BlackBerry Thunder's keyboard rumored to be totally awesome

by Joshua Topolsky, posted Jul 8th 2008 at 11:02PM

According to the folks over at CrackBerry (who, let's be honest, might be a little biased when it comes to a certain brand of cellphone), Research In Motion's upcoming touchscreen phone -- the infamous Thunder -- will feature a virtual keyboard so realistic you'll swear you're sitting in front of 1986 IBM Model M. CrackBerry says "reliable sources" have told them that the device's screen will utilize a number of advanced technologies to create such an effect, including localized haptic feedback, which allows the screen to be literally pushed in while rewarding you with a vibration and click sound, and the option of a full QWERTY or SureType layout (depending on the phone's orientation). We can't speculate too much until we handle the device ourselves, but we're expecting this thing to blow our minds out through the front of our heads. That's not asking too much, is it RIM?

Filed under: Handsets, RIM

Tags: 9500, blackberry, haptic, research in motion, ResearchInMotion, rim, rumor, speculation, thunder

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Neutral

Jvijil @ Jul 8th 2008 11:18PM

i want one!!! now THAT line i will stand in lmfao

Highly Ranked

XChrisX @ Jul 8th 2008 11:21PM

This might actually be the first touch screen phone since the first iPhone to not totally suck!

Neutral

Fernando @ Jul 8th 2008 11:38PM

Haptikos maybe? Or Nokia wouldn't license it?

Great to see manufacturers surpassing apple, btw

Neutral

SoulinEther @ Jul 8th 2008 11:58PM

If a cop stops you in California talking on this handset while driving, I bet you wouldn't get ticketed.

Neutral

Brett @ Jul 9th 2008 12:07AM

im really hopin that with all the leaks that have come out on this phone over the past week or so that we will get an official launch date for this beauty! I've been holding off on getting a curve since I heard about it!

Neutral

Riley Freeman @ Jul 9th 2008 8:00AM

in canada the thunder is not scheduled until december. so expect to be extremely patient cuz i dont see verizon getting it with that big of a gap from canada

Neutral

Galen20K @ Jul 9th 2008 12:13AM

That would Sooooo OWN!!!!

I Cannot WAIT to see if this comes out to be just like that, I really REAlly HOPe SOoooo!!!!

- D

Neutral

Loyd @ Jul 9th 2008 1:47AM

If RIM doesn't make a commercial for this with ACDC's Thunderstruck playing then they have serious issues....

Neutral

youngcalihottie @ Jul 9th 2008 2:27AM

didnt nokia just file for a patent on that type of touchscreen? like today

Low Ranked

winblows @ Jul 9th 2008 7:24AM

this entire "haptic" feedback is pure bullsh_t technology - if you want to feel a real keyboard, include a slide out one - fuggin' idiots reinventing the damn wheel -

this will be an epic fail. Stick with a keyboard if you want to feel your keys - otherwise, you are just going to complicate a simple design. typical technological waste of time and resources.

And you know blackberry is trying hard to imitate the true touchscreen champ (u know who that is app_e i_hone).

Neutral