Looks like we have another showing of the BlackBerry 9650 Essex / Tour 2 in the CrackBerry forums.  This time, Matt_25 was able to grab these pics of the Sprint branded version (OS, no device logo) and post them for everyone to get a look at. Anytime we start seeing branded devices appear, such as we have with the Verizon and now Sprint versions you know that launch is nearing close.

For some, it may not be as close as we want it to be but that's the waiting game for CrackBerry addicts. If we had to take a guess on an official release for the Essex / Tour 2 we'd point it towards sometime in the New Year. We don't think it'll be here for the last minute holiday rush. Could be February or we wouldn't be surprised to see it even hit later, maybe in March. But again, that's just a guess. Two more shots after the jump, rest of the details can be found in the forums.

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BlackBerry Pearl 8130 (left) vs. the new BlackBerry Pearl 9100

It looks like Christmas came early on the good 'ole CrackBerry tip line. I woke up this morning to some nice 'presents' in the form of these BlackBerry Pearl 9100 photos. A few weeks ago we dropped a number of first-look BlackBerry Pearl 9100 images here on the blogs, but missing from that set of eyecandy were comparison photos to the original BlackBerry Pearl.

In these photos, the new Pearl is compared to a dummy unit of the Telus BlackBerry Pearl 8130. Though the 8130 is a dummy unit, it's a solid representation and gets the job done. As you can see, at first glance the new and old Pearl are similar in appearance, and then the latest RIM BlackBerry styling from devices like the Storm2 and Bold 9700 jump out at you on the 9100 - trackpad and beveled edges on the glass like the Bold 9700, battery door cover like the Storm2, sliced into a narrow form factor with a fierce looking keyboard.

My big question to everybody.... do you think now that the trackball (the original PEARL) is gone from the device, that the new Pearl needs a more manly name?? Sound off in the comments!

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