Rumours today (links at bottom) point to two BlackBerry 10 devices on the horizon. There is the device that is similar to the BlackBerry Dev Alpha with 1280 x 768 resolution at a "retina" 356ppi, and a traditional keyboard based device with a 720 x 720 resolution at a "retina" 330ppi. It is also an OLED screen.
BlackBerry OS10 looks impressive. The "flow" concept behind it looks really smooth so far. I still wait to hold final judgement on the OS, because we havent seen even a beta at this point.
My issue with this second leaked phone is that the screen is effectively a square. The aspect ratio is 1:1. Now BB OS10 may be suited to utilize this resolution and make it look great, but nothing else is.
Videos will have terrible letterboxing, and websites may get confused (unless the css is written properly). Although I don't have actual numbers, I am sure that square screens make up less than 1% of any devices period. We have seen 4:3, 16:9, 16:10, and a few others. However nothing is optimized for a square screen. Maybe a postage stamp is, but not much else.
I love the underdogs. I hope RIM (and Nokia, and used to hope HP/Palm) can make a comeback. However if I decide to give OS10 a go, it will definitely be on the L-series full touchscreen. I feel a square screen may put people off unless it is done extremely well. I am not sure I have that faith anymore though.
So RIM, please be careful. I hope you know what you are doing.
mobilesyrup.com/2012/06/25/blackberry-10-l-series-...
crackberry.com/leaked-slide-shows-full-touch-l-ser...
www.engadget.com/2012/06/25/details-emerge-of-firs...
EDIT: As a reader pointed out, when you take a look at the Dev Alpha device and cut out the software keyboard section, the remaining size of the display is a square as well. Coincidence?
