9900 & 9930 and now it is time to cover the new All Touch BlackBerry Torch 9850 & 9860. These reviews are mostly of the Sprint BlackBerry Torch 9850 Though there are two of the GSM Torch 9860 but the devices are more or less the same otherwise. Reviewers seem to agree that this is what the Storm should have been 2 years ago. They are also loving the fluid OS coupled with the high res screen though the physical buttons seem to be an afterthought in an otherwise well designed phone.

Here is a roundup of the latest reviews. Let us know if we missed any! Please send them to Tips @ nhcbba.com

 

BlackBerry Torch 9850 Reviews:

• BerryReview BlackBerry Torch 9850 Review
• BlackBerry Torch 9850 Review
• CNET BlackBerry Torch 9850 Review
• Engadget BlackBerry Torch 9850 Review
• SlashGear BlackBerry Torch 9850 Review
• WSJ BlackBerry Torch 9850 Review
• PhoneArena BlackBerry Torch 9850 Review
• Joy2Day BlackBerry Torch 9850 Review
• MobileBurn BlackBerry Torch 9850 Review

BlackBerry Torch 9860 Reviews:

 

• BlackBerry Torch 9860 Review
• TechRadar BlackBerry Torch 9860 Review

via:bbreview

NA Carriers Confirmed for Torch 9810, 9850, & 9860 – Verizon Suspiciously Missing?

In the interviews with the project managers for the BlackBerry Torch 9810, 9850, & 9860 was an interesting bit of information. In it RIM confirmed the North American carriers for all three devices. The regular suspects are there and it does confirm the Torch 9810 as a AT&T exclusive in the USA. Check out the list of North American carriers for yourself and tell me if you see something missing:

• BlackBerry Torch 9860 from AT&T, Rogers, Telus and Bell
• BlackBerry Torch 9850 smartphone from Sprint and U.S. Cellular
• BlackBerry 9810 from AT&T, Bell, Telus and Rogers

Did you notice a big US carrier missing from that list? While Verizon could be holding out to make the announcement themselves we have already seen Verizon branded versions of the 9850. I know for a fact that Verizon is getting the 9930 but after getting the first and second Storm could it be they are not going to launch the redeeming Torch 9850?

via: bbreview

BlackBerry Torch 9860 Caught Wearing AT&T Branding

We already know that Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile are carrying a whole slew of new BlackBerrys but AT&T leaks have been few and far between. The latest comes to us in the form of the BlackBerry Torch 9860 caught on camera by Engadget bearing the AT&T colors. Not much new here but there are some nice high res pics of the device. This is going to be the first all touch BlackBerry on AT&T since the Storm was a Verizon exclusive though the original Torch might count.

I am curious if users are actually going to pick up the 9860 or rather opt for the 9810 or 9900. Let us know what you think!

via: bbreview

BlackBerry Monza 9860 photos emerge, ready to take the world by Storm

By Brad Molen posted Jul 25th 2011 at 10:24PM

If photos of a new handset are taken without Mr. BlurryCam involved, launch day is likely close at hand. Such is the tale of the BlackBerry Monza 9860 — aka the Monaco, the Storm 3, or a plethora of other code names. Regardless of the title, it’s an all-touchscreen, 1.2GHz device yet to be announced or even acknowledged by its maker. But since when does that ever stop the leaks from piling up to monstrous heights? A new batch of images showing off the fabled handset has come to light, giving us a respectable peek at the phone’s outer beauty; unfortunately, we didn’t learn anything new here. The image above suggests this particular machine is AT&T-bound, but we’re not entirely convinced — it could be a test device that’s unlocked and using the carrier’s HSPA+ network — especially since T-Mobile’s supposedly landing the Monza as early as this week. Perhaps it’s even the “shiny, new and social all over” product expected to be announced tomorrow. The puzzle pieces are definitely getting put together, eh? Check out the gallery below for the latest stunning shots.

[Thanks, Ratnesh]

BlackBerry Monza 9860 Images

BlackBerry ID now appearing in an Options Menu near you

CrackBerry member Kryngle noticed today that a new choice has appeared under Options on his Storm 2. It looks like you can now set up your BlackBerry ID from this menu, including your name, screen name, username (email address), password and recovery question. This Storm is running OS 5, and I didn’t see this option on my Bold 9700 on BB6. Anyone else see this update, and if so, what triggered it?
More information on BlackBerry ID

via: cb

Apparent RIM Contact Confirms 9850/9860 to be Called Torch; Cites Reasons of Unwritten Understanding

It’s been no secret that the 9850 (Monaco) and 9860 (Monza) will likely be branded as a Torch. We first detailed rumor of this when we heard of these projects going into production. Later we revealed their spec sheet, which also carried the Torch brand, but had noted the “Franchise Name: TBD”. Now, UYBB has apparently received a response from a >RIM employee regarding their inquiry as to why the 9850 and 9860 will be labeled as a Torch.

The answer discusses dropping the Storm brand (despite these devices looking like a Storm) to consolidate the BlackBerry brand and trick consumers into keeping faith that these devices will not fail (like the Storm brand). It was a logical move on RIM’s part, but in case you had any doubts why RIM was moving forward with the Torch branding, this apparent e-mail may help you understand further. Do you think they should have kept the Storm brand alive, or is adding them to the Torch family a better move?

via: n4bb

Rumor: Storm 2 Refresh Not Dead?

We’ve received a little tip from an insider at RIM which let us know some pretty cool rumors. Obviously with any tip not accompanied by a screenshot of the “About” screen or an actual picture of the device, it needs to be taken with a grain of salt. Companies like RIM throw around so many different ideas and concepts that something that’s for sure one day may completely change the following week. Disclaimer done we can get into it. The biggest part of what we’ve heard so far is the fact that what we thought we knew about the Storm 2 Refresh being canceled isn’t exactly accurate.

The BlackBerry Monarch

According to our source, RIM has been working on this Storm 2 refresh device and will name it the BlackBerry Monarch upon release. Apparently they decided to not release it until it was ready to be a BlackBerry 7 device. It will look exactly like the Storm 2 and will feature the SurePress technology. The BlackBerry Monarch will join the 9850/9860 as the second touch screen device in RIM’s lineup. If this ends up being accurate, I feel this actually a really good idea in the part of RIM and here’s why.

There is a market out there for this device. If you’re a BlackBerry Storm I or Storm II owner, odds are you either LOVE your device or HATE it. I personally have friends that thought the SurePress idea was brilliant and they loved it. On the other hand, I don’t think I could ever use a phone with a screen that clicks.

For RIM to give the customer two choices in touchscreen technology is great. If you loved the SurePress technology and want a device with BlackBerry 7 then you’ll be able to own one. If you don’t want that but you still want a touchscreen device, then you can go for 9850/9860. The Storm series’ biggest flaw was the fact that it was compared to the iPhone and other Android devices that blew it away in terms of specs. It was at a disadvantage before it ever came out. When the hardware is not strong or fast enough to run a touchscreen OS on top of all that, guess what? Your phone is going to flop.

By keeping this quiet and making another touchscreen device, the 9850/9860, RIM has ensured it will have enough time to make sure BlackBerry 7 runs well on this device as that is the most crucial part of a device being accepted and liked.

RIM is also doing away with the Storm brand completely. The name BlackBerry Monarch will draw people to at least give it a chance. A Storm III device would’ve immediately been greeted with obvious comparisons and cheap shots to the first 2 devices.

The BlackBerry Volt

Our source also confirmed prior reports that the future 9850/9860 all touch device will be called the BlackBerry Volt. While I might not be the biggest fan of the name, I am a huge fan of the fact that RIM wont be calling it the BlackBerry Torch 9850/9860 as that would’ve been way too confusing.

So there you go, you are all caught up with the latest rumors in the BlackBerry universe. Hopefully it stays this way and RIM decides to go with the Monarch and keep the Volt name.

• What do you think of the idea of another BlackBerry touchscreen named the Monarch? Do you like the name Volt for the future 9850/9860? Let us know in the forums!

via:bbos

Official: OS 5.0.0.1082 for BlackBerry Storm2 9550 via Appalachian Wireless

BlackBerry Storm 2 9550 users pull out those USB cords and get in on the action – Appalachian Wireless has officially released OS 5.0.0.1082! This is the highest update to date for the 9550 device. Be sure to leave us a comment on how the update works for you.

• Download OS 5.0.0.1082 for Storm 2 9550 via Appalachian Wireless

Official OS 5.0.0.866 For The BlackBerry Storm 9530 From SaskTel

For those of you that are loyal to the BlackBerry 9530, a new OS update is available. The last official release was OS 5.0.0.724 in September 2010 and while the latest leaked is higher at OS 5.0.0.1041, many prefer using official software updates. Get it below!

Software For BlackBerry® Storm™ 9530 smartphone
BlackBerry Handheld Software v5.0.0.1471 (Multilanguage)

Package Version: 5.0.0.1471
Consisting of:

• Applications: 5.0.0.866
• Software Platform: 4.2.0.388
• File name: 9530AMEA_PBr5.0.0_rel1471_PL4.2.0.388_A5.0.0.866_SaskTel.exe
• File size: 116.45MB

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

• Download: OS 5.0.0.866 for the BlackBerry Storm 9530 from SaskTel

via:bbrocks