How To Sideload Android Apps On The BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0

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Originally Posted by loreenb1

Thank you for the headsup(y)

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Agree. Thank you to all for the help. Without this forum, I could never have figured it out. I have been able to sideload some of the apps from the list of 10 and they work fine.

My question seems to have been asked before but never answered. I am an owner of an Android tablet and have many apps, both free and paid.

How does one download apps to a PC in order to sideload? Can you extract them from the Android device?

The only apps I've been able to download/sideload are from the list.

Although a great start, it is limiting. Others have asked this question, but it never seems to be answered.

I will try one more time.

How do you download Android apps to a PC in order to sideload to the Playbook?

I thank you in advance for your reply.

Mike

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Originally Posted by mikemaheno

Agree. Thank you to all for the help. Without this forum, I could never have figured it out. I have been able to sideload some of the apps from the list of 10 and they work fine.

My question seems to have been asked before but never answered. I am an owner of an Android tablet and have many apps, both free and paid.

How does one download apps to a PC in order to sideload? Can you extract them from the Android device?

The only apps I've been able to download/sideload are from the list.

Although a great start, it is limiting. Others have asked this question, but it never seems to be answered.

I will try one more time.

How do you download Android apps to a PC in order to sideload to the Playbook?

I thank you in advance for your reply.

Mike

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The reason the question has not been fully answered is because its been misunderstood. Let me try to explain. Android apps come native as .apk files these are the ones that are found on your android tablet. These files are extracted from an Android device or delivered straight from the developer. Now this is where the confusion starts. The question now becomes a three part question. How do I extract .apk files from my personal Android device? Where do I find these .apk files? and How do I sideload these apps to my PlayBook?

The answers aren't as straightforward as one would think. The answer to question one is yes you can do that but it a lengthy process that most of the time involves "rooting" your Android device. The second part to that question is once you get those .apk files they need to be converted into a .bar that works on the PlayBook. In addition there is no guaranteeing that it will work after the conversion process as the app must be in the specific Android run-time environemnt that's on the PlayBook. Even then your looking at chance that the app still wont work.

The answer to the second question is .apk files are found all over the internet the problem is that none of them are convereted to work with the PlayBook. There are also many lists out there that contain converted .bar files but many of them have not been thoroughly tested. That's the idea behind this list, to provide people with apps we know work.

I hope this helps.

Ice,
Once again, thank you. Your explanation does help. It certainly answered the question. I hope your answer helps the others who have asked, as well.

I think what was confusing to all, was that most of the articles written, lead one to believe that the Android apps were interchangeable with Playbook. I for one thought that more apps would be supported.

Your explanation puts it to rest for me.
Again, I applaud you and all the others who take the time to help.

Thanks,
Mike

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Originally Posted by mikemaheno

Ice,
Once again, thank you. Your explanation does help. It certainly answered the question. I hope your answer helps the others who have asked, as well.

I think what was confusing to all, was that most of the articles written, lead one to believe that the Android apps were interchangeable with Playbook. I for one thought that more apps would be supported.

Your explanation puts it to rest for me.
Again, I applaud you and all the others who take the time to help.

Thanks,
Mike

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Your welcome. Remember to check the http://www.blackberryos.com/playbook...bar-files.html as we are always adding apps.

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Originally Posted by ice2921

The reason the question has not been fully answered is because its been misunderstood. Let me try to explain. Android apps come native as .apk files these are the ones that are found on your android tablet. These files are extracted from an Android device or delivered straight from the developer. Now this is where the confusion starts. The question now becomes a three part question. How do I extract .apk files from my personal Android device? Where do I find these .apk files? and How do I sideload these apps to my PlayBook?

The answers aren't as straightforward as one would think. The answer to question one is yes you can do that but it a lengthy process that most of the time involves "rooting" your Android device. The second part to that question is once you get those .apk files they need to be converted into a .bar that works on the PlayBook. In addition there is no guaranteeing that it will work after the conversion process as the app must be in the specific Android run-time environemnt that's on the PlayBook. Even then your looking at chance that the app still wont work.

The answer to the second question is .apk files are found all over the internet the problem is that none of them are convereted to work with the PlayBook. There are also many lists out there that contain converted .bar files but many of them have not been thoroughly tested. That's the idea behind this list, to provide people with apps we know work.

I hope this helps.

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Thank you for explaining. I was going to try and convert my own, but I think I'll leave that alone now for how much work it is. #:-s

Hi,
I followed the instruction and successfully sideloaded a app from "List of working playbook bar files". Install was success, however the app wasnt launched post install. WHen I attempt to click the icon on play book nothng happens. I tried few app and result is same, but no error during installation. Any idea where is the problem and how do I debug and fix the same? THanks in advance.

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Originally Posted by manickaraja

Hi,
I followed the instruction and successfully sideloaded a app from "List of working playbook bar files". Install was success, however the app wasnt launched post install. WHen I attempt to click the icon on play book nothng happens. I tried few app and result is same, but no error during installation. Any idea where is the problem and how do I debug and fix the same? THanks in advance.

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Hello manickaraja, welcome to BBOS!

Make sure to select "run on PlayBook after install" before installing.

thank joe for the bbos in my playbook very cool

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Originally Posted by herbert yu

thank joe for the bbos in my playbook very cool

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That's good to hear herbert yu! :cool:(y)

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Originally Posted by herbert yu

thank joe for the bbos in my playbook very cool

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Yeah BBOS app for PlayBook v1.0.6 is awesome I love it too(y)

Can someone help me I would like to know how does sideloading work and where can I download android apps and games for my playbook I'm not too clued up with technology so some help is really needed

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Originally Posted by vieshan187

Can someone help me I would like to know how does sideloading work and where can I download android apps and games for my playbook I'm not too clued up with technology so some help is really needed

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You can think of sideloading as another way of installing an app on your PlayBook. Its original intent was for developers to quickly load their test application to the PlayBook, but it quickly became mainstream with the addition of the Android Player on the PlayBook.

You can head on over to our download section to download PlayBook Games and App. It is located here:

BlackBerry PlayBook Apps & Games - Downloads - BlackBerryOS.com

ok thank you ice2921 for your help but what if i want to get games like fifa 12 and other cool games thats on the apple market how will i be able to load them on my playbook , or will the playbok be able to handle such games

Your welcome.Unfortunately iOS applications will not run on the PlayBook. The Android player on the PlayBook is still limited in that it does not play well with any king of video chat or certain graphic intensive games.

- posted from my mobile device

Does any one know how to sideload Apps via Mac rather PC as described.
I am truly computer illiterate, so a true idiots guide would be helpful...
Alternatively, why is my mac not syncing with the Kobo app on playbook?

Vic

Do you get any error messages for Kobo. Sideloading on the mac can get tricky as you need to use the terminal. I suggest you check out the PlayBook App Manager its very easy to use and can be installed in minutes. If you have any issues with it I suggest you open a new post that way you will get better attention on the matter.

i follow the steps but got invalid ip address and password but i could see the correct ip and password in ddpb..what seems to be the problem

please help could not connect invalid ip address and pasword

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Originally Posted by ileus

please help could not connect invalid ip address and pasword

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Make sure you are taking note of password in the steps. What ip dress are you getting?

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Originally Posted by ileus

please help could not connect invalid ip address and pasword

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Hello ileus and welcome to ::bbos::
Make sure that you take note on the password that you have created when going to Developer Mode.

Also, before you click "Scan" and put your password, you have to make sure that your PlayBook is not just connected to your computer but should be on Developer Mode as well.

I encountered that Invalid IP and Password issue during the first time I tried sideloading but eveything is fine now on my end after doing what I mentioned above :cool:

Hope this helps (y)