Rumored for months, Research In Motion (RIM) has finally confirmed on the recently released Playbook tablet, on supporting apps built for Google Android. Powered with the new QNX operating system, the BlackBerry PlayBook would be supporting apps from both, the RIMs App Store as well as Android.
Scheduled to launch April 19, RIM will launch two optional “app players” which would provide an app run-time environment for BlackBerry Java apps and Android apps. Users would be able to download BlackBerry Java apps and Android app from the BlackBerry App World and run them on the BlackBerry PlayBook.
Moreover, RIM would release the native SDK for the BlackBerry PlayBook which would enable C/C++ app development on the BlackBerry Tablet OS. Game-specific developers can use the cross-platform game engines from Ideaworks Labs and Unity Technologies to roll in games over the BlackBerry PlayBook.
President and Co-CEO at RIM, Mike Lazaridis told:
The BlackBerry PlayBook is an amazing tablet. The power that we have embedded creates one of the most compelling app experiences available in a mobile computing device today. The upcoming addition of BlackBerry Java and Android apps for the BlackBerry PlayBook on BlackBerry App World will provide our users with an even greater choice of apps and will also showcase the versatility of the platform.
Developers can quickly and easily port their apps to run on the BlackBerry Tablet OS due to the API compatibility. Developers can simply repackage, code sign and submit their BlackBerry Java and Android apps to BlackBerry App World, once approved BlackBerry PlayBook users would have the access to download apps from a special area called “Sandbox”.
via [PCMAG]
