Research in Motion has announced this morning the next major release of BlackBerry software, called BlackBerry 7. RIM unveiled the new OS at BlackBerry World ’11, announcing that the first devices to run the new software will be the BlackBerry Bold 9900 and BlackBerry Bold 9930.
BlackBery 7 is really just BlackBerry 6.1, and was renamed last week by a RIM executive in a conference with investors. The OS is described as offering a faster user experience, improved browsing, and more.
The new features include expanded voice-activated search capabilities and ‘Liquid Graphics’ with faster rendering, zooming and panning. You can also manage personal and business content separately with a new function called BlackBerry Balance, a system designed for enterprise users.
There is also enhanced HTML5 supports, including HTML5 video. This should greatly improve BlackBerry’s browsing, making the experience more capable of handling a greater spectrum of web content. It also includes new a JavaScript JIT (just in time) compiler.
Unfortunately, RIM has announced that Blackberry 7 will exclusively be available on new handsets. Existing phones “don’t have the hardware” to support the operating system, which is a corporate way of saying ‘purchase our new phones if you don’t like your antiquated BlackBerry OS.’
In many respects, RIM did a solid job upgrading BlackBerry 6 with a host of new features, many of which will be quite useful to dedicated BlackBerry users. The question will be, is BlackBerry 7 worth the purchase of a new smartphone?
We want to know what you think. Does RIM’s latest software offering deliver enough features and upgrades to convince you to purchase it? Let us know in the comments!
Looking for more of the latest software news and reviews? You’ll want to check out Video Chat on Your Android Device and Parking in Motion.
via SlashGear
