VR-Zone

Determined not to be left behind despite recent setbacks, Research In Motion (RIM) has announced that its next generation superphone will be due early next year. The new phone will retain the resolution of 1024 by 600 at 16:9 aspect ratio from PlayBook, all housed into neat pocket-sized package.

"Look, if you build [an app] for the PlayBook, then it will run on BBX. We have maintained aspect ratios, BBX also has the ability to upload multiple dimension graphics … [and the standard resolutions] are the same as PlayBook," Alec Saunders, VP of developer relations and ecosystem development, RIM, said. The statement may imply that alternative screen sizes and resolutions are in the works as well, and that there are plans for future BBX phones to see the well recognized screen and keyboard design making its return shortly.

Rumoured to be a 4-inch 'mini-tablet' codenamed “Colt” earlier this year, Saunders mentioned that there will be BES support, as with previous phones. This puts away previous rumours stating otherwise. "I think you're seeing an evolution of a platform … you should not expect [BBX] to be behind the PlayBook".

While it is able to match the abilities of the PlayBook with its native email support, it may not be released before the PlayBook 2.0, which is expected to launch in February 2012. The brand new OS will represent every device from BlackBerry henceforth, while bringing 2D and 3D gaming onboard. It also promises to support the new Cascades UI Framework and Android apps.

Source: Slashgear