Ever since the original iPhone was released, every mobile manufacturer has emulated the rectangular, all touch, two buttons on the side form factor when designing what we call the Smartphone today. The BlackBerry Passport, turns away from the known rectangular slab and details why the Passport is not only unique in its design, but important for the smartphone industry.
BlackBerry breaks down the points in 3 sections: Stuck in a Rectangular World, It’s Hip to be Square and A Tool for Many Trades, each giving a lengthy explanation to how the BlackBerry Passport justifies the design element which went into the device, including the sharp LCD screen, the 1:1 16:9 Aspect Ratio and the number of characters present In each line of display, whether that is a website, PDF or even a tweet.
Stuck in a Rectangular World – We’ve been living in a rectangular world for quite some time and know it’s a great ergonomic design that drives content, media consumption and quick communications. However, the rectangle has become a de facto approach to smartphone design, perhaps limiting innovations.
Just as a PASSPORT is the universal symbol of mobility and was the inspiration for the size and form factor of this device, your passport becomes your ticket to open new doors of opportunity.
It’s Hip to be Square – There’s a marriage of form and function with a rhyme and reason to it. The Passport offers a unique 4.5” inch square screen with full HD capabilities. It offers the same viewing space as a 5” inch phone but offers an even better viewing experience because of the screen’s width. Why?
Based on academic typology, the optimal number of characters on a line in a book is 66 characters (current rectangular smartphones show approx. 40 characters and BlackBerry will show 60 characters). BlackBerry Passport offers its size and aspect ratio to accommodate these characters, making it the ideal device for reading e-books, viewing documents and browsing the web. No more worrying about portrait or landscape modes, and no; you aren’t missing anything.
Consider how IMAX screens start with a more traditional 16:9 aspect ratio projection for conventional movie trailers and then expand to their true dimensions (and the audience goes, “ooh”). The Passport is like the IMAX of productivity, and you don’t have to sacrifice screen real estate, vertically or horizontally.
A Tool for Many Trades – In being designed from the ground up for the working professional in mind, the BlackBerry Passport will be the perfect device for many scenarios.
Let’s take a look at a few use cases:
- For architects and mortgage brokers, imagine being able to look at full designs and schematics on the go, and still being able to handle piles of virtual paperwork with ease.
- In the healthcare field, picture being able to go through x-rays or medical documentation in the office with a patient, on a device that can maintain the necessary security standards for HIPAA compliance.
- In the area of finance, how about navigating your Web-based trading platform on your device? With enough screen real estate, you can clearly see the fluctuation in your stock and determine whether it’s time to sell.
- Writers will truly be unlocked with a navigable keyboard, while the large square screen enables faster content development and delivery. When you are looking to type stories or notes, your virtual keyboard doesn’t cover most of your screen.
The BlackBerry Passport will take you to new places on the best business trip you’ve ever had. We want you to imagine the possibilities.
There you have it. The BlackBerry Passport is shaping up to be a real head turner with its distinctive design. Considering the Z10 looked like any other rectangular smartphone and the Q10 looked like any other BlackBerry smartphone, this will be the BlackBerry that people will be able to identify within seconds. I can’t wait for this bad boy to be released into the hands of the public.
Are you guys looking forward to the BlackBerry Passport? Let us know in the comments below!
Source: INSIDE BlackBerry