BlackBerry has detailed a strange new square smartphone called the Passport.
It wasn't too long ago when it was pretty cool to have a BlackBerry but the Canadian firm has been dominated by the iPhone and Android smartphones recently. Despite its demise, BlackBerry has shown off a new device called the Passport.
BlackBerry said "Many have thought that creativity around the design of smartphones was dead," adding that "the rectangle has become a de facto approach to smartphone design, perhaps limiting innovations."
To this end, the BlackBerry Passport has a 4.5in (1440 x 1440) screen which is square - an aspect ratio of 1:1. The firm says the passport was the inspiration for the size and form factor for this new smartphone although the last time a look at my passport it wasn't square. See also: Android L vs iOS 8.
BlackBerry says it offers a similar amount of viewing space compared to a 5in phone but a better experience because of its width. Most smartphones can display 40 characters across the screen but the Passport outpaces them at 60. It's ideal for reading e-books, viewing documents and browsing the web, according to BlackBerry.
Other than the unorthodox screen, the BlackBerry Passport has a quad-core processor, Adreno 330 GPU, 3GB of RAM and a 13Mp rear facing camera.
"Consider how IMAX movies begin with the screens set to a more traditional 16:9 aspect ratio projection for conventional movie trailers, before expanding 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." said the firm.
BlackBerry has said the Passport will be available during Q4, following a London launch in September. Do you want a square phone like the Passport? Let us know in the comments below.
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