
* A Final Update for Now: Sometimes it takes a post-gone-kinda-wrong like this to get to the real nitty gritty of it all. One of our trustiest inside sources finally got a look at this, and while not commenting on the photos themselves, let us know that the 9900/"Pluto" as its been referred to thus far on the blogosphere is now pretty old stuff internally, and while it did exist in this type of form factor the project has now been scrapped in favor of a new one which will feature much more improvementsand technologies that will ultimately become a Bold replacement. Details are limited at this time, but things like a "new optical trackball" should be on the table. So when it comes to images like this coming from a carrier/partner source, while new to us things like this can happen when they're old to RIM. Again...we'll leave it here for now, take it for what its worth, and we'll see what happens in the months ahead. *
* Update: So our friends at BGR vote shannigans on this one, pointing out that the first image of the 9900 we posted looks like an 8800's mic hole is showing below the keyboard, while in the second photo (above), that's not the case. Touché. At the same time, we're still hearing that "that is the 9900" so there's only one thing left to do now... get some real photos of a real device, and not this photo of an image stuff on a piece of paper stuff. Stay Tuned... we'll be back... *
A few of you are questioning the authenticity of our previous post of a Rogers document featuring the "BlackBerry 99xx", so here's another photo for y'all to scrutinize from the same source. Suffice to say, I do believe the original source of these images is credible even though the photos are a bit blurry - it looks like a typical device simulator capture that we have seen on other pre-release devices (and yes, I added the blacked out section at the bottom of this particular photo for protection of original source). If you care to disagree and assume photoshop, that's cool too, no worries here. I can see where that notion would come from - you could photoshop this if you wanted. It's a free world and all will be known with time. We pass on the goods as we have them and wouldn't post something just for the sake of posting if we didn't have pretty good faith in the source. Of course, that said, every blog has made some mistakes before. So I guess we'll see!
As for the SurePress vs. no SurePress debate, more "votes" have been arriving in favor of the 9900 featuring SurePress, so you can take that for what it's worth too (again, all will be known in time). Geeez... ya know, after the release of the Bold, Pearl Flip, Storm and Curve 8900 I thought we'd all be getting a little rest on the new device front, but it seems the crazyiness is back full swing!
o_ssie Mar 14, 2009 at 1:30 pm
ME WANT SOME NOW .... RIGHT ... NOW
like thats MY DEVICEEEE ive been waiting for
Nated0dd Mar 14, 2009 at 1:35 pm
Thats the SAME picture from the box just close up
TheRulah Mar 14, 2009 at 1:37 pm
I think that the SurePress will be more useful in this form factor since one would not have to worry about typing too fast and making a bunch of mistakes. But it will still hinder the speed of using the device because now you would not be able to press the menu button and quickly scroll through the menu with the trackball... Only a minor speed different though...
xxplosive82 Mar 14, 2009 at 1:40 pm
Now it's a Treo w/ SurePress...
lakerz4lyfe Mar 14, 2009 at 1:46 pm
can't wait!
zyxwvu44 Mar 14, 2009 at 1:48 pm
i reallllly hope this comes to T-Mobile and has wifi and gps....
payroll Mar 14, 2009 at 1:55 pm
You have to be kidding me...
mortys11 Mar 14, 2009 at 2:00 pm
i think i will stick to a track ball model...better one handed navigation.
not a big fan of touch screens.
i do think it would be better if it was not sure press because u have a hard kb.
ipod battery Apr 10, 2009 at 1:21 am
The problem with those trackballs is that they go bad eventually. This is much better technology.
mexii Mar 14, 2009 at 2:05 pm
i dont know maybe im wrong but this looks like the new niagara with the theme of the storm :/
http://forums.crackberry.com/attachments/f141/17184d1237012826-niagara-p...
Matt_25 Mar 14, 2009 at 2:09 pm
Photoshopped. I've seen real pics, that's not legit. C'mon, are you guys for real?!?!
Ajaxwizz Mar 14, 2009 at 2:13 pm
Dude. You're thinking of the Niagara. This is the 9900 they're talking about - it's a totally different device.
Dragon_Rider Mar 14, 2009 at 2:12 pm
How far out is this devise from the shelf and does anyone have beta specs?
fadetoblack1985 Mar 14, 2009 at 2:14 pm
Everywhere I look on different sites everyone says the photos are doctored or photoshopped, is there anyway to prove these are legit?
rhoadleyx42 Mar 14, 2009 at 2:29 pm
defiantly fake photo. i an photoshop one of these right now for everyone. look at the picture...the phone gets skinner as you go down.
castlerock611 Mar 14, 2009 at 2:36 pm
I have to agree,this is a photoshop job,so everyone,stop acting giddy,ITS A FAKE!!!!
castlerock611 Mar 14, 2009 at 2:36 pm
I have to agree,this is a photoshop job,so everyone,stop acting giddy,ITS A FAKE!!!!
castlerock611 Mar 14, 2009 at 2:36 pm
I have to agree,this is a photoshop job,so everyone,stop acting giddy,ITS A FAKE!!!!
gtstang462002 Mar 14, 2009 at 2:42 pm
Would be an even better looking phone if it was made available in CDMA
Bison Mar 14, 2009 at 2:47 pm
Its a BB Bold v2.0! Now when I get angry at my *New* Bold and slap it around it will actually respond to my physical attacks.
Awesome...
ccrx Mar 14, 2009 at 3:18 pm
Any word on this becoming a CDMA device as well.
Hayze Mar 14, 2009 at 3:37 pm
I could see this going either way on photoshopped or not. It would not be hard to photoshop, but at the same time, this would be a good idea I could see RIM wanting to put into action. I guess the only way to tell is to wait a little bit and see what happens with this phone.
701pm Mar 14, 2009 at 3:56 pm
I prefer this not be a sure press. But truthfully looks photoshopped look at where the trackball should be??
yodan4 Mar 14, 2009 at 4:42 pm
no trackball+ big icons = touchscreen
tekneakz Mar 14, 2009 at 4:59 pm
The first post (http://crackberry.com/exclusive-blackberry-9900-touchscreen-blackberry-bold) is a fake because RIM explicitly states that BlackBerry can only be spelled one way. Blackberry is not acceptable (see http://na.blackberry.com/eng/legal/trademarks.jsp#tab_tab_guidelines, Form Of Use, (2))
sorry guys!
CBRblackberry Mar 14, 2009 at 6:09 pm
I would rather see a Storm with a slide out keyboard!!!!
Anaymous Mar 14, 2009 at 6:20 pm
I was in Verizon about 2 weeks ago and asked what their next blackberry would be like. The rep told me it would be touch screen and have a keyboard too, so maybe this is it.
Matt_25 Mar 14, 2009 at 6:34 pm
That's probably what it will look like. Still that photo is photoshopped and digitally edited, and poorly at that
jerseysoprano Mar 14, 2009 at 6:57 pm
I want one.....! Great pic
Mobstar Mar 14, 2009 at 7:58 pm
The photo looks fake to me. There is like a odd circular shape where the track ball usually is. Looks like they took the healing brush in photoshop and manipulated it to me.
Mar 14, 2009 at 9:43 pm
A fixed touch screen would do. That "surepress" is fruitless!
enigmaspot Mar 14, 2009 at 10:22 pm
Never a dull moment with RIM
DNRuffin Mar 14, 2009 at 10:57 pm
There's a big gaping hole where the trackball should be. I think the 99xx will be a Storm-esque phone with a slide out keyboard, with the 3.5in touchscreen. I don't know whether they will include a trackball or not. I also think that it will have GPS, Wi-Fi, and probably a 5-megapixel camera.
Fmrnyer32 Mar 15, 2009 at 2:28 am
HMMMM? whos getting this one?
Looks fake as hell!!!!! lol
veritas06#cb Mar 15, 2009 at 8:28 am
Well if they are real then where is the trackball? seems wierd that RIM wouldn't have included one on this new device?
veritas06#cb Mar 15, 2009 at 8:31 am
I guess if it was touchscreen. I didn't think before I posted. Looks like a photoshopped one to me. Like they took half a storm and half a 8900 or a 9000 and just pasted them together.
Chunberry Mar 15, 2009 at 11:09 am
That's too bad to hear that they scrapped, but kudos on the quick updates. On the upside, however, hearing that there is a better phone in the works is promising. It just makes me wonder if then the release date will be further delayed. Maybe more definitive news will be available from WES '09.
Gmac3#CB Mar 15, 2009 at 12:20 pm
Wow Thats Fake As Hell looks Like Every other Blackberry...No Trackball???? Touch Screen????? PHOTOSHOPPED
aaronchili Mar 15, 2009 at 8:27 pm
This is exactly what I was hoping RIM would do next! There seems to be a wide variety of opinions on this - some not understanding having a full keyboard with touch.... You realize the main reason most people don't buy a full touch is that they hate the popup keyboard (including me)? Go buy an iPhone (ick!!) or the highly flawed Storm in that case. Yet I've found scrolling around with the trackball to at times be a chore - and have wanted to just be able to reach out and touch...
Voila! Just better get this released to T-Mobile as well so I don't have to start hunting down unlock codes.
trackfast Jul 18, 2009 at 4:45 pm
I went by the T-Mobile store on Wednesday. Apparently I just missed the rep from RIM who had the 9900. No trackball; touch screen but I'm not sure what kind of touch screen.
rytsinger Dec 26, 2009 at 12:44 pm
When do you think they are coming out with this?
playercarvalho Nov 8, 2010 at 12:10 pm
i wanted to get the torch but friends find the phone ugly so i wanted to wait for the bb bold 9780 but now i here that the bb pluto 9900 is comming in nov/dec
can tell me when the pluto is coming i realy want to know it
saw it at the site gsmpedia.nl but it is written in the netherlands(dutch) so...
:)
mack-3 May 23, 2011 at 9:43 pm
I have enjoyed having a cdma and gsm number both on one blackberry. I am able to switch networks when needed. Will this one also handle both systems on one phone?