RIM launches BlackBerry Torch 9800 and BlackBerry OS 6

The BlackBerry to rule all BlackBerry devices has just been revealed in the US by RIM. The new BlackBerry Torch 9800 features a slider form sporting a full touchscreen interface together with a QWERTY keypad and is the first BlackBerry device to run RIM’s latest BlackBerry OS 6 mobile platform.

Under skin, there’s nothing really mind-blowing about the 9800 Torch. It packs a so-so 3.2in 480×360 capacitive touchscreen, an industry standard 5MP camera with flash, autofocus and image stabilisation and it records video capable of shooting 640×480 resolution video.

There 4GB on board memory with 512MB RAM and 512MB ROM. Included in the box is a 4GB microSD with option to expand up to 32GB. There’s also GPS and WiFi b/g/n built into the Torch.

Actually, if you really look at it, there’s nothing to talk about in terms of specs. Any other Android device on the market and the iPhone 4 has the BlackBerry 9800 Torch beat. All the other flagship Androids and the iPhone run higher resolution screens, records 720p video and run on 1Ghz processors with built-in GPUs, while the Torch runs a 624Mhz processor. Some may argue that the BlackBerry OS architecture doesn’t need so much processing power, we say, if it’s going to compete with the rest, it will need to be able to play games, and run graphic intensive app and support multi-app at the very least, so the more processing power, the better.

By the looks of it, the 9800 Torch is just a 9700 with a slider and touchscreen. We see nothing new but RIM is banking on its new BlackBerry OS 6 to deliver the goods with full-on seamless integration to social media, music and videos never before seen on a BlackBerry.

This is indeed something interesting to see, but before we get our hands on the 9800 Torch and from what we’ve gathered from the official news release and live reports from the US, there might be more BlackBerry users looking at devices ruing Android or the iPhone 4 for their next smartphone purchase.

What do you think of the BlackBerry Torch 9800? See it as something that tickles your fancy?

Nevertheless, there will droves of BlackBerry diehards out there that can’t wait to get their hands on the 9800 Torch. So the questions that will be playing in their minds will be when and who. As in, when will the Torch come to Malaysia officially and who will be carrying it first.

Honestly speaking, we haven’t a clue but we’ll definitely clue you in on the latest when we have the info. Keep it locked on people.