RIM has announced that the new BlackBerry Widget Software Development Kit (SDK) is now available for download. This SDK would allow developers to build web-based apps that take advantage of BlackBerry’s advanced features and functionality.

A BlackBerry Widget uses the BlackBerry® Browser engine torender an application’s user interface using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.Developers are able to use existing web content to create BlackBerry Widgetsand extend the capabilities of their web applications using BlackBerry WidgetAPIs.

Using the new BlackBerry Widget APIs, developers can, forexample, create seamless interaction between a widget and the BlackBerry emailand calendar applications, create widgets with the ability to view or editfiles and documents stored on the smartphone, access location-based services orthe media player, and more. Developers can also take advantage of RIM’s uniquepush technology, enabling dynamic widgets that can run in the background andprovide proactive alerts to users in a timely manner.

“BlackBerry Widgets open up a world of opportunities fordevelopers to build and bring to market web applications for BlackBerrysmartphones that offer advanced, integrated functionality and an always-on userexperience,” said Alan Brenner, senior vice president, BlackBerry platforms atRIM. “We are very excited by the prospects of this new widget developmentplatform which combines the ease of development of standard web languages withthe rich functionality of Java development.”

One thing about this announcement that stuck out to me is that in order for the BlackBerry Widgets to work the device must be running OS 5.0. Yesterday I mentioned that BBM 5.0 is rumored to be launching tomorrow, this too has features that require a BlackBerry to be running OS 5.0 in order for them to work. Does anyone else see where this is going?

For more info and to download the BlackBerry Widgets SDK visit blackberry.com/developers/widget or check out the press release after the jump.

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Today’s Deal of the Day is Mobile Checkbook for BlackBerry by Mobatech!

Mobile Checkbook is an app that allows you to record transactions as they happen so you can stay up-to-date with all your account balances.

Features:

• Record account transactions on the go.
• Quickly view your bank account balance.
• View past transactions including date, time, payee, memo and check number.
• Modify, clear or delete transactions at any time.
• Maintain an unlimited number of accounts.
• E-mail transaction lists to your personal computer for storage off of your phone.
• Export your transaction lists in HTML, Excel(XLS) or Quicken(QIF) format.
• View a greater number of transactions on the screen at one time.
• Drill down into your transaction list to view transaction details.
• View your total withdrawal & deposit amounts to compare saving vs spending.

Originally $12.95, until 12AM CST today you can get this app for $6.47.

Mobile Checkbook is compatible with all BlackBerry devices running OS 4.2 and higher. Head on over to the BBRocks! Store to take advantage of this great offer!

You can also find these same great offers right on your BlackBerry in the on-device Mobile App Store.

Gwabbit let me know that their server-side recognition engine has been upgraded with many improvements that will enhance the BlackBerry application’s performance.

Here are the changes:

• The engine now correctly handles the text added by anti-virus programs such as AVG
• The Improve Results feature (gwabbit for Outlook) is greatly improved, now recognizing a much higher percentage of contact blocks
• Better recognition of non-US phone numbers and non-US addresses
• Better recognition and parsing of HTML emails, taking into account the formatting of the signature block, including stylized text
• Improved handling for new varieties of signature structures, based on the feedback submitted
• Better separation of the “thread” (older email in the same conversation) so as to more accurately identify contact information of the sender. This improvement is especially noticeable in gwabbit for BlackBerry
• Overall improved recognition

If you already have gwabbit you aren’t required to do anything since this is a server-side upgrade.

Since I get a lot of emails these days the gwabbit app is a life saver for automatically detecting signatures and prompting me to create/update an address book entry with that info.

Gwabbit is available for a $9.99 yearly subscription and will work with all BlackBerry devices running OS 4.2 and higher. You can also find this app in the Mobile App Store.

A free trial is available if you’d like to try it before you buy it.

Today RIM announced their new and enhanced tools for developing web apps for BlackBerry smartphones.

The BlackBerry Web Development Plug-in for Eclipse, available today at www.blackberry.com/developers/webeclipse, is a new plug-in that allows developers to create web applications and content for BlackBerry smartphones within the familiar Eclipse 3.4 environment. Using this plug-in, developers can debug and profile Internet/intranet web pages displaying HTML and CSS content in addition to more complex rich internet applications using AJAX, Silverlight, PHP, ASP, Ruby on Rails, JSP, and Python.

BlackBerry Plug-in for Microsoft Visual Studio version 1.2, available today at www.blackberry.com/developers/webvisualstudio, provides an all-in-one tool for developers to create web applications and content for BlackBerry^® smartphones within the Visual Studio 2008 environment. Using this plug-in, developers can create simple Internet/intranet web pages or more complex, rich Internet applications using AJAX and ASP.Net.

Both tools feature BlackBerry smartphone simulators for testing and debugging projects, and web application profiling for visibility into data traffic, load time and use of web based content, including elements such as images, CSS, JavaScript, HTML and objects.

For more info visit blackberry.com/developer or check out the full press release after the jump.

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BGR has managed to get his hands on an internal document from Bell about the BlackBerry Tour 9630.

The internal document shows a confirmed launch date of July 17th for the Tour 9630 on Bell, retailing at $699.95. Keep in mind that this is the price of the Bell Tour without a contract. If you are willing to sign up for a new 3-year contract you’re looking at spending about $249.95, but according to BG this price could drop down to as low as $199.95 at the time of launch (maybe lower).

Check out the full internal document after the jump.

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Press Release

Feature Pack supports mobile printing of HTML e-mails and browser pages directly from a BlackBerry smartphone

The new Feature Pack from Cortado transforms a smartphone into a PC and lets users take office functions on the road. The feature pack, released today, makes Cortado the first to offer printing and faxing from improved BlackBerry browsers.

The Feature Pack now allows users to print HTML e-mails or web browser pages to Bluetooth or network printers – or send via fax. Furthermore, administrators can easily manage network printers, and users can search for these from a BlackBerry smartphone. The new feature pack supports Microsoft Office 2007 formats as well as the mailing system from GroupWise, a Groupware software from Novell.

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