Amazon Kindle BlackBerry PlayBook

We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more.

So you've got your BlackBerry PlayBook loaded up with the OS 2.0 software, and now you want the Amazon Kindle app as well? Not a problem!

While Amazon jumped the gun when they announced they would make an official Kindle app for the BlackBerry PlayBook available, it is still nowhere to be found.

Don't fret because you can still use the Amazon Kindle app on your PlayBook running the OS 2.0 software.

If you've got a few minutes to spare and a bit of tech know-how, you can load up the Android version of the Kindle app on your BlackBerry PlayBook and be reading all of your books in no time at all.

Just grab the BAR file for the Kindle app, then keep reading for a walkthrough of how to load this and other Android applications on your BlackBerry PlayBook.

 

 

Loading from a Windows PC

  1. Download and install the Java Runtime Environment suited for your PC
  2. Download and install the DDPB installer - Link
  3. Download any .BAR / .ZIP files already converted - Link
  4. On your PlayBook, turn on Develpment Mode from Settings > Security (remember your password!)
  5. Connect your BlackBerry PlayBook to your PC
  6. Open DDPB Installer that you just downloaded
  7. Enter your the IP address of your PlayBook (found by tapping the Development Mode icon in your status bar) or click "Scan". Enter the password you chose, then click "Connect".
  8. Click the "Add" button and browse for the BAR file you want to install. You can find a list of available BAR files here.
  9. Click "Install".
  10. When the process is complete the application will be installed on your PlayBook.

View the full Windows PC tutorial

Loading from a Mac

  1. Make sure you Mac OS is up to date and then download the Playbook_Tools here.
  2. Unzip the files into your /user/ directory (The directory typically shows as your username - mine is "/adamzeis/". You can put them wherever you want, it's just easier this way).
  3. Move the files from the Playbook_Tools\lib\ folder to the Playbook_Tools directory.
  4. Put your BlackBerry PlayBook into Development Mode by going to Settings > Security Settings and note the IP address of your PlayBook. You'll also be required to enter a password here if you don't have one already. Don't forget your password!!
  5. Find the .bar file for the app you want to install (check our growing list in the forums). After downloading, move the .bar file into the Playbook_Tools directory
  6. Open the Terminal application on your Mac (found under Applications > Utilities > Terminal). Your Terminal screen will show something along the lines of: new-host-2:~ adamzeis$
  7. Type cd playbook_tools and press Enter. Terminal should now read something like: new-host-2:playbook_tools adamzeis$
  8. Type the following into Terminal: java -Xmx512M -jar BarDeploy.jar -installApp -device PLAYBOOK_IP -password PB_PASSWORD appname.bar Be sure to add in your PlayBook IP address, password and the name of the .bar file.
  9. Terminal will do it's magic and when it's done, your app will be ready to roll on your PlayBook

Read more