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Another goodie from RIM coming out of Mobile World Congress was the first look at their new Webkit browser, ripe with HTML 5, AJAX, significantly improved Javascript handling, CSS3, along with JIL and BlackBerry widget support. While it’s hard to gauge real-world performance in a prerecorded test-tube demo like this, the browser does score 100/100 on the Acid3 web standards test.
This is actually a pretty quick turnaround time on the investment RIM had made in acquiring Torch Mobile. The browser has been hurting for some attention for awhile – slow rendering, responsiveness, and Javascript have made web surfing something of a running gag on BlackBerry. Sure, Opera has provided a decent alternative, but compared to the native browser that manufacturers like Nokia and Apple have managed to put together, it really is high time that RIM starts bringing their A-game. The video does make the next-gen browser seem snappy, in any case - we can only hope it performs as well in the wild.
I’m under the impression the new browser will be included in the next big BlackBerry OS (6.0?) and will come alongside Flash support, but despite Adobe showing off their progress on Android at the show, RIM wasn’t quite ready to do more than walk through some of their latest developer tools. As for which devices will actually support the new browser, and potentially operating system, we only see the Bold 9700 demoed here, but it’s likely a safe assumption that RIM’s other latest handsets also have the hardware necessary to keep up. There’s no set due date for the BlackBerry’s Webkit browser, but if I were a betting man, I’d say we’ll get a closer look and more details at WES this spring and a launch proper later in the summer.
About The Author
Simon Sage
Simon Sage’s education largely surrounded writing, technology and online community, leading him to begin his blogging career at www.BlackBerryCool.com and to quickly discover a vibrant and active community surrounding BlackBerry and mobile technology. In exploring RIM’s platform, he has learned what enterprises are looking for in mobility as well as what makes the innocuous BlackBerry so appealing to them. Recently Simon’s been covering RIM’s gradual move into an already-crowded consumer market, and the impact of burgeoning challengers, such as the iPhone, as well as long-time leaders, like Nokia, on BlackBerry’s advancement. With plenty of content under his belt, Simon will be branching off a bit to see what other smartphone manufacturers are working on while still using BlackBerry as a barometer. At IntoMobile, you can count on his posts being even-handed, well-informed and thought-out.
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Ann Julie
