RIM kills off Standby Mode (via mute key) on Newer BlackBerry OS

March 11, 2010 | By | 17 Comments

Back when I had the Storm 9530, I remember one thing that really annoyed me was the lack of standby mode. Now it seems with some of the newer BlackBerry operating systems (like .545 for the Bold 9700) that this feature is missing again. According to RIM’s Knowledge Base its not an issue at all. They have discontinued the use of the mute key for Standby Mode. Why you might ask? We aren’t too sure, and honestly I’m a little mad about it. Here’s the quote from the BlackBerry Knowledge Base:

In earlier BlackBerry Device Software versions the mute key was used to turn standby mode on. Due to changes in the lock key functionality on the BlackBerry smartphone starting in BlackBerry Device software 5.0, the mute key no longer places the BlackBerry smartphone into Standby mode. The mute key will still function to mute calls in the phone application.

So what are your thoughts? Do you use the mute key for standby mode? Would you like to see a 3rd party app to bring back the feature? Myself I never use the BlackBerry holster, and I always found standby mode was a great way to ensure I don’t accidentally called 911 when its in my pocket. Post a comment below with your thoughts…

[via CrackBerry]

Filed in: BlackBerry, BlackBerry OS, RIM, Software | Tags: , , , , ,

  • JF

    what’s the big deal? All they did was move it to the lock key and now you can use the mute key to pause and play music and Pandora.

  • Cadillac Cowboy

    My BlackBerry Bold 9000 running BlackBerry OS 5.0.0.509 (official Telstra Australia upgrade) still has standby… Sort of.

    If I hold the mute key down, I don’t get the “entering standby mode, press any key to cancel message” that I used to see, but the screen still turns off!

  • http://blackberrysync.com Scott

    After playing around with OS 5.0.0.545 on my Bold 9700 it seems to be okay. The lock key actually locks the keypad properly, and now it won’t pocket dial.

    How’s it working out for everyone else?

  • http://twitter.com/silverfang77 Silver Fang

    My Curve 8330m with the 5.0 OS still goes into standby if I press the Mute botton, unless I’m listening to MP3s. Then it just pauses.

  • Robert

    I am very disapointed about the killing the stanby mode very much. The key lock option which remains is not the same as the missed standby mode – if you press the key now (f.e. in a pocket), the screen always goes on for a moment. Thats really not battery saving!!!!!!!! RIM made a totaly stupid change.

  • Mo

    I miss this feature, but the keypad lock seems to be just as similiar, visually.I’m not exactly sure if it goes to standby but it does appear to shutoff as if i was holding down the mute button. Its like not knowing if the fridge light is still on when the door is closed. Idk i definitely miss that feature unless it tells me i’m in standby mode i guess we can’t believe it is in stand by.

  • xayn

    Im a new user to BB and got a new phone. It was one of the things I liked. However 2 weeks into getting my new phone and updated the software and bam its gone! whats worse is that i though my phone had gotted spoilt! anyways, do i miss it? yes i do coz i think the phone doesnt go into standby mode when u press the lock key. the battery doesnt last as long as it used to previously.
    bring it back!! (plus whats the point of having a buttong that doesnt work-well almost!)

  • ecutts

    I’ve got a Blackberry Bold 9700 (Onyx) and I’m running:

    5.0.0.743

    a few days ago my lock key was locking my keyboard…now its doing nothing, mute key doesn’t standby the bold either…please RIM bring the functionality back…or set it in the menu so we can choose if we want to be able to lock/standby or not :(

  • http://proudofkoe.wordpress.com koe

    Hey, I have Bold 9700, onyx. Ya know, it’s a big big mistake that RIM kills of the standby mode. Just hold the mute key longer, then it’ll standby. When you just press the mute key, then it’ll turn the profile into silent. Just like that, FYI.

  • Jer

    My problem with the mute key is that it will unpause–and therefore loudly play—music even when the phone is locked and even when the phone’s profile is set to silent or vibrate only.

    Does anyone out there have a solution so that when I set the phone to “silent,” it does not loudly play music when the mute key is accidentally pressed?

  • Jessica

    I absolutely miss the standby feature. The difference between standby and keyboard lock is that with standby, you could only turn on the screen with the back button, unless you press the mute button again. But keyboard lock just makes it so the phone doesn’t type/go to the menu when you press keys. The screen still turns on every time you press the 4 main buttons and any of the numbers. Thus clearly not in true standby mode (not that it says its in standby anymore) and therefore a slight battery power killer. Bring back standby RIM! Also..I liked the special media interface on my Curve 8520 when I pressed the play/pause/mute button at the top, but now it just goes to the media folder. Not a big difference but I prefer the old way.

  • blue jeans

    Definitely missing the standby as well. More so, I am missing the password lock feature that was super handy if leaving your phone unattended. A quick press of the lock button would render your device unusable by others without the password. Even if just holding the lock key would password protect this new setup wouldn’t be so bad. I also agree that only the back button should light up the screen, not all the number keys. Bring back standby!

  • Mrs M

    I was looking for standby mode on my 9700. Apparently from reading this thread it doesn’t have any!

  • AT

    I use the standby button constantly and it totally sucks that RIM has removed this in the upgraded OS. I’d be downgrading to the previous OS to have this feature. There are some posts where some users says that the left keypad lock button is now both keypad lock and Standby. This is not correct because the screen light turns on even after we lock the keypad and we can also dial 911 when the keypad is locked. When the phone is in standby, none of the buttons would work which saves battery life when the phone is in the pocket and we can be assured that some kid accidentally cannot call 911 (Has happened once to me).

    If anyone finds a 3rd party application that would bring back the mute button standby feature, please share.

    Thanks

  • Marcelle

    Hi

    I just recently got the blackberry curve and I swear it is giving me alot of stress! Whenever I have my alarm turned on and I keylock my phone it switches off by itself and then I have trouble getting it on again! Now I am not keylocking it anymore and sitting with cancelling all the buttons pressed by accident when in my handbag. I have noticed that my phone however goes into standby mode when I press the mute button, so I guess I will try that and see if it still switches off, but I think I will also try not keeping the alarm saved but rather setting it daily. You guys are really a big help though to new users :)

  • ot

    Omg you guys, i thought i was the only one who is really annoyed with this change. Is there anyone who knows what to do now? I accidentally call people in my pocket. I want the standby modus to come back. Please blackberry. Make a feature or an app that will secure this

  • http://www.runlevel.es/marketing/crear-paginas-en-facebook-para-tu-empresa/ paginas me gusta para facebook

    What i do not realize is in reality how you’re not actually much more smartly-favored than you might be now. You are very intelligent. You realize thus significantly in relation to this matter, produced me in my view imagine it from a lot of numerous angles. Its like men and women are not interested unless it is one thing to do with Girl gaga! Your personal stuffs excellent. All the time maintain it up!

«
»