Blackberry OS 4.6 for 9000 / 9500 gets detailed

We had heard that the introduction of the BlackBerry Bold (9000) / Thunder (9500) could usher in the long-awaited BlackBerry OS 4.6, and now we're just about ready to believe it. A new listing over at Horizon Wireless Online details the forthcoming operating system, and notes that it will bring along richer browsing (which entails a whole host of improvements), click zooming with the trackball, Music Sync, an option to select Home screen grid size and support for continuous spell checking (among other things). Hey RIM, can we get that "richer browsing experience" on say, the Curve / Pearl?

[Thanks, Peter]

[Greg Spruce @ Jun 10th 2008 8:50AM]

Looks a bit like the first screens of Android.

[RichardBronosky @ Jun 10th 2008 1:20PM]

Yeah, I was just scrolling down the homepage and thought "Wow, AT&T has an Android phone!"

That would shock me since they are so deeply bedded with Apple.

[Kevin @ Jun 10th 2008 8:54AM]

they need to hurry up and release the CMDA version for Sprint..

[Kerry Saylor @ Jun 10th 2008 9:04AM]

Anyone wanna buy my VZW 8830WE?? This new Thunder/Bold look awesome!

[zargon @ Jun 10th 2008 9:04AM]

The Thunder just keeps looking better and better for me.

[Andrew @ Jun 10th 2008 9:16AM]

The Bold is such a beautiful phone, but I can't help to think that it still looks so... antiquated. I want to say that I really like it, but something in side of me just can't like the whole half screen and big keyboard all on the front.

I know it's great for some people who prefer that, but I just don't think I can do it. I look forward to seeing what Blackberry can do with the additional real estate of a big touch screen. The Thunder may prove to be a very nice phone.

The the only problem is the Blackberry network. I mean, come on, even the iPhone has POP, IMAP, AND ActiveSync now, along with their own MobileMe. The Blackberry network is getting tired now. Phones are faster now, build the services into the OS!

[Andrew @ Jun 10th 2008 6:33PM]

Ranked low, but have yet to get an actual decent response to what I said as to why it's ranked low. I simply posted my opinion and purposefully didn't step on anyone else's feet while stating it.

I assume it's simply because I mentioned the iPhone which seems to get your comment ranked low regardless of what you actually said. To be clear, I don't even use an iPhone, I have a Sprint Mogul. The iPhone was just an example that every phone even attempting to be a smart phone (which I don't consider the iPhone to be, yet) is getting all of your email services built in now. The point of Blackberries was for corporate email, but now, years later, phones have the capacity to handle Active Sync for Exchange, or at least IMAP or POP on their own.

Being that I work in corporate IT, Blackberries just have that one more extra step to get set up, and usually confuse users. I just think it's time for phones to be getting all of this functionality built in now. It's one less step and one less thing to break. Blackberry went from the only real choice for corporate email on phones, to now being one of the less desirable choices, at least how I see it.

[Sam @ Jun 11th 2008 12:54AM]

someone has some self esteem issues...

[Andrew @ Jun 11th 2008 7:36AM]

Hahaha, yep, you got me kiddo, self esteem issues.

Either that or just curious what other people think. I didn't say I'm right or wrong, but if I'm going to be ranked low I'm curious what other people disagree with.

But then, a mature conversation is probably past you, isn't it? Gotta love the internet, everyone is a punk online.

[initialxy @ Jun 10th 2008 9:26AM]

we finally get something different after so many iphone posts

[Sean @ Jun 10th 2008 9:34AM]

Sweet. Maybe I'll try the Bold/iPhone2 combo.

[MosquitoControl @ Jun 10th 2008 9:56AM]

Is this comment section freezing anyone else's browser?

Any time I open it in a new window the browser freezes shortly after loading the page. As I've mentioned before, I get tons of browser errors on engadget, but never freezing.



And before anyone tells me to change my browser, direct those comments to the state government, as I'm on their computer, not my own.

[spacegravity4me @ Jun 10th 2008 9:59AM]

it's over 9000!

[Eddie @ Jun 10th 2008 10:36AM]

I can't believe I didn't expect this, and I feel oh so stupid for laughing at it XD

[Deeznuts @ Jun 10th 2008 10:08AM]

I personally like the phone as is but a little more screen real estate would be nice. Any one know if this will be on Verizon or not?

[Interpol @ Jun 10th 2008 10:12AM]

Will the new OS let you play Crysis on the Blackberry?

[haX0r @ Jun 10th 2008 10:41AM]

Only if want you Crysis to be in crisis on your BB...

[PEZ @ Jun 10th 2008 11:00AM]

LOL, what is THAT attrocious thing?

[Mark Anderson @ Jun 10th 2008 12:45PM]

It's called a phone, cowboy. They probably don't have them in the secure institution you probably live in.

[haX0r @ Jun 10th 2008 10:45AM]

The question is will you be in crisis while playing Crysis on you BB?

[THJ @ Jun 10th 2008 10:47AM]

My first thought was 'icon vomit'

after a bit of a look though, the space between all the icons at the top may make it much easier to see at a glance.

Verdict: Purty.

[Tyson @ Jun 10th 2008 11:16AM]

Sorry but F- you Rim. I waited for the bold forever, saying i would never go to the dark side. All i wanted was a 3g BB and you held it in your pocket. Now the the f-ing Iphone announced it will be out next month you try to put the $hit out to steal its thunder F that. Maybe for work if i can get an unlocked one I'd pick one up but right now Rim is a day late and a dollar short. And the f ed up park is I hate the touch screen and would prefer a keyboard, but for a cheaper price and a phone i can buy rather than just read about for months f it i will sell out to stevo, at least i am buying an american product i guess, we can use jobs here

[ksat @ Jun 10th 2008 12:58PM]

"i will sell out to stevo, at least i am buying an american product i guess, we can use jobs here "

Does the name HONHAI mean anything to you??

Hahhaha... Get your head out of your a$$ and read the news! iPhone - NOT MADE IN AMERICA! Sold in America, made in CHINA!!

[Cygnus @ Jun 10th 2008 1:44PM]

@ Tyson

"All i wanted was a 3g BB and you held it in your pocket."

Um, maybe you aren't aware of it, but there are no less than three 3G Blackberries currently on the market - the 8130, 8330 and 8830. In fact as of date, RIM has already marketed SEVEN 3G devices - The 9000 will be the 8th.

[Tyson @ Jun 10th 2008 2:21PM]

it maybe made in China but its still an american company. nothing is manufactured in America really but at least all of the profits don't go abroad.

[Tyson @ Jun 10th 2008 2:18PM]

Yes there are 3g BBs but they are all CDMA which is worthless if you travel. The Verizon 8800 series had dual GSM but when I went to take it to Singapore it was $1.50/ minute and LOCKED to the verizon card. It was cheaper to buy an unlocked gsm phone that you can actually use and regardless of either point they both were 2 g speeds. Even in Japan who uses CDMA I couldn't use my verizon phone. So to say that BB had a 3g phone while technically true is disingenuous because their 3g phones are not freely movable among network. Sorry if I didn't clarify. You can vote me down if you want to but truth is truth. I love rim, I have a BB 8800 and an LG prada for when I travel and of all of the 3 phones I use the 8800 is my favorite and in general BB makes my favorite phones but they are dropping the ball. Its 2008 and you are still putting out 2g GSM crap trying to add wifi to it to speed it up and make it nicer when every other company has moved to 3g. Now you finally have a 3g GSM offering and you let ATT hold it hostage until they get their Iphone rocks off you deserve to loose market share. Don't get me wrong, I will get a 9000 for work. but right now as much as i hate it apple beat them to the punch. They let att hold the release hostage and they get what they deserve. If some guy got a demo model almost a month ago, and the OS has been shown for almost a 6 months and they phone was supposed to be released at very least LAST YEAR and you wait until 3rd q of this year to put it on the market that just dumb. Its not gong to perfect you are going to release software updates regardless and I am sure the hardware was fine, they were trying to milk the last bit of profit from the curve and pearl and 8800 series and they are shooting themselves in the foot. Rank me down if you want but its true I am not Apple fanboy but that real talk.

[rpflo @ Jun 10th 2008 11:46AM]

I hate my blackberry. The keyboard rocks, the OS blows. And since the menu button is still there in this version I'm sure it still blows.

When will my contract end?!

[Matt @ Jun 10th 2008 12:17PM]

I will take my better looking curve over this phones "richer browsing experience"

[RichardBronosky @ Jun 10th 2008 1:29PM]

I wish we could just decide whether the Z is supposed to be under the A or the S. Then, once that decision is made, stop making the key columns have a backwards slant.

http://flickr.com/photos/richardbronosky/311098279/

[Cygnus @ Jun 10th 2008 1:42PM]

I'm excited about the BB9000, but frankly, I wish they would bring it out with OS 5.0. This 4.6 business is interesting, but it is getting long in the tooth - a new operating system is desperately needed.

[mathew @ Jun 10th 2008 3:00PM]

Err... Install Opera Mini on Curve, stop whining?

[Miguel @ Jun 10th 2008 2:40PM]

I've never wanted a smartphone before, and quite honestly, I still don't have need of one. But between this, the X1, Touch Diamond and, I hate to admit, the 3G iPhone, this may be my year of conversion. Good looking, high functioning phones.

[Smiley @ Jun 10th 2008 3:46PM]

When can we expect to see these two models hit the stores?

[El Taco @ Jun 10th 2008 7:10PM]

I'm still waiting for that blackberry flip phone