BlackBerry 6 Features
Designed to ‘be both fresh and familiar,' BlackBerry 6 offers a ‘fluid visual interface' with multiple views to help users organise their apps and content, also allowing them to add contacts and web page shortcuts to the Home Screen.
RIM said the operating system is ‘more visually rich,' while a new ‘Universal Search' function allows users to find any content on their phone as well as browse BlackBerry App World and the wider web.
Accessing the internet via a BlackBerry has also been given a boost using a WebKit-based browser which renders web pages faster and allows multitasking, while a social feeds app pulls all messages from emails, BlackBerry messenger, social networking updates and RSS feeds together in one stream and also lets users post updates across multiple networks simultaneously.
The revamped OS also seeks to improve BlackBerry's entertainment credentials by syncing music, videos and photos with the likes of iTunes and Windows Media Player as well as providing editing and sharing features to accompany the camera.
BlackBerry 6 is expected to reach Bold 9700 and 9650 plus Pearl 3G handsets in the coming months, but there is no mention of the Storm or Storm 2, the latter of which is less than two years old. RIM has not explained why the touch screen phones may not benefit from the system upgrade but some experts believe the handsets' click-down screen may prevent BlackBerry 6 from working.