RIM unveils BlackBerry 7 OS: new browser, BlackBerry Balance, no legacy support

BlackBerry World has kicked off in fullsteam and just days after RIM's co-CEO promised “awhole next generation” of 'Berries, the BlackBerry OS 7 wasunveiled. An update to the BlackBerry OS 6.1, the BlackBerry OS 7 isheralded by an all-new BlackBerry Bold Touch, expected to hit shelvesas soon as “this summer.”

It's still too early to judge whetherit will push RIM's “aging products” (as per RIM's co-CEOBalsillie words) to the next generation, but it brings a handful ofnew features:

- BlackBerry Balance allowingfast switching between the business and personal side of yourBlackBerry. That should translate into both corporate and personalinformation being perfectly secure.

- optimized user experience: tobe faster and more intuitive

- voice searches coming for thephone and the web

- noticeably improved browserwith JIT JavaScript compiler and support for HTML5 Video

RIM has also confirmed that the new BlackBerry 7 OS will have "no legacy support," meaning that your "aged" 'Berry would feel even older when those new BlackBerry Bolds come out. The main reason behind such unfortunate decision is the fact that previous handsets won't have the graphical power to handle the new version of BlackBerry OS.

source: RIM