Thread: How To Sideload Android Apps On The BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0

Hi, I've followed the steps to allow me to side load apps.
But I'm stuck on two things.

1. Android market does not allow you to download apps if you do not have a supported device. Thus, I am using the login info of someone who does have a device. But the only option of where to download apps to is their device. How do I download apps to my computer?

2. How do I convert the .apk apps to the .bar files?

Thanks.

Converting is a whole other process. To get you started here are a few already converted:

The Top 10 Android Apps To Sideload On To Your BlackBerry PlayBook

OK, I figured out the answer to one of my questions for any others out there who are amateurs like myself.

It's true, you can't download from android market unless you have a supported device, but it seems lots of helpful people out there on line have already down the downloading and converting for us.

Find their downloaded and converted apps, and download and then side load them.

Thanks ICE2921, I found that site and have already sideloaded words with friends successfully!

Hooray!

Originally Posted by DrLZ

Hi, I've followed the steps to allow me to side load apps.
But I'm stuck on two things.

1. Android market does not allow you to download apps if you do not have a supported device. Thus, I am using the login info of someone who does have a device. But the only option of where to download apps to is their device. How do I download apps to my computer?

2. How do I convert the .apk apps to the .bar files?

Thanks.

Hello DrLZ and welcome to

As I have mentioned before on previous posts, you cannot download .APK Android Market files to the BlackBerry PlayBook.

I should mention, I have personally not needed to convert any files as they are already available for the BlackBerry PlayBook.

I will post more information regarding the availability of .BAR files for the BlackBerry PlayBook very soon on

Thank you.

I have also some very good news for members of who are looking to side load BAR applications to the BlackBerry PlayBook.

When this informative thread was posted and published, courtesy of our very own Blogger, ice292 , it only made sense to post a thread that will consist of the most popular and free BAR files.

Keep an eye out, as we will have quite a large selection, and to also simplify your search, from looking everywhere to one place -

www.BlackBerryOS.com

Thank you.

This tutorial that you have written is so much easier to follow and it helped, really helped me . The only thing that I would need assistance in is knowing where can I go to download android apps and games for my BB playbook?

Originally Posted by loreenb1

This tutorial that you have written is so much easier to follow and it helped, really helped me . The only thing that I would need assistance in is knowing where can I go to download android apps and games for my BB playbook?

Hello loreenb1 and welcome to

I will be posting a new thread about apps for your BlackBerry PlayBook here on sometime between tonight and tomorrow.

Keep an eye out for it

Thank you.

Thank you for the headsup

You are the man Grimreaper...... Always on the lookout to help people.... Since I became a member at this site it is amazing how quickly your queries get answered...... Thank you all who make this such an amazing experience..... Hats off to Joe, Grim, Ice & all those wonderful people out there @ BBOS..... I am proud to be a part Of this family....

thank you. instructions worked like a charm.

i sideloaded 5 apps.

my question is will i have to re-sideload them every 10 days?

also, do i need to keep my playbook in development mode for them to work, or is that just to add them to the playbook? what happens if after i load them i turn off development mode?

EDIT:

i sideloaded new york times and wall street journal and they are both terrible. choppy, don't download stories half the time, when they do very slow.

and i found skype, but it won't let me call other skype accounts, i can only chat with them. i don't seem to have a problem calling landlines though.

is this typical of sideloaded apps? so far they are all lousy.

Originally Posted by bracque

thank you. instructions worked like a charm.

i sideloaded 5 apps.

my question is will i have to re-sideload them every 10 days?

also, do i need to keep my playbook in development mode for them to work, or is that just to add them to the playbook? what happens if after i load them i turn off development mode?

EDIT:

i sideloaded new york times and wall street journal and they are both terrible. choppy, don't download stories half the time, when they do very slow.

and i found skype, but it won't let me call other skype accounts, i can only chat with them. i don't seem to have a problem calling landlines though.

is this typical of sideloaded apps? so far they are all lousy.

The answer to your first question is no. The quality of the apps depends on the version converted. Skype is pretty much a no go the only thing that works is the chat portion. The NY York times app actually works pretty well. Did you download it from our list?

thanks ice. do you know if i can turn off development mode once my apps are sideloaded, or should i leave it on for the sideloaded apps to work properly?

i did take NYT from your list. i shut my playbook down and started it up again, and it seemed to work OK.

WSJ is still rubbish.

and what a shame about skype - not much point it all it has is chat. hopefully the full one comes soon.

thanks.

Originally Posted by bracque

thanks ice. do you know if i can turn off development mode once my apps are sideloaded, or should i leave it on for the sideloaded apps to work properly?

i did take NYT from your list. i shut my playbook down and started it up again, and it seemed to work OK.

WSJ is still rubbish.

and what a shame about skype - not much point it all it has is chat. hopefully the full one comes soon.

thanks.

Yes you can turn it off in fact I recommend that you do. Skype is something that everyone wanted almost a year ago when the PlayBook first came out. They are supposedly working on an app. I will take a look at the WSJ and see if there is a newer version Ill convert it and add it to the list.

I'm having a issue, ever since I enabled developer mode now I need to enter my password when my PlayBook is left alone for awhile. Anyway to not have to do this, or am I stuck entering my password until dev mode expires?

If you are done sideloading, you can turn Developer mode off and then turn the password off as well. You can find both in the "security" section of the settings menu.

Originally Posted by deerbrass

I'm having a issue, ever since I enabled developer mode now I need to enter my password when my PlayBook is left alone for awhile. Anyway to not have to do this, or am I stuck entering my password until dev mode expires?

Yes, as downforce mentioned you can turn off both in the security section.

Couple questions:

1. Is this legal?

2. After sideloading a few apps, i can across a little problem. After using an android app and closing it, i would click a different icon, and it would show the original apps picture in the bottom left corner. And then the screen would just go black. I would then have to restart my playbook. I don't know it that was too broad to understand, but any help would be appreciated on why that is happening.

Originally Posted by iambobmarley

Couple questions:

1. Is this legal?

2. After sideloading a few apps, i can across a little problem. After using an android app and closing it, i would click a different icon, and it would show the original apps picture in the bottom left corner. And then the screen would just go black. I would then have to restart my playbook. I don't know it that was too broad to understand, but any help would be appreciated on why that is happening.

1. Looks like they have stated in this thread that all apps are free apps, not paid apps. So there is no pirating involved.

2. Sounds like there may be a compatibility issue with one of the apps you installed.

Originally Posted by DownForce

If you are done sideloading, you can turn Developer mode off and then turn the password off as well. You can find both in the "security" section of the settings menu.

Thanks DownForce and Ice! Issue solved!

Originally Posted by iambobmarley

Couple questions:

1. Is this legal?

2. After sideloading a few apps, i can across a little problem. After using an android app and closing it, i would click a different icon, and it would show the original apps picture in the bottom left corner. And then the screen would just go black. I would then have to restart my playbook. I don't know it that was too broad to understand, but any help would be appreciated on why that is happening.

yes its legal.
Does this happen everytime you load an app?