rectangular screen. The formula has worked so far, especially
with all-touch screen devices, but this design hasn't really been
challenged or altered in quite some time and has resulted in
some fairly homogenous looking handsets.
BlackBerry is claiming that the square, 4.5" screen on the Passport
is the way to go when it comes to your mobile smartphone needs
and that there are a variety of benefits over the traditional rectangular
format that we've all become familiar with. For starters, a 4.5" square
screen offers the same viewing space as a 5" display, but because of
the increased width of the Passport's screen, BlackBerry promises
that you'll have an "even better viewing experience." Also, based on "
academic typology", the optimal number of characters on a single line
in a book is 66 characters. Traditional, rectangular smartphones can
only display 40 characters on a single line. The Passport by comparison
can show 60 characters on a single line, which should make the device
better for browsing the web, reading e-books and viewing documents.
due to its increased width, like IMAX movie screens. Of course,
BlackBerry is going after the business market and goes over the
different industries and professions that would benefit from the
Passport's design: architects, healthcare workers, financiers,
and writers are all targeted demographics.
Although the width of the Passport's screen would make viewing certain
documents more easily, one has to wonder about how pocket-friendly
the smartphone will be. The dimensions of the device haven't been
officially release.