Pebble has issued an update to their PebbleKit SDK that will allow app developers to create and update their apps to support two-way communication with the Pebble watch over Bluetooth. Of course, this is huge for Pebble, as well as the app developers and the users who own a Pebble watch. Now they’ll be able to perform actions through the watch and have them sent to your smartphone.

Also being released today is the Pebble Sports API, which will allow third-party fitness apps to connect to Pebble smartwatches to offer certain data on the watch face, including time, pace, and miles. RunKeeper announced support last week, but Pebble is making the new API available for everyone, so we should be seeing a lot more fitness apps with Pebble support pop up in the near future.

In related Pebble news, the company is now beginning to ship their orange-colored watches to Kickstarter backers who have requested them. The company also completed development for grey and white models, but they have yet to make it into full production still, so it seems some Pebble backers will be waiting just a little while longer.

Also, after raising over $10 million in the Kickstarter campaign alone, Pebble is getting another round of funding, this time for a cool $15 million from Charles River Ventures. This means that we’ll see the Pebble team expand, and this really only marks the beginning for the company, which we expect to hear from in the next few years about new products and updates.

VIA: Engadget

SOURCE: Pebble

Developers have been able to use Facebook’s Open Graph for mobile app development in the past, but the creation of an Object API simplifies the process of taking advantage of Open Graph, and it removes the tedious need to host a website with specific Open Graph tagging. This should certainly take some weight off the shoulders of app developers.

If you’re not familiar with Facebook’s new Open Graph, it essentially lets developers integrate their own applications deeply into the Facebook experience. This in turn, is said to increase engagement with various things that users post on their walls and such. Basically, it makes it easy for third-party apps to integrate with Facebook.

As for other features with this new SDK, a new and improved login system has also been revealed. Essentially, the improved login options for logging into third-party apps using your Facebook credentials is much more streamlined, and the social network says it’s about 20% faster than before. As for when we’ll see these kinds of improvements come to Android, Facebook says it’s working on it “very quickly.”

According to Jefferies analyst Peter Misek, Apple will be releasing the SDK next month, with an event to show off the new kit. While Misek doesn’t think that Apple’s rumored television set will be making an appearance at the event, he does think that they will announce it sometime in September or October, and suggests that Apple might be preparing for the television’s release by introducing this developer program.

Apple has been open to the idea of opening up the Apple TV to developers for a while. The late Steve Jobs even said back in 2010 that an app store for the Apple TV could launch when the time is right, and since the Apple TV runs iOS, the process shouldn’t be all that difficult, and might be able to fit right into the iTunes App Store.

As far as the Apple television set goes, Misek expects that various size options will be between 42- and 55-inches, with prices starting around $1,500, which is right around what we’ve been hearing in the past. The SDK that we could see next month may definitely be a precursor to bigger things, and it’s also possible we could see a refreshed Apple TV STB come to fruition as well.

[via Business Insider]

This isn’t the first time we’ve seen the BlackBerry 10 L-Series, with the handset making a public appearance in a video back in October. A sales representative in Mexico used the handset when showing off the upcoming operating system, and a short while later, the video went offline. Still, this is the clearest set of images to have surfaced of the phone, and they show off an impressively sleek and attractive device.

Not too much is known about the BlackBerry L-Series, except that both a full-touch and QWERTY model will be available at some point, and that the series is being aimed at the mid-to-high smartphone market. Presently, analysts are guessing that BlackBerry 10 devices will start arriving on store shelves in or around March of 2013.

Meanwhile, RIM has been busy preparing for the BB10 launch, and announced earlier today that it has released the Gold BB10 SDK build. This SDK offers the final varities of APIs, tools, and components for developers to create BB10 apps. Developers can nab the Gold SDK build by heading over to RIM’s developer.blackberry.com site.

[via Tinh Te]

In any case, it’s ready to be downloaded, and all developers can finally get their grubby app-making hands on the new SDK. However, before you even think about diving deep into the world of Windows Phone 8 app development, Microsoft wants you running a 64-bit copy of Windows 8 and nothing less.

So, while Microsoft is banning luddites from using its Windows Phone 8 SDK, we’re guessing that most developers who are serious about any kind of app development will most likely take the plunge to Windows 8 anyway, so Microsoft probably doesn’t have anything to worry about as far as that goes.

Now that the Windows Phone 8 SDK is out in full swing, we’re now waiting patiently and anticipating for the platform’s app ecosystem to start growing. Aside from the typical big apps like Facebook, Twitter, Pandora, etc., let’s hope we see some awesome indie developers work their magic on Microsoft’s newest mobile operating system.

The brunt of the download is the WPExpress.zip file, containing the SDK. Other files include PDF guides for network monitoring, battery optimization for applications, and a dashboard simulation for apps. Interestingly, a file called “Windows Phone Apollo Release Notes.htm” is also included in the package, which may reveal some more details about Windows Phone 8 that Microsoft hasn’t announced yet.

Developers will probably be the most interested parties trying to get their hands on the download, although it’s not exactly easy. Users have to download a third-party Chinese application due to the size of the file. Even when you do have the SDK, it reportedly only runs on the WIndows 8 preview edition, and Microsoft may restrict the SDK to just Windows 8 when it is officialyl released. If your interested has been perked, hit up the source link for the full details.

[via WPCentral]

Developers will also be able to take advantage of a brand new Facebook SDK for iOS website with tools and resources for the next release of Apple’s mobile operating system. This site has a Facebook “Getting Started” guide and will allow users to work with just the basics, samplings of code, and more. You can start as a fresh developer having never worked with Facebook’s codes before, you can check out their reference library, and you can start with concept codes for quick launching.

Those of you who have already been using Facebook in your apps with iOS, you’ll want to dive right in. For those of you who want to know more about how Facebook will be working with iOS 6, you’ll want to check out the following posts in the timeline below – heavy Facebook integration ahead!

If you recall, Watson has been split into several different categories so the engine provides the best results. Those include Web Search, Business Search, Voicemail to Text, SMS, Question and Answer, TV, and Generic. Watson has been tuned to each of those specific tasks, so developers have the choice of picking out the best option rather than writing in unnecessary functionality.

Even if you’re not a developer, you’ve probably come across Watson being used in automated customer service helplines. There’s also an official Translator app for iOS that makes use of the technology, so take a peek if you’re morbidly curious. As for developers, you need only head over to developers.att.com to start building apps using the Watson API.

The biggest change for developers will be the change of the IDE. Previously if you were coding for the Smart TV, you were restricted to Samsung’s own IDE which is said to be less than ideal. Samsung has now added support for Eclipse as the IDE, which should be easier for developers going forward. Remote Control now has its own separate process, and app developers can now change the input method from within the emulator.

Samsung has high hopes for Smart TVs, extolling the virtues of the platform back at CES 2012. The company has been shipping its 2012 lineup for several months now, and is hoping users, as well as developers, will jump onboard thanks to the voice and gesture recognition features. We spent a little bit of time with one of Samsung’s Smart TVs to give both features a whirl, so make sure to check out our hands-on to see how it all holds up.

Imagine getting directions while snowboarding down a mountain. Weather conditions, time, speed MPH readings and much much more. That is exactly what you can do with Recon Instruments new MOD HUD. What makes this even better is it’s available now — not 2013 — and they’ve just dropped their Android SDK so developers can start working on companion apps. Here’s a short video explaining the product a little better:

Here at Google IO Recon has unleashed their developer SDK so those interested can start building apps to accompany them down the mountain while using Recon’s HUD. These apps will then be connected to the HUD via a smartphone or tablet and the options are limitless. While talking with Tyson Miller from Recon he explained that they are working with multiple Goggle companies like Smith and more to integrate their product into wearable units. Currently the device in the video and pictures below is just a prototype, as they only sale the HUD, not the actual Goggles too.

Recon also states that while this is currently only available for Ski and Snowboard goggles, they plan to bring to market multiple different offerings for any type of activity. Once developers dive into the SDK the options for apps and uses will greatly increase. Developers can get started here, and the Recon Instruments MOD is shipping now for just $399.

The MOD Live is a complex little piece of kit, with various sensors integrated: an altimeter, barometer, 3-axis accelerometer, 3-axis gyro, 3-axis magnetometer, and a temperature sensor. There’s also Bluetooth Smart Ready (aka 4.0) and GPS, a d-pad for navigation, and of course the eyepiece itself.

Power is from an 800MHz TI OMAP3 Cortex-A8 processor paired with 256MB RAM and 512MB of flash space, of which 180MB shows up as mass storage. ”Because our SDK is pretty much completely the Android SDK, creating an HUD app takes about the same effort as a regular Android app” Recon claims.

The facility for the MOD Live to take advantage of basic http pull and push is due to be added in the next week or so, and Recon plans to give away ten free eyepieces (and subsidize a further 100 by 50-percent) to encourage developers to jump onboard. Normally, the MOD Live is priced at $399.99.

You can sign up to be considered as a developer here, and see an example of an app – detailed here - intended for skiers in the video below.

Developers will be able to implement uploads, downloads, or simple file edits within their own applications by leveraging the SDK. It mimics similar functionality that Dropbox has been offering developers for some time. On top of that, the programming interface has seen some tweaks, now coping with conversions and revisions.

Google Drive SDK 2.0 is up for download now, and some apps have already been updated to take use of the new functionality. Google says that others will be updated in due course. If you’re a developer and want the full details as well as the SDK, head on over here.

Developers will be able to tap into several Snapdragon APIs as part of the SDK, such as facial processing which includes smile and blink detection and a burst capture mode that will take photos in rapid succession, a feature seen on phones such as the HTC One X and Samsung Galaxy S III. Audio in video recordings can also be improved thanks to a surround sound recording mode, which will make use of the multiple microphones found on devices.

In addition, hardware echo cancellation can be tapped into, and sensor gestures can also be utilized. That would allow developers to develop new gesture based interfaces, such as tilting the phone or placing it face up/face down. Some location based services are onboard as well, such as a low power “always on” mode for geofencing tasks, and indoor location capabilities that will give accurate location data.

Qualcomm say developers can learn more about the new SDK by heading over to the Developer Network or by keeping an eye on the @Qualcomm_Dev Twitter account.

The Apple TV is based on the same underlying iOS platform as the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad, and indeed now uses a custom single-core version of the Apple A5 chipset found in some of the mobile products. However, so far Apple has proved reluctant to enable the third-party software support on the STB, perhaps because of user-interface differences between apps for TVs and apps for handheld devices.

That, though, may well be changing next week. An SDK would telegraph a significant evolution of the Apple TV, from hobby to a more central position in the company’s line-up. It could also pave the way for the long-rumored Apple television set, which is believed to use Siri to replace the usual button-encrusted remote supplied with HDTVs.

Full details will be shared at WWDC 2012 next week, and SlashGear will be liveblogging the keynoate at live.slashgear.com from 10AM PST on June 11. There’s a roundup of what you can expect – including new MacBook Pro models and iOS 6 - here.

Microsoft has included Kinect Studio with the 1.5 SDK, which allows developers to record and playback data captured by Kinect. Microsoft believes this will shorten development time and should help with debugging. The new update also brings 10-point skeleton tracking, letting the head and arms of a human to be tracked in real time. A Face Tracking feature has been worked into the SDK, which can accurately track facial features such as the shape of a mouth and location of eyebrows.

The new Kinect SDK is available in four new countries (Singapore, Hong Kong, Korea, and Taiwan), plus an assortment of new languages (French, Spanish, Italian, and Japanese). The company says that additional countries will be added in June, which include Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Denmark, Finland, India, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Arab Emirates.

[via The Verge]

Currently, if a third party app is using the Dropbox SDK, it kicks the user over to a site for authentication. However, the same page also contains a link that allows users to create new accounts, something that Apple is frowning on. While Dropbox at first removed the link to account creation via the desktop site, apps are still being rejected from the App Store.

In the meantime, Dropbox has pushed out a new SDK that removes account creation, and the company says that it’s “working with Apple to come up with a solution that still provides an elegant user experience.” It does raise questions yet again about Apple’s stance on the issue, but at the end of the day, they make the rules.

[via The Verge]

This new release reportedly focuses on stability and performance improvements, and the team pledges to keep the updates flowing. As for what you can expect from the new SDK, there’s a Simulator tool that runs in a browser, allowing developers to play around with Tizen APIs, simulate apps and different hardware profiles, and debug code.

The IDE has also been updated, with more flexibility being given to templates and debugging tools, and there’s been a huge performance boost in the emulator thanks to the inclusion of hardware acceleration using Intel hardware. OpenGL acceleration is onboard for those developing under Linux. No Mac support just yet, but the team says it’s coming soon.

As for the source code, some additional HTML5 functions have been added, support for Point of Interest and route search also comes along for the ride, and key features for WiFi Direct have made the grade too. If you’re a developer and Tizen is sounding mighty tempting, head on over to the link to grab the new SDK and source code.

It’s also possible to test out games and apps on the PS Vita itself, as well as any PlayStation-certified device such as a recent Xperia smartphone or one of Sony’s Android tablets. However, free games and apps won’t be allowed, only paid apps or “freemium” content, with an in-app purchasing system expected to roll out sometime during the beta period.

Sony bundles various UI libraries and the GameEngine2D for games using 2D graphics, Physics2D for 2D physical engine, and multiple sample games and apps in 2D and 3D. From today, the Developer Forums are also open, allowing coders to collaborate and talk to Sony’s own experts.

The full version of the PlayStation Suite Developer Program will be released later in 2012, Sony says, at which point developers will be able to distribute their games and apps via the PlayStation Store. That, though, will demand a separate contract for distribution, and once out of open beta there’ll be a $99 membership fee for inclusion in the program itself.

Then, it’s possible to use the Kinect’s distance sensors, tracking and other tech to help the robot navigate, avoid obstacles and react to those people around it. It’s not just hobbyists, either; Microsoft expects commercial robotics manufacturers to pick up the toolkit, and has added Microsoft .NET Framework 4, XNA Game Studio 4.0, and Visual Studio 2010 support too.

An example of what can be put together is shown in Microsoft’s video below, the Kinect Follow Me robot, which uses the sensors to trundle the test platform after its human master.

As for Eddie, the $1,249 reference kit is the handiwork of Parallax and includes everything – bar a laptop and a Kinect – you need to get going. There are five extra distance sensors – three of which are  infrared and two ultrasonic – collision avoidance in areas Kinect isn’t facing, and owners can apparently easily add their own sensors, accessories and custom tweaks.

At its core is a Propeller P8X32A microcontroller, hooked up via USB to the laptop, with high-current motor drivers, an eight-channel 10-bit ADC, and multiple digital I/O connections. Power supplies for just about every purpose – 12 V, 5 V, and 3.3 V – mean you can run motors, LEDs and more, while runtime of 4 – 7 hours is tipped from a single charge.

Japan, the US, Canada, the UK, France, Italy, Germany, Spain and Australia will all have access to the open beta, which will be released as a free tool until the full version drops in the coming months. That full version will be backward compatible with all apps created by the beta, of course, and those using the open beta will be able to test their games on the PS Vita hardware.

As for other mobile devices, PlayStation Certification has already been granted to the Sony Ericsson Xperia arc, acro, PLAY and acro HD, along with the Sony Xperia S, ion, Tablet S and Tablet P. Sony promises more approved devices soon, and we’ve heard rumors that manufacturers like HTC might be getting in on the gaming action too.

Sony is betting on content being king in mobile devices, something Apple seems to have figured out before it, though the PS Vita OS itself could prove to be a wildcard.

OmniSketch is familiar from the iPad, of course, a drawing and sketching app that has impressed artists with its flexibility and precision. Samsung will allow for basic editing and annotation in the native Gallery app on the Galaxy Note – permitting annotation on both photos and video – but OmniSketch will take those capabilities one step further.

As for Comic Book, that’s a more humorous art tool, also familiar from the iPad, allowing users to create their own comic books complete with box-outs, speech bubbles and effects. Finally, Sooner Workplace takes the Galaxy Note into the enterprise, with pen-enabled support for communal documents and document editing.

It’s unclear what Samsung intends to do when it comes to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, which Google unveiled earlier in the month. Ice Cream Sandwich already has native support for pen input, including pressure recognition, hover tracking and nib-tilt, with differentiation between pen and finger use.

The software made using C# will be run on the PS Certified devices using a virtual machine. This will also mean that there will be more games available for Android devices that are PS Certified. Sony notes that it is working on expanding the list of current PS Certified devices to allow more bang for the buck when developing using the new SDK.

Sony will be offering new content for the PS Certified devices in October through the PlayStation Store. The service will start in nine countries including the US, Europe, and Japan among others. The SDK will be offered to developers that sign a license agreement with SCE and purchase the tool products. It doesn’t sound like the SDK will be free when it lands.

[via Android Community]

With the Google TV add-on preview ready, it means that developers will soon be able to start developing apps specifically for Google TV as well as optimizing existing apps for the platform. In fact, some existing Android apps may already work as is on Google TV.

The add-on in the SDK will allow developers to test whether their apps need to be optimized or if there are aspects that need to be fixed. However, apps that require certain features that Google TV cannot support will not appear in the Android Market on Google TV. For instance, apps that require a touchscreen will not appear.

[via Google TV Blog]

There’s also integration with Windows’ speech recognition API. That potentially means developers will be able to use the microphone array – which can pinpoint which user is talking thanks to beam formation – to transcribe speech to text, open and control applications, and more.

Microsoft has thrown in plenty of technical documentation, samples, all the drivers you’ll need and support for C++, C#, or Visual Basic. This current iteration of the SDK is only for non-commercial purposes; Microsoft says it will be releasing a commercial version later on. You’ll obviously need a Kinect sensor, too, which currently costs around $140.

WebOS 3.0 is scheduled to appear first on the HP TouchPad tablet later this year. Some of the developments in the new platform version should eventually appear on WebOS smartphones as well. The WebOS 3.0 SDK will include plenty of information on structuring apps, and will allow developers to use the new Enyo framework to integrate Synergy, Just Type, and Exhibition into their apps.

However, the WebOS 3.0 Beta SDK is available only to developers registered with HP’s Early Access program. HP will be providing more information soon for the program on a new developer portal located at http://developer.hpwebos.com

[via PreCentral]

The UDK Beta is available with the new DirectX11 features. I’m going to highlight the Subsurface scattering (SSS) technique. This rendering technique simulates light scattering within translucent materials like human skin. Watch the video below and see for yourself how the shadows and highlights are on the Samaritan. His virtual skin glows with a subtle luminosity. It’s still deep in the crevice of the uncanny valley, but we’re beginning to start climbing up the other side. There is a litany of other features included in this demo, image-based reflections, anti-aliased masking, deferred rendering, bokeh depth of field, and high quality dynamic shadows from many lights. We’re impressed.

Epic also included NVIDIA’s APEX technology into the UDK. Apex is a scalable dynamics platform for consoles and PC. This allows for dynamically calculated physics for objects in the game. It’s showcased in the video quite a few times. Pay attention to the Samaritan’s jacket as he stands up. Apex takes care of all of the calculation on how the clothing shifts, in realtime. The raindrops falling from the sky and interacting with the character models is probably another prime example of how Epic is showcasing the capabilities of NVidia’s new dynamics platform.

[via Epic Games]

This is a very flexible package for developers. Devs are going to have access to basic analytics such as the number of times the users open and close the application, screen views, carriers, device models, and usage time. All of this is automatically provided in the basic implementation. This basic data gives developers the ability to plan their patches to focus on a real picture of their user base. The SDK gives developers the ability to track data on everything from media playback to custom triggers. With all of this data the developers can specifically track the way that users interact with their software. The SDK gives them a realtime look into the habits of their users.

What does this mean for the users? The Blackberry Apps that we know and love are only going to get better. Get at it Devs! Let’s see what you can do!

Grab more info on how you can participate in the Beta here: DevLog.

[via Inside Blackberry Developers Blog]

A list of 3.0 Honeycomb platform highlights are here, and there’s a breakdown of differences between APIs here. Meanwhile, details on how to download and get started with the 3.0 SDK – or how to check your existing apps for compatibility with the XOOM and other slates  are here.

[via Android Community]

The updated BlackBerry Tablet OS simulator – along with all the relevant documentation – can be found here. It’s available in versions for Windows, Mac and Linux. For more on the PlayBook itself, check out our hands-on report from back at CES 2011.

Although we’ve already seen one DIY attempt at a Nexus One Android 2.3 ROM, created from the Gingerbread SDK, it’s very much a work-in-progress and not suitable for everyday use. The Nexus S is set to go on sale in Best Buy USA locations later on today, though there’s no definite timescale for Gingerbread’s AOSP submission.

[via Android Community]

That fits in with leaked video of the smartphone – which has both a touchscreen and a slide-out game control pad – showing mention of Gingerbread in the About screen, as well as with Google’s suggestion that v2.3 would be more accommodating of serious gameplay. As well as the support for hardware control buttons, there are also improvements in the graphics performance, which should suit high framerate titles.

Video demo of the PlayStation Phone below; you can see more video footage of the Android handset here. More details on Android 2.3 Gingerbread here.

[via Android Community]

Better known as Gingerbread, Google has brought plenty of updates with the latest firmware version. First and foremost, there’s an improved overall look to the general User Interface, There’s also integrated support for Near Field Communications, and what some people have wanted all along: Internet calling. The end-user will also have a better grasp on power management, which should allow owners to keep their Android-based devices, running Android 2.3, alive for a little bit longer.

Furthermore, Google has also made improvements to the way that applications are run on the updated Operating System, and have made improvements for the user to control them better. The end result should be a handset that users have more control over, especially which applications are running versus those that aren’t, as well as conserving battery life when they need to.

Check out Google’s introductory video for Android 2.3 below. And head through the source link to find the SDK available for download.

Stay tuned in the coming days, as both SlashGear and Android Community will have their own hands-on time with the device.

[via Android Development; via Android Community]

RIM was busy today showing off the BlackBerry PlayBook today, at the Adobe AIR MAX event. And, considering the high focus of Adobe’s AIR for the PlayBook, there’s no surprise there. The kits will allow developers to build, run, and test their applications in the RIM-preferred Adobe AIR format. It will also provide a disk image that will be allowed to run in VMware, as well as other virtual machines. RIM’s focus is allowing developers plenty of time to get their applications ready to go before the launch of the PlayBook itself, as well as BlackBerry App World.

You can try your hand at developing for the QNX-based Operating System now. Just head through the source link below and give it a shot, if you’re someone who’s been waiting for a shot to develop something interesting for the BlackBerry lineage. And, since the tablet will have full support for 3D graphics, and should have plenty of power to play games, let’s hope the development community is ready to give BlackBerry a shot.

[via BlackBerry]

Ford has released a new SDK for smartphone app developers that will allow the devs to make their apps compatible with voice control using Sync. The SDK allows the developers to build integration for Sync voice control into existing apps and to develop new apps that have support. The software uses the Sync API called AppLink to access apps that are stored on the smartphone.

Sample apps that have support for Sync voice control integrated include Pandora, Stitcher, and OpenBreak from Orangatame. Ford is evaluating apps that are appropriate for use in cars with things like financial apps to warn when a stock price drops, location based services for navigation and traffic, as well as notifications and alerts that uses Syncs ability to mesh vehicle data with apps.

For instance, in the digital photo frames demo the Android smartphone can recognize which networked frame is which by the picture it is currently displaying; then a P2P link is used to update that display accordingly.  In Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em robots, meanwhile, on-screen game graphics are overlaid onto a game mat which the phone’s camera recognizes.

Keen developers can download the AR SDK from http://developer.qualcomm.com/ar, where there are also more details on the Qualcomm AR Developer Challenge and its $200,000 prize-fund.

Qualcomm AR Photo Frames demo:

Press Release:

Qualcomm Announces Availability of Augmented Reality SDK

– Industry-leading, Vision-based Technology Will Enable Developers to Create New Generation of Augmented Reality Experiences –

SAN DIEGO, Oct. 4 /PRNewswire/ — Qualcomm Incorporated (Nasdaq: QCOM) today announced the immediate availability of its Augmented Reality (AR) Software Development Kit (SDK) for Android smartphones. Offered through Qualcomm’s online developer network, QDevNet, Qualcomm’s SDK will enable a new breed of applications that delivers interactive 3D experiences on everyday objects, such as 3D gaming experiences on tabletops and interactive media experiences on product packaging and promotional items.

“Qualcomm is making it easy for developers to create interactive 3D content for the real world,” said Jay Wright, director of business development at Qualcomm. “By making the Qualcomm AR SDK available at no charge, we are encouraging all developers to start building innovative applications and services today.”

Qualcomm’s AR platform, which includes the AR SDK, uses computer vision technology to align graphics tightly with underlying objects. The approach is an evolution from current AR techniques that use a phone’s GPS and compass for mapping applications. Vision-based AR enables a fundamentally different user experience in which graphics appear as if they are anchored to real world objects.

Qualcomm’s SDK provides developers with an advanced feature set, allowing for augmentation of everyday images on printed media, as well as simple 3D objects such as boxes used for product packaging. Additionally, it supports the ability for users to interact with AR applications by simply touching real world surfaces.

First announced at Qualcomm’s Uplinq developer conference, Qualcomm’s AR platform has drawn interest from companies spanning a variety of industries, from traditional mobile developers to consumer product manufacturers and marketers. Mattel, Inc., a worldwide leader of toys and family products, was among the first consumer products companies to embrace Qualcomm’s AR platform and developed a concept application to bring Mattel’s classic Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em® game to life.

“We received a very positive response to the Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em project and as a result, we are moving forward with plans to commercialize the Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em game and are now exploring the use of AR in other Mattel brands,” said Andrew Cheesman, director of emerging digital technologies at Mattel.

Ogmento, Inc., another early leader and innovator in AR game development, also plans to use Qualcomm’s platform to develop commercial titles.

“Qualcomm’s AR platform and SDK provides features and performance that are critical to the game experiences we need to deliver,” said Ori Inbar, founder and CEO of Ogmento. “We see Qualcomm’s technology as a key enabler for high-fidelity gaming that will allow us to bring compelling games to market.”

The Qualcomm AR SDK is available immediately as a beta release and can be downloaded at developer.qualcomm.com/ar

According to RIM, there are currently 28 million BlackBerry Messenger users and that number is growing at a rate of 1.5m every month across both social and business applications. Right now users can share photos, flag up what music they’re listening to and do other basic P2P functions; what RIM is now opening up is a suite of APIs and services that will allow third party developers to tie in their own apps as well.

Not only will software be able to share content via BBM, they’ll be able to register as plugins to the BBM service: for instance, you could open a contact in Messenger and then, with a single click, open up that user’s profile in a third-party app. RIM also see it playing an important role in gaming, for instance allowing users to invite their friends to multiplayer titles, and then using BBM as a P2P platform for gaming sessions themselves.

Meanwhile there’s a greater emphasis on commercialization and monetization, with the next step in the 18 month old App World being a push into adverts. RIM says there are over 35m users of App World today, downloading around 1.5m titles each day; they’re pushing to extend carrier billing – which was added for AT&T subscribers last month – and expect more US carriers to allow BlackBerry users to charge apps to their cellphone bill by the end of the year. That will spread to international carriers through 2011.

The new BlackBerry advertising service is, RIM say, based around a few key fundamentals: that it is simple to use, open, flexible, global and inclusive of the entire advertising ecosystem. On the developer side it’s relatively straightforward to implement, requiring just three lines of code in a Java or web-based application to hook into RIM’s new API and pull in ad inventory. That’s because the clever parts happen on RIM’s servers: the company has developed a mediation platform that aggregates dozens of ad networks worldwide, allowing them to submit their commercial content and then matching it with suitable apps.

Carriers can choose their preferred ad networks and plug in their own choices, and developers are free to either leave it entirely up to RIM as to which networks are used, or can be as specific as they want: down to choosing which network, which ads and even which times they run at. RIM will initially launch with five networks onboard – both US-centric and international – and expect location-based and video-based advertising to be introduced within the next few months.

For the user, the adverts will be completely tied into the app experience. For instance, they’ll support click-to-call, mapping, and video playback, and tie into the BlackBerry’s email, calendar and address book allowing them to start new messages or appointments directly from the advert itself. Developers will get 60-percent of ad revenues.

Finally, there’s the new BlackBerry Payment Service, supporting in-app payments for upgrades, unlocking trial apps, opening premium content and buying virtual currencies or credits. The SDK for in-app payments will be released on the BlackBerry developer site today, and the service itself will go live by the end of 2010.

It’s all part of RIM’s push to better engage with the developer community; they’re waiving all vendor fees for App World, both for new users and for existing developers either updating their current titles or adding new ones. They’re also making it easier to monitor app usage, with a new, free BlackBerry Analytics service powered by WebTrends. Implemented with a few lines of code, the new Analytics SDK can pull out when, where and how the app is being used, how the user discovered it, and which features are most and least popular.

It’ll come into its own with BlackBerry WebWorks, RIM’s new web-app platform that creates web-based software with HTML5, Javascript and CSS that has the same potential functionality and integration as native apps. With WebWorks, developers can create titles that tie into the BlackBerry calendar, address book and push-technology, together with using the same in-app payment, analytics and advertising as local software. Available for developers to use today, WebWorks will also be made open-source, and RIM is working with industry partners around Javascript frameworks to promote the platform’s use with other developer groups.

While PC users have been well served with RIM development tools in the past, the experience for Mac-based developers has been less impressive. That should change with the new Eclipse plugin for Java developer on OS X, released as a technical preview today and then as a beta in a month, and which has all the features of the current Eclipse plugin. The Canadian company is hoping that the plugin will remove barriers for Mac developers who might otherwise opt to create titles for Apple’s iOS.

RIM hasn’t forgotten its broad enterprise user-base either, with the new BlackBerry enterprise app middleware that aims to make distributing software to a large number of company users more straightforward. It automates packaging of apps on both the server and the handset ends, together with better managing app security.

Not the iPad-challenging tablet hardware announcements we may have been hoping for, but perhaps of more interest to the developer crowd attending DevCon 2010. Still, there’s plenty of opportunity for a BlackTab tease during the keynote which is just underway now.

While there’s only a select amount of developers being given the new SDK, Palm suggests that it’s actually a larger amount of developers than we might normally imagine. Palm also confirms that there’s going to be plenty of new features in webOS 2.0, but there’s no word on what type of devices that it’s going to launch with, or if it’s going to be brought to market on a new device at all. But, with the upgrades to the software and the new features outlined below, we can’t help but think that a new device would be a great way to show off the new abilities of webOS and it’s integrated Synergy.

New features include: Stacks, which is a new and improved way to utilize webOS’ “true multitasking” capabilities. Instead of just opening an endless amount of cards in the stream, and then having to find where you left off with, whether it be for personal reasons or work related, the new Stacks feature will let cards that are relevant to one another, or that are opened in the same work flow, stack on top of one another. The image above shows it quite nicely. If you open a URL, or several, within an email, then the Browser’s card will not just open a new card, but it will stack that card on that current workflow, so you don’t lose anything you’re working on.

There’s also Just Type, which is the new name for webOS’ Universal Search feature. Palm is opening up the API to developers, too, which means that applications will be able to use it naturally. They will be able to use what’s called “Quick Actions,” which allows applications to be strung together utilizing only one command. Exhibition is another new feature, which takes advantage of the Touchstone charger. Instead of just allowing for conductive charging, developers will now be able to launch an application when the Pre or Pixi are placed against the Touchstone charger. So, like a clock, weather card, or something to that effect. And finally, there’s going to be plenty of improvements to Synergy itself, mainly as Palm is letting developers tap into the feature directly.

There are also going to be enahncements for HTML5, JavaScript services, as well as PDK plug-ins. There’s no word on when the webOS 2.0 SDK will be available for every webOS developer out there, but we can’t say that we’re not excited by this at all. With HP backing the whole endeavor now, there’s plenty of avenues that these new features can be implemented. And we mean in new devices, not just what we’ve already got in our hands.

[via Engadget]

The hardware inside Notion Ink’s Adam tablet is powerful. We all know this. Featuring Android as its Operating System, and a NVIDIA Tegra chipset to power the whole shebang, no one’s arguing that the tablet’s mediocre in any way. And since we already know that the company is going to feature their own custom software, along with a catalog for digital material to read and an app store, getting developers to jump on board to create things is essential.

That’s where the Genesis project comes in. It’s an SDK meant to allow developers to create things specifically for the Adam tablet, so that customers can enjoy them without having to access something like the Android Market. There’s always the idea that, by the time the tablet launches later this year, some of those third-party developed apps could make it onto the device at launch time, depending on what gets developed. Unfortunately, there’s not much else to go on here. But, if you got one of those emails, let us know in the comments.

[via AndroidCommunity]

The new SDK is part of RIM’s play to pull in more third-party developers, since they’re lagging behind Android and iOS when it comes to app selection.  Part of their approach is to make a lot more of the underlying system available for integration, including the Universal Search and improved location-awareness (such as reverse geocoding and a new Travel Time API that calculates ETAs).  There’s also HTML5 support in the new WebKit-based browser, and devs can create widgets and web-apps that tie into the phones’ core abilities.

Developers keen to try out the new tools can download the BlackBerry 6 Java SDK here; there’s also more information for developers on the new OS here.

SlashGear is at the RIM press event in New York today, and will be bringing you a full hands-on report with the Torch 9800 as soon as we grab some time with the new smartphone.  Until then, check out all the details here.

Press Release:

BlackBerry Torch Smartphone First to Feature New BlackBerry 6 Combines New Touch Screen Experience with Easy-To-Use Keyboard and Rich WebKit Browser First Smartphone to Support AT&T’s Next Generation Messaging Experience, and First to Offer Locations Feature New BlackBerry App World Pre-installed with Carrier Billing Support

Dallas and Waterloo, ON – Joining forces to offer the first smartphone to feature the highly anticipated BlackBerry® 6 exclusively on the nation’s fastest mobile broadband network, AT&T* and Research In Motion (RIM) today introduced the new BlackBerry® Torch™ 9800 smartphone. Adept for socially connected consumers and packed with the tools business customers love, the new handset is the world’s first smartphone to combine a BlackBerry® keyboard with a full touch screen experience. Whether users choose to type out messages on the capacitive touch screen or easy-to-use BlackBerry keyboard, browse the Internet using pinch to zoom or fluidly navigate with the optical trackpad, the BlackBerry Torch allows them to communicate any way they want.

“We were the first to launch the BlackBerry solution in 1999 and have a rich history of innovation and collaboration with Research In Motion,” said Ralph de la Vega, president and chief executive officer, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. “The two companies that brought the first BlackBerry smartphones to market have teamed up again with the new BlackBerry Torch, creating a true generational shift in hardware and operating system for this enormously popular service.”

“This is one of the most significant launches in RIM’s history and we are proud to introduce the new BlackBerry Torch and BlackBerry 6 together with AT&T,” said Mike Lazaridis, president and co-ceo, Research In Motion. “With a new user interface, new browser and new handset design, the highly anticipated BlackBerry Torch and BlackBerry 6 deliver integrated and uncompromising capabilities for consumers and business professionals that preserve the industry-leading strengths of the BlackBerry platform while adding exciting new dimensions.”

BlackBerry 6
The BlackBerry Torch is the first BlackBerry smartphone to launch with BlackBerry 6, a new operating system that retains the familiar and trusted features that distinguish the BlackBerry brand while delivering a fresh, approachable and engaging experience that’s powerful and easy to use.

BlackBerry 6 features a redesigned interface that seamlessly works with the touch screen and trackpad, includes expanded messaging capabilities with intuitive features to simplify the management of social networking and RSS feeds (Social Feeds), and provides integrated access to the BlackBerry® Messenger (BBM™), Facebook®, Twitter™, MySpace™ and various instant messaging applications available on the BlackBerry Torch smartphone. Its enhanced multimedia experience rivals the best in the industry and includes a dedicated YouTube app and Podcasts app.

BlackBerry 6 also integrates a new and rich WebKit-based browser on BlackBerry Torch that renders HTML web pages (as well as HTML email) quickly and beautifully for a great browsing experience. It features tabs for accessing multiple sites simultaneously, pinch to zoom for easy navigation and an auto-wrap text zoom feature that can intelligently wrap text in a column while maintaining the placement of a page’s key elements (simply double-tap on the BlackBerry Torch).

Universal search, always accessible from the Home Screen, allows users to search through email, messages, contacts, music, videos and more on the smartphone, as well as extend search to the Internet or to discover applications on BlackBerry App World™.

Advanced Messaging
Messaging has always been a core element of the BlackBerry smartphone experience and the BlackBerry Torch smartphone expands on RIM’s popular messaging solutions with the support of AT&T’s advanced messaging features for SMS and MMS. RIM’s new Text Messages application is especially exciting for users who communicate most via SMS and MMS, providing support for AT&T’s next-generation messaging experience, which includes group messaging with “reply all” functionality for up to 10 contacts. And for the first time, AT&T’s platform includes a new Locations feature.

Locations lets users easily search for points of interest, businesses, and even the user’s own location, and insert this information directly into a message, all without leaving the messaging application. Using group messaging and locations together, users can arrange to meet a group of friends easily by sending one message to all of them, discussing together where to meet and then sending a map – all in one threaded conversation. AT&T designed the service based on research that revealed customers want features that help facilitate social planning, improved message organization and location sharing.

Apps At Your Fingertips
After powering up the BlackBerry Torch smartphone for the first time, users will notice a set of pre-loaded icons which allow them to download and immediately begin using a variety of rich entertainment and social networking applications to access Bloomberg, ESPN, The Weather Channel and Slacker Radio content in addition to Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and more. Also available is AT&T’s Web Video Search, a unique new app that searches video content from over 70 major Internet video websites.

In addition to searching the Internet for video, the BlackBerry Torch smartphone also features more multimedia apps that let users download TV shows and watch live TV, as well as create video content and upload it to YouTube. The new Podcasts application makes it easy for users to find and manage audio and video podcasts.

Another application that puts a key function of a phone at your fingertips is Visual Voicemail, which benefits customers by allowing them to select the voicemails they want to hear first.

The BlackBerry Torch 9800 is also the first BlackBerry smartphone to include BlackBerry App World™ pre-installed, supporting carrier billing through AT&T, making it easier for customers to discover and purchase applications.

BlackBerry Torch Smartphone Features
• Elegant styling, measuring approx. 4.4″ (5.8″ open) x 2.4″ x .57″ and weighing 5.68 ounces
• 3.2″ 360×480 capacitive touch screen display
• 35 key full QWERTY backlit slide-out keyboard, designed to feel optimally balanced when opened for typing
• Optical trackpad that makes navigation fast and smooth
• Powerful 624 Mhz processor with 512 MB Flash memory
• 4 GB built-in memory storage plus a microSD/SDHD memory card slot that supports up to 32 GB cards; a 4 GB card is included giving users 8 GB of storage out-of-the-box
• 5 MP camera with flash, continuous auto focus, image stabilization, scene modes, geo-tagging and zoom, as well as video recording at up to 640×480 resolution
• Built-in GPS for location-based applications and geo-tagging
• Wi-Fi® (802.11 b/g/n); qualifying smartphone customers can enjoy seamless connectivity to over 20,000 AT&T Wi-Fi hotspots at no additional cost
• 3.5mm stereo headset jack
• Premium phone features, including voice activated dialing, speakerphone and Bluetooth® (2.1) with support for hands-free headsets, stereo headsets, car kits (including systems that support the Bluetooth Message Access Profile standard) and other Bluetooth accessories
• New BlackBerry® Desktop Software 6 with integrated media sync for easily syncing music, photos and videos**. It also includes Wi-Fi Music Sync, a unique feature that allows users to view their entire iTunes® or Windows Media® Player music libraries from their BlackBerry smartphone, create and edit playlists as well as select music for download. When in range of their home Wi-Fi network (or via USB), the changes are synced with iTunes or Windows Media Player and the songs are automatically downloaded to the smartphone
• Tri-band HSDPA (3G) and quad-band EDGE support for the option of voice service in more than 220 countries, data service in more than 195 countries and 3G connectivity in more than 125 countries, including Japan and South Korea
• Removable, rechargeable 1300 mAhr battery that provides approximately 5.8 hours of talk time on 3G networks or 30 hours of audio playback or 6 hours of video playback

Pricing and Availability
The BlackBerry Torch 9800 smartphone will be available only for AT&T customers on August 12 in AT&T company owned retail stores and online at www.att.com/blackberrytorch, as well as Best Buy, Wal-Mart and RadioShack stores.

The BlackBerry Torch 9800 will be available for $199.99 with 2-year service agreement on a qualifying rate plan and smartphone data plan required. New smartphone customers may choose from two AT&T monthly data plan options, $15 for 200 MB of wireless data or $25 for 2 GB. Enterprise and small business customers should contact their account representative for pricing details.

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

AT&T imposes: a Regulatory Cost Recovery Charge of up to $1.25 to help defray costs incurred in complying with obligations and charges imposed by State and Federal telecom regulations; State and Federal Universal Service charges; and surcharges for government assessments on AT&T. These fees are not taxes or government-required charges.

**Certain music files may not be supported, including files that contain digital rights management technologies. Photo and video syncing is currently only available for Windows-based PCs.

Limited-time offer. Other conditions & restrictions apply. See contract & rate plan brochure for details. Subscriber must live & have a mailing addr. within AT&T’s owned wireless network coverage area. Up to $36 activ. fee applies. Equipment price & avail may vary by mrk & may not be available from independent retailers. Early Termination Fee: None if cancelled in the first 30 days, but up to $35 restocking fee may apply to equipment returns; thereafter up to $325. Some agents impose add’l fees. Unlimited voice services: Unltd voice svcs are provided primarily for live dialog between two individuals. No additional discounts are available with unlimited plan. Smartphone Data Plan Requirement: Smartphones require a DataPlus (200MB) or DataPro (2GB) plan. If you exceed your initial data allowance, you will automatically be charged an additional $10 for each additional 1GB provided on DataPro or an additional $15 for each additional 200MB provided on DataPlus. All data allowances, including overages, must be used in the billing period in which the allowance is provided or they will be forfeited. An Enterprise Data Plan is required for corporate email, company intranet sites and business applications. For more details on Data Plans, go to att.com/dataplans. Offnet Usage: If your mins of use (including unltd svcs) on other carrier’s networks (“offnet usage”) during any two consecutive months or your data use during any month exceeds your offnet usage allowance, AT&T may at its option terminate your svc, deny your contd use of other carriers’ coverage, or change your plan to one imposing usage charges for offnet usage. Your offnet usage allowance is equal to the lesser of 750 mins or 40% of the Anytime mins incl’d with your plan (data offnet usage allowance is the lesser of 24 MB or 20% of the KB incl’d with your plan). Sales tax calculated based on price of unactivated equipment. AT&T Wi-Fi Hot Spots- Based on non-municipal company owned and operated hotspots. A Wi-Fi enabled device required. Other restrictions apply. See www.attwifi.com for additional services, restrictions and locations. Visual Voicemail – Data plan required for AT&T Visual Voicemail. Data used in replying to and forwarding voicemail messages via SMS, MMS or email is counted against your data plan. Applicable data charges apply if data plan limits have been exceeded. International data charges apply to receiving, replying to and forwarding voicemail messages while roaming internationally.

Press Release:

RIM Unleashes BlackBerry 6

Waterloo, ON – Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ: RIMM; TSX: RIM) today announced BlackBerry® 6, a new operating system for BlackBerry® smartphones that retains the trusted features that distinguish the BlackBerry brand while delivering a fresh, approachable and engaging experience that is both powerful and easy to use. BlackBerry 6 features a redesigned interface that seamlessly works with a touch screen and trackpad, expanded messaging capabilities that simplify managing social media and RSS feeds, an advanced multimedia experience that rivals the best in the industry, a convenient new Universal Search tool, and a new and efficient WebKit-based browser that renders web pages quickly and beautifully for a great browsing experience.

“BlackBerry 6 is the outcome of RIM’s ongoing passion to deliver a powerful, simplified and optimized user experience for both touch screen and keyboard fans,” said Mike Lazaridis, president and co-ceo, Research In Motion. “Following extensive research and development to address consumer needs and wants, we are delivering a communications, browsing and multimedia experience that we think users will love, and we are thrilled to debut BlackBerry 6 on the amazing new BlackBerry Torch smartphone.”

Visual, Fluid Interface
BlackBerry 6 has been redesigned making it easier and more intuitive, with clean, sleek visuals and natural, fluid navigation. Designed to be both fresh and familiar, the new interface enables a productive, fun and highly satisfying user experience whether using a touch screen or trackpad and keyboard.

BlackBerry 6 offers multiple views that help users better organize their applications and content. Icons are arranged on the Home Screen in 5 customizable views (All, Favorites, Media, Downloads and Frequent) that are navigable with simple swipes. Users can organize where they want their icons to appear, and can add contacts or web page shortcuts directly to the Home Screen.

Also new to BlackBerry 6 are visually-rich, context-sensitive Action Menus. Within a given application, by clicking and holding the trackpad or through an extended touch of the display, users can bring the most common actions or tasks of an application to the surface. In addition, users can seamlessly multitask by holding down the Menu key, which pops up a visual grid of all the applications currently running, so users can instantly switch between applications.

A powerful Universal Search tool is also accessible from the Home Screen. By simply clicking or tapping the Universal Search icon, users can search for any content on their handset, the web or in the new BlackBerry App World™, which is also integral to BlackBerry 6.

Fast Rich Web Browsing
BlackBerry 6 integrates a new and efficient WebKit-based browser that renders web pages (as well as email) quickly and beautifully for a great browsing experience. It features tabs for accessing multiple sites simultaneously, an auto-wrap text zoom feature that can intelligently wrap text in a column while maintaining the placement of a page’s key elements, and pinch to zoom.

Social Feeds and Text Messaging
The new Social Feeds application simplifies the management of social networking and RSS feeds and provides integrated access to the native BlackBerry® Messenger (BBM™), Facebook®, Twitter™, MySpace™, AOL® Instant Messenger™, Google Talk™, Windows Live™ Messenger and Yahoo!® Messenger applications for BlackBerry smartphones. Social Feeds streamlines the user experience, provides an integrated view of friends’ activities across multiple social networks, and let’s users post updates across multiple networks simultaneously. Users can also easily add their favorite RSS Feeds from the Social Feeds application or directly from a website while browsing.

RIM’s new Text Messages application also adds exciting new features for users who communicate mostly via SMS and MMS, including the ability for users to now view a conversation in one threaded ‘chat’ as well as share photos, videos and other rich content.

Engaging Multimedia Experience
The multimedia experience in BlackBerry 6 is designed to give users a more engaging and streamlined experience with album art everywhere in the new music and video players. The new BlackBerry® Desktop Software 6 integrates media sync for easily syncing photos and videos as well as iTunes® and Windows Media® Player music with the smartphone*. It also includes Wi-Fi Music Sync, a unique feature that allows users to view their entire iTunes® or Windows Media® Player music libraries from their BlackBerry smartphone, create and edit playlists, as well as select music for download. When in range of their home Wi-Fi network (or via USB), the changes are synced with iTunes® or Windows Media® Player and the songs are automatically downloaded to the smartphone.

BlackBerry 6 also gives users access to a range of camera modes that can help them capture better images. Editing, organizing and sharing shots is amazingly simple, with intuitive options for grouping pictures.

The new Podcasts application makes it easy for users to find and manage audio and video podcasts. Users can view all the podcasts saved on their smartphone, browse a catalogue of podcasts available for download, subscribe to them, and wirelessly download the content directly onto their smartphone. There is also a dedicated YouTube® application, so viewing and sharing videos is easier than ever and users can also easily search for videos using the new Universal Search tool in BlackBerry 6.

Compatibility with Existing BlackBerry Smartphones
BlackBerry 6 will debut on the new BlackBerry® Torch™ smartphone (announced today) available from AT&T on August 12 and it is also designed to run on select BlackBerry smartphones already in market. Subject to carrier certifications in the months ahead, the new OS is expected to be available for the BlackBerry® Bold™ 9700, BlackBerry® Bold™ 9650 and BlackBerry® Pearl™ 3G, as well as future BlackBerry smartphones.

Research In Motion is releasing an SDK for BlackBerry 6 (also announced today). Developers can find additional details at www.blackberry.com/developers/blackberry6.

For more information on BlackBerry 6, visit www.blackberry.com/6. To view screen shots, visit the Inside BlackBerry Blog: www.blackberry.com/blog. For more information about the BlackBerry Torch smartphone from AT&T, visit www.att.com/blackberrytorch.

* Certain music files may not be supported, including files that contain digital rights management technologies. Photo and video syncing is currently only available for Windows-based PCs.

Press Release:

RIM Announces Java SDK to Support New BlackBerry 6

User Interface Enhancements, Web Kit Browser Support and New Services Make it Easier to Build Compelling and Fresh Applications for BlackBerry Smartphones

Waterloo, ON – Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ: RIMM; TSX: RIM) today announced a new Java SDK to support BlackBerry® 6, a highly anticipated new operating system for BlackBerry® smartphones. BlackBerry® Java SDK v6.0 takes advantage of new UI features, offers deeper integration with BlackBerry smartphones, access to new and enhanced services and support for rendering and porting content to the new WebKit-based browser.

BlackBerry Java SDK v6.0 focuses on providing developers with powerful tools that enable them to create rich, visually appealing applications on the BlackBerry® Application Platform and make it easier to integrate capabilities that have traditionally been difficult for developers. The BlackBerry developer community can now access more than 40 new APIs that allow them to build visually rich and deeply integrated applications that take advantage of the new features in BlackBerry 6.

“The opportunity for developers to create applications that tie to core applications and features of the BlackBerry Application Platform has never been greater,” said David Yach, Chief Technology Officer, Software at Research In Motion. “Our veteran developers, as well as those who are new to the BlackBerry platform, are going to be thrilled with the new APIs as well as the sleek and powerful user interface.”

Richer User Interfaces
The BlackBerry Java SDK v6.0 supports the fresh new look in the BlackBerry 6 user interface (UI) with new pre-built UI elements including contextual menus, tables, lists, inertial scrolling, activity progress indicators, pane managers, tool bars, title bars and sub menus.

BlackBerry Browser with WebKit
The new browser in BlackBerry 6 leverages a WebKit rendering engine and developers will be able to build dynamic web sites and rich mobile applications as well as advanced widgets that can be seamlessly integrated with the browser and core native applications. BlackBerry Widgets and web applications designed for the BlackBerry Browser v 5.0 will be forward compatible to the new browser.

HTML5 Support
With the added support of HTML5 in the new BlackBerry 6 Browser, web developers will be able to create content for BlackBerry smartphones that is run through the web, including compelling games and interactive media with 3D graphics in real time and more.

Native Feature Integration
Developers can use new APIs to more deeply integrate their applications with various aspects of a BlackBerry smartphone’s core functionality. The Unified Search Framework API will allow developers to register their application and their content partners to be searchable, as well as provide a mechanism for in-app search. The Mapfield API has been redesigned to provide enhanced features including panning, zooming, my location and convenience toolbars. Developers can call the Mapfield API to customize the look of location data and can use multiple mapfields simultaneously on the same screen for added user benefits.

Location Service Enhancements
The Location Service has been enhanced with a Wi-Fi® Geolocation API, allowing developers to build applications that leverage a handset’s location based on its proximity to Wi-Fi networks. The API builds on the LBS features already available to developers through cell tower location and GPS. Reverse Geocoding now allows applications to leverage zip/postal codes to obtain local information. The Travel Time API brings estimated time of arrival (ETA) information into applications. The ETA is based on anonymous real-time crowd sourced data combined with historical traffic information.

BlackBerry Java SDK v6.0 is available for download at www.blackberry.com/developers/java. More information about BlackBerry 6 can be found at www.blackberry.com/developers/blackberry6 .

The SkypeKit SDK lives alongside, rather than replacing, the existing Skype API, which is primarily intended for those producing apps and hardware that works in tandem with the official Skype app.  Developers will initially be charged a “nominal” membership fee of around $20 for access to the SDK, which will be given out on an invitation basis. You can sign up for an invitation here.