RIM demos new WebKit-based BlackBerry browser at MWC -- it's fast!
By Nilay Patel 
posted February 16th 2010 11:56AM
posted February 16th 2010 11:56AM
posted February 16th 2010 11:56AM
A look back on popular stories from today in a specific year.
Now that we've thrown 'em off the trail, use the form below to get in touch with the people at Engadget. Please fill in all of the required fields because they're required.
The problem continues in this forum of people making meaningless comments. That being said, this is huge for BlackBerry. Anyone with a sense of business would know that. If they get this working well, they can market to others outside of business much better.
They sell a lot now. With a real web browser that's fast, they should sell even more. For many people, the web browser was the deal killer.
Lets be clear, claiming it has full HTML 5 support is an out and out lie. It may be a fantastic browser, but there's no way it has full support for aa spec that is still being written.
To quote from the W3C currewnt HTML Spec document:
"Implementors should be aware that this specification is not stable. Implementors who are not taking part in the discussions are likely to find the specification changing out from under them in incompatible ways. Vendors interested in implementing this specification before it eventually reaches the Candidate Recommendation stage should join the aforementioned mailing lists and take part in the discussions."
Even if the browser developers are part of the discussions, the point still stands.
Now, if it had said 'Full support for the evolving HTML 5 spec' it would be better, if not snappier.
Can't believe the engadget article didn't pick up on this.
The screen on those BBerry's is just so small!
Hooray! Blackberry catches up to 2007! What's next, Microsoft revamping their mobile line?......wait.......
@ReverendDC lol!
@ReverendDC although I agree, bberry does very well in sales
@keegnaB U have to admit. RIM is in a box. The storm was their way out. Instead backed themselves further into a corner. Take it from a recovering BB addict. The "high" is just not there anymore. An endless line of modified curves & failing touchscreens. Don't get me started on the OS...
moving one nothing to see here...
Now all they have to do is add some spice. The browser maybe fast but the UI still looks shitty. RIM needs to step up their game, now even Microsoft is slapping them in the face. BBs maybe selling well for now but if RIM continues to remain stagnant like this then less and less people will stop buying BBs and go for the iPhones, Windows 7, Androids, and WebOS phones of the world.
oo that is a blackberry 9100 ic... when is that baby coming out?
It seems that RIM uses the whole 'it's for business' mantra as an excuse to rehash the same crappy software over and over. I've used 3 BBs,, including the storm and I honestly cannot see a significant difference. I understand that it is a solid messaging platform. There simply is no way to dispute that. But I personally think that smartphones will be the laptops of the future (the japanese use their cellphones for everything). The worlds most popular messaging platforms are all web based. There is no excuse for any handset manufacturer to exploit a niche market (like business messaging). I agree with the person that said they should have released this three years ago. That is why they will slowly, but surely lose market share, and that is why I have an iphone and my wife a droid. We can do nearly everything we need to do on them without compromise. I returned my storm to my boss and explained why, and she decided to change as well. I guess we will see what happens.
looks like rim is following suit with apple. no flash. instead they want everyone to use something new that isn't widely supported yet.
@assnacho It's more likely that they don't support flash yet in this browser, their need is to get the browser out now and add flash later like other non-apple handsets.
maybe I'm just spoiled with touchscreen phones, but navigating through a browser with a trackpad and other buttons to zoom in/out is a pain to me. but this is a big win for bb users
@yyandrew There are clearly benefits to a touchscreen in navigation, but then they lose out when you come to type something and it's all about balancing how you use a phone and getting the one that's right for you.
I guess it's a good job for RIM that they have a range of form factors and don't expect all their customers to want the same one.
this is like S60 browser, 2007, but S60 had Flash... They have a long way to go, but going in the right direction.
Will this work (or even be practical) on a Blackberry Pearl Flip (8220)? I don't even know the specs, but it doesn't perform overly well (maybe someone can tell me some of the hardware specs, including processor speed and RAM?) - so I'm dubious about being excited for this. Thanks all.
will the Bold 9700 be getting this via firmware OTA update?
Awesome... Now all they need is true IMAP support and we may have a winner
glad to see that RIM is finally just on par with the other companies.
Wow, this is really REALLY nice.
Now I can finally include the Blackberry as a potential choice for my next phone, when I do think of a next phone, that is.
I do wish the screen on the BBerrys were bigger, though, maybe a different form factor. But hey, RIM can't cater to everyone.
I would venture to say that this year compared to last year, the store i work at sells probably 10% of the blackberry phones that it used to now that people have more options out there like palm and android
This better work with my Bold 9000!
Blackberry is primarily about messaging, not browsing, or maps or even really apps, but the core elements of what the majority expect from a smartphone; Calls, Email, SMS and Instant Messaging. And, as far as I'm concerned a Blackberry performs these functions with completely unrivalled efficiency. So if RIM want to improve on the pitiful standard browser then that's fine by me but honestly, it's hardly what Blackberry is about.
I just sent back an HD2 cos I just couldn't get things done as quickly and efficiently as I could on my 9700, for those tasks i just listed it was like having an arm tied behind my back. On the other hand, it really does make me yearn for a tablet to fill that gap between my phone and desktop because browsing, (along with maps), is one of the few tasks to genuinely benefit from touchscreen. But, no amount of technology is gonna make browsing with a trackpad on a 480 x 360 screen a comfortable or enjoyable experience, even if it is slightly quicker.
Will this be an OTA update or will you have to purchase a new BlackBerry with it already installed?
Well here's something I don't understand. RIM start getting the browser right so suddenly people who don't even use BlackBerries begin to point out all the bad things about the OLD browser and saying that they're rubbish? C'mon folks!
And complaining that RIM say their devices are aimed at business customers because they're AWESOME at messaging is just lunacy to me. Isn't this one of the primary functions of a phone after all?
Seems to me that all the iPhone fanboys are suddenly realising that yes, their iPhones may have "an app for that", but the functionality of the device as an actual phone is ridiculous.