BlackBerry 10: First Photos of Operating System Leak as Release Date Approaches

Research In Motion hasn't said much about its new BlackBerry 10 smartphones ahead of their Jan. 30 launch, but today that all changes; we have a potent first taste of the highly anticipated Z10's operating system with a source at RIM leaking 100 screenshots of the platform.

Click here to view screenshots of new BlackBerry OS 

The folks over at tech site BGR reportedly got an exclusive preview of the BlackBerry 10's new operating system, receiving a batch of 100 screenshots of the new "final gold master version" of the operating system for BlackBerry 10 Z10 handset from a "close source at BlackBerry," said the website. The screenshots detail everything from the setup of the new Z10, to settings menus, new home screens, RIM's Siri-like voice recognition assistant, to the BlackBerry Hub, new NFC features, and more. The new leaked images don't exactly offer any fresh clues as to what we can expect for unannounced apps that will be available after launch, or give us too great of an idea of what it will be like to use the OS in the flesh. But, hey, they sure are pretty, aren't they?

RIM will host a major, multi-city event on Jan. 30 to unveil its new operating system and launch its new BlackBerry 10 handsets, the Z10 and X10. The company is expected to announce carrier partnerships and pricing at the launch, with all four major U.S. carriers pledging to support the new platform after the release date, according to The Verge. BGR spoke to anonymous sources who claims pricing for the new smartphones will be lower than the typical $199 on-contract price applied to the majority of high-end handsets.

While RIM has still yet to confirm an official release date for the X10 and Z10, an image has surfaced online suggesting a Feb. 28 release for the new smartphones, according to Digital Trends. A screenshot from Best Buy Canada's stock control system shows a BlackBerry 10 device listed with a release date of Feb. 28 and shows a retail price of $799. Although, which model the report is referring to is unclear. If accurate, the pricing would be $50 less than an unlocked 64GB Apple iPhone 5, and at least $250 more than the average cost for a 16GB Samsung Galaxy S3.

BlackBerry 10 phones are reportedly already receiving stellar reviews ahead of their official release.

"Research in Motion has won key government security certification for its BlackBerry 10 operating system months ahead of its launch, allowing the smartphone to be used in secure government workplaces," reported Zack Whittaker of CNET.

When the BlackBerry 10 is eventually released on Jan. 30 the phone will reportedly be available in two models, the X10 and Z10, according to BGR.

While the Z10 opts for an all-touch-screen design, the X10 model employs more traditional design using the old school QWERTY style keyboard. The phone will reportedly be available in both black and white, and rumors indicate the phone will feature a 4.2-inch screen with 1280x768 resolution.

"In building BlackBerry 10, we set out to create a truly unique mobile computing experience that constantly adapts to your needs. Our team has been working tirelessly to bring our customers innovative features combined with a best in class browser, a rich application ecosystem, and cutting-edge multimedia capabilities. All of this will be integrated into a user experience - the BlackBerry Flow - that is unlike any smartphone on the market today," said Thorsten Heins, President and CEO of RIM.

Rather not wait until Jan. 30 to get your hands on RIM's new smartphone? You can pre-order the BlackBerry 10 now from Canadian carrier, Rogers.