[JSanders]

Software For BlackBerry® Pearl (TM) 8130 smartphone, ESN device
BlackBerry Handheld Software v4.5.0.205 (Multilanguage)

This is from Alltel, but will load to ANY 8130 by following the instructions below.

Software For BlackBerry® Pearl (TM) 8130 smartphone BlackBerry Handheld Software v4.5.0.253 (Multilanguage)

Package Version: 4.5.0.253
Consisting of:

• Applications: 4.5.0.160
• Software Platform: 3.4.0.41
• File name: 8130uAMEA_PBr4.5.0_rel253_PL3.4.0.41_A4.5.0.160_Al ltel.exe
• File size: 88MB

Note: The Software Platform and Applications version numbers can be found under Options-About screen on the handheld.Download the OS file here:
https://www.blackberry.com/Downloads...03923A1C591DB4

Instructions for installing on ANY carrier's 8130:

1. Download the above OS file to the PC then install it to the PC by running (double clicking) the file you downloaded.
2. Go to c:\program files\common files\research in motion\apploader and delete the file named "vendor.xml."
3. Plug in BB and double click on "Loader.exe." It's located in the same place as the above vendor.xml file.

The process takes about 45 minutes to an hour depending on how much data you have to backup and restore during the process. Once it's done loading the new OS it will reboot (it may do this twice during the entire process.) You will see a white screen with an hourglass for up to 20 minutes at a time while the DM says "waiting for initialization."
If, for some reason, you end up with a white screen with small icons and the number 507, simply connect to the PC again and run Loader.exe again and it should load the OS to the device.

How to determine if you have an ESN or MEID based device.
From the main menu, select Options, then select Status.
ESN devices - On the Status screen you will see ESN on the display
MEID devices – On the Status screen you will see MEID on the display.
NOTE – You cannot install ESN-based software on a MEID device, nor can you install MEID-based software on an ESN device. They are NOT interchangeable.

Previous OS can be found here:
http://www.blackberryforums.com/gene...n-devices.html

[tbhuang2]

Been running this for a few days now. This version has great free memory management.

[DRACULAM3K]

i have to agree this has been the best release todate and BBM 5.0 works great with this release.

[camp514]

Wirelessly posted

Works well 4 me also, more free memory and lag almost gone.

[fastv8]

This is a great release! My battery life has gone from less than 48 hours to more like 60 (your usage and subsequent results may be different). I also find that the signal is more stable - more bars and far less searching for a signal. This could be contributing to better battery life. The call timer is back too!

Unless significant functionality is added in the future, I won't be updating my firmware again soon. v4.5.0.205 was terrible for me and I'm sorry I loaded it.

Edit: The backlight delay when pressing the trackball is still present but I haven't used the trackball for that purpose in months.

[fastv8]

Seems like RIM break something with each release. First, it was the backlight delay. Then, the call timer disappeared. Now, notifications cease after about 24 hours and I have to pull the battery. It started with some bizarre ringtone instead of the one I'd chosen and then no sound at all when a call was being received. There have been no changes in my profiles at all. Ridiculous.

Edit: Read all the posts about 4.5.0.89. I'm going to wipe the phone off and then load that instead. I'll try whatever comes out after 4.5.0.160.

[themlruts]

i am going to have to say this is not a recommend upgrade. I installed it and my voice quaility went down hill. And i get these random sounds when i am not the phone or speaker phone.

[pcwilliams]

I am having the opposite experience, but I am using a hybrid OS. I used the CDMA file from the .77 release & it seems my call quality & signal strength have improved. So far this seems to be the best release I've ran to date.

[fastv8]

I'd love to have the stability of .89 with the battery life of .160. It would cool to know how to mix and match (safely, of course). Care to share some technical details, pcwilliams?

[pcwilliams]

i have not done any mixing & matching with anything other than the cdma file. sorry, i can't be of much help. I've seen in the storm forum where someone has developed 3 hybrid os'es by taking files from other OS'es & combining them together, but I am not that brave.

I will say, that from my experience, battery life seems to be lower on initial install of OS'es, but with time it gets better. Also, there is an extended battery from seidioonline.com if interested. I grabbed one, & it has doubled my battery life from 1 day to 2 days, compared with the standard battery.

[fastv8]

pcwilliams, thanks for the response. I'm just going to stay on an unmodified .89 and will use that as my base if any future releases suck as bad as everything after it has so far

Battery life is actually good on .89 and I've been pressing the trackball with no backlight delays whatsoever. I even do it for fun sometimes, because I can LOL!

[fastv8]

Sorry, I'm not trying to make this thread my own but one other thing that I remembered from being on 4.5.0.160 is that the alarm wouldn't sound. I use it daily and this could have caused a tremendous amount of trouble. I'd do a battery pull and then it would be OK for a couple of days.

So far, my battery life with .89 is great. Same with signal strength and everything else - great.

[Ashex]

It looks like there is a new version out, 4.5.0.281/4.5.0.169?

[tbhuang2]

Originally Posted by Ashex

It looks like there is a new version out, 4.5.0.281/4.5.0.169?

Link? Or name of the carrier?

Edit: I didn't bother checking the original link. It's there, by Alltel!