Java Development

[mmueller]

Dear all,

we would like to create a BB application (target devices most likely BB Curve 8520/ 9300, OS 5 and 6). Prior to the development, we would like to create mock-ups, depicting the screens to be implemented. We have done some research and found a great number of tools for creating high-level, sketch-like, mock-ups. Can you recommend (preferably freeware/open-source) tools allowing for the creation of more realistic mock-ups using true BB GUI elements?

Thanks for your help and best regards,

Markus

[simon_hain]

basically, there are none.

[mmueller]

Hi Simon,

thanks for your quick reply. I cannot believe that there are no tools at all for wireframing BB applications. We have found some tools like Keynotopia or Axure during our research but these applications are not free/open-source and we are not sure about the quality of the contained stencils/UI elements.  Are those tools worth the license costs? How does a BB developer usually create mock-ups? Do you only stick to high-level/sketch-like ones?

Thanks for clarifying these points and best regards,

Markus

[simon_hain]

Maybe somebody else knows something about that, i usually get my UI specs from an external designer (no clue what they use, but the result is usually a ppt) or do them myself (usually with pencils on a sheet of paper).

UI on BB is quite cumbersome, there is no rapid prototyping, you basically have to develop it to a point to see how it looks.

[paulkayuk]

I have tended to use Balsamiq Mockups: http://www.balsamiq.com/

Not free, but not expensive either.

In the donated Mockups To Go Library https://mockupstogo.mybalsamiq.com/projects/blackberry/grid there a few BlackBerry specific items but I have found that the standard assets tend to suffice, once you understand what is possible with the UI on a BlackBerry (read as pretty much whatever you can dream up if you have the developer time to invest)

[nycstartup_grrl]

I'm in the same boat and very recently was pointed to BlackBerry 10 Templates , they have PowerPoint and Keynote templates for creating BB 10 apps. I just purchased the Keynote templates yesterday and so far I've been pretty impressed, a lot of what I wanted to mockup is included in the package and having it in Keynote is simpler than Photoshop.

Hope that helps

Natasha

[Kumaravel]

Please try Blackberry GUI Mockups from DesignerVista Software. This software comes with controls and templates for Blackberry and other mobile devices such as Android, Windows Phone 8 and iPhone.

www.designervista.com.