I didn't notice much of a differnce can someone please tell me what the differnce is in the new 4.5 as opposed to the 4.3 software

BlackBerry owners rejoice! The upcoming BlackBerry 4.5 software will vault your Pearls and Curves into the top ranks of multimedia devices. We got RIM to explain, model by model and server by server, what the new software will give existing BlackBerry owners. (Version 4.5 used to be called 4.3.1, if you're really plumbed into the BlackBerry landscape.)

There's a lot of awesome stuff here, with multimedia streaming support, Microsoft Office document editing and HTML e-mail support at the fore. We're still waiting for RIM to tune up its Web browser, though—it's falling behind the options available on Windows Mobile, Symbian, and the iPhone.

Some of the new features are handheld-only; some require server upgrades. If you're on BlackBerry Enterprise Server, your IT department will need to upgrade; if you're on BlackBerry Internet Service, you'll need to wait a few months for your carrier to upgrade. I've marked server features with an (S), and handheld features with an (H) to show what you'll be able to do immediately.

Verizon, Sprint, AT&T, and Alltel all confirmed that you'll be able to upgrade existing BlackBerries to the new software. We're still waiting for word from T-Mobile. The software will arrive within a few months, but the carriers and RIM aren't being any more specific than that.

Here's the scoop by model number.

If you have a BlackBerry Pearl 8100 or BlackBerry 8800, you'll get:

• Spell check (H)
• BlackBerry Maps with Points of Interest (H)
• Improved media player with playlist support and automatic playlist generation (H)
• Voice note recording (H)
• Streaming support for YouTube and Sling Player (H)
• Bluetooth stereo music (H)
• Microsoft Office document editing with DocumentsToGo (H)
• Native format attachment downloading (S)
• HTML e-mails (S)
• Over-the-air device upgrades (S)
• Free/busy calendar lookup (S)
• Searching the server for old e-mail messages (S)


If you have a BlackBerry Pearl 8130, you'll get:

• Automatic playlist generation in the media player (H)
• Microsoft Office document editing with DocumentsToGo (H)
• Native format attachment downloading (S)
• HTML e-mails (S)
• Over-the-air device upgrades (S)
• Free/busy calendar lookup (S)
• Searching the server for old e-mail messages (S)


If you have any BlackBerry Curve or the BlackBerry 8820 or 8830, you'll get:

• BlackBerry Maps with Points of Interest (H)
• Improved media player with playlist support and automatic playlist generation (H)
• Voice note recording (H)
• Video recording on Curve models (H)
• Streaming support for YouTube and Sling Player (H)
• Microsoft Office document editing with DocumentsToGo (H)
• Native format attachment downloading (S)
• HTML e-mails (S)
• Over-the-air device upgrades (S)
• Free/busy calendar lookup (S)
• Searching the server for old e-mail messages (S)


If you have a BlackBerry 8700 or 8703e, you'll get:

• Spell check (H)
• BlackBerry Maps with Points of Interest (H)
• New pictures and ringtones applications (H)
• Voice note recording (H)
• Microsoft Office document editing with DocumentsToGo (H)
• Native format attachment downloading (S)
• HTML e-mails (S)
• Over-the-air device upgrades (S)
• Free/busy calendar lookup (S)
• Searching the server for old e-mail messages (S)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PC MAGAZINE....

Wow! I didn't even realize there was so much included with the update.

yeah 4.5 update is worth it :)

Hey hey dumb4ever! we meet again!

hi guys :)

i have the 8330 for sprint and the big thing i liked with the 4.5 update was being able to finally send pix

  i hope it will reive my pearl cause my 8520 just died in my hands,,,,