How to sign, convert and install Android files for your BlackBerry PlayBook using Windows or Mac
A complete, no command line process to convert Android .APK files to BlackBerry .BAR files!
A complete, no command line process to convert Android .APK files to BlackBerry .BAR files!
One of the most anticipated features of BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 was the Android Player, allowing you to load your favorite apps on Android. When PlayBook OS 2.0 was released, one of the first questions posed was "Where is the Android Player?". Many were looking for the app icon that would launch the Android Player and many ended up disappointed to see there wasn't one. Rest assured...
Just over two weeks ago the official BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 update was finally available for everyone to download. Long before this though the information was readily available that it would include an Android App Player, and RIM even detailed the procedure for Android developers to port their applications and submit them to App World. To entice developers to submit their...
Get Kindle, Google Maps, DropBox and IM+ on your BlackBerry PlayBook!
*UPDATED* - We reached out to RIM for further clarification on this matter because as it stands, some Android apps do currently have ads in them. In speaking with them, it was noted that ads will work inside the Android apps the only thing however that is not supported is RIM's own BlackBerry Ad services. In other words, Android developers can still monetize their apps, just not using...
One of the questions I asked RIM execs back at BlackBerry DevCon during our Android Apps on BlackBerry press session was in regards to third party Android app marketplaces. I was wondering if RIM, in addition to allowing individual developers to submit their Android apps to BlackBerry App World, would try and work on injesting apps from some of these other Android app sources in volume...
Not finding enough apps in BlackBerry World for your PlayBook? This CrackBerry guide will teach you how to "sideload" Android apps onto your PlayBook tablet.
One of my favorite experiences at BlackBerry DevCon 2011 was the press briefing I attended on the topic of BlackBerry Runtime for Android Apps. Present from Research In Motion were Chris Smith, VP of the BlackBerry Development Platform, and Larry McDonough, Manager of Handheld Software Platform (focus on APIs and runtimes). In addition to fielding questions, the goal of the session...
Back in March of this year when RIM announced the Android player for PlayBook, my first thought was awesome! We were going to get the best of both worlds, we'd be able to run apps from two of the great software platforms out there. When the leaked version made its way to the internet a couple months ago and I had some actual hands on experience my feelings became a little bit more...
Last week we learned how to convert Android APK's into files that can be used on the BlackBerry PlayBook, and folks have been hard at work converting and testing while keeping us updated in the forums. In the above video you can see that they have converted the Ice Cream Sandwich Launcher as well as the Honeycomb Launcher to work on the BlackBerry PlayBook, giving an ever closer to...
Now that the developer build of the PlayBook OS 2.0 is out, many folks have been also testing the Android Player Repackaging Tools. There is a great guide in the CrackBerry forums showing just how to convert Android .APK files to BlackBerry PlayBook compatible .BAR files and one app that a lot of people are being drawn to is the Amazon Kindle app. Since we know Amazon will be...
We all have been anxiously awaiting the BlackBerry PlayBook OS2 update to roll out and one of the key features in anticipation is the Android App Player. We have previously taken a look at it when it leaked out and it left us wondering more about the details, what it would run, what is compatible and how it will all work. Overseas there is an event taking place this week called Droidcon...
With all of the new BlackBerry Smartphone excitement this week (be sure to check out our reviews of the Bold 9900/9930 and Torch 9860/9850/9810), we forgot to note on the blogs the BlackBerry PlayBook's 120 day anniversary. Is it a milestone worthy of a joyous celebration? Not quite. Though the PlayBook is powerfully awesome and does have a ton of great things about it -- I spent an...
A rumor hit the internet yesterday in regards to the much-anticipated Android App Player for the BlackBerry PlayBook stating that the feature won't arrive until "late fall" despite RIM previously stating that it will arrive late summer. The information was said to come from a "reliable source." I've been keeping pretty close tabs on this one since getting my in-depth App Player walk...
It's no secret that Research In Motion has plans to release an official Android app player for the BlackBerry PlayBook, the only question is when. Last month brought a leaked version, and though buggy, it does work. RIM was quick to make an official statement regarding the leak, saying: "An older version of the Android App Player beta software for the BlackBerry PlayBook was...
Two nights ago, I installed the leaked Android App Player on to my BlackBerry PlayBook. It was an arduous process that involved several hours of researching, finding bad or poorly worded instructions, and downloading hundreds of megabytes worth of SDK's (note the plural) and a JRE and a JDK and this and that. That's a lot of work to install a resource-hogging, semi-functional...
[ youtube video link for mobile viewing ] Earlier today, the Android App Player for the BlackBerry PlayBook leaked out and as expected, you really can't do much with it aside from have some fun just poking around. Since the time I did up this video, folks have now found out you can in fact use the Android SDK to install some apps but given the buggy nature of the Android Player -- not...
Notice the new BB logo on App pages? It's likely we'll see an Android logo for Android Apps This morning's BlackBerry PlayBook OS update brought with it a number of feature improvements, most of which were highlighted in the update note RIM sent out. But beyond that, keen eyes have been observing other changes, some of which are pretty noticeable (like the big boost of free working...
[ youtube video link for mobile viewing ] Just weeks before the BlackBerry PlayBook became available for purchase, RIM made the announcement that the BlackBerry PlayBook would be able to support Android Apps. Today at BlackBerry World, we got our first chance to see exactly what this experience will look like on the PlayBook. Long story short, it's looking pretty darn good. RIM is...