BlackBerry-maker RIM today took the wraps off its much-anticipated BlackBerry browser based on the open-source WebKit engine. The BlackBerry browser has long been criticized for its shortcomings, but RIM's hoping the new version's improved handling of JavaScript and AJAX, HTML 5 support and Web-standards compliance will bring it up to speed with Apple's iPhone Safari and other top-of-the-line mobile browsers. Research In Motion (RIM) co-CEO Mike Lazaridis this morning showed off the company’s latest BlackBerry Browser, based on the WebKit open-source browser-engine, to anxious Mobile World Congress (MWC) attendees in Barcelona, Spain. Screen Shot of RIM’s New BlackBerry Browser at MWC The day was a long time coming, as the BlackBerry Browser is probably the single most-commonly attacked component of RIM’s BlackBerry OS. That’s because the existing BlackBerry browser is slow; it has trouble with many JavaScript-heavy pages; and it renders certain Web pages unreadable altogether, just to name a few common complaints. The new Browser’s not available yet, and RIM’s not offering up specific dates for when you can expect it, though it’ll probably hit in late 2010. In his MWC keynote address, Lazaridis was quick to focus on the fact that the new, WebKit-based BlackBerry Browser not only loads JavaScript much faster, it handles AJAX efficiently, supports HTML 5.0 and CSS3 and even scored a cool 100/100 in the Acid3 Web standards test, which is used to gauge a browser’s compatibility with a variety of Web standards. (Note: Neither Internet Explorer nor Firefox, the Web’s two most common browsers, received a perfect score on the Acid3 test.) The new BlackBerry Browser also supports both BlackBerry Widgets and JIL Widgets, according to RIM’s Director of Developer Relations, Mike Kirkup, which will extend the functionality of the browser and should lead to the creation of some interesting new BlackBerry-Browser-based “Web apps,” or apps that run in the browser. Here’s a quick video-demo of the new browser in action: RIM’s New BlackBerry Browser at MWC The browser in the video loads an intensive Amazon.co.uk page quite quickly, and navigation functions like panning and zooming do seem to be improved. There are new icons atop the browser page for what appear to be “Folders” and “Favorites,” along with an on-screen URL field. And we also see a few new page animations due to the JavaScript and AJAX tweaks. But that’s really about it for now. Why RIM didn’t show off the WebKit browser on the BlackBerry Storm2, with its significantly larger screen and touch-navigation, is beyond me. The demo shows the browser on a BlackBerry Bold 9700, which has a much smaller screen than the Storm2’s display and uses RIM’s new “trackpad” for navigation. Honestly, it’s difficult for me to get too excited about a new BlackBerry Browser after all this time dealing with RIM’s subpar offering. Sure, the browser shown in the video appears to be an improvement over the current BlackBerry browser, but I’ve honestly lost patience waiting for a functional browser from RIM. And I’m worried that the new browser will prove to be too little too late. I’ll be more excited once I actually get my thumbs on the software, no doubt, but right now, I can’t help feeling like it has taken RIM far too long to get to this point. I may be willing to forget all that if RIM’s acquisition of Torch Mobile ends up producing the next-generation browser we’re all hoping for. But until then, I remain a disgruntled BlackBerry Browser user. AS FREE CIO BlackBerry NewsletterGet better use out of your BlackBerry and keep up-to-date on the latest developments. Sign-up » Related content BrandPost Are tech layoffs inevitable, or can your company avoid them? Despite tech industry layoffs, one ITSM company remains committed to growth and expansion of internal teams. The company’s successful endeavor is largely credited to one difference between TOPdesk and other tech organizations. By TOPdesk Mar 30, 2023 6 mins IT Leadership Analysis CIOs must evolve to stave off existential threat to their role With LOB leaders learning tech faster than CIOs gain business-savvy, IT leaders must strengthen advisory skills, build relationships, and embrace strategic transformation before losing out to business counterparts. By Yashvendra Singh Mar 30, 2023 10 mins Roles Opinion 5 ways AI will transform CRM Recent announcements by Microsoft and Salesforce on how they’re ramping up integration of AI tools into their software offerings mark the start of a revolution in the CRM marketplace. By Martin De Saulles Mar 30, 2023 4 mins Channel Sales CRM Systems Artificial Intelligence Interview From CIO to CX SVP, Cisco’s Jacqueline Guichelaar takes a road less travelled By David Binning Mar 29, 2023 7 mins Careers IT Leadership Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe