RIM has been marching towards their official release of OS 5.0, and have just released Beta 3 of their 5.0 development kit. Besides all the great UI updates such as the new load screen, it comes with a laundry list of new features and APIs available for developers. What does that mean for you? New apps! Some of the big pain points with the 4.x APIs are being corrected, and some things you simply couldn’t do before are being unlocked.
Lets walk through the top 5 new features, and look at why they are being added and just what apps may be able to take advantage of them.
1. Database support
SQLite Support: New API provides fundamental support for data sharing across different applications on BlackBerry® smartphones. Also supports the Gears JavaScript® API with the database portion layering on top of SQLite
Developers: Database support is something developers have been lacking throughout 4.x, and will enable some powerful applications. Currently, any app requiring a database (any kind of real, searchable data store for that matter) has had to either go it by hand, or work to integrate a clunky third-party solution. With SQLite, developers will be able to store data and perform complex operations against it with ease. Support for the Gears API is an extra perk which allows for powerful offline operations.
What it means to you: Expect new apps to have powerful database functionality like advanced searches, quicker load times, and offline editing. Potential to free up memory if data is stored elsewhere, such as media card.
2. Better web integration
Improved BrowserField API: New updated API enables you to quickly and easily embed web content within a Java® application
Developers: The BrowserField is a component that allows you to embed internet content into your app, and the updates with OS 5.0 make it even easier. This is a must have for applications that need to load data that may change.
What it means to you: Look out for more apps with integrated web content–think global high scores, or exciting dynamic content, such as new images on every load.
3. Better image helpers
Bitmap Scale and Compare: Manipulate Bitmaps and display them in a specified size and aspect ratio
Developers: Dealing with Bitmaps has sucked with OS 4.x, as you had to do everything by hand. Want to rotate an image, you had to calculate every pixel yourself, or use a very expensive (CPU-wise) third-party library. Want to resize an image? You’re on your own. A library to do this all for you will certainly make life easier and make the task of working with images and resizing them for each device much less taxing.
What it means to you: Look out for games with smoother graphics, and more tailored to your device.
4. Incoming call screen apps
Third-party Application Phone Screen Integration: Enables third-party developers to customize incoming and active call screens by adding static text or images to the lower half of those screens
Developers: This one has irked developers as they have struggled to create applications that pop up when a call comes in. Some have tried, many have failed, and now RIM is going to make it easy! For the developers that have figured this out on 4.x, it is always quirky and works differently on each device. Having a single, reliable API will enable a full new class of apps that can gather data and present it to the user when a call comes in.
What it means to you: This is a big one. You will start to see powerful apps that give you information about incoming calls. Imagine the bottom of your phone performing a reverse lookup on incoming calls, or telling you the city and state of the caller. Even more, imagine integration with other apps showing you the latest SMS or email you have had with the person so you can try to remind yourself why they are calling! I can also see integration with existing apps, like providing a way to block a caller from the incoming call with Call Blocker Pro or the like.
5. Video camera integration
JSR 135 Video Capture: New API enables third-party applications to embed the BlackBerry viewfinder to record video clips and display and stream them in the view finder as specified in JSR 135.
Developers: Integrating the video camera in today’s applications is difficult, but OS 5.0 will make this a reality for everyone. You will be able to integrate the video camera into your apps seamlessly to capture video and use the video however you please.
What it means for you: This has the potential to be big if developers latch on to the idea. Imagine augmented reality apps that overlay data on the screen as you pan the camera around. Imagine texting apps like the iPhone that show you the ground in front of you while you type.
Conclusion
We are certainly excited to start playing around with the new features at Epic Applications. It will be interesting to see how many developers pick up the new features, and what that will mean for older devices that are still running 4.x. Many developers have already found solutions to the problems that OS 5.0 new features solve, and may continue using them for the time being. Since 5.0 apps will not work on 4.x devices, it is possible we will see developers sit out of using OS 5.0 APIs for the time being.
What do you think of the new features? Can you think of any other types of apps to look out for? Let us know with a comment!
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