The BlackBerry Storm was one of the earliest BlackBerry models to have an upgrade option to operating system 5.0 available for it. Tracking real world operating system use through downloads of Pixelated (the second most popular game in AppWorld) has shown the gradual decline of the older OS4.7 as the newer OS5.0 has become more popular.
Adoption of OS 5.0 on the BlackBerry Storm 9530 in August climbed up to 89.9% of all users. This is up 3% from July and is the largest month-to-month increase since May. At this point there is little reason for developers to worry about pre-OS5 touch screen devices, as there are hardly any left (although this is not yet true for non-touch screen devices such as the 8520 and 8900).
Traditionally the BlackBerry is seen as a more serious business device, while games are seen more as a strength of the iPhone. However the most recent app store report from Distimo actually points to game companies targeting the BlackBerry first.
In a section showing the application count of the top five cross platform publishers three (Gameloft, Electronic Arts, and Glu) all showed more applications available for BlackBerry then any other platform. A fourth (Handmark) showed BlackBerry even with iPhone and well ahead of Android. Perhaps BlackBerry is not quite the games wasteland that it is often thought to be.
Regardless with Pixelated and 10,000 Farkle both doing well, BlackBerry has proven to be a reliable gaming platform for Ebscer. So much so that a third game is on the way…
It is now a few months after the release of the new BlackBerry Pearl (9100 and 9105) but almost no one is buying this model. There are plenty of reasons for this, the primary one being the fact that it has been picked up by none of the major US carriers. But even more so the reviews for the phone while positive, always carried the hint that the Pearl was the perfect phone for “someone else”, and that they were obviously not going to give up their Bold for it. As such the Pearl is almost unused. Pixelated was one of the first applications to support the Pearl, but use of the Pearl has remained minimal. A look at downloads from late August show the Pearl still not doing as well as obscure models such as the 8350i and the GSM version of the Storm1. It is also not doing as well as recently launched models such as the 9800 and 9300. At this point there looks to be little reason for RIM to continue working on this line, and we may have already come to the end of this form factor’s life.
Despite a number of news reports claiming that sales of the BlackBerry Torch 9800 being “tepid” or “disappointing” the actual numbers show sales to be better than expected. Just because the Torch didn’t get an iPhone style roll out (which has never been RIM’s style), doesn’t mean that the Torch hasn’t had an excellent first week.
One of the advantages of developing one of BlackBerry’s most popular games is that you get a large enough sample size of user data to get a good idea of trends are happening in the BlackBerry ecosystem. So far the early signs show that the BlackBerry Torch is almost 12 times more popular then the Bold 9650 was during its first week on Verizon.
While the raw numbers are in fact higher, this is unimportant as there are a large number of factors going into that such a carrier and the popularity of the application at the given time. In order to adjust for this the Torch 9800 on was normalized against the 9700 on AT&T, and the Bold 9650 was normalized against the 9630 on Verizon. This showed the opening week for the Torch to be 11.9 times better the opening week for the 9650 was a few months ago. The Torch is off to a strong start, and will only continue to do so when it is rolled out across the Canadian carriers.
After reaching 1,000 reviews earlier this summer, Pixelated has now gained over 1,500 reviews. It has maintained a solid four out of five stars which makes it one of the highest rated games in BlackBerry AppWorld, and the most popular strategy game. Thank you to everyone who has reviewed the game, and thank you for playing.
With the recent release of BlackBerry OS6, the upgrade rate to OS5 continues to be a bit slow. But despite all the complaints about Verizon being slow to roll out an update for the Tour, popular Verizon phones like the 9530 and the 9630 have some of the best upgrade rates. The upgrade rate on the Storm has not improved that much over the past few months. Full data below.
Device
OS 4.X
OS 5.0
9630
16.3%
83.7%
9530
13.1%
86.9%
9500
48.6%
51.4%
9000
77.2%
22.8%
8900
80.5%
19.5%
8520
85.8%
14.2%
This data came from July downloads of the popular strategy game Pixelated.
Version 2.3 of Pixelated introduces alternate colour schemes to mix up the appearance of the game. Besides the standard colour scheme that has been available all along, there is now also an all red theme.
Improved Performance
Overall application performance has been improved. Compared to the previous version Pixelated has seen a 26.4% reduction in file size, while adding features and running faster.
Clear Statistics
Inside the achievements page there is now a menu option to clear all statistics and achievements that you have earned so far. Be careful, however, because this can not be undone.
BlackBerry Torch Support
Pixelated version 2.3 supports the brand new BlackBerry Torch 9800. On the Torch Pixelated can be played by both the touch screen and the trackpad. The brand new BlackBerry Curve 9300 is also now supported.
Pixelated requires a minimum of OS 4.6 considering that is met the 8330, 8350i, 8520, 8530, 8900, 8910, 9000, 9100, 9105, 9300, 9500, 9520, 9530, 9550, 9630, 9650, 9700, and 9800 are all supported.
Version 2.3 of Pixelated introduces alternate colour schemes to mix up the appearance of the game. Besides the standard colour scheme that has been available all along, there is now also the possibility of selecting a pastel theme, an “other” theme (pictured above), a Black & White theme, as well as all red, and all blue themes.
Replay Games
A new feature exclusive to the Plus version of Pixelated is the ability to replay games. Now following the conclusion of a game (win or loss), along with seeing the outcome of the previous game, an opportunity to replay the same layout over again will be presented. This will allow you to take another try at a screen that you are unable to beat, or to try and get a better score then you just posted.
Clear Statistics
Inside the statistics, best scores, and achievements pages there is now a menu option to clear all statistics, best scores, and achievements that you have earned so far. Be careful, however, because this can not be undone.
BlackBerry Torch Support
Pixelated Plus version 2.3 supports the brand new BlackBerry Torch 9800. On the Torch Pixelated can be played by both the touch screen and the trackpad. The soon to be released BlackBerry Curve 9300 will also be supported.
Pixelated Plus requires a minimum of OS 4.6 considering that is met the 8330, 8350i, 8520, 8530, 8900, 8910, 9000, 9100, 9105, 9500, 9520, 9530, 9550, 9630, 9650, 9700, and 9800 are all supported.
Yesterday RIM announced the launch of the BlackBerry Torch 9800. It has a new operating system and input mechanism, making application support for it a mixed bag.
First of all Twinkle can support already support the Torch, and will be good to go on day one.
Pixelated and Pixelated Plus will support the BlackBerry Torch starting with version 2.3 which should be available before the Torch goes on sale next week. More on version 2.3 of Pixelated in the coming days…
The Hockey Scores application can support the Torch, but is due for an update to version 2.0 before the start of the 2010-2011 hockey season. As such there is no reason to make this application available for the 9800 immediately. Expect version 2.0 of Hockey Scores to be released in early October.
10,000 Farkle is the one application that is a bit buggy on the BlackBerry Torch. As such Farkle support on the 9800 will be held off until the application can be updated to version 1.2.
Twinkle, a free Application for BlackBerry is now available through BlackBerry AppWorld. Twinkle is a simple application that allows you to set and keep track of upcoming and past events. Twinkle will tell you how far away an event is, and allow you to add it to your BlackBerry’s calendar.
The ability to add and edit events, lets you keep track of how soon something is, or how long it has been.
Pixelated Plus has been updated to version 2.2. This newest version improves the performance of the application. Additionally the file size has been reduced by 11.2% from version 2.1 of this already lean application.
The object of Pixelated is to change the colour of the squares until the entire screen is a single solid colour. This is done by using the coloured buttons on the bottom of the screen to change the colour of the square in the upper left hand corner to that of those surrounding it. Changing this square to the colour of those around it, allows it to slowly grow until it fills the entire screen. The ultimate goal is to clear the screen in as few moves as possible.
The full list of supported devices for Pixelated Plus includes the 8330, 8350i, 8520, 8530, 8900, 9000, 9100, 9105, 9500, 9520, 9530, 9550, 9630, 9650, and 9700 (min OS 4.6).
In less then a year since its release, Pixelated has gained over 1,000 reviews. The solid four out of five stars that it is at, makes it one of the highest rated games in BlackBerry AppWorld, and has consistently kept it in the top 25 for over a month and counting. Thank you to everyone who has reviewed the game, and thank you for playing.
Congratulations to the Chicago Blackhawks on wining Lord Stanley’s Cup. With the season over the Hockey Scores Application won’t be of too much use over the summer. However it will return with a new version next season updated and refreshed and ready for a new year. Thank you to everyone who made use of this application over its inaugural season.
Today Pixelated Plus celebrates its first anniversary, after first becoming available in BlackBerry AppWorld on May 31st, 2009. Originally only available for the BlackBerry Storm only three copies were bought the first day. Now Pixelated Plus is the 15th most popular application in AppWorld, and supports 15 different BlackBerrys. We would like to thank all of those who have supported Pixelated Plus over its first year.
