Exclusive First Look – BlackBerry Desktop Manager 4.5

By on Apr 8, 2008 at 11:46 AM
Exclusive April 8, 2008

You may remember our first look for the BlackBerry Desktop Manager 4.3 from six months ago. You may remember our first look for the BlackBerry Web Desktop Manager from nearly a year ago.  You may even remember our first look for the BlackBerry Desktop Manager 4.2 from one and a half years ago.

Now we extend this streak of first looks with BlackBerry Desktop Manager 4.5.

Picking up where the release of BlackBerry Desktop Manager 4.3 underwhelmed after it’s initial makeover, the new release of BlackBerry Desktop Manager will feature a complete overhaul of the interface from top to bottom. While this beta version does not feature any major enhancements above and beyond the UI asthetics, it is certainly a breath of fresh air from the 1998-esque releases we have previously seen from RIM. We expect this version to launch around the same time as the ever-fabled OS 4.5 device software.

Please note this version is still in beta, however we did notice one interesting change. It appears the included Roxio Media Manager no longer includes the full Roxio Media Creator Suite but rather the Media Manager portion only. Assuming nothing changes between now and retail release and you want to keep your abilities to burn CDs, burn DVDs and VCDs, etc., we suggest remaining on BDM 4.3 or BDM 4.2 SP2. Of course, that is assuming these commercial features won’t be removed from these versions as well. We always found it rather humorous that Media Manager advertised the purchased upgrade to the full-blown version of Media Creator Suite, when it could simply be accessed by clicking the Home link at the bottom of the application.

Two other features that are missing from this beta version are the ability to use your device as a tethered modem and the ability to force-load an OS to a "507" device (one that has been wiped using JavaLoader) using Application Loader. Let’s hope these features are re-added prior to public launch of the software. We’re in the process or redoing our gallery, so in the meantime, check out the all the screen shots you can handle after the jump!

39 Comments

Related Articles

  • GMERK

    Yea… I am pretty sure of it too… idiot!

  • Czechone

    Many thanks for the informative update. Are you aware if DM 4.5 has been enhanced to support Bluetooth implementations other than the Windows XP Stack? This is a frustrating fact for Vista based users provided with alternative BT Stacks such as Toshiba. As soon as one reverts to any other stack we are suddenly faced with loss of functionality and/or warranty issues from hardware providers. Fingers crossed some thought has been given to this area.

  • http://joylag.com Shawn C

    Excellent! Where can I download the beta version?

  • Amir

    April 20th…um…
    where is it then?

  • Ray

    I just hope they put the “Hide When Minimized” feature back in. Not having it is rediculous. The entry is still in the Registry but the app always resets it back to “0″ :-(

  • geniusmya$$

    roxio sucks I clicked on a update thing and up comes this roxio media manager that wont go away I am still not impressed with AT&T for putting this crap on the BlackBerry ive sat here and deleted everything and that FUC*ING thing wont go away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • FARBES

    wow, I can’t wait!!!

  • DUNG

    hodiho

  • girlwithapen

    I bought a macbook less than a year ago and LOVE it. I rarely have problems with it…as opposed to it’s predecessor, PC. Recently I bought an 8100 and had to fork out $39 for the Missing Sync because Pocketmac didn’t work. Not only does it irk me that I had to shell out extra dough, but to know that RIM has had 8100′s out for HOW LONG NOW and is slow-going at the creation and distribution of the mac client just makes me steam. I’ll forever be a mac fanatic. I’ve gone mac and I’m never going back. Currently blackberry is just making me blue. Blue enough to go iphone? Possibly.

  • Ben Hammond

    I agree that bad MAC support won’t hurt RIM that much… and I’m a MAC user and fan. I have no desire to get an iPhone. MAC and mac fanboys talk too much like MAC is a huge player to contend with… but mac still doesn’t have that much of the market. They just do a good job at making it look like it does. They’re not competing with the big boys (yet) at the same level they brag at. Most people I know have and will buy a pc (even if they would like to buy a MAC), so RIM is not in trouble yet. Besides, I don’t have problems with data management because of the all the wireless/ota sync options available now (google calendar sync, milksync, etc.)

  • Focker

    How can i get it?

  • aly

    thankyou very much

  • Dave

    Telus users still waiting for OS 4.5… Guess I’ll have to wait til Telus & RIM stocks dip before we see 4.5. With any luck the Storm will require a 4.5 release for the other devices.

  • genec

    So what do you do if you want to change and update contact info and you do not use Outlook?

    At least Palm allowed you to edit your contact info with their desktop manager.

    Anybody know of a way to edit contact info without going to Outlook???

1 2
blog comments powered by Disqus