[@3iza]

I think I just figured out why there are so many L-series leaks...and almost no N-series leaks. The L-series we have seen isn't the final product. It is probably the "special Device" that RIM promised to give developers who submit apps and return the Dev-alphas.
They don't need the actual hardware for carrier testing and all that.
I'm almost 100% certain. The true l-series device...is closely guarded like the N-series.

[RoseBud68]

Figure this all on your own did you.....

[eyhab27]

i was thinking that the Arista might be the special device for the devs, but I guess it could be the other way around...

[Kennedy.L]

I agree with you.

I don't think Thorsten Heins would be using the final production phone in public at that basketball game. And frankly I think all the leaked photos look like an unfinished product. Not a product that RIM would release in this highly competitive market and especially in BB10 is their one big great shot.. The Bold 9900 has that polished look that the leaked L-series photos does not have.

I am STOKED to see the final hardware. Thorsten implied last week in an interview that we are in for a few surprises on Jan 30.

[cgk]

That makes a lot of sense - I was puzzled how they could spend so much time and end up with such a generic looking hardware design.

[Kennedy.L]

Figure this all on your own did you.....

The way that people talk about the leaked L-series photos is as if this is the final hardware. The photos are not really the L-series if RIM is not releasing that hardware.

[Kennedy.L]

That makes a lot of sense - I was puzzled how they could spend so much time and end up with such a generic looking hardware design.

agreed! If the L-series is released as the leaked photos we have seen, their would be a lot of disappointed people.

[jamezalexander]

I was hoping this was the developer edition hardware:

[KermEd]

N-series still not assembled and just exists in parts outside of a very small number of nonworking prototypes I think

Sent from my BlackBerry 9360 using Tapatalk

[mithrazor]

The leaked pictures are evaluation units. As it says on the sticker on the back.

So I believe it will look similar to that. But it will be touched up to make it look nice.

[AVPTI]

N-series still not assembled and just exists in parts outside of a very small number of nonworking prototypes I think

Sent from my BlackBerry 9360 using Tapatalk

Have the media not seen the N-Series under NDA? (Including Kevin?)

[@3iza]

I was hoping this was the developer edition hardware:
http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/78...the_verge2.jpg

If you paint the top and bottom black, it will be very close to what's leaked... this could pass as an early render of what's being leaked now.

[jamezalexander]

It's going to be a rectangle any way we slice it how special can the limited edition dev unit be?

[kemj]

There is something to note here. All BlackBerry Smartphones share some key design features. For example, the Torch 9810's keyboard has the chrome stripes across it just like the Bold 99x0's, and the Bold itself has the aluminum border that gives it the premium look. The Torch 9850/9860 shares the similar back with the Curve, and has the same trackpad as the 9810. Then the 9900 on its back has the taped sides in the same rubber material as the PlayBook's back. The overall design of the phones do not differ that much.

Then, having said that, we saw the leaked picture of the N-Series keyboard, and it still have the chrome stripes between the keys. That got me wondering why the L-Series has nothing in chrome or even polished aluminum, and if it's actually the final phone. Both the L and the N look entirely different and that's what I find strange coming from RIM. The L-Series looks good, simple but looks OK and I will buy it anyway, but lacks that premium look the Bold 99x0 flaunts.

[rcheung135]

On the other hand, it's possible that the actual devices will resemble the ones that we already see leaked. BlackBerry could be doing everything to create some hype and increase the value of their company. What other strategy do they have that's low cost and viral at the same time?

I wouldn't get my hopes up too high only to be left disappointed and angry again. What RIM delivers should be of high quality as they promised (hardware I shouldn't have a problem considering the PB was of high quality), but it's also where they want to go from there.

[limh5]

I think I just figured out why there are so many L-series leaks...and almost no N-series leaks. The L-series we have seen isn't the final product. It is probably the "special Device" that RIM promised to give developers who submit apps and return the Dev-alphas.
They don't need the actual hardware for carrier testing and all that.
I'm almost 100% certain. The true l-series device...is closely guarded like the N-series.

I hate to burst your bubble. But when Lazaridis was asked back in 2011 how BB 10 devices would look like, he held up his PlayBook and said "like this". The Dev Alpha A, Dev Alpha B and leaked London all look pretty close to a PlayBook. You won't be getting something drastically different.

When Thorsten Heins became CEO in Jan., he said that he would no longer allow for those perfectionistic, last-minute changes that plagued RIM's process in the past. Once a design is finalized, it goes into production. There will be no more last-minute changes. You can Google his initial interviews from Jan. if you want.

[howarmat]

I am pretty sure the dev devices handed out are suppose to be shipped back to RIM for another "Special device"...this wouldnt be too special to me since its not even complete hardware

[Rello]

I agree with the OP. N4BB had a article awhile ago stating that the hardware for the L and N series were both done and that they were just waiting on the software to be completed. I also think that this device they've been showing off is the device they'll give developers. It just doesn't make sense that two devices that supposedly going to release within a month or so from each other and we have seen absolutely none on one of them. lol I'd be surprised if this is device is the one that will go to market

[Techno-Emigre]

I have been hoping for something like the beauty of the 9850. That think looks like a piece of jewelry. BB10 devices will need room for a bezel. RIM is investing so heavily in software, they can't go crazy on hardware, but it sure needs to be tough, functional and great looking. I think the PB looks good in a simple way, but you can't immediately identify it as BlackBerry from a distance. The beauty comes when you swipe down and wake it. The onlooker's eye is immediately drawn to it, and part of the attraction comes from what you see on the screen. So a little chrome and a strong BlackBerry identity would be welcome.

[ssbtech]

Perhaps, just perhaps - these well kept secrets means that there might very well be a slider in the works and we just don't know about it yet!

[@3iza]

I hate to burst your bubble. But when Lazaridis was asked back in 2011 how BB 10 devices would look like, he held up his PlayBook and said "like this". The Dev Alpha A, Dev Alpha B and leaked London all look pretty close to a PlayBook. You won't be getting something drastically different.

When Thorsten Heins became CEO in Jan., he said that he would no longer allow for those perfectionistic, last-minute changes that plagued RIM's process in the past. Once a design is finalized, it goes into production. There will be no more last-minute changes. You can Google his initial interviews from Jan. if you want.

I'm not saying it'll be drastically different... and become a rhombus overnight... the internals may be same... I'm talking looks. And who's to say the final design I'm talking about hasn't always been the final? Note: I'm not saying it's going to be changed... I'm saying we may not have seen it at all. What we are seeing now is most likely a prototype. Since they promised devs "special" devices for each Dev alpha returned... that would mean they'all have to produce some where around 5k -10k devices to swap for Dev alphas...so in that sense, two different devices could go into production. 1 limited version (the leaks) and a final consumer version we haven't seen.

[skyrocket9]

I'm not saying it'll be drastically different... and become a rhombus overnight... the internals may be same... I'm talking looks. And who's to say the final design I'm talking about hasn't always been the final? Note: I'm not saying it's going to be changed... I'm saying we may not have seen it at all. What we are seeing now is most likely a prototype. Since they promised devs "special" devices for each Dev alpha returned... that would mean they'all have to produce some where around 5k -10k devices to swap for Dev alphas...so in that sense, two different devices could go into production. 1 limited version (the leaks) and a final consumer version we haven't seen.

We are definitely seeing the final design I'll eat my hat if the phone looks different in February.

[lboogie_1971_]

I just noticed in the photo that the music player has button controls in it like we have seen from Jolla Sailfish. Wouldn't it be wild if RIM was implementing this (interactive frames) all along and is one of the surprises Thor is holding back for us.

[Bold_until_Hybrid_Comes]

I just noticed in the photo that the music player has button controls in it like we have seen from Jolla Sailfish. Wouldn't it be wild if RIM was implementing this (interactive frames) all along and is one of the surprises Thor is holding back for us.

Very good catch. I didnt notice that. The active frames on the leak from way back this year have the interactive buttons kevin was talking about in brainstorming. Interesting.

[Dirkmyer]

OMG, you made me gitty at this realization. I thought I had seen it all, but now I could know very little about the L-series BB10 phone hardware!

I would give up the holidays and New Years for Jan 30 to be here right now!