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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Devs: RIM Provides GUI Build, Sign, & Deploy App for Adobe AIR PlayBook Apps

Some devs might not be comfortable with the command line tools available for current BlackBerry development on the PlayBook. The command line tools are great for scripting (which is what I do) but RIM has decided to release a BlackBerry Tablet OS Graphical Aid app to help developers out who like GUI (Graphic User Interfaces). This new Graphical Aid ties into the Adobe Flash Builder to help you easily build Adobe Air apps for the PlayBook. It allows you to build, sign, and deploy apps without touching the command line. Personally I wish they would just do away with the complicated code signing process but this is a nice step.

Currently the Graphic Aid only works on Windows for Adobe Air PlayBook apps but RIM is promising to release Mac OSX and Linux support soon. No word on if they will release a WebWorks version. You can pick up the BlackBerry Tablet OS Graphical Aid app at this link.

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Dear RIM Legal, Enough with the Beta Zone User License Agreements!

  

I am all for RIM Legal protecting the company from valid legal threats but it is starting to seem like their bonuses are based on how much they can annoy customers in the BlackBerry Beta Zone. I am not talking about them holding up projects or being in dire need of streamlining. Today the subject of my wrath is the exponentially growing list of End User License Agreements RIM’s legal department wants their customers to agree to.

Want an example? Take the latest version of BlackBerry Messenger beta that was released in the Beta Zone. Even giving RIM legal the benefit of the doubt and saying I already have an account in the Beta Zone they have a serious proliferation of user license agreements happening. First you need to agree to two licenses to join the BlackBerry Messenger beta. Then another one to download the program. Then when you fire up the app and think you are finally done you are hit with yet another license agreement. The best part? This last license agreement is so long it is the equivalent of 46 full screens of text in size 6 font!

In my head I see one user agreement as reasonable, two is a bit paranoid, but four is simply ridiculous. Multiply that by each addon program or beta and insanity ensues. I just switched to a new BlackBerry Torch today and had to accept the user license agreement when I turned on the device. I then had to accept another one for Facebook, a second for BlackBerry Messenger, a third for Twitter, and the list goes on. Signed up for that nifty new BlackBerry ID? There went another license agreement…

Its not like RIM legal actually expect people to read this stuff though they force you to scroll down through it so why do they bother? Do they gain some sense of sadistic joy in not combining all of these legal agreements into one that simply says “I agree to accept every possible way RIM can weasel out of a warranty or legal liability unless they are specifically liable according to the law of my current locality” and be done with it? I am no lawyer but I feel like RIM needs to release a new Beta Zone app that automatically accepts all license agreements for you and sends a picture of a crying puppy to legalinfo@rim.com.

These license agreements are not going to make or break RIM but they really leave quite a bit lacking in the user experience department. Considering how RIM is focusing on “streamlining operations” is it too much to ask to streamline the legal-eze?

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SmrtGuard Beats BlackBerry Protect to Multi-User Management

We know that RIM is working on a new Management Center that will allow small businesses to manage multiple BIS accounts along with BlackBerry Protect. It is currently in the Beta Zone but only available to a relatively small number of customers. SmrtGuard offers similar features to BlackBerry Protect but they got the jump on RIM by releasing the ability to manage multiple users from one dashboard.

Unlike BlackBerry Protect, SmrtGuard has a yearly license fee but they are adding in an incentive. Users who purchase a SmrtGuard Yearly Pro subscription will receive two more yearly subscriptions to give to other users who want to join their group FOR FREE! You can then purchase more if you need more than those three. With the service you will be able to remotely track, wipe, and lock devices in the group. SmrtGuard is also cross platform with BlackBerry, Android, and iPhone supported.

You can read more about this multi user feature on their features page or in their user guides.

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