BlackBerry Curve 8520 (Gemini) Running OS5

Well, my BlackBerry was shipped with 4.6.1 OS in it and I knew that it was kinda a step behind the new one (OS 5). So I immediately search the famous http://blackberry.bosen.net for the OS 5 installer. I downloaded the EastAsia - Telkomsel files and installed it in my PC. Ah don't forget to erase the 'vendor.xml' file if you want to install it.

After that you'll just simply followed the steps in the screen and waiting for the Loader finished the job. The upgrading process is much alike the same with the one in my previous article so I don't want to waste my time typing the same part. Just click and read it for yourself if you're not sure what you are doing here.

Okay, OS5 are having few changes. Here are some of them (please note that I'm using the 5.0.592. The other OS5 might have different changes too):

• The Media files is now not an 'app' but a folder. It contained the Video, Music Player, Ringtones, Voice Recorder, Camera and Video Camera apps in it.
• The SMS is now using BBM style.
• There are changes in the setting menu. Now it's using a bubble-dropdown style.
• No keyboard lock. If you hold the 'a' button, it will bring you to standby mode and to un-standby, you should press the above media button (it's in the middle / the play button). The old lock style could be enabled by using password lock.
• Enhanced Browser

Actually there are more to it but I thought that the ones I listed above is what the users will experience by himself. The other upgraded parts for example the security, memory management, which most likely will never be noticed by me if I haven't read about it. :)

Blackberry Pearl 8100 Latest Software (December 2009)

Yes, RIM is still care for us that they still release the upgrade for this first Pearl generation. Here's a how-to if you are too lazy to google :

1. Download the software from Blackberry site.
   
2. Choose the one described below because this howto is based on it :)
   Package Version: 4.5.0.304 :
   * Applications: 4.5.0.181
   * Software Platform: 2.7.0.108
   * 8100M_PBr4.5.0_rel304_PL2.7.0.108_A4.5.0.181_Globul.exe
   * File size: 93.65MB
   
3. Install the files to your computer.
   
4. Delete the "vendor.xml" from c:\program files\common files\research in motion\apploader
5. Connect your BlackBerry to Desktop using USB Cable.
6. Run the Loader.exe which located in the same folder with the vendor.xml previously.
7. As usual follow the steps, wait and pray.
8. After an hour waiting (my case) the update is installed to your phone.

Since actually I didn't notice what are the upgrades, so I'll just give you a quick user's opinion from crackberry forum : 

• It's a new radio code and all the java files are updated. Seems fine so far. Only been about 2 hours running. The browser and BBM are quick, faster than 180, eh who knows. It's getting so speedy as it is, there's just no way to judge. I'll run some data speed tests, and see if there's any difference that's apparent. 
• Well I must say, as hard as it is for me to believe, the browser is remarkably faster than 180. Possibly as much as twice the speed loading youtube. Today will tell how good the radio is.
• It's an improvement over the 205 platform for sure. Even in the elevator of a building with mostly no signal at all, I was at 105-110 and switched to GPRS. Bloody amazing, a couple more platform upgrades and I may have full EDGE everywhere. 
• The memory management is amazing. I noticed an increase over 174. I'm amazed. 
• I have to say that i'm very impressed with this SW update, im actually able to multitask with my pearl now, as we are speaking i am running Pandora, BBM, and a web session, and still have 10MB free memory. I have yet to see the hourglass other than when browsing the web either. This is definitely an improvement as with the old 4.5 i could barely do one thing at a time without it giving me an hourglass forever.
  
  
  
  
  
  

Okay, now what are  you waiting for? Go save your Precious! :D