Today has seen lots of internet chatter about the side-loading of applications to the BlackBerry PlayBook and upcoming BlackBerry 10 devices. This was all started when Alec Saunders, RIM’s VP of Developer Relations, tweeted that they will be removing the ability for consumers to side-load apps in an effort to combat application piracy. This has gotten the BlackBerry community up in arms about the future of side-loading and OTA downloading of applications. Follow on past the break as we take a look at the topic of side-loading and see what Alec Saunders has to say about its future.
Currently, many users purchase 3rd party applications from places like MobiHand or ShopTheBerryFix.com. When RIM cuts off the ability for consumers to side-load applications, these type of purchases will no longer be allowed. Also, in the case of the PlayBook, many users are loading Android .BAR files onto their PlayBooks to get apps that have not been officially ported by the developer. While this is great for consumers, it’s really just app piracy in the end. So, RIM is taking some steps to help all developers with app piracy. Here’s what Alec Saunders had to say o the BlackBerry Developers Blog.
“We’re not getting rid of side-loading on the BlackBerry PlayBook OS or in BlackBerry 10.
Side-loading on our platform is changing in nature. Side-loading is a developer feature. It exists so that developers can load their apps onto their own devices to test. It’s there so developers can send a beta release to their testing community for review. It is definitely not there for some people to side load a pirated app.
What are we doing?
Starting with our next release of the BlackBerry PlayBook OS, we’re introducing a feature that will encrypt apps so they can only be run by the user who purchased the app.
What’s next?
We’re working with you, our developer community, to ensure you can still quickly and easily test your apps on real hardware. That’s one of the reasons we’re kicking off BlackBerry 10 Jam by giving each developer attendee a prototype device to start building on. I’ll be on-hand at the show to answer your questions – look forward to seeing you there.”
So, after reading these comments, do you understand the plan a little more? RIM is not taking away the ability to side-load so they can force you to buy in App World or stop you from having your favorite apps. This is just an effort to help app developers and combat piracy. This is certainly an issue that will continue to be discussed in the weeks and months to come, and I bet we’ll have more answers at BlackBerry World 2012.
Source : BlackBerry DevBlog
Justin Lisenby
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