RIM has announced that starting today, developers can submit their BlackBerry PlayBook tablet apps to the BlackBerry App World vendor portal. And as announced at Adobe MAX 2010 a few weeks ago, developers who create an application for the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet (one that is approved for distribution through BlackBerry App World prior to the tablet’s initial release) are eligible for a free BlackBerry PlayBook tablet. And yes, you build apps using Flash Builder. In fact, most of your AIR development skills will be put to good use when developing for the PlayBook.
Want A PlayBook? Build An App
11 responses to “Want A PlayBook? Build An App”
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This is awesome! thanks Ben!
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I believe there is some confusion when people mention AIR in relation to the RIM portal. Can developers use HTML5/CSS3/AJAX to build an app, package it in AIR, and deploy it on the store? Or does the app need to be made with actionscript and then wrapped with AIR?
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Matthew, it’s actually simpler than that. There is an SDK you use, basically Flex SDK with additional classes and methods to access PlayBook specific functionality, and you compile your app with that SDK. Then you package it, and deploy the app. That’s it. Most existing AIR apps will need nothing more than a recompile and repackage to create .BAR files (instead of .AIR or .APK files). And if you do want to use the PlayBook APIs, then just add those to your code. As I said, simple.
— Ben -
Matthew —
Right now the only SDK available for the playbook is the Adobe AIR SDK. You develop your app like you would a regular Flex/AIR app.
If you are interested in packaging an HTML/CSS/JavaScript app for playbook another SDK called "WebWorks" from RIM is due out soon which does exactly that. It also allows you to interface with the device native APIs (through JavaScript I believe). A release date for WebWorks has not been announced, but they have said that it will be the next SDK available before the Java and C++ SDKs. -
Do you know when playbook is releasing?
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Can’t answer that one Syed, sorry.
— Ben -
Should we build a traditional AIR application or should we select "Mobile Flex Project" in Burrito?
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Build a "Flex Mobile Project".
— Ben -
What is the acutal screen size of playbook?
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Sorry, I can’t comment on device specifics. But, there is some info online, including on the RIM site.
— Ben -
My app got approved last week (http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/23348?lang=en). Thanks for pointing me in the right direction! Now I can still hope that Adobe launches a similar action to get Flex developers to develop UI components. This way we’re not stuck with the ones of the dead & burried (but fantastic!) Flexlib library…
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