[7100simpleisbetter]

I finally got my hands on this beta and quite frankly it isn't much different with a few exceptions (listed below). Others have written about how unstable this beta is but I haven't had many problems at all....the main problem is the NullPointer exception when you take a picture. Basically, it doesn't like something in the "Save" function and dies. So the camera doesn't work but all else seems pretty stable (for a beta).

The main things I have noticed are as follows:

1. Media Player
a. sorts music like modern DAP by Artist, Song, Album, etc (refresh and scan is slow but results are useful)
b. adds voicenotes
c. Media interfaces updated (music and pictures is nice, have not tried any videos or voicenotes)

2. Updated interfaces for most of the PIM apps but not much new in functionality that I can find in my 24 hours of using it

3. Ability to add folders to organize icons. Again, a nice touch to the interface but nothing earth shattering

4. Here is the kicker that everyone has been waiting for A2DP and AVRCP support for Bluetooth...for the non-technical this means stereo bluetooth and ability to use remote control functions from modern BT stereo headsets. I have not tested with any but the profile is there and plan to test shortly. I will report back.

Overall, this looks like it will be a solid upgrade, now only if they could figure out how to do an OTA hardware upgrade to make my 2.5mm headphone jack 3.5mm....that would be an amazing accomplishment if you are listening RIM.

[John Clark]

Does it reboot when you make phone calls?

[PC01]

is this for pearl 8100? or for newer devices?

thx,

[Wangchengzhi]

I have test this ROM:
URL Removed

[Spamdumpster]

I tested the same beta. I found that although A2DP streamed music to my Motorola S9, it had to be reconnected after each song. Can you confirm this?

[d_fisher]

Originally Posted by Wangchengzhi

I have test this ROM:
URL Removed

Sorry but I had to remove the link. BlackBerryForums can't allow links to unreleased software. I don't think RIM would look too kindly us for that.

[coldconfession13]

Originally Posted by Spamdumpster

I tested the same beta. I found that although A2DP streamed music to my Motorola S9, it had to be reconnected after each song. Can you confirm this?

It acts the same way with a stereo headset have to activate headset after each song.

[Wangchengzhi]

Sorry

[7100simpleisbetter]

Originally Posted by John Clark

Does it reboot when you make phone calls?

I have only had one unsolicited reboot from the device, it was due to a phone call coming in and I was really tasking the processor at the time so it did not surprise me. I was testing some of the functions when it happened. Normal operations though I have not had any unsolicited reboots and I have only rebooted because of removing software or other "loading new firmware" reasons that are not the system forcing a reboot or just rebooting on its own. It was pretty stable.

[7100simpleisbetter]

Originally Posted by PC01

is this for pearl 8100? or for newer devices?

thx,

TMO Pearl 8100, one of the early ones bought about 2 weeks after it was released in September 2006

[7100simpleisbetter]

Originally Posted by Spamdumpster

I tested the same beta. I found that although A2DP streamed music to my Motorola S9, it had to be reconnected after each song. Can you confirm this?

I am getting the S9 for the holidays so give me about a week and I will report back.

[cdoggLBC]

What about when trying to send an SMS when you have No Service (i.e. in an elevator shaft). The 4.2.0 OS will queue the message to be sent, like emails for when service is available. The 4.2.1.108 (and all 4.2.1s) will time out with a red X and a 'protocol error' msg.

This would be HUGE if this was fixed. Still on 4.2.0.73 because of this.

[Wangchengzhi]

Originally Posted by d_fisher

Sorry but I had to remove the link. BlackBerryForums can't allow links to unreleased software. I don't think RIM would look too kindly us for that.

I forgot to make a explan,that link just a test and not provide the beta software!!!

[EricScott]

Does it have predictive SureType and the vertical SureType suggestions list like the 8130?

[John Clark]

Originally Posted by EricScott

Does it have predictive SureType and the vertical SureType suggestions list like the 8130?

Yes.

[Wangchengzhi]

No body want to see my test?

[saivia]

It's not a test but a review about 4.3 beta.I should admit that it is much more comprehensive that this one,but it 's in Chinese,nobody at here will understand that.

[7100simpleisbetter]

I have been using the OS for about 3.5 days now and really like it. It does have some bugs that require reboot but I find that they are liveable. The main issue I had recently was related to the Media Player losing tracks (not showing up in the Songs, Artists, etc.) and also the media player scanning and never finishing the scan of files. I searched to see if this was a problem with the new "Media Player" function that provides a DAP like database based on the audio file tags. I did find that others have "disappearing" tracks as well and they are not beta versions. It was not a huge issue because I could still play tracks by exploring the media card and find and play the files but I really like using the Media Player tag database functions.

I was about to give up on the Media Player ever working correctly in the beta and possibly in the full release when I decided to try one last thing. I realized that the files/folders/etc on my media card were on a OS 4.2.0 formatted and loaded card and thought maybe reformatting it and reloading would fix the problems. So I backed up the files, went into Options -> Media Card and selected Format Media Card from the menu. After reloading all of the files it seems to be working great and more efficiently than before and all tracks are showing up and searchable.

I also noticed that when I mount the device as a Mass Storage Device the drive now shows "BlackBerry (I:\)" instead of "Unknown (I:\)". This lead me to believe that there is a slightly different structure or expected system information that os 4.3.1 is expecting from 4.2.x. Everything (except the camera) seems to be working great for the most part. I have had a few oddities but nothing huge and maybe one or two resets that was completely out of the blue and not a result of me forcing a reset for one reason or another.

I still need to test the bluetooth stereo and am getting the Plantronics Voyager 855 shortly as they are perfect for my needs. I will report back when I have more information.

Until then....merry christmas and to all a good night....and don't forget to email Santa your wish list, it is never too late, I understand he picked up an 8120 from Italy when he was on a dry run for Chistmas eve and will be recieving email over wi-fi when dropping presents off at all of your houses!!! If you have WEP, WPA, MAC address filtering, not to worry I understand the song has been updated to...

"he sees you when your sleeping, he knows when your awake, he knows when you are configuring wi-fi with security measures and knows your password so be good for goodness sake"

[7100simpleisbetter]

Originally Posted by cdoggLBC

What about when trying to send an SMS when you have No Service (i.e. in an elevator shaft). The 4.2.0 OS will queue the message to be sent, like emails for when service is available. The 4.2.1.108 (and all 4.2.1s) will time out with a red X and a 'protocol error' msg.

This would be HUGE if this was fixed. Still on 4.2.0.73 because of this.

In the beta I am running it seems to let it sit in a "pending" state for about 30 seconds and if it can't connect to send the red X shows up and the message says protocol error. I can select resend when I am in coverage but would guess this is the same as 4.2.1.108 and not much help. Sorry it does not fix your issue....the other features are nice though.

[SirKeats]

discovered another interesting little bug with this software on my 8100...

when playing songs via the media player through headphones (or whatever else you can plug into the 2.5mm jack) the phone plays one song fine, then on the next track switches the jack off and plays through the phones external speaker.

you then have to pull the headphone plug out... put it back in, wait for it to start playing; though it will only play out of one speaker at this point... pull the plug out a second time and plug it back in and then it'll play out of both speakers. LOL

fyi: i did do a media card format under the new os before loading my tunes back on the card... so this likely isn't related to the discovery 7100 made.

i've heard that some folks have had better luck with things working right after a few days and a few reboots so i'm gonna give it a couple days and see... hopefully this one will correct itself.

the os is rather slow too. things take forever to open when i select them... though with the exception of the crazy music thing, i've not had any issues with anything not working. mind you i never use my camera (and never will) and don't have a data plan so i cant comment on any of those features.

i'll post other observations as i make them.

i do like the makover though this os comes with. not just the media player, but the whole os. there's minor facelifts to pretty much all of the areas of the phone and they look quite nice imho.

can't wait for the official release... or at the very least, a less buggy beta.