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Here’s the hands-on BlackBerry Passport video you’ve been clamoring for [Updated]

Updated Aug 14th, 2014 2:57PM EDT
BGR

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So how about it, prospective smartphone buyers? Are you still clamoring for the BlackBerry Passport? If so then you’ll definitely want to check out a new video flagged by CrackBerry that was produced by U.K. retailer Carphone Warehouse that gives us a nice little hands-on demonstration of BlackBerry’s upcoming smartphone that will go head-to-head with the iPhone 6 and Galaxy Note 4 this September.

FROM EARLIER: BlackBerry: Consumers are ‘clamoring’ for our new square smartphone.

In the video, Carphone Warehouse shows off some of the Passport’s outside-the-box features such as the new touch-sensitive physical keyboard that essentially doubles as a giant trackball that will let you scroll up and down on pages just by running your fingers over its keys. Carphone Warehouse also praises the Passport’s wide square display, which it points out is terrific for everyone who loves reading and editing spreadsheets on their smartphones. In other words, it looks like the Passport will be a tool, not a toy, that can be used for real work.

The video also shows off the new BlackBerry Assistant feature, which for the first time gives BlackBerry users the same kind of voice-enabled personal assistant that’s long been enjoyed by iPhone fans with Siri and by Android fans with Google Now.

UPDATE: Well, that’s annoying — the video has now been taken private, likely because it showed off key features on a device that hasn’t officially been released yet. If we find another version of the video saved elsewhere, we’ll be sure to post it below.

UPDATE 2: We knew you wouldn’t let us down, Russian YouTube users! Check out a new copy of the video below:

Brad Reed
Brad Reed Staff Writer

Brad Reed has written about technology for over eight years at BGR.com and Network World. Prior to that, he wrote freelance stories for political publications such as AlterNet and the American Prospect. He has a Master's Degree in Business and Economics Journalism from Boston University.