When RIM's now CEO, Thorsten Heins took control of the company back in January, it was noted several times that RIM may look into licensing deals with various other organizations out there. For a while now, there has been a longstanding rumor that BlackBerry Messenger would be making its way to other platforms and many took this, as a sign BlackBerry smartphones would soon be losing their BlackBerry Messenger exclusivity.

As it appears now, things happened just the opposite. Backing this up, comes a new report from the WSJ that claims RIM was testing BlackBerry Messenger on other devices under the codename "SMS 2.0" despite RIM having gone on record to say, they have no plans for BlackBerry Messenger on different platforms.

Seemingly, the only reason why the BBM licensing agreement talks came to an end was due to the fact that CEO Thorsten Heins took that option off the table with WSJ's source claiming that "It was not up for discussion," any longer. In other words, "there is a time when this might make sense" but now -- is not it and BlackBerry Messenger will remain on BlackBerry exclusively.

Source: WSJ

Industry research firm Gartner just released its latest data on mobile phone sales for the first quarter of 2012. There are some interesting points to be pulled out of this report that I wanted to address. We have to work through a bit of data first, but we'll bring it back to BlackBerry very quick.

Samsung dominates Android. Gartner's data says that Korea-based Samsung shipped over 40% of all Android handsets last quarter. So that still leaves 60% of the market to other vendors, right? Yes, but according to Gartner none of these other vendors make up more than 10% of Android volume. None.

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A complete, no command line process to convert Android .APK files to BlackBerry .BAR files!

Since the release of PlayBook OS 2.0 we've been covering a lot of different ways to get Android apps onto your BlackBerry PlayBook. Most of the methods covered take into account that you may already have the Android .APK files converted to a BlackBerry PlayBook compatible .BAR file and go from there. Gathering up converted .BAR files and installing them is the easy part, but what if you want to convert your own Android files for use rather than downloading those already converted?

There are already a few great guides in the CrackBerry forums but most of those are geared towards Windows users. We will also cover Windows users in this guide, and those of you out there who use a Mac will find that this will be one of the easiest guides to follow to complete the task of converting your own Android .APK files to .BAR files, signing them and even installing them directly to your BlackBerry PlayBook for immediate use. Sound good? If so hit the break to get started.

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With Apple having now taken the covers off their "new iPad", the folks over at iMore have been rocking out the news to the masses. If you're into that sort of thing, you can head over there and check out the craziness for yourself. If you're more comfortable right here on CrackBerry, you can at least have a look at how the new iPad stacks up against the BlackBerry PlayBook along with the ASUS Transformer Infinity. No matter what you think of Apple though, if nothing else -- that display is packing some serious pixels.

There is an article that has been going around stating that Apple's iOS is three times faster at rendering HTML5 games then that of Google's Android. The information was compiled by spaceport.io, wherein they tested various devices including the iPhone 4S, the iPad 2, the Samsung Galaxy Nexus and finally -- the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1.

When tested on those various devices, Apple's iOS came out on top with the scores being based on spaceport.io's benchmark system called PerfMarks. According to the information, the iPhone 4S scored 252 PerfMarks and the iPad 2 scores 327, and that is up from 2009 when the iPhone 3GS scored 53. The Samsung Galaxy Nexus smartphone, by comparison, scored 147 and the Kindle Fire scored only 25. The iPad 2 beat all Android devices, even those with better specs such as the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 which came in with a score of 65.

Now, given that the BlackBerry PlayBook beats them all in the general HTML5 test when using Apple's Safari included with the most recent build of iOS for the iPad 2, and Google's Chrome Beta browser for Ice Cream Sandwich on a Motorola Xoom, we kind of can't help but wonder how well the BlackBerry PlayBook would do if tested.

spaceport.io has the source code for their PerfMarks testing posted up on their Github but they've yet to make the full iOS vs. Android documentation available. They will be releasing that information at the second annual HTML5 Game Developer Conference on May 21 in San Francisco. Anyone feel like putting up a server and testing the PlayBook? The source code does include a spot for the BlackBerry PlayBook in the listing.

Discuss in the CrackBerry Forums

Source: VentureBeat via: iMore

The easiest way to sideload apps onto your BlackBerry PlayBook from a Windows PC is with the DDPB Installer. This small app lets you connect to your PlayBook and install BAR files with just a few simple steps. The installer has been updated with bug fixes and some other tweaks and now rests at version 1.0.9. The free utility is available for Windows from the link below.

If you haven't jumped in to the world of sideloading yet, what are you waiting for? There are plenty of great Android apps you can run on the BlackBerry PlayBook and loading them up is easy thanks to our tutorials for both Windows and Mac.

Download DDPB Installer for Windows

How to sideload Android apps to your BlackBerry PlayBook (Windows)
How to sideload Android apps to your BlackBerry PlayBook (Mac)

CrackBerry's guide to sideloading Android apps from your Mac!

When it comes to sideloading Android apps on your BlackBerry PlayBook, using a Windows PC has pretty much been the way to go. Sideloading is the process of getting PlayBook apps (which carry the .BAR format) onto your tablet without the use of BlackBerry App World. Well loading up BAR files from your Mac isn't quite so hard either. Originally, you had to install the PlayBook SDK on your Mac (which was pretty annoying) to have the ability to load up BAR files on your PlayBook. Well thankfully that isn't the case anymore and sideloading apps from your Mac just takes a few steps. You'll need to download the PlayBook Tools, a BAR file or two and know how to use Terminal. It may take a few minutes the first time you have a go at it, but after that you'll be able to load up files in a under a minute. Keep reading for the full turorial on just how to get this done.

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Get Kindle, Google Maps, DropBox and IM+ on your BlackBerry PlayBook!

If you're looking to get some big name apps like Kindle, Google Maps or DropBox onto your BlackBerry PlayBook after upgrading to OS 2.0 - have no fear. You now have the ability to sideload (aka load outside of BlackBerry App World) many Android apps with just a few simple steps.  All you'll need a Windows PC and your PlayBook, and by following a few simple steps which we'll go over in detail, you'll be up and running with some great apps in no time at all. You can check out a full list of working Android apps as well as download some BAR files from our thread in the forums, then head to the link below for a full tutorial on how to sideload Android apps on your BlackBerry PlayBook.

How To Sideload Android apps on PlayBook OS v2.0 for use with the Android App Player
Links to over 243 BARs for your BlackBerry PlayBook

Hey Android Developers! Want to snag yourself a free BlackBerry PlayBook? You can do just that simply by submitting your apps to BlackBerry App World before February 13th. The PlayBook OS 2.0 is on the way (February is finally here!!) and from the looks of it, RIM wants to make sure BlackBerry App World is choc-full of appy goodness on release day. They've made it super easy to port your apps over to run on the PlayBook, so you really have no reason not to. If you already have an app or game running on the PlayBook, make sure you have the latest beta OS installed on your tablet so you can test them out as well. The official release should be coming along any day now and you wouldn't want any bugs floating around come game day, right? For more on porting your Android apps or creating apps of your own hit up the links below.

BlackBerry Runtime for Android Apps
More info on BlackBerry Jam

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. The response I received from RIM was that "yes, this is something they have thought about". Whether they would or not was still a question.

But today we have evidence that not only did RIM think about this, but is actually doing it, thanks to this email we received from our friend Wayne (@wjddesigns) at WJD Designs:

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Press Release 

RIM Announces BlackBerry Mobile Fusion - The Next Generation Enterprise Mobility Solution for BlackBerry, Android and iOS Smartphones and Tablets 

Simplifies Management of Smartphones and Tablets for Business and Government

Waterloo, ON - Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ: RIMM; TSX: RIM) today introduced BlackBerry® Mobile Fusion - the Company's next-generation enterprise mobility solution and RIM's entry into the multi-platform Mobile Device Management (MDM) marketplace. Building on years of leading enterprise mobility management solutions from RIM, BlackBerry Mobile Fusion will simplify the management of smartphones and tablets running BlackBerry®, Google® Android® and Apple® iOS® operating systems.

"We are pleased to introduce BlackBerry Mobile Fusion - RIM's next generation enterprise mobility solution - to make it easier for our business and government customers to manage the diversity of devices in their operations today," said Alan Panezic, Vice President, Enterprise Product Management and Marketing at Research In Motion. "BlackBerry Mobile Fusion brings together our industry-leading BlackBerry Enterprise Server technology for BlackBerry devices with mobile device management capabilities for iOS and Android devices, all managed from one web-based console. It provides the necessary management capabilities to allow IT departments to confidently oversee the use of both company-owned and employee-owned mobile devices within their organizations."

RIM is the leading provider of enterprise mobility solutions with over 90 percent of the Fortune 500 provisioning BlackBerry devices today. The enterprise market for smartphones and tablets continues to grow in both the company-provisioned and employee-owned (Bring Your Own Device or BYOD) categories. BYOD in particular has led to an increase in the diversity of mobile devices in use in the enterprise and new challenges for CIOs and IT departments as they struggle to manage and control wireless access to confidential company information on the corporate network. This has resulted in increased demand for mobile device management solutions.

BlackBerry Mobile Fusion brings together the market-leading BlackBerry® Enterprise Server (version 5.0.3) for BlackBerry smartphones; new management capabilities for BlackBerry PlayBook tablets built on BlackBerry Enterprise Server technology; and mobile device management for smartphones and tablets running Android and iOS operating systems.

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By now, most BlackBerry PlayBook fans and CrackBerry readers know RIM has officially released the BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 software. Along with a slew of new and updated features, OS 2.0 brings along the ability to run Android applications as well. If you haven't updated yet - do it now. You will need it in order to make use of this guide so if you don't have -- grab it before continuing on.

As many have found out, the process of repackaging Android apps for use on the BlackBerry PlayBook is fairly simple provided you have the time and patience to sit down and read through the documentation -- as well, sign up for application signing keys which by the way is still free and available to anyone. For some though, the thought of hunting down .apk files, converting them and ultimately signing them is just far too technical to even bother trying.

That said, if you're not all that tech savvy but have already installed or are planning to install PlayBook OS v2.0 and really just want to try out some of the many Android apps already converted by CrackBerry Forum members, then this is the guide for you. It has very little technical jargon and only requires that you have a Windows internet connected computer, a BlackBerry PlayBook as well as a USB cable and some patience. If you're using a Mac you're in the wrong place - check out our tutorial on sideloading from your Mac here.

Read on if you're looking to learn more.

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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 releasing the Amazon Kindle Fire soon, there priority of launching a native PlayBook version of Kindle is probably pretty low on the list but no matter. When converted to a .BAR file, the Kindle for Android app instantly becomes a Kindle for PlayBook app that functions pretty flawlessly. You can login, see your library and read books as you would expect.

If you're looking to try it out, you'll need the developer build of the PlayBook OS v2.0 installed and since the conversion was already done in the CrackBerry forums, you'll be able to install it easily without the need for doing the conversion yourself but the guide is there should you wish to try out other apps. You'll find Kindle and many other free Android apps already converted for you.

Learn more in the CrackBerry Forums

We've all seen the photos, heard the hype and even had some laughs at the rumors but the fun and games are over for now. I don't mind being the killjoy on this because as fun as the rumors were, that's all they were -- rumors. Alec Saunders and Chris Smith, during a DevCon press session, dismissed the question of BBM coming to other platforms. Alec stated, "he wasn't aware of it" while Chris Smith, noted "there were no plans for it". Now, that's not to say it might not come eventually but for now this one can be laughed at -- much like those photos we saw of a gimped up Motorola Atrix running a poorly photoshopped BBM which, I won't even give the creator of the satisfaction of seeing them reposted.

With BlackBerry DevCon Americas kicking off tomorrow in San Franciso, we know RIM will be showing off some goodies with the Android App Player for the BlackBerry PlayBook and while it remains uncertain when, exactly it will roll out to users -- RIM is wanting to be prepared. As such, all throughout BlackBerry DevCon they will be holding App Express sessions where Android developers and web developers can have their apps ported to the BlackBerry PlayBook in minutes:

Fast track your app by visiting the App Express area at BlackBerry® DevCon Americas. In just a few minutes, you can port your existing Android app to the BlackBerry® PlayBook™ tablet or transform an existing web application into a full-fledged app for both the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet and BlackBerry® smartphones.

Once done, you can get your app submitted to BlackBerry App World™ on the spot*. Come to the kiosk, plug in your laptop, and see how easy it is to get a BlackBerry app up and running. Experts from Research In Motion's (RIM®) development team and the BlackBerry App World team will be there, ready to help.

App Express opens on Monday, October 17 and runs through Thursday, October 20. You don't even have to be registered for BlackBerry DevCon Americas. Come by and try out App Express on us, and then stick around for the rest of the content, insights, networking and more at the conference.

There you have it -- easy as that. There are a few things you'll need to bring along with you if you intend on porting your app to the BlackBerry PlayBook but those items are outlined on the DevCon Americas website. Be sure to check it out if you're looking to get into BlackBerry App World and explore new oppurtunites for your work.

Learn more about App Express and what you need to get started