Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Mobile

RIM confirms Blackberry PlayBook Android integration, with a catch

Molly McHugh
By

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.”

Related Videos

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.”

Related

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.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Our 5 favorite iPhone and Android apps by Black developers
An iPhone with apps from Black developers downloaded on it.

As we wrap up the celebration of 2023's Black History Month, it remains important to recognize and appreciate the contributions that Black people have made in various fields, including technology and the smartphone apps we use every day. From social media platforms to productivity tools, Black developers and other people of color have worked hard to create innovative, useful, and just plain fun apps.

Here, we're focusing on five helpful apps developed by Black people that you should check out. These iPhone and Android apps range from ones that help you discover and support Black-owned businesses to ones that provide legal assistance in case of an emergency to ones that curate and highlight sources of news and entertainment by Black creators.
We Read Too

Read more
Google just announced 9 new features for your Android phone and watch
Samsung Galaxy S23 showing Google Photos

Google has announced some big new features coming to Android and Wear OS devices during the Mobile World Congress 2023 event in Barcelona, Spain. These new features are beginning to roll out starting today, February 27, with others to come later.
New Android features available starting February 27

Google Drive users will now be able to do freehand annotation on Android phones and tablets. This means you are now able to use a stylus or your fingers to annotate PDFs directly in the Google Drive app on Android.

Read more
This new Android phone is unbelievably tough — and it talks to satellites
The back of the Cat S75 phone, covered in dust.

The Cat S75 smartphone is strong enough to keep working after more than a few drops — and also clever enough to send and receive messages even when there’s no cellular connection.

If you have a fall and don’t fare as well as the Cat S75 phone, it has the ability to call for help when other phones would simply fail, thanks to a special new chip from MediaTek and an app that enables satellite communication.
Two-way satellite communication

Read more