BlackBerry Thunder to utilize haptic technology

Paul Mah — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 12:03:33 -0400

Rumor has it that RIM's upcoming BlackBerry Thunder smartphone will feature "localized haptic" technology. What that means is that touching a letter on the screen, for example, will result in the feeling that the screen has "pushed in" just a little. In short, you get at least some tactile feedback, complete with an audible key click sound when you press your finger onto the display. From what we hear, the BlackBerry Thunder will support both QWERTY-landscape, and SureType-portrait, virtual keyboards. The interesting thing is that RIM has always criticized Apple for putting out a virtual keyboard that was "unusable." If the rumors are right, then RIM has just pulled off an unprecedented coup against interface champ Apple. Little else is known about the BlackBerry Thunder, except that the display is 360 by 480, and that the first Thunder production runs are starting up this week.

For more on the new BlackBerry Thunder:
- check out this CrackBerry.com article

Tactile Feedback

BlackBerry Thunder to utilize haptic technology