BlackBerry Torch 2 gets an early hands-on

We'd already heard that the BlackBerry Torch 2 would basically be a Torch with some significantly bumped specs, and that's now been all but confirmed by BGR, which managed to spend a bit of time with the device itself. As you can see, it's nearly identical to the original Torch in terms of appearance, but BGR says the device's 1.2GHz processor could "light a fire" when paired with BlackBerry OS 6.1, and that its 640 x 480 display "looks absolutely great." As with the Bold Touch it got its hands on yesterday, BGR says the Torch 2 will be making its official debut at BlackBerry World next month, with a launch on AT&T to follow in July. Hit up the source link below for a few more hands-on shots.

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BlackBerry Orlando leaks out: say hello to the touchscreen Curve

As if we needed any more signs of where Research in Motion was heading in terms of its 2011 device line, we've just caught wind of yet another touchscreen-equipped Berry. The BlackBerry "Orlando" is purported to be a variation of the Curve with touch capabilities, already being described as a mini Bold Touch. This yet again begs the question of why exactly RIM has so many different devices planned, especially when the spec differences are so minor. We wish the company would deviate from this approach it has relied on for years, but it seems to be more focused on its tablet strategy than it is on pushing the envelope with phones. Additionally, it could just mean that BB6 might be sticking around for a while and that RIM wants its users to get acclimated, or perhaps that it might take a little longer than we think for QNX to trickle down from the PlayBook.

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BlackBerry Bold Touch prototype photographed, leaves a good impression

Are video tutorials and leaked presentations still not enough to convince you of the BlackBerry Bold Touch's existence? Well, if not, you can thank BGR for getting its real live hands on an honest-to-goodness prototype, which it says looks even better than the renders. The site also reports that the touchscreen is plenty responsive, which could help induce users to move their thumbs from the optical trackpad for navigation. It also reiterates a BlackBerry World launch, so if things stay on track we'll be getting our own hands on one in just about one month's time -- we know you can't wait.

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Blackberry Bold Touch 9930 video tutorials reveal the new BB OS 6.1

Video demos of version 6.1, the next iteration of the Blackberry OS, surfaced online and by the looks of it... it's much like ver 6.0. The videos also show the not yet announced Blackberry Bold Touch 9930. The phone featured in the videos is no less than a novelty on its own. It will be the first BlackBerry to have a small touch screen nested inside BlackBerry's well-known bar-shaped QWERTY keyboard form factor.

That being said, pinch zooming appears to be the biggest highlight of the new edition of the OS though the previous version had it too. The rest of the features are far from breathtaking and pretty much end with the improved look of the homescreen and the redesigned icons.

While the upcoming OS and the new devices seem likely to keep the die-hard Blackberry fans happy, we can't help but wonder how is it going to fare against the competition in the faces of iOS and Android. The user experience on the BB OS 6.1 doesn't seem that much different.

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BlackBerry Bold Touch previewed in leaked tutorials: prepare to pinch-to-zoom (updated)

A slew of leaked video tutorials for upcoming BlackBerry devices is finally giving us a glimpse into what RIM has in store to keep its diehard fans from ditching the platform. Among some more video of the all-touchscreen BlackBerry Monaco / Touch, we're finally seeing how the popular Bold form factor will benefit from some touchscreen magic in the aptly named Bold Touch. We're longtime fans of the traditional form factor, but if anything, the addition looks to be more trouble than it's worth. Like its sliding cousin, the Torch, touch input seems even more gimmicky given that all the same functions can be performed using the familiar (and beloved) optical trackpad -- which doesn't seem to be going anywhere. Sure, touchscreens are all the rage these days and pinch-to-zoom is nice, but we can't help but wonder if RIM is simply killing time until its dual-core QNX-equipped phones hit unsuspecting BBM'ers. Of course, the company has been impressing us with its use of touch on the Playbook, so there's no telling what it might have in store come BlackBerry World. You can peep the Monaco action after the break, or check out a torrent of others at the source link as well.

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