BlackBerry Storm 2 Has 'Clicking' SurePress Touchscreen

File this under: "Oh Snap!" The spy shots seen earlier this year of the BlackBerry Storm 2 appeared to indicate that the much-maligned clicking SurePress touchscreen was gone. A new video reveals, however, that the clicking screen is still there, much to the bemoaning of the Interwebs.CrackBerry.com's crack team of 'Berry enthusiasts have scored some video time with an "early build" of the BlackBerry 9550 Storm 2. What the video shows is simultaneously interesting and depressing.

The video confirms some of what we saw in the spy shots earlier this year. The Storm 2 is thinner and somewhat better looking than the original. The video also shows that when the Storm 2 is powered off, there is no give to the screen. Once powered up, however, the clicking returns. I guess that means RIM co-CEO Mike Lazaridis wasn't kidding when he said that SurePress wasn't going anywhere.

The original Storm is the first -- and only (so far) -- BlackBerry to have a touch screen. In order to simulate the feel of buttons being pressed on a physical keyboard, RIM designed the Storm's screen to be one gigantic button. In order to get the Storm to type, users have to press the entire screen until it clicks. The idea is great, but the execution was somewhat lacking. Reviewers pretty much panned the SurePress typing experience. After four solid months of use, I have to say it ain't the greatest.

This video confirms that the Storm's successor (which was probably well under development when the original launched) will also come with the SurePress typing method. According to CrackBerry, the screen moves less than that of the original. Perhaps that will make for a better typing experience.

Until I get a chance to use it, however, I say, "Boo!"

Here's the video, watch for yourself: