At this year’s BlackBerry World conference on May 1-3, Research In Motion, Inc. pulled back the curtain on its all new BlackBerry 10 operating system.
Similar in build to an iPhone, the prototype phone, named “BB 10 Dev Alpha,” lacks the distinctive Blackberry keyboard, opting instead for a 4.2-inch touch screen with a virtual keyboard that has swiping ability. The influence of the PlayBook is evident as moving between applications is similar and done with a quick swipe.
On ï¬rst glance, I liked the touch screen phone, which is to say its looks seem borrowed from Android and Windows Phones. Which is to say this is probably the kind of phone many people wish RIM had developed way back when the ï¬rst iPhone was released. It is not sure whether those well-wishers stayed on, or they have decamped to other smartphones.
The new operating system makes it much harder to peg in terms of its full capabilities and what makes it distinctive. One feature is the ability to move seamlessly between devices, which is good, since synching seems to be the way of the future.
Another fun feature is the ability to capture a camera frame before the actual shutter closes — allowing for users to capture photos that otherwise would have been lost from their subjects looking away.
And there is something for everyone. For app developers, BlackBerry has unveiled a new toolkit that makes app design easier. Apps created with any BlackBerry 10 tools will be device agnostic, which should be an incentive for developers to launch their offerings on BlackBerry.
It goes without saying that the hopeful chord struck in yesterday’s announcement could all be for naught. Sure the operating system shows promise on display, but if there are major delays or technical hiccups, that just may well be the final straw for unforgiving customers.
I suspect BlackBerry will do better as they move away from their traditional and stoic image, as it moves towards an image, which is for once, bold —pun fully intended.
BlackBerry 10 is the right first step on a potential path to recovery and revival even, but ultimately, consumers will vote with their dollars.
I look forward to seeing how BlackBerry 10 unfolds. If done right, I suspect many people who left the brand feeling frustrated, myself included, may come back.
_____
Follow Rob Kirsic @robertkirsic.
For more, follow us on Twitter @TorontoStandard or subscribe to our newsletter.
