Research in Motion has announced that the long-awaited OS 2.0update for the BlackBerry Playbook will launch in February,complete with the ability to run repackaged Android apps.
The included BlackBerry Runtime for Android Apps lets developersport their apps over to RIM's tablet (and upcoming BlackBerry 10devices). The Canadian firm has told app-makers that 6 February is the deadline to get theirapp released alongside the new OS.
Developers will need to put in a little work to convert apps.Though, "I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at how easy theporting process is," a spokesperson for RIM's developer relationsteam said.
As such, RIM has releasedthe the BlackBerry Plug-in for ADT, browser-based emulatorBlackBerry Packager for Android apps and scripting toolsetBlackBerry SDK for Android apps.
There are a few rules to abide by to get in RIM's Android appcatalogue. For one, you'll need to strip any mention of the wordAndroid from the application's description and the app itself.You'll also need to remove all links to the Android Market, selectthe minimum BlackBerry PlayBook OS to 2.0, and get your app signed.
Opening up the PlayBook to legions of Android apps could be seenas a last ditch effort to save the floundering tablet. Shipments dropped in half during its second quarter in shops, and RIM hashad to drastically slash prices in the US and UK to clear theunwanted devices from shelves.
Despite buddying up with the little green robot and attemptingto borrow from its bulging App Store, RIM's brand-new CEO Thorsten Heins doesn't have many good words forAndroid. In an interview with Crackberry, Heins bashed theOS sayingthat "there is just no room for differentiation" because thedevices "are all the same."
The included BlackBerry Runtime for Android Apps lets developersport their apps over to RIM's tablet (and upcoming BlackBerry 10devices). The Canadian firm has told app-makers that 6 February is the deadline to get theirapp released alongside the new OS.
Developers will need to put in a little work to convert apps.Though, "I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at how easy theporting process is," a spokesperson for RIM's developer relationsteam said.
As such, RIM has releasedthe the BlackBerry Plug-in for ADT, browser-based emulatorBlackBerry Packager for Android apps and scripting toolsetBlackBerry SDK for Android apps.
There are a few rules to abide by to get in RIM's Android appcatalogue. For one, you'll need to strip any mention of the wordAndroid from the application's description and the app itself.You'll also need to remove all links to the Android Market, selectthe minimum BlackBerry PlayBook OS to 2.0, and get your app signed.
Opening up the PlayBook to legions of Android apps could be seenas a last ditch effort to save the floundering tablet. Shipments dropped in half during its second quarter in shops, and RIM hashad to drastically slash prices in the US and UK to clear theunwanted devices from shelves.
Despite buddying up with the little green robot and attemptingto borrow from its bulging App Store, RIM's brand-new CEO Thorsten Heins doesn't have many good words forAndroid. In an interview with Crackberry, Heins bashed theOS sayingthat "there is just no room for differentiation" because thedevices "are all the same."
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