BlackBerry OS 6.0 Details Leak

If iPhone and Android aren't your thing, good news has leaked about the upcoming overhaul of Research In Motion's BlackBerry platform. BlackBerry OS 6.0 looks like a major revision to the operating system that will offer multitouch throughout the OS, a new WebKit browser, and an updated inbox.Score another one for The Boy Genius and his legion of informants. This time, an AT&T employee coughed up the gold. Not only did the AT&T worker let The Boy Genius play with the new operating system for a bit, he let the blogger capture some screen shots, too. What's new with BlackBerry OS 6.0?

First, it looks like the entire operating system has been overhauled specifically with touch devices in mind. According to The Boy Genius, kinetic scrolling, rubber-banding and pinch-to-zoom are all included. Adding these elements gives the operating system a more fluid and natural feel to it.

The new BlackBerry browser is what Boy Genius is most excited about. The browser is based on WebKit, and it supports multiple tabs and tab switching, multitouch, and a new way to access bookmarks. Hopefully the WebKit browser is as capable as those of the iPhone and Android platforms.

The inbox has also be revised. It provides bigger icons next to messages that make it clear whether the message is an email, SMS, IM, or Facebook email, etc. Some sort of RSS feed has also been worked into the new inbox.

The homescreen in OS 6.0 sees some changes. It looks like RIM has taken a page from Apple, Android and webOS, and is now providing multiple home screens. The new OS allows users to get to their applications by swiping left or right to different home screens rather than opening up the main menu and sorting through them that way.

The operating system also includes modal pop-ups with gestures. When a user presses and holds the screen, a menu will appear with different options. The pop-ups let users complete some tasks faster than they otherwise would using the BlackBerry key and the menu the BlackBerry keys brings up in each application.

Both the music player and photo gallery have been revised and given a fresh, more visually appealing look to them.

Of course, RIM has not commented on OS 6.0 for BlackBerries, nor has it supplied any information about the OS. The Boy Genius believes that the operating system will be available on devices as early as this summer. With RIM's Wireless Enterprise Symposium set to kick off Monday, April 26, it's possible there will be some exciting news.