RIM’s suite of BlackBerry developer tools, including the Widget SDK launched not too long ago, have all been updated with a variety of new features. First up, the Java plug-in for Eclipse now allows you to run modified apps immediately without having to reset the device or simulator, which I could imagine would normally take awhile to do. Next is the web plug-in, which includes full support for Widget debugging, Eclipse 3.5, and the same hotswapping as the Eclipse plug-in. The big daddy BlackBerry Java SDK is now loaded up with added user interface elements like spin-box fields, file pickers and screen transitions to make apps real purdy-like in a very quick way. Finally, the Widget SDK, which enables the writing of BlackBerry apps using common web languages, has exited beta and is now bundled in with the aforementioned web plug-in.
Hotswapping seems to be the big thing in these updates, but having never done up a BlackBerry app before, I can only imagine how long and how much of a time sink setting up the simulator to run new builds must be. If you’re interested in taking the dive, though, you can find lots of more information at the BlackBerry Developer Zone.
[via BlackBerry Dev Blog]