Oh happy day! As if the announcement of Flash development for the BlackBerry platform wasn’t enough, RIM has gone and announced upcoming support for OpenGL ES for the development of 3D games and graphics, Java GUI builder to help with development of user interfaces for apps and the BlackBerry Theme Studio for creating themes!

With OpenGL ES support, Java developers will have the ability to build 3D games and graphics for BlackBerry smartphones running BlackBerry OS 5.0 and higher. The OpenGL ES support is available through an update of the BlackBerry® Java® Software Development Kit (BlackBerry Java SDK).

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An upcoming GUI builder integrated into the BlackBerry Java Plug-in for Eclipse will make it faster and easier for Java developers to build user interfaces for BlackBerry applications. Developers will be able to rapidly create and localize complex user interfaces with a WYSIWYG (what-you-see-is-what-you-get) view and drag and drop capabilities. The Java GUI builder will also allow developers to easily preview their user interface design on different BlackBerry smartphones.

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RIM is also announcing the availability of BlackBerry Theme Studio – a free suite of theme design, illustration and animation tools that make it easier to create custom interfaces (themes) for BlackBerry smartphones running BlackBerry OS 4.2.2 and higher, including the new BlackBerry® Storm2™ and BlackBerry® Bold™ 9700 smartphones.

Great way to start the BlackBerry news week! For more info and links check out the press release after the jump.

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Back in early October I told you about RIM joining the Open Screen Project to enhance the BlackBerry platform with rumored Adobe Flash support by next summer. Today RIM and Adobe announced that they have expanded their collaboration and that developers will soon be able to easily create rich content and apps using Adobe’s authoring tools to include Flash and more.

The collaboration aims to accelerate the mobile application and content development workflow between BlackBerry application and web content developers and creative professionals that use Adobe tools. It will also reduce the re-creation of graphic assets and iterations that designers and developers have to go through to generate rich application user interfaces, animations, images and video content when supporting multiple platforms.

Today’s news builds upon the recent announcement that the two companies are working together as part of the Open Screen Project to bring the Adobe Flash® Player browser runtime to BlackBerry smartphones. The two companies will also be collaborating to adapt other key components of the Flash Platform including Adobe AIR®.

Very exciting news but that’s not all RIM is working on! Continue reading for more info in the press release and stay tuned for some more news from the BlackBerry Developer Conference.

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Thanks to @themes4bb I’ve got some great news for developers working with the BlackBerry platform!

At the 2009 BlackBerry Developer Converence in San Francisco (currently in session), RIM has announced a new services platform for developers that will enable them to streamline business processes and build highly responsive, location-away, revenue-generating apps. Among the new services will be a BlackBerry Advertising Service, Payment Service and new Location Services.

BlackBerry Payment Service to Enable In-Application Transactions and Streamlined Payment Processes

A new BlackBerry® Payment Service from RIM will present BlackBerry developers with new opportunities to monetize applications by selling digital content such as premium content, monthly or annual subscriptions, and additional levels or upgrades for games and other entertainment applications from within their applications. The BlackBerry Payment Service will also incorporate merchant services, including customer billing.

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BlackBerry Push Service for Delivering Content and Alerts to Applications to Become Generally Available

BlackBerry® Push Service, which was first made exclusively available to BlackBerry® Alliance Program members earlier this year, will be made generally available to registered developers in the first half of 2010. BlackBerry Push Service allows developers and content providers to deliver time-sensitive alerts and up to 8 KB of data to applications.

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New Location Services to Advance Location-Aware BlackBerry Applications

Adding to the GPS capabilities already supported on the BlackBerry Application Platform today, RIM will introduce three new location-based services for developers to build highly responsive, location-aware applications for BlackBerry smartphones. The three new location-based services include cell site geolocation, reverse geocoding and travel time.

I’m glad RIM is opening up more opportunities for better integration and development of the BlackBerry platform. This is only one of the announcements made at the Developer Conference so far, I’m sure we’ll be hearing some more great news soon!

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

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My buddy Thomas (@aka_thewarrior) and his buddy BES let me know that BlackBerry Bold 9700 dummy units are arriving at T-Mobile USA stores!

As a reminder, RIM announced that the Bold 9700 would be launching worldwide in November and T-Mobile is having a Go Bolder Event tomorrow so I’m sure we’ll be seeing an official announcement real soon. The Bold 9700 has already launched on a few carriers so it looks like the worldwide launch is right on schedule.

While you wait be sure to check out the Bold 9700 features and specifications to become familiar with this device if you haven’t already. Any T-Mobile customers excited about getting this awesome BlackBerry?

RIM’s BlackBerry Developer Conference is just around the corner and according to @BlackBerryForum, today is the last day to register online!

The 2009 BlackBerry Developer Conference features more than 110 sessions that will appeal to commercial developers for both enterprise and consumer markets, corporate developers, business decision makers and application architects and designers. There are a range of sessions designed to accommodate both beginner and advanced application developers, including web developers, .NET developers and Java® developers. In addition to General Sessions and Breakout Sessions, the conference features Hands-on Labs, onsite BlackBerry Developer Certification testing, a Mobility Pavilion and Talk With The Experts areas.

The BlackBerry Developer Conference is being held in San Francisco, CA from November 9-12th. If you’ve already registered you can check out the BlackBerry Developer Conference Mobile Guide available in the BlackBerry App World. The mobile guide allows attendees to schedule sessions, look up speaker and sponsor information, get the latest news from the show, access conference maps and offer feedback. App screenshot below…

For more info visit blackberrydeveloperconference.com or check out the press release after the jump.

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Yesterday I mentioned talking to a Verizon Assistant Manager who told me that the BlackBerry Storm2 would be launching on October 28th. Today Verizon and RIM have confirmed that launch date with an official announcement!

We pretty much already know everything about the Storm2 from the leaked info pamphlet, the  interactive user guide and the full list of features and specifications. Here is the official pricing and availability info:

The BlackBerry Storm2 smartphone is available beginning Oct. 28 for $179.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement on a voice plan with an Email and Web feature or an Email and Web for BlackBerry plan.  Customers will receive the mail-in rebate in the form of a debit card; upon receipt, customers may use the card as cash anywhere debit cards are accepted.  Data plans for the BlackBerry Storm2 smartphone begin at $29.99 when added to any Nationwide voice plan.

Also mentioned in this press release is the release of OS 5.0 for the Storm 9530, which was released late last night. For more info check out the full press release after the jump.

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Yesterday I mentioned that the Verizon BlackBerry Storm 9530 might be getting OS 5.0.0.328 tomorrow. Since that post I’ve received a bunch of emails asking whether a certain BlackBerry model will get OS 5.0.

Up till now I could only base my answers on leaked information, but  thanks to a new knowledge base article posted by RIM we now know exactly which BlackBerry devices will get it!

List of the supported devices:

• BlackBerry® Pearl™ Flip 8200 series smartphones
• BlackBerry® Curve™ 8330 smartphones
• BlackBerry® Curve™ 8350i smartphones
• BlackBerry® Curve™ 8900 smartphones
• BlackBerry® Bold™ 9000 smartphones
• BlackBerry® Storm™ 9500 series smartphones
• BlackBerry® Tour™ 9630 smartphones

Your BlackBerry must have at least 64MB of available memory in order to upgrade to OS 5.0 once it’s available.

According to the knowledge base article not all wireless service providers will support BlackBerry OS 5.0 for the devices listed above, meaning you might have to get it from another service provider. This isn’t a problem for those that don’t mind using an OS not issued by their carrier.

Here’s to hoping an OS 5.0 launch for all devices is just around the corner!

via KB17984

Yesterday I posted about the BlackBerry Bold 9700 becoming official with press releases from RIM, AT&T, Bell, Rogers and T-Mobile. The official worldwide launch will begin in November so you’ll want to know as much as you can about the 9700 if you don’t already.

Associated with the Bold 9700 press release was a features and specifications PDF which I’ve included as text after the jump, followed by a link to the PDF file in case you’d like to save it. Check it out and let me know what you think in the comments!

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Back in August when RIM acquired Torch Mobile it was assumed that a WebKit-based browser was going to be developed for BlackBerry smartphones. Thanks to MobileCrunch, the development of a WebKit-based browser is further confirmed by a job notice posted on LinkedIn where RIM is looking to hire a “WebKit Developer at Research In Motion”.

POSITION SUMMARY

We are currently looking for a talented and passionate individual to join a growing team within the BlackBerry Platform organization. Utilizing their expert knowledge in C++ programming, the successful candidate will be working in a fast-paced, dynamic development environment to develop a WebKit-based browser for the BlackBerry Platform.

I could only hope that RIM hiring another developer means they are looking to speed things up a bit. I already think my BlackBerry rocks, but objectively speaking, I definitely wouldn’t mind a better browser.

For more info check out the job posting on LinkedIn. Best of luck if you decide to apply!

RIM, along with AT&T, Bell, Rogers and T-Mobile, have made the BlackBerry Bold 9700 official with an expected worldwide launch in November!

The BlackBerry Bold 9700 smartphone offers top-of-the-line performance, functionality and features with support for 3G HSDPA networks around the world, a next-generation (624 MHz) processor, 256 MB Flash memory, built-in GPS and Wi-Fi®, a 3.2MP camera and a sharp, dazzling display. Cutting edge engineering and premium finishes extend to the exterior of the handset as well, with a smoothly integrated touch-sensitive trackpad and a highly tactile, distinctive, fretted keyboard. The dark chrome frame and leatherette back add to the new smartphone’s sleek and elegant look, while the narrow profile, balanced weight and soft-touch sides allow it to feel incredibly comfortable in one hand.

“The BlackBerry Bold 9700 builds on the success of the original BlackBerry Bold with new, state-of-the-art features and a smaller, lighter and highly optimized design that looks, feels and performs great,” said Mike Lazaridis, President and Co-CEO, Research In Motion.

I don’t know about you but I can’t wait to get my hands on this awesome BlackBerry. For more info head over to blackberry.com/bold9700 or check out RIM’s press release after the jump.

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