The recent tweet by Alec Saunder regarding future OS builds would block the ability to side load applications did not sit well with some of the BlackBerry PlayBook users. Yesterday Alec Saunders wrote a follow up post on the BlackBerry Dev Blog regarding the Twit that caused the debate. The post is a little vague on how developers will be able to load and test app with their testing communities but it did say that this feature was not meant for users to take 3rd party apps and load them on their PlayBook.
Here is what he posted on the BlackBerry Dev Blog:
There’s been a lot of coverage this morning about tweets I posted regarding the side-loading of apps onto the BlackBerry® PlayBook™ tablet. Unfortunately, 140 characters doesn’t allow for nuance. I’d like to take this opportunity to set the record straight for our developer community.
We’re not getting rid of side-loading on the BlackBerry PlayBook OS or in BlackBerry 10.
Side-loading on our platform is changing in nature. Side-loading is a developer feature. It exists so that developers can load their apps onto their own devices to test. It’s there so developers can send a beta release to their testing community for review. It is definitely not there for some people to side load a pirated app.What are we doing?
Starting with our next release of the BlackBerry PlayBook OS, we’re introducing a feature that will encrypt apps so they can only be run by the user who purchased the app.What’s next?
We’re working with you, our developer community, to ensure you can still quickly and easily test your apps on real hardware. That’s one of the reasons we’re kicking off BlackBerry 10 Jam by giving each developer attendee a prototype device to start building on. I’ll be on-hand at the show to answer your questions – look forward to seeing you there.Let’s Jam.
@asaunders
Personally I do agree with most of the points he made on the fact that users can take 3rd party apps and easily load them even if the app is not paid for. A take away from this is the following point:
What are we doing?
Starting with our next release of the BlackBerry PlayBook OS, we’re introducing a feature that will encrypt apps so they can only be run by the user who purchased the app.
Not really sure how this will play out but it will be interesting to see the BlackBerry community finds a way around it.
Via: BlackBerry Dev Blog
emac Not Registered
Posted: April 10, 2012 at 9:09 AM EST
Well – we have this situation (piracy) for ages on the java platform – more or less “ignored” by RIM over the past years – it was quite a surprise for me that this becomes an issue now…
There is no need to “crypt” anything – all what’s needed it to allow developers call AppWorld and verify the purchase from time to time (that’s some infrastructure that is already present TODAY – unfortunately ONLY for In-App purchases)
papped ( View Profile) - Posts: 234
Posted: April 10, 2012 at 2:16 PM EST
Licensing servers have their own problems though and require network….
If you go for too long without network on android your apps will fail the license check (ie if you are traveling, etc), or if there is an issue contacting the license server.
I would rather have the app encrypted and not have two extra dependencies.
Tom ( View Profile) - Posts: 388
Posted: April 10, 2012 at 10:50 AM EST from my BlackBerry 9930 | OS 7.1.0.163
Also, this change in direction severely penalizes users that have “legitimately” sideloaded FREEWARE apps onto their PlayBook™. I am all for developers making their Android apps available via App World, but very few have done so. Two that I currently use are Words With Friends (ad supported) and Dropbox.
So far, RIM has unfortunately been ineffective in persuading developers to support the PlayBook™ or BlackBerry® 10. I am not only talking about the small one-man developer that submitted an app to App World in order to receive a free PlayBook™. RIM needs to quickly bring Skype (what good is a proprietary video chat?), Google, Zynga, and others aboard to have a chance of survival.
papped ( View Profile) - Posts: 234
Posted: April 10, 2012 at 2:18 PM EST
Theoretically even if an app is free you don’t necessarily always have the rights to do with it as you want, such as converting .apk to .bar. You aren’t actually legally able to do that even with free apps…
So you are violating multiple terms doing that right now.
Tom ( View Profile) - Posts: 388
Posted: April 10, 2012 at 4:11 PM EST
So much for loading an Android freeware app on an Android player, including one that is ad-based that generates revenue for the developer…
jerry Not Registered
Posted: April 10, 2012 at 1:35 PM EST
I really hope rim goes under after this incident we bought the playbook because we didnt want the apple ipad but something different with the added functionality of using android apps in a sandbox thats the reason why half a million playbooks were sold last quarter ,if they really dont want any more sales of playbooks and thousands of lawsuits in their hands i would recommend them to remove sideloading but if rim wants to sell more playbooks it must fire alec saunders.
papped ( View Profile) - Posts: 234
Posted: April 10, 2012 at 2:25 PM EST
Half a million playbooks were sold because they had sales in the price range of $150-250…
Tom ( View Profile) - Posts: 388
Posted: April 10, 2012 at 4:13 PM EST
Yes, that’s one reason…
It was never clear to consumers that Android apps would only be available to be installed via App World.
papped ( View Profile) - Posts: 234
Posted: April 10, 2012 at 4:59 PM EST
It was, a year ago…
http://press.rim.com/release.jsp?id=4935
Consumers made their own assumptions.
Jeremy Not Registered
Posted: April 10, 2012 at 11:02 PM EST from my BlackBerry PlayBook | OS 2.0.0
Well if they don’t get apps I need (Kindle,Skype,Dropbox,etc, I will have no choice but to go to ipad or android. Sideloading has made my playbook useful. The android player addition certainly made most of us think most common apps would now be available. Most of the new apps in AppWorld are useless… I’m hanging on for now but it looks like the end of BB is in sight for me.
Tom ( View Profile) - Posts: 388
Posted: April 10, 2012 at 11:07 PM EST from my BlackBerry 9930 | OS 7.1.0.163
And where is the PlayBook Java player? Did we make assumptions there, too?!?