New BlackBerry browser faster than Android, iPhone?
updated 11:50 am EST, Tue February 2, 2010
BBerry WebKit browser said 30-60pc faster
Research In Motion is planning to use its WebKit-based BlackBerry browser as a surprise weapon against Android phones and the iPhone, Kaufman Bros. analyst Shaw Wu said today in an investor note. He cites "sources" who say the browser has been delayed but that it will take advantage of the push nature of BlackBerry Internet Service to load sites much more quickly. It could load pages as much as 30 to 60 percent faster than other WebKit devices simply by not having to use as much bandwidth.
Wu also believes the browser will soon integrate Flash. RIM joined the Open Screen Project in October but didn't say at the time it would add the plugin to its browser. The completed software doesn't have a definite unveiling point but may get a demo anywhere between Mobile World Congress in the middle of this month and RIM's self-run Wireless Enterprise Symposium at the end of April.
Hardware is similarly being worked upon as two new touchscreen BlackBerries are still thought to be in progress. A conventional BlackBerry shape with a touchscreen, nicknamed elsewhere as the Dakota, is still in development. A full-touchscreen slider resembling the Storm2 is also due but hasn't received new details. Both phones are unofficially slated to ship in 2010.
Web Kit
02/02, 12:47pm reply
The more browsers based on Web Kit the better for Mac users in general. I seriously doubt, though, that this browser is any kind of iPhone or Android killer.
lkrupp
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: May 2001
Faster rendering except
02/02, 12:54pm reply
Horrible interface. So iPhone and Android still come out on top since navigating a page on a BlackBerry is limited to that trackball thing or arrow keys.
cmoney
Mac Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2000
so they're copying Opera
02/02, 01:44pm reply
is this really news? Opera's browser has been compressing/reducing web content to transmit and display faster and more appropriately on mobile devices for ages.
nowwhatareyoulookingat
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jul 2009
We're RIM...
02/02, 01:58pm reply
....and we don't innovate until it's absolutely necessary...
Seriously, my wife got a brand new Blackberry a few weeks ago...and I really tried to be objective about it, but it absolutely s**ks compared to my year and a half old 3G iPhone.
icewing
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: May 2008
Think RIM Sent a Thank-You Note to Steve?
02/02, 03:12pm reply
WEBKit, from Apple, with love.
Think RIM has thanked Apple for giving the world WebKit?
Wingsy
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Apr 2005
Thank You?
02/02, 04:17pm (1 reply) reply
In all fairness Apple had to thank the KHTML developers for Webkit so... I'm not sure how much RIM needs to thank Apple. Apple took an already good rendering engine and made it much better.
Salty
Professional Poster
Joined: Jul 2005