BlackBerry Storm 2 Review by Kevin Michaluk

BlackBerry Storm 2 Review: "

Featuring WiFi, more memory and an improved SurePress technology, Research in Motion's second-generation BlackBerry Storm is ready for primetime and wants to be touched!

It's that time again! Grab a cup of coffee or your favorite energy drink, kick back and enjoy yet another CrackBerry.com pre-release BlackBerry Smartphone review. This time around we're looking at an officially-received BlackBerry Storm2. Has RIM taken the Storm to the next level with the Storm 2, or are we looking at a minor update? Should owners of the original BlackBerry Storm upgrade? Read on to find out!

Read CrackBerry.com's BlackBerry Storm 2 Review >>

* Note: I received this review unit just after 12 noon CST today, which left me less than 11 hours to get this together before the embargo lifted. That's not much time to conduct a proper review in full out CrackBerry fashion, so we'll be following up soon with more BlackBerry Storm2 videos and walk-throughs and I'll add a few more images and screencaps to this review shortly. Stay tuned for that. Also, keep in mind I was told the handheld software (version 5.0.0.287) is not the final version, so there may be some minor operating system changes from the unit reviewed here and what you ultimately can purchase. *

The Calm Before the Second Storm...

The BlackBerry Storm2. To say it has been highly anticipated would be an understatement. Before the original BlackBerry Storm was available to customers, the first rumors of the Storm 2 began to surface. Research in Motion even acknowledged the existence of the new device much earlier than they historically would, when RIM's co-CEO Jim Balsillie said in a presentation to analysts and investors (reported by Reuters) in May 2009 that they were working on a next generation of its BlackBerry Storm as part of a continuing push into the retail market. From that point, it was less than two weeks later when the first photos of the new BlackBerry Storm were posted to the internet right here at CrackBerry.com which was followed up soon after when we brought you the first video of the BlackBerry Storm 2 in action. In the weeks following and leading up to the Storm2's "official" announcement, youtube has been full of "unofficial" BlackBerry Storm2 9550 and 9520 previews (Verizon's Storm2 is the 9550; Vodafone's is the 9520) showing off early-stage hardware and firmware. Due to this unofficial nature, most early Storm2 videos/photos disappeared from the web as quickly as they appeared, but now that we have an official review unit you can rest assured knowing Storm2 content is now here to stay.

So how does the BlackBerry Storm2 compared to the Storm? When all is said and done, the most accurate explanation I can think of is to draw an analogy to the automotive industry and how car manufacturers release a new car and follow up with a new model each year. It is often said that you should not buy the "first year" of a new car, as there is bound to be issues, and nobody will argue in the case of the BlackBerry Storm that the device as it went to market experienced some issues (lag, more lag, and a bit more still lag still). RIM's strength over the years lay in making non-touchscreen devices featuring a physical keyboard, so adapting the BlackBerry operating system to touchscreen hardware was a new game for them. A few recalls (aka firmware upgrades) later, however, and the BlackBerry Storm is now a much more usable device. In fact, if you haven't touched a BlackBerry Storm in a while you might be surprised at just how well it performs. And that brings us to the next part of this analogy. If you think of the Storm as the 2009 model year, the BlackBerry Storm2 really is the 2010 model year. Yes it's new, it's improved and it features some additional bells and whistles not found in the 2009 model and overall is a better performing and easier to use smartphone, but it doesn't immediately make the old model year obsolete. Existing Storm owners who have invested the time and energy to get comfortable on their device and have upgraded to the latest firmware (OS 5.0 just around the corner!) may find after picking up and playing with the Storm2 in a store that they're able to stick it out with their Storm until they are eligible for an upgrade. Others of course, may find the addition of WiFi alone to be enough of a reason to pay the penalties and upgrade to the Storm2 immediately. Just like cars, you're always going to want the new model year, even if you got a great lease/finance rate on picking up last year's model. But enough with the analogy, let's get to what's new in the Storm2!

BlackBerry Storm2 Overview and Key Specifications

Picking up the BlackBerry Storm2, it's clear that Research in Motion's thought process here was simply to build a better BlackBerry Storm. They weren't thinking about building an iPhone killer or worrying about what Palm is up to with their Web OS or what the next wave of Android phones might look like. RIM looked at the original BlackBerry Storm, assessed where it was great, where it was good, where it was bad and where it was ugly and they fixed it. I'm sure many of the BlackBerry Storm2 reviews that emerge will state the BlackBerry Storm2 is what the original BlackBerry Storm should have been, and well, they'll all be right. We don't want to dwell too much on the Storm's shaky start; after all, it was a pretty big success for RIM from a sales standpoint, but it's impossible to review the Storm2 without looking back at the original BlackBerry Storm.

BlackBerry Storm2 Key Specifications: Be sure to follow the link following for the BlackBerry Storm2's Full Specifications and Features List. Below is a summary of the key highlights:

BlackBerry Storm2 Specifications
Size (LxWxD)	112.5 mm x 62 mm x 13.9 mm
Weight (battery included)	160 g / 5.65 oz
Memory	256 MB Flash memory, 2GB eMMC
Expandable Memory	MicroSD located under battery door cover (up to 16 GB)
Battery	1400 mAhr removable/rechargeable cryptographic Lithium cell
Battery Life	CDMA: 11.2 days standby, 5.5 hours of talk time GSM: 12.7 days standby, 5 hours of talk time UMTS: 11.7 days standby, 6 hours of talk time
Display	High-resolution 480 X 360 pixel color display 3.25" (diagonally measured) Transmissive TFT LCD Supports over 65,000 colors Dynamic hardware brightness control
Camera	3.2 MP camera, flash, auto focus, image stabilization, 2X digital zoom
GPS	Integrated GPS with A-GPS
Wi-Fi	802.11 b/g enabled
Media Player	BlackBerry Media Player Video format support: MPEG4 H.263, MPEG4 Part 2 Simple Profile, H.264, WMV Audio format support: MP3, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, WMA, WMA ProPlus
Headset	3.5mm stereo headset capable
Network	Quad-Band: 850/900/1800/1900MHz GSM/GPRS/ EDGE networks Single-Band: 2100 MHz UMTS/HSPA networks Dual-Band: 800/1900 MHz CDMA/EVDO Rev A network

Comparing the specs and features list of the BlackBerry Storm2 to the BlackBerry Storm on a line by line basis does not actually reveal that many changes, yet the changes that have been made are significant. According to Research in Motion,

BlackBerry Storm2 refinements include:

• Enhanced SurePress Technology (SurePress is all electronic in Storm 2 - there are no mechanical moving parts)


• Overall device performance (i.e. rotation speed, etc…) is enhanced


• JavaScript is now On by default


• Wi-FI 802.11 b/g


• 256 MB Flash Memory (Storm 1 had 128MB)


• 2GB Onboard Media Memory (Storm 1 had 1GB)


• Sleeker Design (tinted chrome ring, etc.)


• Integrated touch navigation keys


• BlackBerry Handheld Software v5.0


• Internet browsing enhancements (i.e. faster page loading)

and User Interface Enhancements on Storm2 include:

• Inertial Scrolling w/Snap Back


• Enhanced SurePress input
  
  
  
  • Probability-based entry with advanced auto-correct
  
  
  • Multi-touch for ALT and SHIFT
  
  
  • Key rollover for faster typing
  
  
  • Optimized pressure for comfortable text entry
  
  
  
  


• Fine Cursor Control (for text editing)
  
  
  
  • Improved sensitivity and accuracy
  
  
  
  


• Multi-touch text selection enhancements (for copy/paste)


• Updated spin boxes
  o Clock, calendar, date/time, etc...


• Phone enhancements
  o Face detection


• Actionable touch buttons (Send in Messaging, Save in Calendar/Contacts, etc)


• Enhanced SMS UI - notifications, emoticons, threaded chats
  

It's important to note that while the BlackBerry Storm at the time of this post is still running BlackBerry Handheld Software v4.7, that most of the UI refinements touted above for the Storm2 will soon be available to BlackBerry Storm users when v5.0 software is rolled out to existing devices. So while this is an "official" enhancement as of now (you can already find leaked versions of OS5.0 for the Storm - dig into our Storm forums), soon the Storm will receive many of these benefits (exception - those benefits derived from the Storm2's hardware improvements, such as clicking multiple parts of the screen at once and the face detection while on a call. More to come on that...).

Walking Through the BlackBerry Storm2's Major Fixes / Improvements

Let's address these one at at a time:

Improved Form Factor/External Hardware

In the hand, the BlackBerry Storm2 now has the look and feel of a polished consumer product. The same can't comfortably be said for the original BlackBerry Storm, which has something of a commercialized science fair project feel about it (harsh, but true). Not all Storm owners will have the same gripes, but for me the Storm's form factor strikes were:

• the "floating screen" - which feels sloppy as you can wiggle it back and forth within the casing.


• the gaps/backlighting - the gaps around the screen and between the send/end/menu/escape keys allow light from within the device to shine through the cracks, making the device feel unfinished.


• the "fish hooks" - that's my nickname for the sliding clasps that hold the Storm's battery door onto the device - they remind me of barbed fish hooks. They're kind of sharp, do catch on stuff and really seemed like a last minute solution (we have the device built, now how do we get the door to stay on?).


• the speaker "feet" - with the speaker port placed on the backside of the device, RIM placed two feet on both sides of the speaker, so that when lying on a flat surface the speaker was lifted allowing for sound to escape and not be muffled. Unfortunately, this gives the device a horrible wobble when trying to actually use it while it's lying on a flat surface - something a lot of people like to do when at a desk (solution: put a skin on your Storm).


• Headset port design - while this gripe was very minor to me, on the original Storm the 3.5mm headset port location sort of juts out from the top right corner of the device vs. being flush to the casing sidewalls, as it is with other BlackBerry Smartphone models.

That's a long list of form factor complaints for the first generation BlackBerry Storm, but RIM must have agreed, as the BlackBerry Storm2 addresses each and every one of these form factor gripes. The BlackBerry Storm2's display has extremely tight tolerances. While there is still some vertical movement associated with the SurePress click action, there's no real wiggle or jiggle to the display. Instead of having physical buttons, RIM has implemented the core send/end/menu/escape keys to be part of the display (and as we have begun to see on other new devices, the green talk/send key now faces up vs. down). These changes combined eliminate the issue of backlighting shining through the gaps. On the backside of the device, RIM now has a smooth battery door that is held on by a newly designed single pressure fit clasp underneath. The speaker port has been relocated towards the bottom of the device so that even when lying flat the sound escapes cleanly without the need for original Storm's speaker feet. RIM also managed to flush mount the headset port, which cleans up the Storm2's aesthetic lines.

Storm problems solved, the BlackBerry Storm2 features some other notable form factor changes. The overall look of the device is slightly different. The top and bottom of the device feature that BlackBerry chromed-out look and have slightly different geometry. The silver plastic convenience keys and volume button have been replaced by soft-touch rubberized ones, and RIM decided to replace the hidden ‘lock' button at the top left corner of the device with a ‘power' button, which quickly powers the unit's display on and off.

The only arguably negative change that has taken place moving from the BlackBerry Storm to BlackBerry Storm2 occurs on the scale, where the Storm2 tips in at 160 grams, a full 5 grams heavier than the Storm (the results of my Tale of the Scale: BlackBerry Weigh-In were slightly different, but not by much). I say arguably negative, because in reality the Storm2 feels better/lighter in the hand. Both Storm1 and Storm2 are heavy as far as smartphones go; the iPhone 3GS is 135 grams and the Curve 8520 is only 106 grams in comparison, but the weighty feeling of the Storm2 to me feels more like a sign of quality than of bulk. For some it will undoubtedly be a bit heavy for everyday comfort, but its ok for me.

I know this will sound lame, but I tend to think that, just like living spaces, smartphones have their own sort of feng shui about them. There was something about the original BlackBerry Storm that was a bit un-BlackBerry like. I think between all the of the little form factor gripes listed above, it just gave off a slightly negative vibe. With the BlackBerry Storm2, the feng shui is much more positive.

Enhanced SurePress Technology

In recent months leading up to the BlackBerry Storm2's announcement, this has been the topic of greatest interest to Storm2 chasers. Is it that much better to type on? How is it different? Like the BlackBerry Storm, the BlackBerry Storm2 features RIM's SurePress technology, which separates navigation from confirmation by allowing the user to touch the screen to select an item and then press down on the screen (you'll feel it move and hear the ‘click') to take action on an item.

The SurePress concept is a debatable and controversial. Some love it. Others hate it. Some wish they could turn it off or on at their choosing. For more on this, you can check out our BlackBerry Storm review where we get into the theory of SurePress and also this recent CrackBerry poll where we ask readers if they want SurePress on their touchscreen BlackBerry.

On the BlackBerry Storm2, the theory behind SurePress is unchanged, but the actual hardware and execution is much better. The photo below shows the difference of what's under the piece of display of the BlackBerry Storm and BlackBerry Storm2. Whereas the BlackBerry Storm's LCD essentially floats on a single physical button located in the middle of the display, the BlackBerry Storm2's display is attached to four buttons, spaced out evenly, and their operation is now completely electric.

Looking back at the BlackBerry Storm's original SurePress design, it suffers from a few issues:

• Inconsistent pressure - the amount of pressure required to click the screen varies as you move towards the outer corners of display. The "click" is accomplished by compressing the button in the middle no matter where on display you are pressing, so the further away from the middle you move the less direct pressure/leverage there is on the center button and the more difficult the press becomes


• Outpacing the hardware - Because there is only one button, you are limited to the action of that single button. When typing, you have to type a letter, wait for the button/screen to rebound, then type another button. On a physical keyboard, where every letter has an individual button, you can type extremely fast as the moment you press down on a letter, your other thumb can begin clicking on the next letter (while the key to the first letter is still rebounding). The Storm's single button design forces fast typists to slow down a bit as you can click only as fast as the button can rebound, which brings us to...


• Slow/Mushy Rebound - With just a single button under the display and a bit of flex in the chassis, the Storm's rebound tends to feel a bit mushy and slow. Following the Storm's release, there were numerous fixes popping up in the forums to try and address this (and the inconsistent pressure) problem, like stuffing folded bits of paper under the battery door to improve the stiffness and responsiveness.


• No proximity sensor / inability to disable SurePress on a phone call - If there's one place where SurePress isn't required, it's while the phone is pressed to your ear while on a call. Though an ear isn't a thumb, the Storm's screen treats it as such. I can't even count the number of times I've ear-muted conversations or accidentally turned on speakerphone.

The BlackBerry Storm2's enhanced SurePress technology addresses the issues of the BlackBerry Storm's original SurePress design:

• Consistent Pressure - Because the screen is now sitting on four evenly spaced ‘buttons' (for lack of a better word), the amount of pressure required to create a click is consistent regardless of where you press.


• Multi-press capabilities - The improved SurePress hardware allows you to click on more than one part of the screen at a time. Taking advantage of this, RIM has allowed the software to now register two inputs on the keyboard. This is extremely beneficial when typing on the full qwerty keyboard in landscape. When typing letters across the keyboard from each (you are alternating between your left and right thumbs), you can now execute these letters more quickly as you can press the next letter without waiting for the screen to finish rebounding from the previous letter. It's more like typing on a physical full qwerty smartphone.


• Smoother Rebound - Clicking in and out on the BlackBerry Storm2's display is simply much smoother now, thanks again to the four electric button design. Use it side by side with the Storm and you'll immediately feel the difference.


• Face Detection feature! - Last, but certainly not least, the BlackBerry Storm2 features a proximity sensor that powers down the display when the phone is next to your ear on a call. Earlier hardware/software versions we have seen of the Storm2 never possessed this feature, but this review unit certainly does. Simply start talking with the BlackBerry Storm2 against your ear and the screen powers down - no more ear typing! As soon as you pull the phone away from your ear the screen powers on and you can enable calling features (mute, speakerphone, etc.). Finally!!

A unique feature about the BlackBerry Storm2's SurePress technology, which we first pointed out here on CrackBerry.com, is that when powered off the screen locks into a fixed position. In other words, when the display is powered down (it's off/black), there's no click. This happens when you use the power off button located on the top left side of the phone and also happens when on a call (not only does the display turn off while you're speaking, but it also disables SurePress).

With all of the improvements RIM has made to SurePress in the BlackBerry Storm2, you can't help but ponder the question Where does SurePress go from here? The move to electric powered SurePress has obviously given RIM the ability to exert much more control over its actions - for example, powering it down while on a call. Maybe with time we'll see RIM code in even more control, such as allowing users to set the firmness of the "click" or potentially disabling it in specific applications (say you want to use the keyboard without SurePress but use it for web browsing) or even disable it altogether should one wish to do so. You never know. I wouldn't be surprised to see it happen in later revisions of Storm2 hardware, or if not on Storm2 for some additional SurePress options to show up in Storm3?!

Now with WiFi

The BlackBerry Storm didn't have WiFi. The BlackBerry Storm2 does. It's as simple as that. AMEN. Leading up to the release of the BlackBerry Storm 9530/9500, we had heard of units floating around that actually had WiFi onboard. So whether it was a carrier mandate to not put WiFi on the original BlackBerry Storm or a technical limitation at the time, it is clearly apparent now that the carriers want it and that RIM can deliver it.

More Memory

The BlackBerry Storm2 doubles, across the board, the amount of memory on the device compared to the BlackBerry Storm:

• Application (Flash) Memory has doubled from 128MB to 256MB. This is the active memory where the firmware resides, applications are installed and use resources, messages sit, browser cache piles up, etc. Devices like the BlackBerry Storm and Bold with only 128MB of flash memory tend to bog down as there's simply not enough memory. While 256MB is still not a big number and hardcore BlackBerry users would like to see that number increase 4 fold or more, it puts it on par with other new BlackBerry Smartphones like the Tour and Curve 8900 and so far during my time using the device the 256MB appears to allow the Storm2 to run smoothly.


• Device Memory has doubled from 1GB to 2GB. This built-in memory is used for storage - pictures, videos, downloads, apps installed from App world (get backed up here, but when installed utilizes application memory).


• Expandable Memory that ships with the device has also doubled. Whereas the BlackBerry Storm shipped with an 8GB MicroSD card, the BlackBerry Storm2 ships with a 16GB card, which can be removed.

Refined OS

As mentioned above, the BlackBerry Storm will be receiving the same v5.0 Handheld Software that the Storm2 ships with, which should run much quite smooth on the original Storm. But comparing the Storm at launch to Storm2 at launch is a complete night and day difference. When the BlackBerry Storm hit the market, owners were staying up all hours of the night waiting in hopes of a firmware update to leak in the forums, with the aim of improving the usability of the device. With the BlackBerry Storm2, this won't be necessary. Out of the gate the version 5 software runs very fast and smooth, quick screen orientation changes included. I'm sure CrackBerry readers who are Storm2 owners will still be online 24/7 looking for the latest firmware, but in the case of the Storm2 it won't be nearly as necessary.

That covers the major improvements of the BlackBerry Storm2 that address the lingering issues of the BlackBerry Storm. Basically, the above are items / features we wished the original Storm would have done better / possessed, but simply didn't. We're glad to see that RIM learned from their first touchscreen BlackBerry experience to make the second one that much better.

Putting the BlackBerry Storm2 to Use

While the BlackBerry Storm2 fixes a lot of the issues owners had with the BlackBerry Storm, it doesn't just stop there, but packs additional performance into many areas of the device.

General Performance / Use

The BlackBerry Storm2's performance is snappy. From what I can tell (don't shoot me if I'm wrong), the Storm2 is using the same processor as the Storm, though it seems to be turbocharged or on steroids in comparison. Some of this could be attributed to the additional flash memory, but while putting the BlackBerry Storm2 to work beside two BlackBerry Storms (one on OS4.7 and one on 5.0) and tapping away, everything is just a little bit quicker on the Storm2- apps open faster, photos load quicker, transitions are snappier, video controls are smoother, etc.. During my trials, the Storm with 5.0 proved to be quicker than the Storm with 4.7, though the Storm with 5.0 still isn't quite as snappy as the BlackBerry Storm2.

As stated earlier, the BlackBerry Storm2 feels great in the hand - the improved feng shui is noticeable. Between the integrated keys and tighter design it feels more object-like than gadget-like, which is cool. I have noticed one issue with my review unit though - when sitting it flat on a desk, the integrated end key doesn't want to press down smoothly all of the time (it sort of hangs up a bit and doesn't want to press down, though the rest of the keys - send/menu/escape - remain easy to press whether on desk or in hand ). When held in the hand the end key works flawless though. I'm not sure what the exact issue is here, but hopefully that's a one-off and not something we'll be hearing about often.

Display

Though the BlackBerry Storm and BlackBerry Storm2's displays have the same specifications listed on their spec sheets, to my eyes the BlackBerry Storm2's display seems to be improved. Putting the BlackBerry Storm2 beside a BlackBerry Storm, you can see that when powered off the Storm2's display is much darker. Still side by side but now powered on watching the same music videos, the Storm2's display is brighter, with darker blacks and whiter whites. It really is impressive. The only improvement I'm longing for here is to reduce the amount of black border surrounding the edge of the display which would create a noticeable jump in screen real estate.

While there has been plenty of debate in the forums about whether or not the BlackBerry Storm2 will support OpenGL (3D graphics support), to date there has been no official mention of it yet. At last year's BlackBerry Developer Conference, this was one of the most sought after features developers wanted to see in the BlackBerry platform. With the 2nd Annual BlackBerry Developer Conference just around the corner, I can't help but think maybe there is more to the Storm2 than meets the eye in this department, and that RIM will announce upcoming OpenGL support at the event and at a later date will be able to flick the OpenGL switch on the Storm2. I know I'd be pretty stoked to find later that the Storm2 has the support built-in. I guess time will tell...

Sound

While on the topic of watching music videos, it makes sense to comment on the Storm2's speakers, which sound solid. The original BlackBerry Storm can get pretty loud, but it really tends to distort/get tinny as you crank the tunes up on the external speaker. The Storm2 gets loud, but has less distortion at the louder volumes. The sound coming out of the speakerphone on calls also seems to be a little clearer/louder from my initial testing on this review unit.

Keyboard / Typing

We spent a lot of time above explaining the improvements RIM has made to SureType on the BlackBerry Storm2, but what really matters is how the hardware and software translate into a user-friendly typing experience. So is it better? Yes, the Storm2's keyboard is better. How much better is going to be up to your skills, previous device history, and time spent on the device. But unlike the BlackBerry Storm which to me seemed to take a while to get used to, I think new Storm2 owners (first time BlackBerry owners included) should be able to pick up the device and get up to speed quite quickly. Honestly, reading about the keyboard in a review or even seeing it in a video can't convey how it performs. You're going to have to head down to your Verizon or Vodafone store and try one out to decide for yourself just how good it is.

Compared to the BlackBerry Storm, the improvements to the Storm2's keyboard are most noticeable in landscape mode. This is where the new SurePress design really makes an impact, as you can use both thumbs more effectively now thanks to the multi-press input and improved screen responsiveness. Two thumb/finger typists on SurePress or the Portrait Full Qwerty keyboard will also enjoy these benefits. Those who type with only one thumb/finger on the current Storm's keyboard (common to type on SurePress with one thumb if you're holding the device only in one hand) will still appreciate the feel of the new SurePress, though I'm not sure there is as big of a speed gain to be had here (switch to two thumbs to go faster!).

The RIM specs on the BlackBerry Storm2 list three other notable enhancements:

• Probability-based entry with advanced auto-correct - As part of handheld software v5.0, RIM has introduced an improved predictive word system. I find the probability-based entry is too distracting for my liking (causes you to lose your train of thought/typing with it popping up all the time and taking up so much of the screen) so I tend to prefer disabling it (Options > Language and Text Input > Input Style → change from Word Complete to Auto Correction) but you may find yourself liking it.


• Multi-touch for ALT and SHIFT - This was one of the first things I noticed on the BlackBerry Storm2 that it is pretty cool. On the BlackBerry Storm, if you want to bang out multiple alternate characters or capital letters, you need to either keep tapping the Alt and Shift keys after each alternate press, or lock the Alt / Shift keys by holding down on them for an extra moment, typing out your alternate text or caps, then tapping the Alt / Shift keys again to release the lock. On the BlackBerry Storm2 you can actually use the Alt and Shift keys on as you would on a physical keyboard - hold down on the Alt /Shift key, bang out all of the alternate letters/capital letters you want, then let go and keep on typing. This new system works pretty well - especially if the alternate you're typing out is across the keyboard, but when next to the alt key itself is a bit cumbersome (example - it's impossible to hold down on the alt key and multi-tap out a bunch of 7's as you're trying to compress the already compressed button). All in all, I really like this improvement - it gives me much more of that "traditional" BlackBerry feeling on a touch screen.


• Key rollover for faster typing - We've seen some OS 5.0 leaks for the BlackBerry Storm that showed a new setting under Options > Screen/Keyboard for Popup Keys (similar to how the iPhone pops up keys as you type). I assume this is what RIM means by "Key rollover for faster typing" but the firmware on this review unit does not show that option. I'll be curious to see if this makes the final OS5.0 version that rolls out on the Storm2 and Storm when it gets the update.

Personally, I'm one of those BlackBerry users who never felt quite at home on the BlackBerry Storm no matter how much I used it. I'm comfortable in saying though that I could make the BlackBerry Storm2 my daily driver and be pretty happy with it. I'm definitely going to try and do that over the weeks and months ahead and see how it goes.

I sort of think no matter how much I use the Storm2 I'll still be able to type faster, with more accuracy and comfort on a physical BlackBerry keyboard simply because that's what I've been using for so long. But practice makes perfect, so you never know. I sure hope I can get as comfortable though, as I love the Storm2's big display. It'll be a happy day for many BlackBerry users out there when RIM releases a slider with a physical keyboard and a big touch screen -- no trade-off required.

How does the keyboard stack up against other touch screen smartphones on the market? That too is going to depend on your past device history, your dexterity and personal preference. As we've seen debated time and time again since the launch of the BlackBerry Storm, there are those who love the SurePress concept, those who hate it, and those who just wish they could control when to use it. For me, I can type pretty fast on a standard touch screen keyboard (like the iPhone's for example) with minimal errors and I enjoy the fact this typing is effortless - tapping on a flat piece of glass may not provide tactile feedback, but it requires no effort so you can tap all day without ever getting tired. In contrast, the Storm2's SurePress gives your thumbs more of a workout, but also provides more feedback (a more natural typing experience perhaps?) and allows you to hone in on what you want to select before you take action (extremely helpful in the web browser, or when typing in bumpy environments). I'm sure it's a debate that will continue on through the release of the BlackBerry Storm3, 4 and 5!

Web Browser

It's getting better, but a few speed tests later show it's still not where it needs to be in terms of speed, rendering and ease of use compared to the competitive benchmark, the iPhone's Safari browser. Tabbed browsing hasn't made an appearance yet, nor has multi-touch for zooming in/out (though you would think the hardware/OS should be capable of it based on the fact you can now light up two keyboard keys at a time). Javascript support is now enabled by default, which is a step forward, but it's not yet the leap so many BlackBerry users are waiting for.

Thankfully, if you're not satisfied with the native browser, third party browser support is here and on the way via Bolt Browser, Opera Mini and SkyFire. Likewise, RIM knows their browser is a weak spot and is working to improve it as demonstrated by their recent acquisition of Torch Mobile. It's coming. We have faith in you RIM.

Other Stuff: GPS, WiFi, Phone, Camera, etc.

With not much time between getting my BlackBerry Storm2 unit and getting this review written up, I haven't had a full chance to grind through every feature and function of the Storm2 to the extent I would like to. A few phone calls later shows that the Storm2 should be solid as a phone, and the GPS located me on the map in a matter of seconds. I took a few pictures on the camera as well and they look good, but haven't had the chance yet to pit them head to against photos taken from the Storm or competition. Oh, and the Storm2's vibration function is seriously powerful (though kind of loud). I'll come back and add to this section later as I have a chance to spend more time putting the Storm2 through its paces.

BlackBerry OS 5.0

I often take for granted that if you're reading CrackBerry.com you're likely a BlackBerry user and are familiar with the BlackBerry operating system experience. If you're completely new to BlackBerry you'll want to hit our BlackBerry 101 section and Smartphone Round Robin articles to learn the basics about the platform and what it can do for you (everything!). As for Handheld Software version 5.0, we'll have a full walk through of all the improvements coming soon in a future article. The BlackBerry Storm2 and Bold 9700 will be the first new devices to launch with it, but it will be rolled out to existing devices on the market so we'll want to do an in-depth job covering it for everyone.

A noticeable BIG improvement to OS 5.0 for the BlackBerry Storms is the inclusion of inertial scrolling with snap back. It provides a much more intuitive and friendly user experience. Other good news on the BlackBerry Storm2 is that it features the new and improved threaded SMS chat client (w00t!). Combine this with the recently released BlackBerry Messenger 5.0 and the native IM clients are at a whole new level of addictiveness.

BlackBerry Storm2 Apps

The BlackBerry Storm2 comes preloaded with BlackBerry App World. The review unit I received also comes with the Application Center pre-loaded, which seems a bit redundant since App Center contains App World and all the other apps (IM clients, Facebook, Flickr) can be found in App World itself. If and when you take delivery of your BlackBerry Storm2, you'll also want to check out our CrackBerry App Store. There are a lot of compelling reasons to load up CrackBerry App Store Client on your phone (themes, better pricing in many cases, sales and promotions, etc.). Check out this article for Getting Apps on your BlackBerry which goes through the process. As the Storm2 hits the market we'll be sure to put out a Top Apps for your BlackBerry Storm2 article.

BlackBerry Storm2 Accessories

If you're a BlackBerry Storm owner planning on purchasing the BlackBerry Storm2, you'll need to do your due diligence on which accessories will still work and which won't. You shouldn't have much of an issue with loose fitting accessories, like top pouches and leather holsters, but the differences between the Storm2 form factor and original Storm are big enough that accessories like the always popular BlackBerry Charging Pod don't quite work. To see compatible accessories, you'll want to keep it locked to our BlackBerry Storm2 Accessories page at ShopCrackBerry.com. And as we did for apps, we'll also put together a Top Accessories for the BlackBerry Storm 2 article once the device hits the market.

Closing Thoughts for Now...

With a new device like the BlackBerry Storm2, it's going to take some time to work through every feature and improvement to see how they play out with extended use. That is exactly what we'll do, but as you just read my initial impressions are very positive.

The Storm2 fixes many of the BlackBerry Storm's outstanding issues and makes a ton of incremental improvements, all of which add up to something that feels noticeably better. In a way that never quite applied to the original Storm, the Storm2 could legitimately be called the flagship BlackBerry.

If you're a Verizon or Vodafone customer jonesing for a new touchscreen smartphone, you'll want to line up the day the BlackBerry Storm2 goes on sale and get one. Period.

Related BlackBerry Storm2 Content:

• Full BlackBerry Storm2 Specs & Features


• Blackberry Storm2 Forum


• BlackBerry Storm2 Apps


• BlackBerry Storm2 Accessories

CrackBerry.com's feed sponsored by ShopCrackBerry.com. BlackBerry Storm 2 Review

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10 Sweet GIMP Photo Editing Tricks to Wean You Off Photoshop

10 Sweet GIMP Photo Editing Tricks to Wean You Off Photoshop: "

You could buy a used car -- albeit not a very good one -- for the same scratch it takes to pick up a copy of Adobe Photoshop, the de facto standard in high-end photo editing software. Or a pair of GTX 285 graphics cards for that killer SLI setup you've always wanted. We could go on, but at $700 for a piece of software, Photoshop's MSRP hardly needs put into perspective. In short, it's expensive.

It's also powerful, but don't worry if you don't have a handful of Benjamins lying around. Thankfully, you can perform a lot of the same photo editing tricks for free with GIMP. Short for GNU Image Manipulation Program, GIMP is the open source (and no-cost) equivalent to Photoshop, and like it's paid counterpart, GIMP can be a little overwhelming at first. That's where we come in.

Like swimming, it's best if you just dive in. To help give you that push, we waded through the gazillion tutorials floating around the Web and brought back a sundry collection of groovy tips and tricks that, along with some touches of our own, will have you learning the ins and outs of GIMP while having fun doing it. We'll show you how to make lifeless photos pop with detail, how to tap into the Force and add a lightsaber to any pic, make your own custom brushes, and much more.

Be More Efficient with Batch Processing

After spending hours resizing and making minor adjustments to each of the hundreds of photos you took on your last vacation, you vowed to be much more seletive in what shots you take the next time you go on a trip. But you knew it was a promise you'd never keep, and that's okay, because even though GIMP doesn't come with a built-in batch editing feature, there's a plugin available that will add that functionality.

The plugin you're looking for is called David's Batch Processor (DBP), which you can download here. Scroll down to the Windows Users sections and grab the latest download (dbp-1.1.8.zip). Extract dbp.exe from the ZIP file and place it in C:\Program Files\GIMP-2.0\lib\gimp\2.0\plug-ins. That's all there is to it!

The next time you fire up GIMP, you'll find the Batch Process feature under the Filters menu. If you don't see this option, make sure you put the plugin the correct folder and reload GIMP.

The Batch Processor window contains several tabs, but the first thing you need to do is click on Add Files and select the photos you want to alter. You can remove individual files if you accidentally add one or change your mind, or clear the entire list.

We tend to take high resolution images, which gives us the flexibility to come back later and edit them for different projects. But this also makes them unwieldy to send to friends and family who have no interest in downloading a 10MB attachment. We can rectify this by selecting the Resize tab, clicking on the Enable checkbox, and then choosing whether to downsize by Relative or Absolute.

Other options include the ability to turn, flip, and rotate images, blur photos, adjust the color (including auto adjustments), crop, and sharpen. We can also choose to rename our snapshots and output to a variety of file formats, such as BMP, JPG, PNG, and several others.

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Sharpen (Literally) Your Photo Editing Skills

Ever wonder how pro photographers manage to make their photos look better than the real thing? Part of the answer lies in post processing. Of course, adequate lighting, a good camera, and experience all play a part as well, but you can clean up almost any photo with just a few simple steps.

Snapshots of electronics clean up particularly, allowing you to post lust-worthy pics of your setup on your favorite computer forum or auction site. For this example, we're using an image of an EVGA X58 Classified motherboard. The colors appear a little dark and lackluster, so we're going to address that first.

Navigate to Colors and select Levels. You'll notice a histogram, which tells you how the pixels are distributed. If most of the action in the histogram is to the left, then your image is probably dark and underexposed. If they're to the right, then the picture may be too bright. A perfect shot will show most of the action in the middle.

What we want to do with this photo is lighten it up and get rid of the haze. Click the triangle on the right side of the graph and move it left. Keep doing this until the colors start to go out of whack, then back off slightly. When you're finished, make sure the image is noticeably brighter than when you first started. For this example, we decreased the white level from 255 to 222.

Now that we've lightened the image, it's time to make it pop. To do this, navigate to Filters>Enhance>Sharpen. The more you sharpen the image, the more lively it will look, but be careful not to overdo it or you'll end up with a swirl of colors. We settled on a value of 60, which over exaggerates the details - just the effect we were going for!

While this trick doesn't always work well with text-heavy photos or screen grabs, it does do a good job with outside scenes, especially where vibrant colors are involved, like a blue sky or lush vegetation. Notice in the above photo of our workplace how the right side -- the side we cleaned up -- looks much less blurry and vibrant than the untouched left portion. If you look close enough, you might even spot Wil giving an intern a verbal lashing - a typical Monday morning!

Make Your Own Custom Brushes

GIMP comes with a variety of brush styles to choose from, including various sized circles, splatters, and even a green pepper, but you can create any style brush you want. Here's how.

First, create a new transparent image sized to however large you want the brush to be. In this case, we're going to create a 70x70 image. Paste or draw whatever you want the brush to be (we used a cat's paw). Duplicate the layer (Layer>Duplicate Layer) one time for each color you want to use, then use the Paintbrush or Bucket Fill tool to make the image a different color in each layer.

Now comes the semi-tricky part. Because we're using four multicolored layers, we want to save our image as an animated brush. Save your image using the .gih file format, and in the 'Save as Brush Type' dialog box that appears, change the Ranks number to 4, or equal to however many layers you created.

Save or move your newly created brush to C:\Program Files (x86)\GIMP-2.0\share\gimp\2.0\brushes. No need to close and reload GIMP - just click the Refresh brush button in the lower right corner of the brush menu and you're good to go!

(Credit: Gauntam Lad)

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Wield a Lightsaber Like Luke Skywalker

In a perfect world, we'd all have lightsabers and settle our disputes like they do in Star Wars. While technology is probably still a few years off from perfecting the lightsaber, we can at least fake it in our photos, and all it takes is a little bit of editing..

It's helpful if you start off with a picture that already has a sword, stick, or other similar object in it, though this isn't required. For our example, we're going to alter a snapshot from Medieval Times.

After you've selected and opened the photo you want to modify, create a new layer with a black background. To do this, select Layer>New Layer, or press Shift+CTRL+N. Where it says Layer Fill Type, select Foreground or Background color, depending on which one you have set to black.

Highlight the new layer in the Layer Console window and change the Mode to Screen, as shown above. Once you do this, you should be able to see your original photo. This begs the question, 'why not just create a transparent layer?' We tried doing that, but were unable to change the color of the lightsaber (which we'll get to in a bit). For an in-depth explanation on the different layer modes, see here.

With the black background layer still highlighted, click on the Paths Tool in the Toolbox window (second row, third icon). Use this tool to create a selection around the object you want to transform into a lightsaber (you may find it helpful to zoom in on your image while doing this). In our example, we're going to outline the sword's wooden blade.

Once youv'e made an outline, navigate to Select>From Path, or hold Shift+V to activate your selection, then use the Bucket Fill Tool or Paintbrush to completely fill in the selection with white. When you're finished, deselect the object by going to Select>None.

Next, create three duplicate layers (Layer>Duplicate). You should now have five layers total - your original picture plus four black layers.

Highlight the top layer, then navigate to Filters>Blur>Gaussian Blur. Change both the horizontal and vertical values to 5. When you're finished, repeat the same step for the second layer, but change the values to 10. Repeat again for the third layer and change the values to 20, then one more time on the fourth layer and change the values to 40.

By this point, your object should look like a lightsaber, but we're not finished yet. Right-click the top layer, select Merge Down, then change the Mode to Screen. Repeat this step two more times so that all you're left with is the original picture (bottom layer) and a black background layer with a white lightsaber (top layer).

At this point, you're ready to customize your lightsaber. With the top layer highlighted, go to Colors>Color Balance and adjust the sliders until you're happy with the result. For an added effect, click the Shadows radio button and adjust the sliders some more.

(Credit: gimpology.com)

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Create a Swirly Wallpaper or Water Drop Effect

Grown tired of the stock wallpaper that ships with your OS? You can hit up Google Images until you stumble upon one that fits your mood, or better yet, create your own one-of-a-kind wallpaper. Forum member acm321 on CrystalXP.net came up a easy-to-learn technique for making swirly wallpaper using GIMP, and we want to expand on that. Here's how you do it.

Decide what resolution you want your wallpaper to be. For this example, we're going to create a background that measures 1680x1050. Open a new image (File>New) sized to whatever resolution you're running, or go even larger if you think you might upgrade to a bigger LCD down the line.

Pick out a color and then choose a dark shade for the foreground and a light one for the background. You can change these by clicking on the two squares in the middle of the Toolbox window (if you need help choosing contrasting dark and light colors, see here). In this example, we chose Firebrick3 (#C11B17) for the foreground and Red1 (#F62217) for the background.

Click on the Blend tool in the Toolbox and verify that the Gradient is set to FG to BG (RGB) and the Shape set to Linear. With the Blend tool, draw a line from the top to bottom, bottom to top, or from corner to corner.

Change the foreground to white, then draw a swirl in the middle of your image using the brush tool. Don't worry if the swirl isn't perfectly uniform.

Next, navigate to Filters>Blur>Gaussian Blur and set both values to 40, then hit OK. You should have an image that looks similar to the above.

Navigate back to the Filters menu and select Distorts>Whirl and Pinch. Crank the Whirl angle slider all the way to the right and the Pinch amount slider about three-quarters to the left. Leave the radius at 1.00..

Go back into the Filters menu and select Distorts>Waves. Make sure that the Smear radio button is selected. Play around with the amplitude, phase, and wavelength sliders until you're happy with the result (for our image, we set the amplitude to 75, phase to 140, and wavelength to 45).

We're almost finished, but first, we want to make the ripple effect stand out a bit more. Go to Filters>Artistic>Softglow and adjust the sliders to your liking. For our finished image above, we set the Glow radius to 1.00 (move the slider all the way to the left), Brightness to 0.25, and Sharpness to 1.00 (move the slider all the way to the right).

And that's it! If you're not happy with the color, there's no need to start over. Instead, go to Colors>Hue-Saturation and adjust the Hue slider.

When you're finished, play around with the other filters and see what different effects you can come up with (Hint: Go to Filters>Render>Clouds>Difference-Clouds).

(Credit: CrystalXP.net: acm320)

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Create an Explosion in Outer Space

With a little bit of creativity and experimentation, the sky's the limit with GIMP. And so is outer space. By using a pre-rendered scene included in GIMP, we're going to create a galactic explosion.

Create a new image any size you want. Navigate to Filters>Render>Fractal Explorer. Click on the Fractals tab, highlight Snow_Crystal, and click Apply.

We want to blur the image so it no longer resembles anything like a snowflake. Go to Filters>Blur>Motion Blur. Change the Blur Type to Zoom, check the Blur outward checkbox, and adjust the Length slider all the way to the right. Click OK. On older machines, this may take awhile to process, so be patient.

Duplicate the layer (Layer>Duplicate Layer), then flip it vertically (Layer>Transform>Flip Vertically). Change the Blend mode to Burn.

We now have the basis for our explosion, but we still need the bright burst of light. Create a new layer with a black background, change the mode to Addition, then navigate to Filter>Light and Shadow>Lens Flare. Place the flare square in the middle, then repeat this step and place another flare slightly off to the side.

Create a new layer with a black background and change the mode to Addition. Change the foreground color to yellow, then click on the Paintbrush tool and select the Galaxy brush. Add several splatters in an uneven circle around the bright flares.

Now go to Filters>Blur>Gaussian Blur and change the values to 15. We now have a realistic looking explosion! Splatter the scene with different sized stars using the brush tool, and add whatever else into the scene you want (planets, asteroids, spaceships, etc).

(Effect Credit: gimp.pixtuts.com)

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Convert Photos to Sketches (without a Plugin)

Not all of us have an inner Rembrandt to work with, but we do have a PC. As it turns out, that's all you need to make realistic looking sketches, which you can then hang on the wall and dupe visitors into thinking you're a virtuoso with a pencil, or print out for your kids to color. But be warned - we've added some steps that were left out of the original tutorial and there isn't much room for error, so follow along closely.

Pick out a photo and open it in GIMP. Try to avoid overly cluttered backgrounds, as they end up difficult to discern when converted to a sketch.

Navigate to Filters>Edge-Detect>Sobel. Make sure all the checkboxes are selected and hit OK. It may look like we just irreversibly ruined the image, but rest assured, we're just getting started.

We need to highlight the details, and to do that, go to Colors>Auto>Equalize. Because we want a black & white sketch, we now need to get rid of the colors that were just drawn by converting them to gray. To do this, click on Colors>Desaturate and hit OK.

Create a duplicate layer (Layer> Duplicate Layer, or press Shift+CTRL+D). To make things easier as we go, double-click the original layer (the one in the bottom on the Layers panel) and rename it 'Equalized Layer.' Now double-click the layer you just created (the one on top) and rename it 'Highpass Filter.'

Nw we need to bring out the details of our sketch-in-progress. Part of this entails darkening the blacks and lightening the whites, and there's two ways you can go about doing this. The first is by going to Colors>Levels and adjusting the Input Level sliders until you're happy with the results. Alternately, you can apply a high-pass filter using GIMP's Curves tool (Colors>Curves).

No matter which one you use, the finished product should look the same, as depicted above.

Here's where things get a little tricky. Make a duplicate of the Equalized Layer by clicking on it and selecting Layer>Duplicate Layer. Move this layer to the top (click and drag), double-click, and rename it 'Masked Layer.'

We need to invert the colors on this new layer. Click on the newly created masked layer (which should be on top), and select Colors>Invert.

Next we're going to apply our highpass layer as a mask. Highlight the Highpass Filter layer and select Edit>Copy. Now highlight the Masked Layer that you just inverted, right-click, and select Add Layer Mask. In the dialog box that pops up, check the Selection radio button, then press Add.

If you followed the steps correctly so far, your Layer box should look like the above. Select the Masked Layer you just created and click Edit>Paste. Right-click the 'Floating Selection' layer that appears in the Layer box and click Anchor Layer.

You're almost finished! For the last step, you need to create a new, white layer (Layer>New Layer), then drag it underneath the Masked Layer. If you didn't make any mistakes, your sketch should look similar to our example.

If you want your sketch to show more details and shading, play around with the input levels or curve tool when manipulating the high-pass filter and lessen the black level, allowing more highlights to show.

(Credit: Dave Neary)

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Mix B&W with Color

Some of the best looking effects are also the easiest to pull off, and that's definitely the case with this one. All that's required is a bit of patience and a whole lot of experimentation.

There's no hard and fast rule that says one type of picture will end up looking better than another, but generally speaking, you want to start with one where the main character or object is vibrantly colored.

Once you've selected a photo and opened it in GIMP, duplicate the layer (Layer>Duplicate layer). We need to remove the color from this duplicate shot, and do that, navigate to Colors>Desaturate. You have three options to choose from -- Lightness, Luminosity, or Average -- each one representing a different shade of gray. We chose Luminosity for our example, but use whichever one you like.

Now you should have a black and white layer on top of the original color photo. Right-click the top b&w layer and select Add Layer Mask. Select the White (full opacity) radio button and hit Add.

Now you're ready to start restoring color. One way to do this is by simply grabbing the brush tool and going to town willy-nilly, but we found it easier to zoom in and create a selection path around our area of focus. Once you're zoomed in, select the Paths Tool and create points all around the area you want to color. Then choose Select>From Path or press Shift+V to make the selection active. Now you can restore color using the paint brush without fear of accidentally spilling into other objects.

How much or how little of the picture you want to restore is up to you, but it doesn't hurt to play around (just keep pressing CTRL-Z to undo each step if you don't like the result). In our example, we partially restored an outline in the grass for a natural border..

You'll often see this trick applied to flowers and plants, but don't be afraid to experiment with different types of photos and see what you can come up with!

(Credit: Eric R. Jeschke)

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Convert Photos to Neon

There are a billion and one tutorials on the Net that show you how to convert text into neon in GIMP, but not many tell you how to convert an image. In fact, we only found one, and it was missing some critical steps. Here's how you can create a neon effect from any photo without pulling your hair out.

This works best if you pick out an image where the person you want to crop isn't just standing upright. Once you've found a suitable candidate, zoom in, select the Paths Tool, and create an outline around the subject. Don't worry about making it perfect, we just need a general outline. Click on Edit>From Path to activate the selection, then copy it to your clipboard.

Open a new image with a black background, then select Edit>Paste as>New Layer. Now click on Layer>Transparency>Alpha to Selection. If it isn't already, change the background or foreground to white then click Edit>Fill with BG Color (or Fill with FG Color, whichever one is white). You should now be left with a black background and a white image of your selection.

Now click on Select>Grow and choose the value 1 where it says 'Grow selection by.' Click OK to get rid of the dialog box, then hit the DEL key. Next, navigate to Edit>Stroke selection (make sure white is selected as your foreground). Chose 2.0 for the line width and make sure the Solid color radio button is selected, and then click on Stroke.

Next, click on Layer>Transparency>Alpha to Selection, then duplicate the layer (Layer>Duplicate Layer). Now click on Select>To Path, then Select>None. Duplicate the layer again, then go to Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur and input 10 for both the horizontal and vertical values.

It's starting to look like a neon outline, but we need to give it some color. Click on Colors>Colorize and adjust the Hue left or right to change the color. For an added effect, Duplicate the layer, change the Mode to Addition, change the Hue just as you did before, and move the layer slightly off of the original. Rinse and repeat as many times as you want, and feel free to add some flair with the different brushes.

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Draw Graffiti without Being Harassed by the Five-O

We don't condone tagging (or whatever it is kids are calling it these days), nor would we want to explain to the local cop on duty or wandering gang banger why we're leaving our mark on a perfectly good wall. Luckily for us, neither of their jurisdictions extends into the virtual world.

A prerequisite for this effect is a good graffiti font. There are a ton of free ones floating around the Web (see here), and the one we're using is called Nosegrind. You also need a good backdrop, like a brick wall. Once again, the Web proves invaluable

Open the image in GIMP that you want to tag, then select the Text Tool in the toolbox. Choose your font and desired size, then click on the image and begin typing.

Next, right-click the text layer and select Alpha to Selection, then create a new transparent layer drag it and under the text layer. Click on Select>Grow. How large you decide to grow the selection will depend on how large your image is, but we recommend starting with a value of 10 and seeing how it looks.

Now we're ready to add color to our graffiti. Pick a light and dark color for your foreground and background. Make sure the new layer you created above is highlighted, then select the Blend tool with Mode set to Normal, Gradient to FG to BG (RGB), and Shape to Linear. Draw a straight line up or down on your selected text. Click Select>None.

Right-click the top black text layer and select Alpha to Selection, then Select>Grow. Grow the selection by about 25 percent of the original value you grew it by previously (so if you grew it by 20 before, grow it by 5 this time). Make a new transparent layer and move it beneath the black text layer. Pick a different color than the one you used before and select a light (foreground ) and dark (background) shade. Select the blend tool and draw a line down over your text. Merge the layer down.

Now we need everything to blend into the brick background. Right-click on the top layer with black text and select Alpha to Selection. Change the foreground and background to a dark and light gray, respectively, and draw a line from the bottom to the top of your text with the Blend tool. Now go to Filters>Map>Bump Map. In the top pull-down menu, select your brick layer, change the depth to about 10, and hit OK.

We also need to change those gray colored bricks back to black. Go to Colors>Brightness and Contrast and decrease the brightness to about -115 and increase the contrast to around 35.

In our example, we used green and pink colored graffiti. To make these also blend in with the brick wall, go to Select>None, then right click the green text layer and select Alpha to Selection. Apply the bump map filter as you did before, only this time you don't need to follow that up with a brightness and contrast adjustment. When you're finished, click Select>None and repeat this step for the pink text layer.

Use different brushes to sprinkle in some paint splatters and other effects to make it look more realistic.

(Credit: GimpTV.net)

Additional Resources

www.ghuj.com
Gimp.org/Tutorials
Gimp-Tutorials.net
Gimp-Tutorials.com
Gimper.net
Gimpology.com
Pixel2Life.com

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