Java apps due for PlayBook as Android rumors stay

RIM in statements and an interview late Tuesday confirmed that the BlackBerry PlayBook would support Java apps but was elusive on the prospects of supporting Android. It wouldn't flatly deny supporting apps from Google's OS but instead said company officials "haven't said anything about Android." The remarks from senior product manager Ryan Bidan to Engadget and others are unusual given the implications of supporting a rival platform's software.

Earlier rumors have pointed to RIM using a custom implementation of Java that would let it run at least some Android apps on the PlayBook without having to use an emulator. The strategy would artificially inflate the number of usable apps and could make up for low developer support for the initial wave of native apps. Some BlackBerry apps will work, but they won't be optimized and may lose some of their functionality in the process.

Although it would ideally use Google's Dalvik engine, the company is believed to be consciously avoiding it to avoid the patent issues that have prompted Oracle's lawsuit against Google over allegedly copying Java code for Android's core.

The PlayBook theoretically has one of the most flexible app platforms and can use Java along with Adobe AIR, fully native apps and web code.

By Electronista Staff