Skip to main content

RIM confirms Blackberry PlayBook Android integration, with a catch

playbook androidFinally, there’s been some confirmation on a very important PlayBook rumor that’s been around for months now. RIM has officially stated that it will open up the PlayBook for BlackBerry Java and Android-based applications – but of course, it can’t be quite that simple. In a press release, RIM explains that the Android Market itself won’t be operable on the PlayBook. Users will only be able to access Android apps via BlackBerry App World. And there’s another catch: Only specific Android apps will run on the tablet. For now, the PlayBook will only support Android 2.3 apps.

“Developers will simply repackage, code sign and submit their BlackBerry Java and Android apps to BlackBerry App World. Once approved, the apps will be distributed through BlackBerry App World, providing a new opportunity for many developers to reach BlackBerry PlayBook users.”

It’s definitely a coup for the PlayBook: A launch that includes a hearty amount of apps is always beneficial, and tying itself to the established Android ecosystem doesn’t hurt. The QNX OS BlackBerry has chosen to use for PlayBook doesn’t have the recognition Google’s mobile OS does, not to mention the sheer number of applications. It also makes the tablet more attractive to developers. While there’s been increasing interest in creating PlayBook applications, it doesn’t have the pull Android does, and now developers will be able to market their programs to both easily due to what RIM describes as “a high degree of API compatibility.”

RIM revealed in its earnings call (via BBC) today that shares fell 12 percent, saying the sagging numbers were caused by “investments in the future.” But good news, as RIM CEO Jim Balsillie also revealed there are “many corporate clients that have approached us about, you know, each wanting tens of thousands, several tens of thousands of PlayBooks.” The PlayBook launches April 19.

Molly McHugh
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Before coming to Digital Trends, Molly worked as a freelance writer, occasional photographer, and general technical lackey…
Samsung Galaxy A55 vs. A54: all the big changes, explained
Renders of the Samsung Galaxy A55 next to the Galaxy A54.

Galaxy A55 (left) and Galaxy A54 Digital Trends

Samsung has been on a roll with new phone releases in 2024. At the end of January, Samsung released the flagship Galaxy S24 lineup. It's fantastic, but not everyone can afford the latest and greatest flagship. Thankfully, Samsung also makes budget-friendly alternatives, and that’s the appeal of the new Galaxy A55.

Read more
8 iPhone browser apps you should use instead of Safari
iPhone browser apps

By default, the Safari web browser is available on every iPhone, including the iPhone 15 series. Nevertheless, several other web-browsing options can be found on the App Store, each with at least one unique feature that distinguishes it from the others. While some web browser apps like Google Chrome, DuckDuckGo, and Microsoft Edge might already be familiar to you, others such as Aloha and Arc Search may not be.

If you're looking for a Safari alternative, here are our favorite iPhone browser apps you should consider using instead.
Google Chrome

Read more
Qualcomm is about to make cheap Android phones better than ever
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 render.

Qualcomm is adding a new top-tier mobile chipset to its portfolio — one that takes the best bits of its flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 silicon, makes some concessions, and serves it all up in a more affordable package. The result of those efforts is the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3, which is slated to appear inside phones from Xiaomi and Honor in the coming month.

Qualcomm is once again pushing generative AI capabilities for its latest silicon, touting features like image expansion, support for AI models from the likes of Meta to create an intelligent on-device assistant, and readiness for Google’s Gemini Nano model. So far, these things have remained exclusive to Google's Pixel and Samsung flagships, but it appears that the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 will finally bring them to a larger audience.

Read more