BlackBerry browser to get full Flash and Silverlight support?

Sounds like RIM's trying to do more than just bring the woeful BlackBerry browser up to par with the competition -- Boy Genius Report says Waterloo's trying to leap way out in front by building in full Flash and Silverlight support. BGR says it'll be full Flash, not Flash Lite or the Open Screen Project's mobile Flash 10 implementation, but don't get too excited: it'll be next summer before RIM ships devices fast enough to handle it, and even then things may be delayed since they'll need HSPA or LTE data speeds to pull it off. Hey, maybe in the meantime all those engineers could maybe work on things like properly rendering a text page? Just an idea.

[Khris Posted Aug 19th 2009 3:21PM]

Holy Original Batman!!

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 19th 2009 2:02PM]

@andrewwildman You are a moron, period. The iPhone browser (Safari) is hands down the best browser available on any mobile device. People who hate the iPhone don't even argue this point - well haters with common sense that is, the rest simply don't deserve to be considered.

Yes, this is AT LEAST 2 years away. In that time, Flash will already be implemented into Safari by Adobe. Having faith in RIM engineers is the true definition of faith =)

[MarkAnderson Posted Aug 19th 2009 2:17PM]

Says the guy who missed the reply button.

[iEye the great Posted Aug 19th 2009 2:18PM]

try to visit bestbuy on your iPhone, then come back and say it is the best browser.

it shit

[Bjay Posted Aug 19th 2009 2:03PM]

After using iPhone & G1 browers I really don't feel rite using other phone browsers even my darling opera mini. Blackberry browers sucks big time...anytime I see a blackberry user, all I wonder is how they cope with such shitty crap. I m posting dis from my G1, it is almost painless

[Simon Seize Posted Aug 19th 2009 2:20PM]

Becasue we use our phones for productivity not sitting around a coffee shop all day surfing the web.

[therealmusashi Posted Aug 19th 2009 8:24PM]

Riiiight. Like checking ESPN.com mobile, and checking your email. That's productivity all right. Oh, don't forget Bejeweled.

[greghudd Posted Aug 19th 2009 2:07PM]

This is good news if it pushes Apple to do the same for the iPhone...

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 19th 2009 2:08PM]

londonconsultant,

Thanks. 8th grade was the hardest two years of my life.

[kibbledbits Posted Aug 19th 2009 2:20PM]

Has anyone ever used the Blackberry Browser? It sucks, so if their HTML/Javascript support are any indication this will suck too. How can we expect a company to implement something that is even more complicated? Even if they did support Flash/Silverlight odds are you couldn't even get to the page containing the content because you would get an HTTP error.

I use Opera Mini on my BB, it makes web browsing barely usable on my BB.

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 19th 2009 2:37PM]

My mom and 13 year old sister have iphones. Iphones are about as cool as the Ed Hardy tshirts their owners are wearing. I use my BB for work and couldn't imagine trying to use an iphone to do the same job. Iphone has a better brower, bigger app store, and gimmicky marketing, thats about it. Why do people with iphones feel the need to troll every article about cell phones? What sort of inferiority complex do you people posses? scary

[Kabong30 Posted Aug 19th 2009 2:51PM]

Well, we can spell possess...so NYAH!

[Khris Posted Aug 19th 2009 3:22PM]

Clearly you've become blind to the complex that BB owners have!

[RLBurkes Posted Aug 19th 2009 3:30PM]

In order to understand a troll you must think like a stubborn 13 year old, as that is usually the case. I am an iPhone user, I have things I enjoy about the phone, and things I hate. In the end it is the best phone for my needs, and unfortunately AT&T is the only cellular provider in my area so I don't have a ton of options. I agree with you though that the extent at which people bash/support their product is ridiculous. Apple, Google, RIM, HTC, Windows, Etc wouldn't look twice if you were dying in the corner unless it somehow helped boost sales, why do people go through such trouble defending them?

[iroq d mullet Posted Aug 20th 2009 1:15PM]

@RLBurkes

[+] for you, brother!

[soobin Posted Aug 19th 2009 2:45PM]

lol bb browsers can't load pages with simple script in under a minute.
pop up windows? oh nooo
plz just work on catching up with iPhone safari first...

[Kabong30 Posted Aug 19th 2009 2:51PM]

*throws iPhone against wall*

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 19th 2009 3:27PM]

Nyah, well I can spell no if thats what you were trying to stutter. Were you more mad about the iphone thing or the fact that you wear ed hardy? u from new york or jersey broski?

[Kabong30 Posted Aug 19th 2009 7:52PM]

Um....huh? Welcome to the world of the witty comment! Now try one that makes sense!

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 19th 2009 3:28PM]

"even then things may be delayed since they'll need HSPA or LTE data speeds to pull it off."

...uh, Flash does not require more bandwidth. In fact, most times, with a mildly competent developer, the same app can be produced in less raw data than an equivalent HTML app. The persistent bandwidth hog myth came about because Flash was originally targeted at designers who took no effort to keep their apps trim.

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 19th 2009 3:31PM]

I'd get a BlackBerry if the Browser didn't suck. WebOS for now...

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 21st 2009 1:58AM]

Best Buy USA and Canada full site and mobile site both works fine on the iPhone 3GS and Palm Pre. The loading craps out on my BlackBerry Storm and Bold though.

[webterractive Posted Aug 19th 2009 4:14PM]

Blackberry browser does indeed suck, but if you disable the javascript it works much better. Either that or stick to mobile pages that are made for the iPhone, since mobiles pages are like internet pages they seem to only cater to one device/browser.

[25th Hour Posted Aug 19th 2009 5:32PM]

isn't silverlight a fancy MS way of saying flash.... see silver light

[Valicore Posted Aug 19th 2009 7:33PM]

Didn't anyone else see RIM was just named the fastest growing company IN THE WORLD? Check it, it's very interesting. Google was 68. Everyone I know has a BlackBerry device because their jobs require it - that's a strong endorsement.

[poyo Posted Aug 19th 2009 10:29PM]

how about making it not suck first!!!

[evilspoons Posted Aug 19th 2009 10:59PM]

Hmmm. Why do we need anything better than 3G? I can view flash websites on my laptop - tethered to my BlackBerry Bold - just fine.

Sure, you can't just click a HD Youtube video and have it stream, but I find the general experience very usable - I get about 100 KB/sec (800 kbit/s)

[arkansized Posted Aug 20th 2009 12:33AM]

Thanks y'all, I finally figured out what is so wrong with my BB.
The browser sucks.