Datasheet

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Part I: Getting Started on BlackBerry Apps
Basically, here are the four types of simulator applications you want to use:
✓ JDE device simulators: These come with the JDE, and you launch them
with your application already installed. Each JDE comes with its own
set of simulated devices, and the newer JDEs have the newest device
types simulated. Read more about the device types per JDE version in
Appendix A.
The smartphone simulators that each JDE includes in its set simulates
a version of the smartphone OS for that particular version of the JDE.
For instance, the BlackBerry JDE 4.5.0 comes with a simulator for a
BlackBerry smartphone 8320, and this smartphone shows that it is
running smartphone OS 4.5.0.44.
✓ Downloaded device simulators: RIM provides new simulators on its
Web site on a regular basis. You can download and install these simulators
for free. RIM updates its JDEs less frequently than it releases new
devices, so check for new simulator downloads, even while you’re in the
middle of developing your app. Figure 1-10 shows my application, The
Word Locker, running on a simulated BlackBerry Curve (8900).
✓ The Mobile Data Service (MDS) simulator: This comes with the JDE.
A BlackBerry device can talk to the Internet only with the help of an
MDS. A real BlackBerry will be associated with either the RIM-hosted
BlackBerry Internet Service (BIS) or a corporate BlackBerry Enterprise
Server (BES). Each of these associations provides MDS services, allow-
ing the device to connect to the Internet. A simulated device can’t con-
nect to a real MDS service, and so the MDS simulator provides Internet
access for device simulators. If your application needs to communicate
using the Internet, you will have to use the MDS simulator while using a
device simulator.
✓ The Email Service Simulator (ESS): This comes with the JDE. BlackBerry
users love their e-mail, and RIM has created an e-mail simulator that can
act as a gateway to a real e-mail server for a BlackBerry device simulator.
The best thing about all these simulators: They’re free!
Building or buying a development
computer
When you’re creating apps for the BlackBerry, your choice of computers
is limited to a PC running Windows — Windows XP, Windows Vista, and
Windows 7 all work with the BlackBerry development tools, but only as long
as they are 32-bit versions (not 64-bit versions). Your choice of programming
languages is limited to Java, version 1.5 or later, again using the 32-bit
version. This pretty much spells out what you need computer-wise to do
BlackBerry development. I’ve worked on several different computers to
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