BlackBerry Thunder To Utilize Haptic Touchscreen Technology

 
A CrackBerry.com commentator has left some juicy tidbits about the touchscreen keyboard on the upcoming touchscreen only BlackBerry Thunder. It will utilize localized haptic technology, err.. umm…, it will actually feel like you are clicking on an individual button when you touch a letter on the screen.

When you press on the Thunder’s screen, it pushes in “just” a little bit (the whole screen is sort of like a big button) and you get immediate “real” feedback - you hear an audible clickety sound, and can feel a buzz in your finger where you actually pressed on the display.

The BlackBerry Thunder will support both full QWERTY (landscape mode) and SureType (portrait mode) keyboards. We’re guessing that an accelerometer will allow seamless transition between the two.

We are also hearing the the the web browser on the BlackBerry Thunder is built on WebKit, the same engine that iPhone uses, so, multi-touch is a possibility.

I cannot wait for the BlackBerry Thunder to come out. It sounds better and better everyday.

Written by Robb Dunewood on July 8th, 2008 with 4 comments.
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4 comments

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Get your own gravatar by visiting gravatar.com bluehorseshoe
#1. July 8th, 2008, at 4:25 PM.

I agree…while I’m personally a physical keyboard fan, I’m really looking forward to seeing the Thunder when it’s released. If it’s anything like the iPhone, then I’d pass, but if the description of the keyboard is accurate, and feels good when typing, then it may be a no brainer.

Tick Tock…with anticipation.

Get your own gravatar by visiting gravatar.com Thought
#2. July 8th, 2008, at 10:18 PM.

The key for RIM is to do something different and better with this device than Apple…perhaps the haptic screen will be that feature.

I would however caution…other iPhone clones have haptic feedback, and they are awful.

I do think RIM will do a far better job than let’s say, LG, but we’ll wait and see. I do agree with Robb…I really want to try out this device.

Get your own gravatar by visiting gravatar.com anon
#3. July 9th, 2008, at 4:40 AM.

Webkit sounds exciting? Will this be a Thunder exclusive feature or any chance for a BB Bold to get Webkit?

Kind of interesting either way, as I thought most BB applications were written in a Java variant whereas Webkit is a C++ applicaiton. I’m sure there is a JNI equivalent for JavaME, but I’m still wondering if this is the first time machine code will be used for the bulk of a BB application.

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#4. July 9th, 2008, at 5:20 AM.

Blackberry Thunder e il feedback tattile per il touchscreen · Commenta la tecnologia, postala su commenti-tecnologia.com: [via rimarkable]

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