The Canadian-based smartphone devices giant, Research In Motion has unveiled a new BlackBerry Widget SDK (Software Development Kit) to the developers and is yet to release its new operating system version 5.0, soon.
The New Widget SDK:
According to the blackberry's dev forum, the new widget has capabilities to build rich, Web-integrating applications for BlackBerry devices using very common technologies rather than using Java. Glad News for Devs! Because, upto now, java was the only way for developers. In a recent interview, Widgets open up a world of opportunities for developers to build and bring to market Web applications for BlackBerry smartphones that offer advanced, integrated functionality and an always-on user experience," and added "We are very excited by the prospects of this new widget development platform which combines the ease of development of standard Web languages with the rich functionality of Java development.
For Blackberry application developers, A beta release of the Widget SDK has been made available at http://www.blackberry.com/developers/widget.
The new widgets will use the devices browser engine to execute an application interface using HTM or CSS or JavaScript. RIM officials claim that the Developers can use existing Web components in creating Widgets and may increase the capabilities of the Web applications with BlackBerry APIs. Using the APIs, developers can create seamless integration between a widget and e-mail client application, with abilities like editing documents stored on the memory, enhanced location-based services and other incredible options. Support for the new widgets can be tested on new BlackBerry OS 5.0, which includes device browser supporting few Google Gears, and the new widget APIs.
By end of this October, RIM has planned to unveil, an another break-through in the Balckberry platform with their new OS 5.0. The Balckberry Strom 2 will be the first device to run on OS 5.0 with incredible user-easer features. Before its release, the leaks are flooding the Internet stating some device capabilities concentrated towards mail functions, Maps, breowser, calendar, and significantly, in user interface.
The OS 5.0 is said to have accommodate other functions like image resizing, date header flasher while scrolling and other similar attributes within the mail client. As already mentioned, the Google Gears is supported in OS 5.0, which will allow the videos to get streamed within the browser and even supporting some new AJAX formats. And as bonus, RIM OS 5 is said to be coming up with Maps application which renders the maps two times and adds zero-lagging zooming properties.Using few built-in messaging system, addresses will be automatically smelled out by the OS using location based services.
Both the releases has pulled numerous developers towards the Blackberry app development, since the new widget SDK is a less Java-depedant kit unlike its predecessors. The Blackberry app dev forum, RIM has called for more addotions over the App world and loosen up certain restrictions to add up developers and apps. At the same time, the booming Smartphone market, will give the OS 5.0, a sweet part over the market, if the Blackberry's new OS appeals more users.
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