Soporte para Flash 11.1 en BlackBerry PlayBook

Después del anuncio de Adobe de abandonar Adobe Flash para dispositivos móviles y centrarse más en el desarrollo con HTML5 de las páginas creadas con sus herramientas de desarrollo, RIM ha confirmado que BlackBerry PlayBook se actualizará a la última versión del Player disponible para Flash, esto es a la versión 11.1 y dará soporte para Flash hoy y en próximas versiones de sus sistema operativo. Porque aunque Adobe abandone hay miles de páginas hechas con Adobe Flash y el cambio de Flash a HTML5 no va ser cuestión de 2 días, sino más bien de algunos años, así que un Bravo por RIM por continuar soportando Flash en sus sistemas operativos.

El soporte para HTML5 es algo que el navegador de BlackBerry PlayBook ya tiene desde su lanzamiento y que RIM ha cuidado especialmente para que soporte al máximo posible ese standar, así que vamos a tener la opción de poder visualizar páginas Flash y HTML5 en BlackBerry PlayBook sin problema alguno.

Crowdsourced List of Android Apps That Work on the PlayBook OS 2.0 Beta (Sideloading)

Since the Android Player for the PlayBook leaked out and then officially came out in the public OS 2.0 beta users have been looking for which Android apps work on the PlayBook. There were quite a few lists being created and a few repositories of popular apps but now we seem to have something better. A group of hardworking enthusiasts over at CrackBerry forums created a public Google spreadsheet that lists all of the Android apps they have managed to get working on the BlackBerry PlayBook. It also includes links to download most of them so you can sideload them without having to convert and sign them yourself.

*** The credit goes out to quite a few people and I wish I could name all of them but since I don’t want to offend any of them I will just say you guys know who you are. Keep up the good work! ***

Here is how it works (instructions provided by Technomensch and in one of the original threads by Erandhawa)

Let us know if you find any other solid resources!

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Android Launchers for Honeycomb & Ice Cream Sandwich on the PlayBook

 

RIM ported the Android runtime environment to the BlackBerry PlayBook but that runtime is built on the phone specific v2.3.3 of Android. While this does not really limit the platform in features it does have a main drawback. Google has released v3.0 (Honeycomb) and v4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) of Android which have a more tablet friendly interface which is called a “Launcher” on Android.

A few tinkerers in the CrackBerry forums managed to get the Android launchers for Honeycomb and Ice Cream Sandwich to run on the PlayBook. This gives you a much nicer home screen interface from the Android player. This is not a huge deal but it is quite fun especially once you check out the video Shahzoor @BBin posted of it:

Desktop Video Link | Mobile Video Link

You can read more about the hack at this link in the CrackBerry forums and if you are feeling adventurous pick up the APK files here

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RIM Kills off PlayBook Java Player With No Traditional BlackBerry Java on BBX

We heard from quite a few sources at DevCon that RIM finally put the official stake in the BlackBerry Java Player they were talking up at BlackBerry World. I have heard mixed reports on why that didn’t work out though understanding the differences between more modern Java frameworks and BlackBerry Java it starts to make some sense. On the other hand it does leave BlackBerry Java developers in an interesting situation. They can either go back to their C++ roots like me or try their hand at Android development as a way to port their apps.

It seems like RIM is not sure themselves on how that will work though they do have a session at DevCon to show BlackBerry Java developers how to port their skills to Android Player development for the PlayBook. The API’s are not all there though RIM has confirmed that they will be bringing API’s like the BBM SDK to the native SDK but not yet confirmed for the Android Java runtime. The Android Java runtime also does not currently have access to interface with the Native SDK on the PlayBook to create immersive Android Java apps.

On one hand BlackBerry Java apps will be around for quite a few more years since BlackBerry 7 devices will have at least a 2 year life span. Still RIM’s vision for BBX clearly was not focused on Java. RIM has confirmed multiple times that they have dedicated themselves to supporting the BlackBerry Java platform but obviously RIM believes they have taken it as far as they can. You can see the things they are doing with the native SDK on BBX that they could only dream of doing on BlackBerry Java. On the other hand the Android Java alternative is quite a bit different than Java development when it comes to multitasking and other runtime differences for always on apps that RIM devs are used to.

If you are a BlackBerry Java dev I am really curious to hear what you think! You have to admit it is weird that there have been practically no BlackBerry Java development announcements at DevCon 2011 compared to it dominating DevCon 2010 with API’s and such.

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RIM Kills of PlayBook Java Player With No Traditional BlackBerry Java on BBX

We heard from quite a few sources at DevCon that RIM finally put the official stake in the BlackBerry Java Player they were talking up at BlackBerry World. I have heard mixed reports on why that didn’t work out though understanding the differences between more modern Java frameworks and BlackBerry Java it starts to make some sense. On the other hand it does leave BlackBerry Java developers in an interesting situation. They can either go back to their C++ roots like me or try their hand at Android development as a way to port their apps.

It seems like RIM is not sure themselves on how that will work though they do have a session at DevCon to show BlackBerry Java developers how to port their skills to Android Player development for the PlayBook. The API’s are not all there though RIM has confirmed that they will be bringing API’s like the BBM SDK to the native SDK but not yet confirmed for the Android Java runtime. The Android Java runtime also does not currently have access to interface with the Native SDK on the PlayBook to create immersive Android Java apps.

On one hand BlackBerry Java apps will be around for quite a few more years since BlackBerry 7 devices will have at least a 2 year life span. Still RIM’s vision for BBX clearly was not focused on Java. RIM has confirmed multiple times that they have dedicated themselves to supporting the BlackBerry Java platform but obviously RIM believes they have taken it as far as they can. You can see the things they are doing with the native SDK on BBX that they could only dream of doing on BlackBerry Java. On the other hand the Android Java alternative is quite a bit different than Java development when it comes to multitasking and other runtime differences for always on apps that RIM devs are used to.

If you are a BlackBerry Java dev I am really curious to hear what you think! You have to admit it is weird that there have been practically no BlackBerry Java development announcements at DevCon 2011 compared to it dominating DevCon 2010 with API’s and such.

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Clarification: Adobe AIR/Flash Apps & Android Player Apps to Run on BBX

Alec Saunders did not mention Adobe AIR/Flash apps or apps built on the Android Player when it came to their future BBX strategy. I have been trying to confirm this since Alec said that but it looks like he might have just missed it off his slide. RIM’s BBX press release says that:

The BBX platform will include BBX-OS, and will support BlackBerry cloud services and development environments for both HTML5 and native developers. BBX will also support applications developed using any of the tools available today for the BlackBerry PlayBook – including Native SDK, Adobe AIR/Flash and WebWorks/HTML5, as well as the BlackBerry Runtime for Android Apps – on future BBX-based tablets and smartphones.

Hopefully that settles that but it looks like BlackBerry Java is still nowhere to be seen.

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RIM Shows Off Android PlayBook APK Repackaging (Aka Porting)

 

We know that any Android developer can now start porting or better yet repackaging their Android APK files into apps that are easy to submit to App World. RIM showed off a simple app like Pulse but the took things a few steps further. They showed off an OpenGL game like Pool Break Pro that worked like a charm on the PlayBook. They also showed off IMDB working just by repackaging the APK file without any recompiling.

They showed off how it plugs in right with the Android tools with a RIM Eclipse plugin that just adds the ability to repackage into a Bar file and signing. Definitely something all Android devs should take a look at. Especially since it ties into all of the existing tools that Android devs already use.

Check out the microsite for the PlayBook Android Runtime if you are interested in more!

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PlayBook Android Player Repackaging Tools Now Available!

You heard us right. Those of you trying to get your Android apps to the PlayBook that is now possible. You can check it all out on RIM’s new dedicated microsite.

Check it out at https://bdsc.webapps.blackberry.com/android/

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Latest PlayBook Android Player Details Confirm What RIM Has Shown

 

We know that RIM is launching the BlackBerry PlayBook Android Player shortly after DevCon in October but details around the Player are limited. Thing.co.uk got some details from DroidCon at the Easter European Mobile Monday Developer Summit in Romania and they show some of the limitations of the Android Player. Some publications are saying these limitations will be off putting but they sort of make sense for a virtualized player that is divorced from Google’s proprietary Android apps and services.

The thing is the whole purpose of the Android Player for the PlayBook is to bring the HUGE chunk of apps that would run just fine and make them super easy to port to QNX. I remember at BlackBerry World they were showing off 10+ apps that they didn’t even need the source code to run on the PlayBook. These are a majority of apps that are created for Android like the WordPress app I want or the IMDB app. The list could continue of apps that don’t use these API’s like: Twitter, Weather Apps, Amazon.com shopping, Radio streaming apps, sports apps, eBay, eBook readers, and much much more! Most of these apps would run just fine or would require small tweaks. I am truly hoping RIM creates a 1 click port and submit to App World app for Android devs…

Here are the details of what wont work:

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RIM Sponsoring 50 Android Developer Meetups to Promote PlayBook Android Player

A friend pointed out that RIM is really starting to make themselves known to Android developers and other developer communities on Meetup. Until now they have been using it to court BlackBerry developers with meetups all over the place and a few web developers but now they are clearly sponsoring Android developer meetups in anticipation of the Android Player for the PlayBook. We know that RIM is releasing the Android Player to developers at least before DevCon but other than that this is another sign that it is coming soon.

On RIM’s Meetup.com sponsorship page for the “Android Player for BlackBerry PlayBook it states that they are sponsoring 50 meetups across the country. Here are the details:

Android Player for BlackBerry PlayBook is supporting 50 Meetups across the country to get the word out about converting your Android App to run on the BlackBerry Tablet OS and host it in BlackBerry World. They’re thrilled to have your Meetup participating in this program! In addition to having a local Blackberry rep come visit your Meetup, they’re making a financial investment in your Meetup Group over the next 3 months to help your Organizer make it even better!

Android Player for BlackBerry PlayBook is supporting 50 Meetups across the country to get the word out about converting your Android App to run on the BlackBerry Tablet OS and host it in BlackBerry World. They’re thrilled to have your Meetup participating in this program! In addition to having a local Blackberry rep come visit your Meetup, they’re making a financial investment in your Meetup Group over the next 3 months to help your Organizer make it even better!

So far they have 35 meetups listed on their sponsor page for the Android Player with 10,184 developer members in total. In short RIM is not wasting any time in getting the word out and laying the groundwork. That is interesting because RIM has been very mum about the Android Player so far…

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RIM Sponsoring 50 Android Devloper Meetups to Promote PlayBook Android Player

A friend pointed out that RIM is really starting to make themselves known to Android developers and other developer communities on Meetup. Until now they have been using it to court BlackBerry developers with meetups all over the place and a few web developers but now they are clearly sponsoring Android developer meetups in anticipation of the Android Player for the PlayBook. We know that RIM is releasing the Android Player to developers at least before DevCon but other than that this is another sign that it is coming soon.

On RIM’s Meetup.com sponsorship page for the “Android Player for BlackBerry PlayBook it states that they are sponsoring 50 meetups across the country. Here are the details:

Android Player for BlackBerry PlayBook is supporting 50 Meetups across the country to get the word out about converting your Android App to run on the BlackBerry Tablet OS and host it in BlackBerry World. They’re thrilled to have your Meetup participating in this program! In addition to having a local Blackberry rep come visit your Meetup, they’re making a financial investment in your Meetup Group over the next 3 months to help your Organizer make it even better!

Android Player for BlackBerry PlayBook is supporting 50 Meetups across the country to get the word out about converting your Android App to run on the BlackBerry Tablet OS and host it in BlackBerry World. They’re thrilled to have your Meetup participating in this program! In addition to having a local Blackberry rep come visit your Meetup, they’re making a financial investment in your Meetup Group over the next 3 months to help your Organizer make it even better!

So far they have 35 meetups listed on their sponsor page for the Android Player with 10,184 developer members in total. In short RIM is not wasting any time in getting the word out and laying the groundwork. That is interesting because RIM has been very mum about the Android Player so far…

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JeeoSuite v1.0.1.41 Released With Free JeeoPlayer PlayBook App

Mblware let us know that they have released an updated version of JeeoSuite for BlackBerry. The new app adds some nice new features but the headline update is the addition of JeeoPlayer which is a PlayBook app. The app lets you stream music off your smartphone and play it on your PlayBook. Here are the features of the free JeeoPlayer companion app which requires JeeoSuite on your Phone:

JeeoSuite also had some additions with this new version including:

You can pick up both apps at the links below:

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Rumor: Android App Player "Still Looking to be On Schedule"

Earlier this week we heard a rumor from Engadget that the Android App Player for the BlackBerry PlayBook might not show its face until "Late Fall" instead of "Late Summer." While we told you to take it with a grain of salt my buddy Kevin @CrackBerry is saying the same thing with confirmation from his sources that things are still on track. We mentioned when the first rumor dropped that this rumor may be talking about the official out of beta release instead of the developer and then public beta release. Kevin is hearing that developers should be getting access to the Android Player in the next two or three weeks setting the stage for an August or early September beta launch.

Either way I know quite a few devs that cannot wait to get their hands on the official player. What do you think?

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Rumor: PlayBook Android Player Pushed to "Late Fall" Release?

While at BlackBerry World RIM was saying that the BlackBerry PlayBook Android Player would be coming in Late Summer along with the Native SDK. With August being late summer and still no announcement it looks like we may be having a later release for the Android Player. Engadget heard from a reliable source that the Android Player for the PlayBook wont be available in beta form until "Late Fall." With Fall being defined as September through November that could be a few months. That would be kind of sad because the early beta that leaked of the Android Player is actually pretty functional.

This rumor goes against RIM’s official statement about the Android Player leak they made on July 22nd that said:

“An older version of the Android App Player beta software for the BlackBerry PlayBook was inadvertently posted and has since been removed. We recommend that users refrain from downloading and installing this software since it is outdated and non-functional in many respects. The official beta release of the Android App Player for the BlackBerry PlayBook is on track for release later this summer.”

“An older version of the Android App Player beta software for the BlackBerry PlayBook was inadvertently posted and has since been removed. We recommend that users refrain from downloading and installing this software since it is outdated and non-functional in many respects. The official beta release of the Android App Player for the BlackBerry PlayBook is on track for release later this summer.”

So it could be that the beta release is still on schedule but the official release is set for late fall? Let us know what you think!

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Android Market Caught Running on BlackBerry PlayBook

 

The fun continues with the leaked Android Player for the BlackBerry PlayBook. A creative user on CrackBerry Forums, Lawguyman, managed to get Android Player to run the Android Market app which is impressive. It can even install apps if you jump through a few hoops. Not that many details right now but we do have a video of it in action. Anybody else excited? I am just hoping this will end the strangle hold RIM has on the PlayBook by only allowing apps through App World. Video after the jump!

Desktop Video Link | Mobile Video Link

via Engadget

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Share Your PlayBook Android Player Working App List & Tips!

We told you earlier today about how you can easily use Keepers DDPB installer on Windows to sideload Android apps onto the leaked BlackBerry PlayBook Android Player. Luis started a thread in the forums asking all of you who are playing with the leaked beta to share your experiences. To add a larger appeal I thought I would ask all of you who are testing it out to share the apps you get working in this forum thread. Let us know what you find!

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Fun Android Player Leak Wallpapers for Your PlayBook

Ben Rowe was having some fun after the Android Player leaked last week. He decided to create some funny wallpapers for his PlayBook to commemorate the occasion. Better yet he was nice enough to share them with us for everybody to enjoy.

You can download the originals at this link (ZIP File) or below

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Easily Sideload Android APK Apps to PlayBook with DDPb Installer

One of our long time forum contributors, Keeper, has released an updated version of his DDPb Installer app this weekend. This new version simplifies the process of sideloading Android APK installer files onto the BlackBerry PlayBook to use with the leaked Android App Player. This is still not the simplest of processes but it works like a charm and just points out how much easier RIM needs to make the process outside of App World.

Instructions are also included and I highly recommend checking out this forum thread for instructions and a link to install the DDPb Installer. Here are the basic use instructions:

If you want to install .apk Android package:

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Screenshots of PlayBook Android Player Web Browser, Keyboard, & More!

With the leaked Android Player for the BlackBerry PlayBook came a few goodies in the form of the basic preloaded Android apps including the email app we mentioned previously. These are the apps that come with a plain vanilla Android device that does not include Google preloaded apps. One of these apps is the Android browser that actually works quite well on the PlayBook. This will be the third browser for the PlayBook including the default PlayBook and Bridge browsers. It works quite well and actually reports an interesting user agent as you can see below. Also of interest is the Android keyboard that is used instead of the larger more “fat finger friendly” PlayBook keyboard. Let us know what else you want to see!

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How to Sideload Android Apps for PlayBook Android Player (Netflix Example)

Things are really heating up with the leak of the Android Player for the BlackBerry PlayBook. Devs and hacks have been trying all day to get apps on the Android Player and it looks like there is finally a solution. N4BB discovered that by using the Android SDK and Java SDK they managed to side load Android apps on the PlayBook. We have been trying a similar method but did not have much luck using the Android Development Bridge but N4BB is claiming it works a good portion of the time if you use these instructions:

Here are the steps but PLEASE PROCEED AT YOUR OWN RISK. We take no responsibility if you mess up your device!

Here are N4BB’s instructions:

Software you’ll need to download:

C:\Program Files\Android\android-sdk\platform-tools>adb connect 169.254.0.1:5555

connected to 169.254.0.1:5555

C:\Program Files\Android\android-sdk\platform-tools>adb root
restarting adbd as root

C:\Program Files\Android\android-sdk\platform-tools>adb connect 169.254.0.1:5555

connected to 169.254.0.1:5555

C:\Program Files\Android\android-sdk\platform-tools>adb install com.netflix.medi
aclient.1.3.apk
2533 KB/s (7378353 bytes in 2.843s)
pkg: /data/local/tmp/com.netflix.mediaclient.1.3.apk

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