Research In Motion (RIM) has unveiled a new operating system for BlackBerry smartphones, BlackBerry 6, which features a new WebKit-based browser and a redesigned interface that works with a touch screen and trackpad.
The company said that the new integrated WebKit-based browser renders web pages as well as email quickly, and features tabs for accessing multiple sites simultaneously, an auto-wrap text zoom feature, and pinch to zoom.
Within a given application of the BlackBerry 6, users can bring the common actions or tasks of an application to the surface by clicking and holding the trackpad or through an extended touch of the display. In addition, users can multitask by holding down the Menu key, which pops up a visual grid of all the applications currently running, so users can instantly switch between applications.
RIM said that its new BlackBerry 6 embodies a new Universal Search tool that lets users to search for content on their handset, the web or in the new BlackBerry App World, which is also integral to BlackBerry 6.
The new Social Feeds application simplifies the management of social networking and RSS feeds and provides integrated access to the native BlackBerry Messenger, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, AOL Instant Messenger, Google Talk, Windows Live Messenger and Yahoo! Messenger applications for BlackBerry smartphones.
The firm said that the new BlackBerry OS is designed to run on select BlackBerry smartphones already in market. It is expected to be available for the BlackBerry Bold 9700, BlackBerry Bold 9650 and BlackBerry Pearl 3G, along with all future BlackBerry smartphones; and will debut on the new BlackBerry Torch smartphone available from AT&T on August 12 of 2010.
Mike Lazaridis, president and co-CEO of RIM, said: ""Following extensive research and development to address consumer needs and wants, we are delivering a communications, browsing and multimedia experience that we think users will love, and we are thrilled to debut BlackBerry 6 on the amazing new BlackBerry Torch smartphone."
