Research in Motion (RIM) has released another video for the upcoming BlackBerry 6 operating system. The video clearly displays a touch interface, something which we saw for the first time in April 2010 when the company showed initial glimpses of the new platform at its annual Wireless Enterprise Symposium conference in Florida. I spoke to the company’s CTO David Yach about the interface and he confirmed that touch was a big part of it, but wouldn’t be cornered on what was planned from a hardware perspective. Rumours abound of an announcement of a new device to supersede the Storm platform forthcoming from RIM in the next couple of months. BlackBerry 6 will also be compatible with most of the brand’s current models.

This morning Mike Lazaridis, the CEO of Research in Motion showed us this video during his keynote at BlackBerry WES 2010. It’s a sneak-peek at BlackBerry 6, the new version of the operating system that is expected to be launched by July 2010 for all BlackBerry users.

The new OS is an impressive evolution from the current look and feel of the BlackBerry interface and includes BlackBerry’s new WebKit-based HTML5-supported browser and tight integration with social media via a system called Social Feed that brings together all of your social networks in one, integrated view. The use of pop-up menus is also intelligently incorporated to allow for quick access to functions in an intuitive way.

Search has also been built into the home screen, with the ability to search either the internet or your device.

If the video is anything to go by BlackBerry 6 is going to be a big deal, but I’ll reserve final judgement until I’ve actually used it.

The BlackBerry Bold 2 (9700) launched in South Africa on Thursday. The much anticipated device is currently available to subscribers on MTN and Vodacom will soon have stock of the device too.

The 9700 is Research in Motion (RIM)’s flagship device sporting a 624 megahertz processor, 256 megabytes of flash memory, built-in GPS and Wi-Fi, a 3.2 megapixel camera and the new mini trackpad for navigation. It’s less bulky than its predecessor and replaces the leather back of the 9000 with a textured pad that is flush with the rest of the casing.

“The BlackBerry Bold 9700 smartphone builds on the success of the original model with new, top-of-the-line features in a smaller and lighter design,” said Deon Liebenberg, regional director for Sub-Sahara Africa at Research In Motion.

The 9700 also ships with BlackBerry OS 5.0 that offers several enhancements, including faster JavaScript and CSS processing as well as built-in integration with Gmail for contacts syncing, an enhanced calendaring application, and other improvements.

I’ve been playing with the 9700 for two days and have been impressed with the speed and responsiveness of the device. The keyboard is great, as was the 9000′s, with the angled-keys that made the Bold ridiculously popular with BlackBerry users.

It’s too early for a comprehensive review, but look out for Finweek Magazine next week where I’ll be running an extended review.

Research in Motion (RIM – the company behind the Blackberry smartphone brand) has launched the Storm 2 in South Africa. This is the reincarnation of Blackberry’s first touchscreen device that was developed in cooperation with british cellular giant Vodafone.

The first Storm was a tad clunky, especially compared to Apple’s iPhone – which still boasts the best touchscreen interface in the market after some two years. The Storm 2, however, is slick and feels more polished than its predecessor. I can actually type on it this time, whereas I had trouble with the original Storm.

I love my Blackberry Bold and am yet to see another model I’d replace it with – but the Storm 2 might be the one.

That said, I must add that my opinion of the Storm 2 is based on less than an hour’s experience with it, so I’ll ice the review until I’ve spent more time with the device.

The Storm 2 has a capacitive touchscreen, which is the same technology as the iPhone. It has a 3.2 megapixel camera that shoots video and offers zoom for stills and 2 GB of internal memory that can be expanded via a MicroSD slot. It also has WiFi, which was missing from the first Storm. And it’s dead sexy. (more…)