TECH BUZZ: The first pictures of an (apparently) functional version of Blackberry’s touch-screen device have shown up on the web. The Thunder is Blackberry’s response to the iPhone, and they’re hoping to make the touch screen typing experience way better than what Apple offers — the screen will provide tactile feedback when you press a key, and there’s a lot more screen real estate dedicated to the keyboard.

The Best Links:

1. Exclusive First BlackBerry Thunder Pics!
2. The Blackberry Thunder Will Be Exclusive to Verizon
3. Wall Street Journal Says the BlackBerry Thunder Will Be Out by September

TECH BUZZ: BlackBerry announces a shiny new device. Known more prosaically as the BlackBerry 9000, the new smartphone sports a new, bigger screen and faster connection and processing speeds. No firm sales date yet, but it should be available sometime this summer.

The Best Links:

1. Hands-On With the Faster BlackBerry Bold
2. Very early, Very Brief BlackBerry Bold Review
3. BlackBerry Bold — Official Site
4. Should Be Available “This Summer”
5. John Mayer Blogs about His Blackberry Bold
6. Bluetooth Headset-Wearing Douchebags Rejoice at the News
7. BlackBerry Finally Gets Bold
8. Like Magic, It Appeared at Midnight
9. Bold Announcement Comes Along With a $150 Million Developer Fund for New Apps