CrackBerry.com Goes Hands-On with BlackBerry OS 4.3.1

By on Nov 2, 2007 at 11:41 AM
General November 2, 2007

The wild and crazy guys (really, should meet them and you’d understand what I mean) over at CrackBerry.com have obtained a copy of the BlackBerry OS 4.3.1 beta for the BlackBerry Curve and BlackBerry Pearl devices. If you haven’t heard about OS 4.3.1, then you will be in for quite a surprise with just what’s being added. While we’ll still have the naysayers who want to bash RIM and BlackBerry for it’s lack of novel and practical functionality found in the other all-in-one-even-gives-you-a-reach-around devices, this particular device OS upgrade will be very powerful once released.

From my own personal experience with OS 4.3.1 for the Curve 8300 and 8310 devices, an earlier version than what is being shown on CrackBerry.com, I did not have the video recording functionality. Upon that observation about a month ago, I jokingly stated to someone I was showing, "Yeah, it didn’t unlock the video recorder, darn it!" Well, if what we’re seeing is the truth, video recording was apparently enabled a few revisions later. Also added to this version is DataViz’s Documents To Go Office Suite, a very popular Palm application that has had us patiently awaiting it’s arrival on the BlackBerry since DataViz’s official announcement nearly six months ago at the Wireless Enterprise Symposium in Orlando. Full OS 4.3.1 feature list, after the jump!

Feature List of OS 4.3.1:

  • Upgraded, enriched e-mail formatting (in layman’s terms, HTML email support …with an asterisk)
  • Face-lifted address book and contacts management (added fields for instant messaging handles, Activity Log search for detailed contact history, etc)
  • DataViz Documents To Go (Word To Go confirmed in some capacity)
  • Browser upgrade (crisp fonts and emails, new bookmarks entry point, Desktop and Cursor modes enabled by default, etc)
  • *Video Recording enabled for legacy devices (holding my breath while patiently counting – 1, 2, pass out)
  • Voice Notes recorder and clip management
  • Wireless OS upgrades (again, with an asterisk)

Okay, where’s the bubble buster, you ask? From my preview of OS 4.3.1, I came to the conclusion that a lot of the new features were simply laying the groundwork for unleashed-in-all-their-glory enhancements when combined with updates from the BES and BIS platforms. For example, while we have an HTML/Rich-Text engine installed for email (net_rim_bb_rich_email.cod) and we have a new look and feel when reading emails, the fireworks are only unleashed when BES or BIS will support the parsing of in-line images or font and stylesheet support within the email application. Huh?! Currently, as of BIS 2.4 and BES 4.1 SP4, email will still be parsed and delivered to a device running OS 4.3.1 as plain-text, which we’ve all come to love and hate since 1999.

The same concept of framework can be applied to the wireless OS upgrade technology (OTASL, or over-the-air software loading, for those who have heard this rumored for the last year or so). This technology was released, in part, in BES 4.1 SP4. When a device running OS 4.3.1 is activated on the BES, a new service book, Desktop [OTASL], is pushed to the device and ‘Wireless Upgrade’ is now a working albeit currently useless option due to the lack of a management interface to configure the OTASL packages.

For a preview of the OS update and a few more screenshots, jump on over to CrackBerry.com!

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24 Comments

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  • victor

    If what you say is true then that is a very very nice set of updates. Specially the DataViz and Video.

    PS can you change the mobile version back, this having to hit a link to make a comment is getting really annoying. Why did you change it anyway?

  • Steve

    GoogleTalk IM handle fields were already added to my addressbook when I installed GoogleTalk 2.0. (Yahoo’s 2.0 probably does the same.)

    I’m with Victor on the ‘mobi’ edition.

  • Joe

    Just to clarify, the Crackberry posting indicates that the Pearl won’t be able to record video. The wording above makes it sound like it would. :(

  • TrueDis

    The big question that isn’t answered is A2DP on the Pearl – yay or nay!?

  • rosegold

    I think the 8100 doesn’t but the 8130 does video record…

  • Mrwashington

    jibi is there any way to see how much memory is being taken? I mean 52mb on the 8320 isnt ok for a upgrade.

  • victor

    Thanks BG for making the change, it just made it so much better.

  • WiLL .i. Am

    When is this supposed to come out?…will i get video recording with my curve on tmobile?

  • Nic

    Ok…I’m still waiting for the update.

  • http://www.bgr.com Jibi

    @rosegold, good point and thanks for pointing it out. Kevin had not yet updated his post, but I will say that video recording should be available on all legacy OS 4.2.2 and below camera-enabled BlackBerry devices sans the Pearl 8100. :)

  • Jeff B.

    Now if I just had bootcamp for my Tilt…or a BB…

  • Marcus Newton

    Does this conclusively work with microSD cards in the 6GB+ range? I know 8GB cards are dropping soon and I would like to know if the 6GB is read properly.

    Can anyone shed some light on that?

    -Elo

  • http://www.MySpace.com/marcel85 Marcel

    I hope that the pearl can record video. Hey can someone tell me why when I unistalled the BB media manager sp2 and reinstalled it.( my computer had Spyware issues) it wouldn’t read all the music files it would only read a couple of tracks off of a CD oh and also how do I sync my BB pearl and my moto S9 so that the music plays though the S9 any help would be great hit me up marcel75@tmo.blackberry.net

  • http://crackberry.com Kevin

    Hey Guys,

    I updated the post with a video run-through…so you can actually see it recording the vids.

  • CarBob

    Hey Kevin,

    Isn’t it great that CrackBerry.com is getting all
    this attention! Also, thanks to Jibi for the post.

    - CB

  • passion541

    ok so with the version 4.3 the video recording will be available so where can I download the new software exactly im currently using a blackberry curve for tmobile

  • fxboy

    …ok so we have to wait. By the end of the year right? BoyG, do we know any actual dates? Also will this be a mass update or will each Provider provide updates as they become avail? *did that make sence??* (I almost wish I didnt know the update was coming, now Im all anxious..LOL)

  • Slimer

    When will the update for the 8800 happen? All these are focused on the Curve and I’m wondering when I can get my hands on some update software.

  • CrackBerry_Addict

    I know I know. Broken record.

    But it would be nice to get a general time frame of when BB OS 4.3.1 will be out. Does anyone know? It’s OK. You can tell us. Just post anonymously. Or would that be ominously? :)

  • Kyle

    6gb cards kinda work on the blackberry curve, you need to format it a “special” way using SDFormatter and use a microsdhc reader and your computer to put files on it. Its a pain I hope 4.3 fixes it. The 4.3 desktop manager does not.

  • invincebleguru

    Finally we are near to end of this year. can any one say when will the OS 4.3.1 be released for 8300 update…. Thanks in advance….

  • jberry

    Well, it’s 2008 and still no ETA on the release of the update. I called TMobile 3 times today just to see if I could find anyone who knew anything about it and got nothing. They just told me to keep checking on the website’s software section, but that it could be anywhere from 30-60 days; this coming from the guy who hasnt even heard about the 4.3 update.

  • Jason

    I have been reading about OS 4.3.1 for over a month now and have only come across one link on one forum, and it was dead. RIM (BlackBerry) told me that the only way I will see 4.3.1, or any other update is when my provider releases it, and they can not help me otherwise. I have seen the videos with the BB that has 4.3.1, but is it real, or did someone just decide to be funny and lead us on, to nothing…I, like many others really want the new OS for the Pearl so we can take advantage of all the new features, but does anyone know where we can get it, or when – FOR SURE?

    Thanks
    J

  • yupo

    About the video recordin on tmo curve my boss and a friend got it on their phones, the only problem is findin the right one cuz they got 4 conputers I fected with viruses until they got the right one, it is utterly confusing and I’m pissed cuz they need to put up the update the REAL one up already. GEEZZZZ!!!

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