Blackberry and their Playbook

RacetotheMoonRacetotheMoon Member Posts: 323
edited February 2012 in iPhone and Android Publishing
Here's a thing some of you might be interested in.

Right now, Blackberry is offering a free 16GB Playbook to new developers who submit an app by February 13th.
http://devblog.blackberry.com/2012/02/latest-blackberry-playbook-tablet-offer-for-android-developers/

I just had my membership approved. It only took a couple days.

The second part of the equation is submitting the app, which I'm about to do shortly. The best part, for anyone who's already made a Kindle Fire or B&N Nook version of their app, is that the playbook has the same screen resolution (1024x600). The not so great part is that you have to convert it to a *.bar file. I'm not anticipating any problems, but you have to set up some software to do it, which was a bit of a task.

Here's a link to get you started. There are a TON of tutorials, and even some videos, on Blackberry on how to do everything
https://bdsc.webapps.blackberry.com/android/

Comments

  • Rob2Rob2 Member Posts: 2,402
    edited February 2012
    Thanks for the info :) Let us know how this goes - did they need id ?
  • LeonardDeveloperLeonardDeveloper Member Posts: 4,630
    edited February 2012
    Haha! :) Was expecting something dirty with the title! :P
    Overall very good read! :)

    Cheers,
    J. Leonard
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    Warning There was an error rendering this rich post.
  • RacetotheMoonRacetotheMoon Member Posts: 323
    @Rob2 I signed up as a Corporation so I gave them my EIN. You're also able to sign up as an individual, but that needs a scanned ID.

    TL;DR
    yes.
  • Rob2Rob2 Member Posts: 2,402
    @RacetotheMoon Thanks for that - I'm in the UK so will be interesting to see what proof of existence they need if it is ok for us.

    Have you tried the online compatibility check ? Initial test show a problem with native code bundled in the apk :( this library maybe -> com.gamesalad.common.GameState
  • RacetotheMoonRacetotheMoon Member Posts: 323
    edited February 2012
    Well, that was quite a loooooooooooong process. I knew I jinxed myself when I said I didn't expect any further issues with submitting my app.

    I didn't count, but there's nearly 5842 different steps you need to take from inception to submission. If MegaRunner passes the approval process, I honestly now feel that I am entitled to a free Playbook.

    I've had mixed emotions about Blackberry for a long time. I love the design/form factor of their devices, but I've felt like their OS has been a dinosaur even since before iOS came out and started stomping on the market. After going through this process I'm not sure any of that has changed. On one hand they are very thorough, which is what you want if you're a developer, but other things are simply just backwards. It's no wonder they're having a hard time luring people to their platform.

    @Rob2 I was not abe to do a proper compatibility check, but I was able to create the *.bar and submit.

    If anyone is interested in traveling down this rabbit hole I'd like to point you to the following video. It'll help you through the most difficult section.
  • DZTECHDZTECH Member, PRO Posts: 216
    I am a blackberry developer and looked into this. You can't submit a game salad game to blackberry. The issue is blackberry will only let u convert to a bar file if you coded it with android sdk and it only uses android sdk api's. Gamsalad uses an api something along the lines like game.gamesalad.state which is not compatible. Therefore you can't submit to blackberry
  • RacetotheMoonRacetotheMoon Member Posts: 323
    @DZTECH hmmm.. well I was able to both convert my *.apk to a *.bar and sign it. Whether or not they accept it on the other end, due to the reason you've stated, is another issue all together. It wouldn't surprise me in the least to see it kicked back.

    I do really like the form factor of the Playbook so I thought I'd give it a go. I'm probably jumping ship after my membership expires here, so that developer license will help in the future regardless. It's a shame the Android market is so fragmented, there's so much untapped potential in all these devices.
  • DZTECHDZTECH Member, PRO Posts: 216
    @racetomoon
    i also converted and signed but when i submitted it was rejected for that reason.
  • RacetotheMoonRacetotheMoon Member Posts: 323
    @DZTECH Was that at the time you submitted?

    I even received a 'receipt email' stating..


    This email acknowledges the submission of the product named: 'MegaRunner HD' and 1 new release(s) for the product.

    Another email will be sent as soon as any updates are made in the approval process.

    Sincerely,
    The BlackBerry Team

  • DZTECHDZTECH Member, PRO Posts: 216
    last week. after they reviewed it it was rejected
  • RacetotheMoonRacetotheMoon Member Posts: 323
    edited February 2012
    well.. I don't know why there's a difference, but that's where MegaRunner currently stands.

    How did you build the apk? via a nook/fire build? or a standard android build?
    How did you build convert the apk? via the online utility? Eclipse? or the command prompt?

    I'm not sure what other variables in the equation there could be, but it might be worth trying to repack your app in the above method. I'd hate to see anyone lose out on such a generous promotion, and/or getting their app in another market.
  • DZTECHDZTECH Member, PRO Posts: 216
    i did nook/kindle build and used terminal to convert,
  • Rob2Rob2 Member Posts: 2,402
    It would be great if it works out for you but
    https://bdsc.webapps.blackberry.com/android/bpaa/apk-compatibility-check
    indicates a show stopper for GS apps :(
  • DZTECHDZTECH Member, PRO Posts: 216
    the compatibity checker is only for if you convert with online tool
  • RacetotheMoonRacetotheMoon Member Posts: 323
    @DZTECH hmm.. same here.

    I'll let you know when/if I get rejected. :D
  • DZTECHDZTECH Member, PRO Posts: 216
    I am going to try to repackage it again. Anyways i coded a small game in eclipse to send to blackberry for the free playbook
  • Cee3pee0Cee3pee0 Member, PRO Posts: 194
    Let us know if this works, I would like to try for the Playbook too if it is possible..
  • Holderness_Media_IncHolderness_Media_Inc Member Posts: 118
    Any more word on this? Were you able to successfully publish on BlackBerry?
  • RacetotheMoonRacetotheMoon Member Posts: 323
    I was unable to publish, but they still sent me a Playbook for my effort. It's a great little device with a questionable future. Maybe now that GS is on the PC perhaps there's a way to include the needed files.
  • Holderness_Media_IncHolderness_Media_Inc Member Posts: 118
    Thanks for the reply. :)
    That's cool of them to send you a Playbook anyhow. Well, I guess we'll just see how this develops, and maybe we'll eventually be able to get on Blackberry appstore.
  • EbreezeEbreeze Member, PRO Posts: 481
    That's too bad, I heard sales on the play pbook can be really good
  • EbreezeEbreeze Member, PRO Posts: 481
    That's too bad, I heard sales on the playbook can be really good
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