Hailed ‘round the world as the savior of the BlackBerry web experience, the Webkit-based web browser found in OS6 is fast, sleek, and – most importantly – usable. The browser supports Javascript, CSS3, and HTML 5. What do all these letters mean? Basically, the OS6 web browser is very similar to the browser on your home computer. The web pages you see at home look about the same on your smartphone, just a little smaller.
Sure, you’ve probably used the browser quite a few times since finding it loaded on your device. But do you know all the ins and outs? How well do you really know your BlackBerry’s web browser?
Skyfire, the 3rd party web browser that began their alpha and beta testing for BlackBerry only to abandon it a little while later, is once again considering bringing their services back to the BlackBerry Platform. While it's not exactly an actual confirmation that they will start up testing again, the fact it got mentioned is something to consider.
We do expect to bring Skyfire 2.0 to additional platforms, and have begun discussions with some carriers and OEMs to decide which will be our next OS. Microsoft’s new Windows Phone 7 and Nokia’s MeeGo platform are both shaping up as platforms with a lot of potential and the recent launch of the new Blackberry OS 6 with a WebKit browser core makes for interesting potential for a future release of Skyfire 2.0. We value feedback from our users, so please let us know what platform you would like to see Skyfire on next and just as importantly let your wireless carrier know that you want Skyfire!
Rather funny that Skyfire now wants to rethink their time and effort investment for BlackBerry. It's pretty much coming at a time that could end up being one of transition for BlackBerry and Research In Motion. If in fact QNX OS ends up making its way to BlackBerry smartphones one has to even wonder if Skyfire would be relevant. They're version 2.0 offering brings full support for html5, offline browsing, javascript, WebKit, and full-screen video. All of which could be built right into the QNX OS and ultimately the browser anyways. Fool me once Skyfire, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me. Besides, Skyfire would need some server upgrades first before taking on an influx of BlackBerry users as we see it.
Everyone seems to be very excited about 6.0.0.222 for the BlackBerry Bold 9650. This OS is one that was a best friend to many, and a worst enemy to others. Now of course we know this was a leak and there are going to be some issues at hand with it, but one of the biggest issues that many users were seeing was that the webkit broswer, that we have all waited so patiently for, was not functioning if the device did not have a wifi connection. After doing some of the normal troubleshooting like deleting service books, resending service books, rebooting the device, and whatever else would come to mind, the problem still persisted, which began a slight uproar in the forums. Xandermac quickly came to the rescue with an Updating to OS6 and want everything to work? thread which nicely outlined exactly how to fix these issues. Depending on your situation, whether you have another device or this being your only one affects how easy the fix is, but the fix is tested and verified to be 100% true. So, if you upgraded or are on the fence about upgrading, be sure to check out this thread to make sure that you get everything all set up the way it should be.
I have been testing Home to Phone for the past couple weeks, and have to say it is one of the most useful BlackBerry applications I have come across. Like Android's Chrome to Phone, Home to Phone lets you share web pages to and from your BlackBerry device and desktop browser (Firefox plugin, Chrome beta, or Windows application).
Setting up Home to Phone is simple and easy. It can be done in about 5 minutes. After installing the BlackBerry Home to Phone application, you will need to install the Firefox plugin on your PC. Once both are installed, you will have to set a passcode for authorization on both the device, and the plugin.
Once you are all setup, the fun begins. Remember, Home to Phone allows you to share web pages from both PC to BlackBerry, and BlackBerry to PC. When sending a web page from your PC, the page automatically opens on your BlackBerry, and is almost instant. Another great feature is the ability to send phone numbers, which arrive in your inbox and are clickable, quickly connecting the call.
Overall, Home to Phone is one of the best BlackBerry applications I have used. I use it dozens of times per day and it works without any bugs whatsoever. Personally, throughout my busy day, there are countless situations where this comes in handy. The application is available on all BlackBerry models running OS 5 and up, but really shines on the new BlackBerry 6 webkit browser. You can pick it up at the CrackBerry App Store for the introductary price of $2.99.
One of the biggest complaints I have seen about the BlackBerry OS has been the very low (2.9mb) limit on file downloads from the internet. Well finally, RIM has addressed this massive complaint and now allows for large file downloads via the BlackBerry browser. As you can see in the screenshots above, I had no trouble downloading the latest CrackBerry Podcast straight from the internet (Bla1ze, you can smile now). While there is no word on what the actual max download is (if any), I have personally downloaded files in excess of 100mb which is all we really need. So if you have a new Torch 9800, get on that webkit browser and download away!
Playing around with the Torch the last few days I've become a big fan of the WebKit browser (as I expected I would). Sites that I used to shy away from on my 9700 browser are now a breeze on the Torch and make the web experience that much better. Granted having the touchscreen again is a big bonus, but being able to double-tap zoom and flick around with more speed is a great thing -- not to mention having tabbed browsing. This isn't really a "competition" bewtween the two devices, but I ran a little comparison of a few sites to see how the Bold 9700 compared to the Torch 9800. While it's not the greatest difference on some sites, others are much easier to work with now. I checked out CrackBerry.com, Google Reader, IMDB.com and ESPN.com. Kevin showed how the Torch stacked up to other device browsers, so here is a straight up BlackBerry to BlackBerry. I'm sure I'll find some more in the coming weeks, but if you pick up a Torch tomorrow (or have on already) be sure to drop a comment with some of your favorite sites to visit using the new browser.
If there's one feature BlackBerry users have wanted to see improve on their devices more than anything else, it's the BlackBerry web browser. With BlackBerry 6 that wish can finally be crossed off the list, as the new web browser with WebKit rendering finally makes browsing the web on a BlackBerry an enjoyable experience. Compared to the old browser, it's a night and day difference.
But how does the new BlackBerry web browser stack up to the latest and greatest devices from the competition? I wanted to know the answer to that myself, so with some help from Dieter we cleared the cache on the BlackBerry Torch 9800, Apple iPhone 4 and new Android-based Samsung Captivate and put the devices head to head to head in a one take, no messing around web browser shootout. We tested the browsers both over 3G and WiFi (note - towards the end of the video where I jokingly say the BlackBerry browsing is being 3x more efficient, keep in mind that only applies to browsing over 3G - when browsing over WiFi the data is pulled straight in to the device vs. over 3G when it goes through RIM's servers which optimize and compress the data over the air). Read on for the results.
Here is a nice surprise for everyone as we head into the weekend. The good folks over at Driphter.com have just posted up a pretty nice video of the new BlackBerry WebKit browser running on a BlackBerry 9800. So far, videos have for the most part skipped over showing the WebKit browser so this is certainly the best look at it for now. Hit the video after that jump and let us all know what you think in the cooments. Personally, to me it's looking mighty fine now all we need is RIM to start rolling it out to users.
With the battle going on between Adobe and Apple right down to the adoption of Adobe Flash on some Android devices, seems there is no escaping talk of Flash when it comes to the mobile markets. One thing that we know for sure is that Research In Motion are certainly working together to bring Flash to the BlackBerry platform. The most recent announcement come from Adobe in the form of a Press Release letting folks know that Adobe Flash 10.1 is now available for Android devices in their market place and that other mobile partners have been delivered the goods to get their work started. So with that, we may eventually see their release as well.
"Flash Player 10.1 was also released to mobile platform partners to be supported on devices based on Android, BlackBerry, webOS, future versions of Windows® Phone, LiMo, MeeGo and Symbian OS, and is expected to be made available via over-the-air downloads and to be pre-installed on smart phones, tablets and other devices in the coming months."
Like it or not. Want it or not. Adobe Flash will be arriving on your BlackBerry although, Adobe and Research In Motion still remain quiet as to when, exactly that may be. Of course, we assume that it will be something that only BlackBerry 6 will see with the new Webkit browser but we're not positive there. It just seems to us it may be too much for the older browser to handle.
When early pre-production units of the BlackBerry "essex" aka "Tour2" started floating around and making appearances on the interwebs, they were still showing the same 256MB of device memory that other current-generation BlackBerry device models like the Tour 9630, Storm2, Bold 9700, Curve 85xx, etc. possess. In those early days of 9650 sightings, it was also thought the device would launch in early-ish 2010. From there, things presumably got delayed a bit for a couple of reasons, one being the brand switch from Tour to Bold and the other reason being a welcomed bump up in device memory from the standard 256MB to 512MB (photo above).
Though the BlackBerry Bold 9650 has yet to be officially announced or released, we've already seen many OS leaks pop up for the device, all of which have been 5.0 builds, clearly indicating the device will initially hit the market with OS 5.0. But with OS 6.0 just around the corner, RIM needed to make sure the BlackBerry Bold 9650 is 6.0 compatible and ready to rock the new WebKit browser in full force when released, so they upped the memory to 512MB which is likely to be the new minimum standard for device memory on new models moving ahead.
We're bacccCKKKK! I guess we're getting pretty good with this bi-weekly podcast thiing. In this CrackBerry Radio episode we go through all of the BlackBerry news that was Mobile World Congress 2010 and we catch up on other app announcements and BlackBerry news and rumor. We kick it CrackBerry old school on this one which means we go a bit long and off topic, but hardcore enthusiasts will appreciate it regardless. We even talk Olympic curling and hockey and Bla1ze gets passionate. Enough typing. Hit play above to listen and enjoy the show!!
PS. If you haven't yet, click the link above and Subscribe to use in iTunes!! Even if you don't listen to us there, you can still subscribe. Mucho thanks!
Following up on RIM's announcement of BES Express, demo of their WebKit browser and discussion on Super Apps yesterday in Barcelona at Mobile World Congress 2010, I had a chance to get some clarification and answers direct from RIM today. I haven't had a whole bunch of time to catch up on my RSS feeds and forum post reading since these stories broke, but from the little I have seen so far it seems there has been at least some confusion and questions (and even rumors) out there surrounding these topics.
I sat down with Rory O'Neill and Mike Kirkup of Research in Motion and in 18 minutes set the record straight and get some additional details as to what it all means for BlackBerry users. In case you missed our BlackBerry in Europe podcast back in November and don't know them yet, Rory is the Senior Director of Business Marketing in the EMEA region and Mike is the Director of Developer Relations. Huge thanks to them both for taking time out of their crazy schedule to talk to CrackBerry Nation.
Be sure to take a listen and let us know your thoughts in the comments. If you have any lingering questions that I missed and they didn't get addressed, let me know and I'll do my best to get the answers. Enjoy the show!
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