BlackBerry PlayBook Android support severely lacking according to report

By on Sep 28, 2011 at 8:35 PM
Software September 28, 2011

During Droidcon at the Eastern European Mobile Monday Developer Summit, Research In Motion engineers outlined several key Android features that the BlackBerry PlayBook will not support. The news could sting PlayBook owners who were hoping to milk more functionality out of the device with upcoming support for apps built for Google’s mobile operating system. According to thinq_, RIM will remove all support for widgets, apps created with the Native Development Kit, Live Wallpaper support, SIP and SIP VoIP support, Google Maps, text-to-speech, cloud-to-device messaging and in-app billing services. Distimo recently reported that 68% of the 25 top-grossing apps in the Android Market offer in-app purchases, so the omission of in-app billing services is a particularly big blow, though it could certainly be seen coming. RIM is expected to issue a software update next month that will add the Android app player along with PIM support.

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  • Anonymous

    what else is new. I was going to get one but am waiting.

    • Michael Scrip

      As soon as the retailers started talking about slashing the price of the Playbook because of low sales… I figure the platform is on its way out anyway.

      If someone wanted Android apps…. they might as well just have gotten an Android tablet.

    • It’s Over

      You could get get virtually same device from Amazon for half the price now. Why wait?

      For RIM this is what happens when you make claims about tomorrow and tomorrow never comes.

      • http://www.facebook.com/aedebiri Airen Edebiri

        Well, the Amazon Kindle doesn’t have a camera, mic, probably doesn’t have GPS, and a few other things.  Personally, I would get a full Android tablet running Honeycomb if I was going to get an Android tablet, but that’s just me. Obviously a full tablet would cost more, but I don’t want to feel like I’m missing out on something later on down the road.

      • It’s Over

        Actually, that’s a fair enough point to make. My view though is that Amazon have been pretty smart. Those extras are nice but most people have on their smart phone anyway so they were stripped out.  I may be guessing quite wrong but I think there will be a ton of folks out there who just use their tablet at home for surfing, reading and some apps. They want the speed/ease of use of iOS/Android compared to booting up the old laptop but a bigger screen than a smart phone.  In fact the only thing I would like to see is a bigger screen Fire. What do you think?

  • http://MobileGenius.wordpress.com JM

    If QNX is really relying on Android in order to succeed it is bound for failure.

    • Anonymous

      Yeah, it isn’t. 

      • Plazmic Flame

        But yet THEY (RIM) went out of their way to put in the Android App Player and also THEY went out of their way to mention it as a “feature” of the Playbook….

        JM said it wrong, QNX is great but it’s not relying on Android…. Said right it would be: “The Playbook was relying on Android for success.”

  • bob

    Just when you gave it a ray of hope, the dark clouds hover and bring sadness. Bought it at launch, sold it 3 months later.

  • Anonymous

    The Playbook is shit and so is everything else RIM has ever made.

    • Applesucksfatties

      Good job loser.  I bet you’ve never even picked up a PlayBook

      • Anonymous

        I have. It’s shit. I feel bad for all the morons who decided it was worth the money.

      • Anonymous

        …………………./´¯/)
        ………………..,/¯../
        ………………./…./
        …………./´¯/’…’/´¯¯`·¸
        ………./’/…/…./……./¨¯
        ……..(‘(…´…´…. ¯~/’…’)
        ……………………..’…../
        ……….”…………. _.·´
        ……………………..(
        …………………………

      • Applesucksfatties

        So… please enlighten us with your OPINION of why you think it is “shit”.

      • Rudy

        It is crap because it’s not an Apple product – period

      • Doug Simmons

        Stastically speaking, that’s a safe bet.

      • The Thrasher

        Failbox is done now for sure! How do you want it? Med-well or well-done?

        AppleSux is going to be so pissed!!

      • It’s Over

        He/she can go buy a Kindle Fire, virtually the same box, for half the price. I hear it will run Android apps just great too. ;-)   Might even have a mail client?  ha ha ha ha ha ha ……

      • Applesucksfatties

        Sure buddy…. You remind me of the annoying kid in the neighborhood growing up… he would always try to “fit in” to the group but everyone thought he was an annoying dipshit… and at the end of the day, he went home crying with a huge wedgie…. and the process would repeat every day.  

      • The Thrasher

        You speak from experience AppleSux.

      • Applesucksfatties

        Hey… the experience of giving the annoying kid a wedgie…  and I have to do it daily as an adult with toolboxes like you..     Don’t you have something better to do with your life than post annoying sh*t on iBGR?  

      • Applesucksfatties

        …………………./´¯/)
        ………………..,/¯../
        ………………./…./
        …………./´¯/’…’/´¯¯`·¸
        ………./’/…/…./……./¨¯
        ……..(‘(…´…´…. ¯~/’…’)
        ……………………..’…../
        ……….”…………. _.·´
        ……………………..(
        …………………………

      • The Thrasher

        Ewwwww, AppleSux copied/pasted the epic finger. What a tough guy he is. Sitting at his desk talking sh!t on BRG. I bet your parents are so proud.

    • http://www.droiddoes.com/ Norm

      Im gonna have to agree here. First of all why wasn’t I invited to DROIDcon?!?! Second, The playbook is a failure due to it’s lack of android support.

    • Anonymous

      picking one up and using one personally is two different things and not a in store test either

    • It’s over

       Oh come off it. Like every company they have had their duds.Storm etc. Playbook is deficient in areas but unfair to give it that label. RIM has had some great products. The 8700, the Pearl etc.

  • Applesucksfatties

    Great spin iBGR puts on the title of the article.  It seems rather obvious that the Android player wouldn’t support the Android NDK, widgets or live wallpaper (remember this is an Android player app.. not the OS), and Google specific stuff like Google maps (duh.  Hey Toyota… can we put your engines in our Honda cars??).  Once again, iBGR takes a “not so newsworthy” article about RIM, puts their little twisted jab on it, and then releases on their two-bit website.  

    • BBA Brian

      this info hasn’t even been officially confirmed by RIM and its fact now for BGR.  On another note, the fact that the in-app billing won’t work doesn’t mean the app won’t work nor does it rule out the fact that RIM couldn’t link in-app billing to app world.

      wild assumptions and negative spin….. classing BGR…

      • It’s Over

        Not officially confirmed…….?

        Remember BlackBerry Connect? Remember “Virtual BlackBerry” how many years were we all strung along that they’d roll out any time soon? Was it 3 or 4? Hard to remember.

      • BBA Brian

        what does that have to with respect to these supposed “restrictions” and in-app billing?

        wtf……..

      • Steve Jenkins

        Brian, be very careful, your making way, way too much sense. BGR might explode…

    • The Thrasher

      AppleSux- you don’t think this is news? RIM has been bragging Android Apps.. AND NONE OF THEM WORK?!?!!

      Can you say MEGA FAIL?

      • Applesucksfatties

         Do you even know what you are talking about?  There are certain Android Apps that won’t work (or will work  but are blocked by Google)…. but I’m guessing there is a huge bulk of the apps that will work.  Why would RIM tout this and spend all of the development time on it for it to only work with 3 apps?  Cmon moron.. use some common sense.

      • The Thrasher

        This is another Epic disaster from your Waterloo dipsh!ts.

    • It’s Over

      No, not true. May be “obvious” to a self acclaimed technocrat like yourself. To the customer on the street this is now news that what they “thought” they would get is not going to happen.  RIM may call this clever marketing? But guess many others would call it being misinformed? 

      • Applesucksfatties

        Let’s think about this logically for a second.

        1. Why would Android NDK work?  RIM has its own NDK…
        2.  Why would widgets and live wallpaper work?   This is an Android player APP… not an operating system. 
        3.  Why would anyone expect proprietary Google software to work through the app player?  

        And 99% of consumers are dullards… all they hear is App player.  They won’t know that the App player wont support the Android NDK or live wallpaper.    

  • Anonymous

    LOL. I almost feel sorry for the 200,000 schmucks who bought one of these pieces of crap. Poor bastards. No one wants to type on a physical keyboard. RIM will be dead in two years.  true story™©®

    • http://www.apple.com/ios/ios5/ BoyRetardedReport

      You gotta stop with this shit. Some of your posts are funny, but you can’t say no one wants to type on a physical keyboard, who are you compared to everyone else?

      πππ iOS πππ FTW πππ

    • Anonymous

      NEXT!

    • Applesucksfatties

      Again…..  PlayBook doesn’t have a physical keyboard.  Cmon man!!  At least provide some relevant information.

    • Anonymous

      Damn, do you just copy/paste??!?!

      • Anonymous

         He’s that should have stayed with iOS 2.0. The version without the copy&paste feature.

  • Max

    But but but but but you idiotic RIMjobbing MORONS said it WOULD support Android? Waaa hoppen, jagoffs?

    • Anonymous

      Max go finish jackin off to jobs baby photos

    • Applesucksfatties

      You are a f*cking idiot… TRUE STORY!!

      • The Thrasher

        Dude!!!! What are you going to do AppleSux???

      • Applesucksfatties

        Again…. You remind me of the annoying kid in the neighborhood
        growing up… he would always try to “fit in” to the group but everyone
        thought he was an annoying dipshit… and at the end of the day, he went
        home crying with a huge wedgie…. and the process would repeat every
        day.   

      • The Thrasher

        This just has to ruin your plan AppleSux.

        I guess what’s most important is what AppleSux wants…

        He doesn’t care about 3G radio
        He doesn’t care about EAS
        He doesnt care about native email
        He doesn’t care about native BBM
        He doesn’t care about Android Player.

        So your saying these are unimportant? Contrary to what you think, your not the only person in this planet AppleSux. The rest of the world is demanding this functionality.

        Now we find out the real truth, the Android emulator is junk. Oh but v2.0 will save the day. Whatever dipsh!t.

    • The Thrasher

      Hey Max, think the price will drop another 200 bones after this sh!tty news!

      AppleSux has to be furious by now!

      • Applesucksfatties

        Yeahh… I’m furious.  Oh wait.  I remember.. I don’t give two sh*ts about the Android player.  Sorry, my mistake.

  • Droidrules

    Then RIM lets the spamware from Google on their devices, it will be the end of RIM.

  • BBA Brian

    lol iBGR…. while I admit RIM is in the shit these days, you are the ONLY one to put the negative spin on things…. stay classy BGR… stay classy……….

    • It’s Over

       I think you might not be getting out enough…… ;-)   BGR obviously have a bit of a downer on RIM but they are hardly alone.

  • Anonymous

    People legitimately thought the Android player would support memory-sucking widgets and buggy wallpaper-changers on the QNX platform? Really?

    This is really just becoming sad, to be honest..

  • Bgr

    BGR is becoming a useless read nowadays.

  • Plazmic Flame

    RIM just needs to stop the BS and drop this stupid idea of trying to combine your own OS that is in need of dire support with your competitor…. Who the hell approves this crap? Also, Android isn’t even all that great. Jeez… what a cluster fudge of bad decisions. If I were to say I see the Playbook rising to a fighting position, I would be lying.

    • Anonymous

      Come on, keep the faith!  It’s all part of RIM’s new strategy:  support half of *everything*!  We have AIR, we have some half assed obscured web dev kit, half assed email/pim, a half assed app store, half of Android…and soon, wait for it…the Windows 8 Player!  You’ll be able to play Minesweeper…but alas, no Solitaire.

      Maybe they will get their heads out of their rear ends, but I doubt it…and it may be too late anyway.  They don’t have much time, as they’ve burned through half their cash (I know a lot of that was for patents, but it was still their insurance), and made less profit than they have in a long time.  Perhaps the christmas season will slow the bleeding, but another 2 quarters after that, if they haven’t released something that sells, their revenue will be so low they’ll have to lay off more people (lots of them) which will further hamper their R&D (which is already very weak).  If they haven’t been acquired at that point, they’re toast.

      • Anonymous

        funny you said they burned through half there cash when QNX is still making money & RIM is still making money. just because your broke doesn’t mean there going broke wake ur ass up to reality

      • It’s Over

         uhhm – I think you’ll find that you can still be making money, at least so far as a set of accounts is concerned, while at the same time burning through your cash.

        That is EXACTLY why analysts take note of the cash position rather than just the profit and loss.

      • Mr Man

        Looks like QNX doesn’t really understand finance 101 lol

  • Anonymous

    yup yup… firesale this bad boy already RIM

  • Anonymous

    Sad thing is they bashing the playbook when its better than both ipads & any android tablet on the market and that’s the truth

    • Anonymous

      Yes, the truth from a crazy person if you really believe the drivel you just said.

    • It’s over

      Yes, and Betamax was “good technology” too. Your point is?

      • Hm

        Actually, the technical differences between Beta and VHS were negligible.

        Beta (ie Sony) lost the format war because VHS, ultimately, was cheaper.

    • BurleyShells

      It’s so good that no one is buying it!

  • zukidrvr

    I’m quite happy with my PlayBook. It does all the things I need. I don’t need Android apps. It’s portable, so I take it everywhere. I like using my unlimited Sprint data plan on my PlayBook from my BlackBerry Torch without any extra charge. A also like the way it comes up on my laptop as a server, so I can upload and download files with no special software (iTunes…) and no cable, even when it is in another room, asleep. I can take 1080p videos with either camera. I can do high def video chat in stereo with friends.

    By the way, when is BGR going to start using unflattering pictures of Steve Jobs with their Apple stories, the way they do with other CEOs?

  • Anonymous

    Rim is dead.

  • Anonymous

    As it should be, they should have their own apps for the platform and stop trying to be a leech.

  • http://twitter.com/clientsfromhell Clients From Hell

    RIM is relying on the Android player for its success, rather than relying on developers and supporting them.

    The Playbook was announced 1 year ago, and today… there is still no native SDK for the tablet, even if developers wanted to build something for the playbook, they have to do so via other means, which in my opinion isn’t taking full advantage of the potetial available by this blacktab

    • Mr Man

      Think about that for a moment.  The Playbook was announced 1 year ago and there is still no native SDK or native email, calendar, and contacts client.

      WOW!!!!!

  • Anonymous

    Hey Dumb fucks!  QNX is so powerful/robust that it can run Android apps.  This isn’t a saving grace or the be all end all… it’s just another example of what this OS is capable of.
    Android Player is just a kick ass QNX app.

    • It’s over

      Save it for when it’s actually doing that. Otherwise its just another empty promise.

  • Anonymous

    I’m pretty sure that no Playbook owners were expecting Widgets and Live Wallpapers. It runs Android apps, not Android. Pretty negative spin you tossed there.

  • Bobdonhim

    The PlayBook is the best tablet out there…specs wise.  The PlayBook is the worst tablet out there….apps wise.  In this day and age it’s all about apps.  I don’t play games on my phones and don’t download a million apps but there are apps that I wish it had.  I worked at RIM for 7yrs and have had a PlayBook for a year now and I barely use it because the lack of apps.  Until Mike L realizes it’s all about apps (whether right or wrong) RIM is going to struggle.

    • Bryguy

      Most reasonable unbiased post on this yet.  Well said.

  • Anonymous

    Another reason why I never by anything based on what features “will be coming soon”.

    If it doesn’t already have the features I want, I’m not going to buy it. And certainly not going to buy it based on a promise that it will be available in the future.

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