14 DAY TRIAL // Firmware version 5.0.0.90 for BlackBerry Bold leaked into the wild about two weeks ago, and Research in Motion is expected to soon make the update official, given the fact that WES 2009 is set to open its gates in a short while. Until that happens, we should take a look at some of the goodies that the firmware version will offer to all BlackBerry users out there.
Stationary date header in Messages is the first new thing that has been included in the update, providing users with the capability to track down the days in which emails they are looking at have been received. One thing that should be mentioned here is that users on BES 5.0 will receive some more features, including the options to flag emails and define them by request, color, status and due date as well as create, edit and delete folders from the device itself.
Another feature that will become available with the release allows users to forward calendar items and view calendar attachments, which would also need BES 5.0 (BlackBerry Enterprise Server), and there will be significantly improved speeds using BlackBerry Maps, thanks to pre-loading in part, as well as open message origin in Maps, if available, and the option to view geotagged photos in Maps (users can also geotagg photos they have taken).
Other improvements will come to BlackBerry users as well, including the capability to set the default download folder, wallpaper, theme or to reset the icon layout of a certain theme, the Application Switcher will launch when holding down menu key, individually encryption for email PIN messages, the capability to turn off or on sounds for when the device turns off or on, plugged in to charge, unplugged from charging, etc.
And there is good news for BlackBerry Storm users too, since the OS is reported to also include the full-QWERTY keyboard in portrait mode that has been expected to surface for so long. Some other leaked OSes for the device have been spotted as well, and some official ones too, yet it seems that the OS 5.0 will actually be the one that will really count.
Those willing to upgrade their handsets should hold on a little longer, until WES 2009 kicks off that is, as RIM should make the new OS available on the market at that time, so it will be worth waiting for it. At the same time, we should also mention that the leaked OS 5.0.0.90 is not as stable as one might expect, and that some applications are reported to not work on it, so it might be a waste of time to download and install it.