BlackBerry OS 5.0 for the Bold and Curve 8900 Leaks Out

BlackBerry Bold and Curve 8900 owners who can't wait for an official release now have the option download a beta of the next version of their smartphone's operating system.

Anyone interested in BlackBerry OS 5.0 should be aware though, that this isn't the final version of this operating system. It is still missing some pieces.

Also, while this upgrade makes some noticeable changes to the OS's look and feel, it is light on significant changes to function.

What's new in BlackBerry OS 5.0?
The general goal of the new version of the operating system for the BlackBerry Bold and 8900 seems to be to make these devices look more like the BlackBerry Storm. At the very least, it has a more polished appearance than BlackBerry 4.6.

Still, there are some functionality changes. Among these are support for Google Gears, which allows some web-based services and applications to be used offline, as well as online. This means, for example, that a user could write an email message with the online version of Gmail, even if they don't have a Internet connection at that moment. Support for this feature is weak in the current beta, though.

In addition, a file browser is now one of the bundled applications. The new Files application can access documents on the device and on shared network drives.

Downloading
BlackBerry Bold users who would like to download the pre-release version of OS 5.0.0.90 for their smartphone can do so from this link.

Those with a BlackBerry Curve 8900 would like to perform this unauthorized upgrade can get it from this link.

Via: Boy Genius Report, Fantomberry.com