Blackberry Venice shown off in quick look video

Earlier this week we brought you an exclusive look at some new pictures and features from the upcoming Blackberry Venice. At the time we didn’t reveal our source, but they have now decided to step forward with a new hands-on quick look video!

In the video above, our friends at Baka Mobile gives us a rundown of the Venice. We highly recommend watching it for yourself, but let’s run through some of the biggest takeaways.

First, design. In terms of the design, the key layout is quite similar to what you’d find with other Blackberry devices, offering a physical camera button on the left and volume rockers and a smart action key on the right. Baka also confirms that the phone has a front facing speaker grille and a microSD slot.

Of course, one of the biggest stories here is the keyboard. One thing we didn’t know about before this is just how well the keyboard would work, or how it would affect how the phone feels. According to the video, the keyboard is actually really well balanced. Unlike devices such as the Blackberry Torch, the Venice isn’t too bottom heavy and should be comfortable even when used open or closed.

We have also learned that the keyboard offers biometric sense touch similar to the Passport. What this means is that you can swipe up or down on the keyboard to scroll, which could be handy when browsing or for reading.

Turning to the software experience, you’ll notice that the phone packs a near-stock build at first glance. Under the surface though, you’ll find some cool additions. For one thing, the phone has tap-to-wake functionality. For another, swiping up on the test software brings Blackberry Hub, Blackberry Device search, and Google Search. We imagine there are at least a few other enhancements to be found with more digging.

While we still don’t know much about when the Blackberry Venice is coming, the fact that Baka got its hands on a test unit indicates that an official release might not be terribly far off. Again, special thanks to Baka Mobile! You can learn more about the company by following their Twitter, Facebook, Google+, or heading to their website. With a history going back 30 years, Baka Mobile is a trusted mobile retailer based in Toronto, Canada. If you’re in Canada, and you’re looking for a new device or accessory, we recommend giving Baka a try!

What do you think, excited for the Blackberry Venice?