One other big talking point of OS 6.0 is the homescreen. Widgets — sorry, so far those haven’t been seen. (Some day.) Just as welcome however are pages. In the screenshot to my right, you can see what looks like a context/word menu that is horizontally scrollable. It’s a different approach than say the iPhone OS or Android — in which flipping “pages” moves either your icons, wallpaper or both. On BlackBerry OS 6.0, you toggle through these pages in the menu and then the corresponding page and it’s contents/icons/apps pops up. Finally some real evolution!

There’s a few other tidbits to bespoke of as well. Pressing and holding the screen will result in a 9-option context menu pop-up. Now, “context menu” sounds old and bland, but according to BGR, OS 6.0 manages to do it in a rather pleasing outfit. And what would a modern touchscreen smartphone be without pinch-to-zoom and system-wide multi-touch? Yup, OS 6.0 has it.

WES couldn’t come soon enough. Word is, OS 6.0 will drop by this June/July. RIM, you may just win me back yet. Put out a sweet touchscreen + slider hybrid and I’m yours…

Gallery

BGR

We may have touched on the BlackBerry Slider earlier, but the picture at that time while fairly revealing, was simply lacking that crystal clear definition that we all so desperately seek. BBLeaks has struck back however with clearer shots of this hotly debated device from RIM. For a quick recap, WiFI g/n, touchscreen, OS 6.0 (why not skip straight to 10…?), and several other unannounced goodies lie in wait, hidden beneath the plastic carcass that you see before you. For now, it’s late. All you really want to do is stair at those sexy curves without the burden the written doles out. Fair enough.

The last set of words: What do you think the name will be: (1) Storm 3 (2) Bold series (3) New name altogether?

BBLeaks

Good ‘ol fashion QWERTY key peckin’ just isn’t what it used to be. Touchscreen only input is too finicky not all that it’s cracked up to be. So where does that leave you exactly? Up a particular creek without a paddle according to some — not somewhere you want to be. If RIM’s traditional style BlackBerries and new venture into the touchscreen world just isn’t doing it for you, boy do we have some good news for you! RIM’s much rumored BlackBerry Slider has been spied. And if sources are correct, the phone you see above is in “pretty much near final form” meaning that’s basically what the “real” BlackBerry Slider is going to look like. To those whom it may concern — SurePress will be nowhere in sight.

Right now it’s unconfirmed, but there’s a *high* chance OS 6.0 will come standard and that this is the qwerty + touchscreen model that so many have been begging for over the course of multiple sleepless nights the last few years. Let’s be real though, why wouldn’t that massive screen not be a touchscreen? Consider the touchy feely part a given.

This is one of the best ways to wake up — finding such a treat of a gadget. To say I’m excited is an understatement. I’ve been waiting for a more “modern” BlackBerry for quite some time. This is shaping up to possibly make my next phone choice a rather difficult one to boot. I was super stoked for the Storm only to be let down by it’s less than stellar navigation and horrendous onscreen keyboard. Toss in a “hidden” slide out physical masher (and hopefully a much more revamped OS with 6.0) and you have the recipe for success. Stay tuned..!

CrackBerry

It’s been a long time coming, but it looks like the official BlackBerry Twitter client is *almost* finally here — in picture form at least. Hey, you can’t touch it yet but at least it’s a more thorough gallery than what some of the leaked images have been showing, right? Anyway, the big deal with the RIM Twitter client is that it will more tightly integrate with the BlackBerry operating system while also running leaner and meaner. Does it live up to the hype? Good question, I don’t have a preview copy. The lucky folks over at BerryReview do, however. So it’s best that you bug them with your questions for now. But before that, a quick rundown of the features:

• Push push push! Instant notifications

• Tweets/@mentions/DM’s directly integrated into BB message list

• Twitter send/share options located in BB menus

• URL shortening provided by BIt.ly

• Tied into BlackBerry App World app as to allow tweeting about apps — like comments. (Very cool!)

So what do you think? It’s not the prettiest mobile application I’ve ever seen. That’s understandable though seeing as how RIM hasn’t really ever been the greatest UI designers. It’s function over form mainly. And you know what? That’s not a bad thing in some instances. RIM’s Twitter app faces an uphill battle though. Reports from TechCrunch writer Leena Rao dock the app as super slow and rather bland. Uh oh.

Like it? Excited for it? Want it?

BerryReview

Hopefully this rumor holds out to be true as I know a few Berry users myself who would admire such revelations. Now if only the Berry toting population could get real, native, *full* Gmail support. 3.1 anyone?

Berry Review

Now that actual pictures have emerged CrackBerry users all over can feel confident knowing that help is on the way. If you held off on the original Tour congrats. The updated model while not really all that different save for the two additions already mentioned will no doubt bring a smile to countless Berry users. Who’s planning on upgrading from their original and who waited it out?

CrackBerry