[pcm2]

The biggest issue with the Pearl that I can see is the behavior of the trackball when a call is incoming. In short, it behaves exactly like the scroll wheel on older Blackberries: If a call is incoming and the phone is ringing, moving the trackball will immediately silence the ringer. Try it -- call yourself, then move the trackball just a hair. The ringer goes mute immediately.

Why is this a problem? Because unlike the scroll wheel on older models, the trackball on the Pearl is extremely free-moving and is not recessed but actually sticks out of the front of the phone. If you have the phone in your pocket and you're moving even at all, the trackball will move, guaranteed. The net effect is that so long as you have the phone in your pocket, it will almost never ring -- at least, not long enough for you to hear it.

Does anyone know a fix for this? There is no preference that I can find that will let the ringer keep going while you're choosing between "Answer" and "Ignore."

If there's no fix, could everybody please contact T-Mobile and let them know about this problem? If it becomes one of the top "known issues" with this hardware then hopefully we can get a fix from RIM soon.

[jlesh]

~via BB (wap.pinstack.com)~Have you tried keyboard lock?

[pcm2]

Yes; keyboard does not lock the trackball.

[zyggy]

can you adjust the sensitivity of your track ball?

[BenMarvin]

~via BB (wap.pinstack.com)~

You could pour some soda on the trackwheel so it doesn't move so freely?

Sorry no not be so helpful. But I don't see an easy solution.

[melissaox]

I do not know. Interesting problem. Hmmmmm.... Maybe a good case/holster would solve this problem. Of course there are not many of those out on the market, and I understand the 8100 does not come with one on its own.

[pcm2]

Yes, there is no easy solution. It's a problem related to the redesigned BlackBerry... they're using the same software as older BlackBerrys but the hardware works differently in the real world. The only way it will get resolved is if 8100 owners contact T-Mobile and notify them of the problem. If enough people complain then we will get a fix from RIM. Otherwise we will be stuck with a cell phone that doesn't ring for incoming calls except when it's lying motionless on a table, and that's just unacceptable.

[ccjjr59]

I have the same problem here, I never feel new messages and calls because of the trackball moving.

Hopefully they will fix this problem soon.

[merlik]

I hope they fix this soon. I thought the whole point of the pearl was so that you could put it in your pocket and not have to have a holster.

[hayden]

This seems to be an issue affecting most 8100 users. Even if the keys are locked I'm hearing. Seems like an issue users will be stuck with at least till an OS update. Let's HOPE!

[sanfrancisco]

Odd that this would not come out in testing. I wear my 7100t on my belt. I suspect that maybe in testing that is all RIM did too. So they did not catch the trackball/pocket issue.

Seems easy enough to fix with a firmware or OS patch/upgrade. They can add a "disable trackball" feature [maybe activated by pressing and holding the trackball for three seconds] or a "trackball inactive when phone rings" command. Or maybe they should just disable the trackball to have any effect on phone features, such as silencing.

[rydintl1]

I have had the Pearl since the 12th when it came out. Since it did not have an official BB case available at the time (and still doesnt until the 20th) I just purchased a small "Body Glove" one they had at the T-Mobile store for 12 bucks and I have not had a problem with the "ringing." Yes, it vibrates twice first (according to the profile I use) and then rings and YES as soon as I begin to pull it out of the body glove, the ringer goes off but by then I have already heard the ringer and it served its purpose.

[ayomik]

Try holding down the mute button to put it in Standby Mode instead and see if that resolves the issue for you.

[lushtaoh]

The mute option does not resolve the issue of the ringer stopping when extracting the phone from a pocket or holster...

When the holster is used, available from T-Mobile specifically for the 8100, you insert the phone 'headfirst' into the holster. This puts the phone in sleep mode by way of the magnetic clasp on the holster.
The phone will vib and ring for a call or im until you extract it from the holster and the trackball is moved which ends the ringing cycle.

[bellaa2020]

Originally Posted by lushtaoh The mute option does not resolve the issue of the ringer stopping when extracting the phone from a pocket or holster... When the holster is used, available from T-Mobile specifically for the 8100, you insert the phone 'headfirst' into the holster. This puts the phone in sleep mode by way of the magnetic clasp on the holster. The phone will vib and ring for a call or im until you extract it from the holster and the trackball is moved which ends the ringing cycle.

So you're saying i'd have to buy one of these holders for me not to have this problem with it not ringing?

[icepulse]

You're gonna want that holster, anyway. It's a big part of what makes the Blackberry cool. Get an email chime? pull out of holster and it will automatically open the email. Phone ringing? You can set it to answer automatically when you remove it from the holster.

[TexRob]

Originally Posted by icepulse You're gonna want that holster, anyway. It's a big part of what makes the Blackberry cool. Get an email chime? pull out of holster and it will automatically open the email. Phone ringing? You can set it to answer automatically when you remove it from the holster.

No offense, but well, holsters aren't for everyone. I'm probably that person that diehard BB fans hate, and I can appreciate that, but I don't want to have a big ole holster on my belt. The pearl is the first BB to appeal to me becaue I have to have my phone in my pocket. Those holster features do sound cool, but not cool enough to make me wear something on my belt. Heck, I don't even wear a belt 95% of the time

Hopefully this is fixed soon. I bought my pearl knowing about this problem, expecting RIM would get a way to disable the "feature" soon.

[bellaa2020]

so where can I get one of these cases???

I don't have the Pearl yet. I was debatting on whether I should get because of this problem.

Would anyone recommend me getting is, or should I just wait to see if the problem gets fixed?

[eyehate]

rim is aware of the issue and should have a way to lock the trackball in the next software update

[sanfrancisco]

As reported on computer tech sites:

________________________________

Trackball Accidentally Kills BlackBerry Pearl Ringer

September 19, 2006

The Pearl in Pearl, the trackball in RIM's first BlackBerry to feature a camera and a media player, is having some problems in association with receiving phone calls. Early reports say a bug causes the trackball, which replaces the traditional BlackBerry scroll wheel, to silence the smartphone's ringer with the slightest movement.

Unlike a scroll wheel, the trackball isn't recessed. It sticks out of the phone and is extremely freewheeling. So if you have a BlackBerry Pearl in your jeans or a purse, the trackball could easily move and have important consequences on whether or not you have a phone call.

Sure, it isn't that much of a problem if you hear the handset ring first and then start to reach in to pull it out beforehand. But it is a real issue if the movement happens before you become aware that the ringer had gone off. Then you would almost certainly miss the call.

We would expect T-Mobile, the first carrier to ship Pearl, and RIM would jump on this and offer a fix fairly quickly. Engadget says they tried to explain the problim to RIM rep at CTIA last week without much luck. As the blog points out, the Canadian push e-mail and PDA leader would have to 'get' the problem to fix it. With enough complaints, I'm sure they will pretty quickly.

T-Mobile sells Pearl for $200 after $150 in discounts and with a 2-year service contract.
Next week, Rogers Wireless is expected to become the second operator to deliver Pearl, while Cingular Wireless should start offering as the BlackBerry Pearl 8100c later in the fall.

___________________________________

BlackBerry Pearl won't ring in your pocket

Posted Sep 17th 2006 12:53PM

Anyone who's had the good fortune of seeing a Pearl in the flesh knows that it's one extraordinarily good looking phone, particularly by BlackBerry standards. Unfortunately, where we come from, phones that don't ring are called "paperweights" -- which is exactly what the Pearl becomes when the trackball gets nudged.

You know, like if it's in your pocket, or your purse, or pretty much anywhere besides a stationary counter top. As it turns out, when the phone rings, the handset immediately silences the ringer with even the slightest movement of the trackball, regardless of whether keylock is enabled.

While we do appreciate the Pearl taking the initiative for us and ignoring phone calls so we don't have to, there is an occasional situation where we like to make the decision ourselves, and until RIM issues a fix users simply don't have that option.

Strangely, two Engadget editors patiently attempted to explain the issue to a RIM representative this week at CTIA for several minutes without success; we think the first step to RIM issuing a fix would be for the company to understand the problem, so we could be in for a bit of a wait. Maybe the words we were using were too big?

[abadaba]

So damn annoying! Rediculous

[BigDread]

First off i just found this site and thank you lord, second yep i've missed most of my calls from my pocket. and actually last night @ the jackass movie i laughed so hard that i fwd'd a message 20 times from my pocket
i think i'll return mine

[abadaba]

I am thinking the same thing. A 'Minor Annoyance"???? A phone that doesn't ring is a "Minor Annoyance"??? LOL
And you are right BigDread, when in pocket, the bloody thing is busy doing other "minorly annoying" things like forwarding messages, making other calls, scolling to screens other than the one it was placed in pocket with, etc. As a newbie Blackberry owner, somebody please tell me the engineers at this company aren't idiots! Have others models had issues that are this obviously moronic?

[Rcbjr]

BigDread, Welcome to PinStack.

Have you tried using the keyboard lock feature before placing the pearl in your pocket. I don't think it will solve the ringing issue, but it should prevent the other problems.

Rcbjr.

[sanfrancisco]

I wear my BB, and all phones in the past, on my belt, so the ball issue is not a problem.

I did wear a suit yesterday and noted that when I had the phone in my shirt pocket I missed two calls.

I am sure RIM will have a fix quite soon since this issue may make the national news and cause sales to plummet. I can just see the headlines:

"RIM's New BlackBerry Takes 'Do Not Disturb' To New Level"

[BigDread]

I bought an incredibly cheap $5 case on Madison ave and i will say i havent missed as many calls but i am still debating on returning it.I love every feature but, if it dont ring it aint a phone.By the way could someone point me in the direction of video help,and how to download songs for ring tones and basic nube info on playing w/ my phone

[scotteru33]

You can adjust the pearl's trackball sensitivity by going to options, and then to screen/keyboard. I haven't had a chance to experiment with the settings, but i think if you choose one of the lowest two sensitivity settings this should fix the problem.

[sepudo]

if you activate the 'sensor' in the pearl all buttons are disabled and when a call/message comes in the trackball moving will not disable the ringer.

I offer two fixes...get a small magnet from your local home depot and crazy glue it to the bottom back part of your holster. (the 'sensor' in on the bottom portion of the phone and can be activated by placing a magnet on the back by the copper points or on the front by the space bar, #0 key.

for those who dislike wearing a holster, another fix is to get a wrist sweatband, like those used in tennis (= and sew a magnet somewhere on the outside of the band and wrap your phone vertically with the band. essentially covering the phone from top to bottom with the magnet placed by the copper points on the lower back. it will not only disable the trackball but also protect the body of the pearl while its in your pocket with keys or in your purse.

again, im new but as soon as i am able to i'll post pics of this and of my bootleg phone pouch (with magnet) that i made. works like a charm and you do get the benefit of the cool blackberry features like new message opening, etc...

[jopfer]

I have my Pearl set on vibrate and when I get calls i can move the trackball like crazy all over the place and the phone keeps ringing just fine!!! I also have bluetooth enabled to my headset, if that makes a difference.

[pentace]

Well here is a thought... DON'T put it in your pocket. That is the number one cause to damaged cell phones.. if you pay for something take care of it.