The Android App Player for the PlayBook is the software that will open up the world of Android apps on the BlackBerry tablet. However, a version of that has somehow made its way to the PlayBook users before RIM could come up with the official version of it. What’s more interesting is that the beta download can be traced to the company’s own servers, which PlayBook users have been making the best use of.
So while users have a taste of what they can expect in the final version, a RIM official has understandably sounded a word of caution warning users from downloading the app just yet.
“An older version of the Android App Player beta software for the BlackBerry PlayBook was inadvertently posted and has since been removed. We recommend that users refrain from downloading and installing this software since it is outdated and non-functional in many respects. The official beta release of the Android App Player for the BlackBerry PlayBook is on track for release later this summer.”
However, there is no dearth of users who are throwing caution to the winds and gleefully installing the Android App player. Also, while the PlayBook obviously lacks the characteristic Android buttons for home and back, all of the functions can be invoked via swipes and the bezel.
Also, while there is no denying the fact that the beta version is still buggy and far from complete, it does some things that have been sorely missing on the PlayBook so far. Prominent among them, and the one thing that PlayBook users perhaps lacked the most, is the ability to send and receive e-mail through the tablet itself. Now at least that can be done via the Android email client software.
Meanwhile, RIM has promised the Android App Player will be ready for a release this summer and will initially be carrying apps that are designed to run on Android 2.3.
Sovan Mandal is the senior tablet and tech corespondent for goodereader.com. He brings a international approach to news that is not just applicable to the North American market, but also Asia, India, Europe and others. Sovy brings his own writing flavor to the website and is interested in Science Fiction, Technology and Writing. Any questions, send an email