The BB OS 6.1 update that grew too big for its name has just been made official by RIM as BlackBerry 7. Its ambassador into the wide world of smartphones will be the newly minted BlackBerry Bold Touch, which is expected to arrive in the second half of 2011.
The user experience is promised to be both easier and faster, voice-activated searches are available for content both on your phone and the web, and the browser has been "significantly enhanced" with new features like a JIT (just-in-time) JavaScript compiler and HTML5 Video support. BlackBerry Balance is also part of the new OS, allowing you to compartmentalize your personal and professional lives into neat and separate piles of content.
RIM has just noted that there will be "no legacy support" with BB 7, meaning that older devices, even those running version 6 of the OS, won't be getting any (official) updates to the latest stuff. This has been justified by how tightly integrated the software build is with the underlying graphics hardware in the touch-capable Bold handsets. Basically, the old phones won't be able to run the new OS. Oh, and in case you were wondering, there's no trace of QNX in BB 7.
RIM announced two new phones – The BlackBerry Bold Touch 9900, and BlackBerry Bold Touch 9930, both of which run RIM’s latest mobile operating system – BlackBerry 7 OS.
In addition to being the first touch BlackBerry Bold smartphones, the BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930 smartphones are also the first to feature the BlackBerry 7 OS. The BlackBerry 7 OS is a performance driven platform designed to deliver a faster and easier communication, multimedia and productivity experience for BlackBerry smartphone users. The addition to BB 7 OS is improved web browsing and universal search capabilities (now with voice-enabled search!).
1. Liquid Graphics™ – The BlackBerry 7 OS delivers fast, fluid performance when browsing, accessing pictures or video, or running graphics intensive games.
2. NFC – Built-in support for Near Field Communications (NFC), an exciting new technology that is designed to provide a secure exchange of information between NFC-enabled devices over a very short distance.
3. Augmented Reality – The BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930 smartphones feature a built-in compass (magnetometer) to take advantage of BlackBerry 7 OS support for augmented reality applications.
4. HD Video – The BlackBerry 7 OS supports up to 720p HD video recording.
The only differences between the two devices is that the Touch 9900 (formerly known as Dakota) is a quad-band GSM device with tri-band HSPA+ support, while the Touch 9930 (formerly known as Montana) is a dual-band CDMA phone with support for quad-band GSM and dual-band HSPA+ global roaming.
While you can check out the full specifications below, it is important to note that RIM has not shied away from introducing some rather heavy duty specs for the new devices, such as a 1.2GHz Scorpion processor, part of the Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8255 chipset, which also includes an Adreno 205. The chipset on the CDMA-based Touch 9930 is slightly different, featuring Qualcomm’s integrated radios in the MSM8655 chipset. Both phones run on 768MB RAM.
RIM is also following the recent trend of high-resolution displays, squeezing in a VGA resolution (640x480) into the 2.8-inch capacitive touchscreen – translating to more than 280 pixels per inch. The new phones also feature 5MP cameras that are capable of 720p HD recording, a must in today’s smartphone era. In terms of connectivity, it is worth noting is that RIM intends to support Near Field Communications with the devices, squeezing in a NFC chip inside. Also onboard is support for the latest Wi-Fi standards – with a dual-band chipset capable of 802.11 b/g/n@2.4 GHz and 802.11 a/n@5 GHz.The new BlackBerry OS also supports the latest web standards with its native browser, namely HTML5. Lastly, the new devices are being called the thinnest BlackBerry smartphones till date, with a width of just 10.5 mm.
BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930 Specifications
•115 x 66 x 10.5 mm, approximately 130 g
•2.8" capacitive touch screen display – VGA (640x480), 287 dpi resolution
•Ultra-easy QWERTY keyboard, optical trackpad
•1.2 GHz Processor, 768 MB RAM
•8 GB on-board memory, plus microSD slot supporting up to 32 GB cards
•NFC technology
•5.0 MP camera, supports 720p HD video recording
•Orientation Sensor (Accelerometer), Digital Compass (Magnetometer), Proximity Sensor
•Built-in GPS / aGPS
•Dual-Band Wi-Fi - 802.11 b/g/n at 2.4 GHz and 802.11 a/n at 5 GHz
•Bluetooth 2.1+EDR support
•Wireless Network support:
•9900: Tri-Band HSPA+, Quad-Band GSM/EDGE
•9930: Dual-Band CDMA/EV-DO Rev. A, Dual-Band HSPA+, Quad-Band GSM/EDGE
•1230 mAh removable, rechargeable battery
•BlackBerry 7 OS
* Features OpenGL 2.0 support for developers.
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