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Adrian Kingsley-Hughes
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BlackBerry bug continues to brick handsets

By | January 6, 2012, 7:11am PST

Summary: Charging the handset overnight can brick a Bold 9900/9930.

Some BlackBerry users have been plagued by a bug that causes the handset to be bricked since November 2011, and there’s still no fix in sight.

The bug, which is an odd one, affects 9900 and 9930 handsets (the 9930 is the CDMA version of the 9900). The problem seems to occur when the handset discharges down to less than 10% and is then charged overnight. This simple (and quite normal) action bricks the handset permanently.

RIM acknowledged the existence of this bug back in November, claiming that a ‘limited number of customers have reported an issue where their device does not power on.’

That was November 2011. It’s now January 2012 and there’s no fix and RIM’s support forums are filling up with more and more customer complaints.

Some owners are understandably upset. Here’s a comment from George_Smith:

I could have flushed 6 crisp $100 bills down the toilet for the same level of satisfaction I have gotten with the BB Bold.

And we wonder why RIM is in trouble.

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Topics

Handset, RIM BlackBerry, Mobile Operating Systems, Cellular Phones, Handhelds, Consumer Electronics, Personal Technology, Hardware, Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is an internationally published technology author who has devoted over a decade to helping users get the most from technology.

Disclosure

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

All opinions expressed on Hardware 2.0 are those of Adrian Kingsley-Hughes. Every effort is made to ensure that the information posted is accurate. If you have any comments, queries or corrections, please contact Adrian via the email link here. Any possible conflicts of interest will be posted below. [Updated: February 23, 2010] - Adrian Kingsley-Hughes has no business relationships, affiliations, investments, or other actual/potential conflicts of interest relating to the content posted so far on this blog.

Biography

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is an internationally published technology author who has devoted over a decade to helping users get the most from technology -- whether that be by learning to program, building a PC from a pile of parts, or helping them get the most from their new MP3 player or digital camera.

Adrian has authored/co-authored technical books on a variety of topics, ranging from programming to building and maintaining PCs. His most recent books include "Build the Ultimate Custom PC", "Beginning Programming" and "The PC Doctor's Fix It Yourself Guide". He has also written training manuals that have been used by a number of Fortune 500 companies.

Adrian also runs a popular blog under the name The PC Doctor, where he covers a range of computer-related topics -- from security to repairing and upgrading.

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RE: BlackBerry bug continues to brick handsets
rwt02705 11th Jan
I have had 5 Blackberry Bold 9930's since September from Verizon with this same problem. This is a real issue with RIM. Get your act together and get this fixed!!!
View in thread
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Chargegate
toddybottom 6th Jan
What, no "gate" for this one?

"And we wonder why RIM is in trouble."

RIM is in trouble because a limited number of people have run into this issue? No, RIM is in trouble because they can't compete with Apple. iPhones have many issues that are run into by a limited number of people yet Apple isn't in trouble.
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RE: BlackBerry bug continues to brick handsets
Badgered 6th Jan
@toddybottom

Too True. Looking to replace my BB as we speak... and I'll probably end up with an iPhone. It's kind of sad to see how far RIM has fallen. I've owned a BB in one form or another for the last 8 years or so.
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RE: BlackBerry bug continues to brick handsets
Rick_Kl 6th Jan
@Badgered If RIM goes out of business tomorrow will your current phone stop working? You???ll still have plenty of time to adequately research your next phone. UnlessMicrosoft is successful and sues the other OEMs out of existence (which is why thy assigned all that Nokia IP to Mosaid).
  • Flagged
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Wanna trade?
happyharry_z 6th Jan
@Badgered I've had more dropped calls with my iPhone in the last 2 months than I had in the 10 years of using RIM. Several weeks ago the earpiece stopped working (Apple replaced the handset under warranty). Add to this the lack of sound control for emails (I really don't need to get a tone at 3 AM from SPAM) makes it difficult at best to use the phone for support.

What I am trying to say here is that ZDNET is clearly a consumer site and have taken every possible opportunity to slam anyone not Apple.

More power to ya boys! I'm getting rid of my iPhone as soon as I can.
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RE: BlackBerry bug continues to brick handsets
Badgered Updated - 6th Jan
@Rick_Kl If RIM goes out of business tomorrow will your current phone stop working?

If they truly "went out of business", my guess is that the Phone portion would keep working since that's provided by Verizon Wireless. The e-mail portion, who knows?
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RE: BlackBerry bug continues to brick handsets
Badgered 6th Jan
@happyharry_z I've had more dropped calls with my iPhone in the last 2 months than I had in the 10 years of using RIM.

What provider are you using? I have heard of those problems before, but I always heard it was a carrier issue. Then again, perhaps you're holding it wrong. (sorry, couldn't resist)
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RE: BlackBerry bug continues to brick handsets
Rick_Kl 6th Jan
@toddybottom There was no -gate attached to the serious security hole in your favorite Mobile OS. When the handset receives a text message and the phone can be owned without user interact that is something worthy of a major headline.http://techcrunch.com/2011/12/13/security-flaw-in-windows-phone-7-5-kills-the-messaging-hub/
Watch the video, you???ll see that there is no user interaction needed. The flaw used in this could be exploited to do far more damaging things than just disabling the messaging hub
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iOS, which is my favorite Mobile OS, has a text messaging flaw?
toddybottom 6th Jan
@Rick_Kl
"There was no -gate attached to the serious security hole in your favorite Mobile OS. When the handset receives a text message and the phone can be owned without user interact that is something worthy of a major headline"

I didn't realize that iOS had such a major flaw in it. Hopefully Apple fixes that one soon.
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RE: BlackBerry bug continues to brick handsets
Rick_Kl 6th Jan
Nice try NZ, but you???ve stated you???re waiting for a Microsoft/Nokia WmP7.x phone. As you feel the UI on iOS devices is rather dated and stale. You???ve also said that the only really viable OS is Wmp7.x. You cannot take back what you???ve said once it???s out.
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So can you clarify?
toddybottom 6th Jan
@Rick_Kl
You said there was a text messaging bug in my favorite mobile OS. Since my favorite mobile OS is iOS, can you clarify that Apple is working on a fix? I would hate to think that my iPhone could be owned by incoming text messages.
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Apparently toddybottom, Rick_Kl is not intelligent enough to understand
Mister Spock 7th Jan
@toddybottom
that this was a RIM related discussion.
Once again should a flaw be discussed in a non-Microsoft product (or should Apple be brought unfavorablly into the discussion) Rick_Kl feels that it is acceptable that the high priced Apple handset to have those problems, as the free alternatives product does also.

Yet he claims that you pay those high Apple prices as they have no issues.

His statements are always illogical.
plain
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toddybottom, I do remember that an iOS flaw allowed
Mister Spock 7th Jan
@Rick_Kl
a hacker to take controll of AT&T's cell towers, but not to brick a handset.
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RE: BlackBerry bug continues to brick handsets
Bozzer Updated - 6th Jan
The reason is RIM is in trouble is that trashy media outlets such as this play down any Apple issue and ramp up any issue for all other companies. Put simply, there are too many Bloggers using media outlets to bash any other company other than Apple, as though Apple is seconding coming of Christ.

Especially this joker of an author. Don't believe me, just look at his headlines...

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/hardware

And lets be honest, with a title such as Hardware 2.0, what can be expected. What a pathetic title for hardware. Come on Adrian, what about Hardware 3.0, where Zdnet drop the bias and send Adrian back to Apple HQ having done a good job for your masters.
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He may fear what he does not understand
Mister Spock 7th Jan
@Bozzer
He owns Apple products. After spending weeks learning how to use his new iPhone or iPad, it is what he is comfortable with, and will comment on as such.

Having not used competing products, his information and comfort level are much lower, so he tends to make inaccurate assesments based on his lack information.
plain
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RE: BlackBerry bug continues to brick handsets
rasheed@... 9th Jan
I waited in anticipation for better OS level integration iOS5 didn't do it for me so after owning a 3g, 3gs and 4g I've reverted back to a blackberry. After trying the torch 9810 I settled with the 9900, not perfect but a better companion to an ipad than a HTC or even the iphone. my 2 kobo!
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RE: BlackBerry bug continues to brick handsets
rwt02705 11th Jan
I have had 5 Blackberry Bold 9930's since September from Verizon with this same problem. This is a real issue with RIM. Get your act together and get this fixed!!!

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