RIM to Bring New PlayBook-Like Icons to BlackBerry 10

Canadian mobile phone maker Research In Motion is still hard at work with getting its BlackBerry 10 mobile operating system ready for launch, including applying new visual touches to it.

Among them, we can count the availability of new icons for applications installed on devices, bringing them in line with those available on the PlayBook tablet PC.

Initially showcased with app icons that looked very much like simple rectangles, the platform is expected to arrive on shelves with a new set of icons, better looking.

According to some of the reports on the matter, RIM has decided to replace the original 150 x 150 icons that featured square backgrounds with 114×114 ones, with transparent backgrounds similar to those available for the tablet PC.

The company has already updated all the necessary developer documentation to reflect the change, and those interested in learning more on the matter can head over to this page on its website for that.

“Designing an icon for your BlackBerry smartphone application gives you the opportunity to showcase your application to BlackBerry users. In the BlackBerry World storefront, an icon is the first introduction that users have to your application,” RIM explains.

“The icon also appears on the home screen as the way for users to open your application. Your icon is placed on a transparent tile automatically with the application name label underneath the icon.”

The company also notes that icons should be 114 x 114 pixel square, and that developers should create them as a single iconic metaphor that would successfully represent the application.

App icons can also be created with shadows next to them, in which case they should be a bit smaller, at 106 x 106. Lighting can also be included, top-down at a 90 degree angle, the handset vendor says.

Specific instructions on the color palette that developers should use, as well as on boundaries, perspective and lighting and the like are available on the aforementioned web page on the company’s website.