Since we were very lucky to get our hands on the Verizon Blackberry Storm we were able to learn some of the in's and outs of the device. We thought it would be important to learn more about the ways you navigate your new Blackberry Storm. The BlackBerry Storm features an accelerometer, making it possible to use the handset horizontally or vertically. In addition to using the BlackBerry Storm’s Send, Menu, Escape and End keys, users navigate by touching the handset’s SurePress touch screen, using various gestures.
Gestures for general navigation include:
Highlighting
To highlight an object or assign focus, tap the screen lightly. Tapping the screen can highlight a variety of objects including an application icon on the Home Screen, a letter on the keyboard, or an item in a list or menu.
Selecting
To select an item and invoke an action, depress the BlackBerry Storm’s display, making it click. The action associated with that item will be initiated.
For example, clicking an icon on the Home Screen will open that application, clicking a message in the Message List will open that message, and clicking a letter on the keyboard will type that letter
Scrolling
Scroll down a page or through a list or menu by swiping your finger vertically.
Display All Home Screen Icons
If holding the handset vertically, click the Home Screen’s wallpaper to display a full screen of icons. You can also press the Menu key to display the full screen of icons.
Shortcut Keys
- To multi-task, press and hold the Menu key to launch the Application Switcher application
- Press the Menu key to open a menu. Press the Menu key quickly a second time to execute the highlighted (default) action
- Lock/unlock the handset by pressing the Lock key, located at the top of the handset
- Mute/unmute a phone call, by pressing the Mute key, located at the top of the handset
- Press the Left Convenience key to open the Application Switcher application. This key can be reprogrammed in Options > Screen/KeyboardPress the Right Convenience key to open the Camera application. This key can be reprogrammed in Options > Screen/Keyboard
Hovering: Hovering makes it possible to move the cursor to a specific place in a text entry area - simply touch the display and keep your finger in contact with the screen. The cursor will become transparent and can then be dragged in any direction. To stop hovering simply lift your finger, then continue typing.
Hiding the Keyboard: To hide the keyboard when in a text entry area simply swipe downwards through the keyboard. To show the keyboard again, swipe upwards, click the Show Keyboard button in the bottom left hand corner of the screen, or press the Menu key and click Show Keyboard.
Searching Email: Quickly search for messages to or from a specific person by touching their name in the Inbox, and leaving your finger in contact with the screen. To search for all the messages in a specific thread, touch the subject line of an email in the Inbox, and leave your finger in contact with the screen.
Selecting Multiple Messages: Select multiple messages in the Inbox by touching the screen and highlighting the first message, then with a second finger, touch another message. All messages between these two points will be highlighted. Execute a variety of actions by clicking one of the icons at the bottom of the screen or by pressing the Menu key and clicking an item from the list that appears.
Viewing Next Message: When reading a message, move to the next message in your Inbox by swiping horizontally across the body of the message, from right to left. View the previous message by swiping from left to right. To move to the next message in the thread, swipe horizontally across the message’s header, from right to left. To view the previous message in the thread, swipe from left to right.
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