The question of how you pull the cover off a new OS is an interesting one.

Do you unveil it at an elaborate press conference at let the world's press bask in its glory? Or do you let one of your carriers leak shots online, taking all the hype away in one swoop?

For better or worse, BlackBerry seems to have opted for the latter.

Boy Genius Report has managed to enjoy a hands-on with OS 6.0, giving the software a thorough expose in a blog post.

The site claims an unnamed AT&T source offered to demo the OS.

Some of the most obvious highlights are a new browser that features tab switching and multitouch, and a revamped media player that the Boy Genius Report's shots seem to suggest has more than a passing resemblance to the iPhone's equivalent.

Rubberbanding the Berry

"RIM has finally implemented system-wide kinetic scrolling with rubberbanding," the site adds.

"This makes the experience a bit more fluid when scrolling through lists, web pages, emails, and the like. There is also multitouch system-wide, from the web browser to the photos application, and yes, pinch to zoom is in there."

Other noted changes are a cleaner email set-up, a customisable homescreen and a photo set-up that, again, seems to have borrowed from iPhone.

Boy Genius Report suggests the new OS will be on the market from June or July, with speculation also suggesting an official, somewhat more glitzy, unveiling may be may be in line for RIM's conference at WES 2010, which kicks off in Florida on April 27.

[source: Boy Genius Report]