BlackBerry Storm 2 leaks on video, Piezo screen amazes
The second reincarnation of the BlackBerry Storm is no longer a secret but there is still enough mystery around it for all of its unofficial appearances to make the headlines. That last video we came upon is particularly interesting as it demonstrates that Piezo technology that stands behind the new BlackBerry Storm 2 touchscreen.
It seems that RIM have managed for a second time in a row to produce a touchscreen that is nothing like what we have seen so far. The original BlackBerry Storm had some controversy surrounding it due to the fact that you actually had to press the display unlike what you might expect from a touchscreen device. While we did like it back then, the new Piezo technology looks miles ahead in terms of usability.
The Piezo technology in question makes the screen much softer to press when the phone is on, while still providing some nice feedback, the author making a peculiar comparison to a sponge. That technology also allows multi-touch input, unlike the first BlackBerry Storm where the whole screen was actually a giant button. In contrast, the BlackBerry Storm 2 is said to feel like you are actually pushing buttons located under the screen.
That's quite hard to imagine, we know, but it sounds quite cool actually. Here goes the video so you can get a better idea of what we are talking about.
The other details that come into light thanks to those videos are the naming of the new BlackBerry and its Wi-Fi support. The new BlackBerry Storm 2 will be available in two flavors - the CDMA one will be called 9550 and will be available through Verizon in the US, while the GSM carries the name 9520 and will come through AT&T in the US and probably Vodafone networks in Europe.
Here's a second video that gives you a more general preview of the new RIM baby.
According to the latest rumors however, the CDMA-equipped BlackBerry Storm 9550 will first become available from Telus in Canada, starting from the 15 of September. So we should be expecting the GSM version to follow shortly, right? Unfortunately, there's no information about the pricing just yet.
Reader comments
- j.d.
- 08 Sep 2009
- ImV
Im a blackberry owner,and if the sure press and wifi are the only changes then ,blackberry should wait before they release it.my friend has a iphone,sorry blackberry the iphone is kill'in us,everything about that iphone is better.rim you guys need to...
- idk
- 26 Aug 2009
- 4C@
i reely wish this fone coms to AT&T bcuz i love blackberrys nd touchscreen fones those put together BOOM!! the storm that way theyll get more sails for the higher groups nd the iphone could b based on younger either way theyre still going to get grea...
- Anonymous
- 26 Aug 2009
- ID9
Not sure if the Piezo technology is true. There are some images of Storm 1 and 2 internal hardware ... Storm 1 had a button centered behind the screen and Storm 2 had 4 buttons. This would explain why pressing down would be more responsive, especia...