The Android App Player for the BlackBerry PlayBook has leaked out, allowing curious gadget enthusiasts an early hands-on with the (still underdeveloped) software. For those unaware, the Android App Player is the software which will allow the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet to run Android applications – at least those apps that developers have specifically ported over to the PlayBook.
RIM, having become aware of the leak yesterday, warned users to “refrain from downloading and installing this software since it is outdated and non-functional in many respects.” RIM’s right, of course – the software is broken and buggy. But refrain from installing? That’s no fun! Especially since some folks have already figured out how to get Android apps up and running on the PlayBook, including email.
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Leaked Version Works…Sort Of
Installing the current version of the Android App Player on your PlayBook (assuming you are one of the few that actually owns one) could “seriously mess things up,” says the RIM-tracking blog CrackBerry.com. So if you’re just curious about what the Player looks like, you can check it through the video the site posted> (below) in the video, the player gets stuck for a bit on the loading screen, and then, when loading is complete, only presents a blank screen as the main user interface. However, you can dig around a little in various menus, check out some of the pre-loaded default Android apps (many of which don’t work properly), and you can even send and receive email through Android’s email client software.
That last one is notable, of course, since PlayBook owners are still waiting on RIM to ship the much-needed core applications, including email, contacts and calendar. Unless you currently own a BlackBerry phone, there’s no way (outside webmail) to check your email using the PlayBook. RIM says these apps, as well as the App Player, will arrive sometime this summer.
Android Apps Hacked to Run on PlayBook Using App Player
Some enterprising developers and tech enthusiasts monkeyed around with the software yesterday, and have figured out how to actually run third-party Android applications using the App Player. Screenshots and messages posted to the CrackBerry forums show installations of Zynga’s Words with Friends, Amazon’s Kindle, Astro and others.
We wouldn’t recommend trying this yourself, unless you really know what you’re doing, or are willing to suffer the consequences.
Image credit: CrackBerry forum member lawguyman
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