With Devcon 2011 right around the corner RIM is starting to announce some of the developer sessions that will be available at this years event, and they have gone on the record and said there will be “more sessions than ever” at this years conference. Today on the official RIM blog they have announced some of the sessions that will be available, sessions like developing for the PlayBook Android Player and using BBM Social to make your app go viral.

2011 Devcon Sessions

• Java® Development for BlackBerry® 7
• WebKit and BlackBerry® WebWorks™ Platform Development
• BlackBerry® Tablet OS Development, including Native SDK, Adobe® AIR® and Adobe® Flash® and Android™ Player
• BlackBerry® Platform Services and the BBM™ Social Platform
• Tips and tools for debugging and optimizing your apps
• User interface and user experience tools and best practices
  Developing quality enterprise applications
• Marketing and distributing your applications

Looks like this year is going to be jam-packed with valuable sessions and hopefully a surprise or two from RIM, can anyone say super phone announcement? If you will be attending let us know by sending an email to tips (@) theberryfix.com.

• Register/Get info for Devcon 2011

RIM has just announced that availability of the BlackBerry Java SDK version 7.0. This new developer SDK features all the tools that developers need to begin working on Java apps for the soon-to-be released BlackBerry OS 7. The new release features the simulator of BlackBerry OS 7 running on the Bold 9900 series. In addition to the simulator and OS 7 support, the Java SDK 7.0 features updated support for the Eclipse plug-in and BlackBerry Java development environment. Keep in mind that this is a Beta release and that the official version should come around the time the 9900 is released. If you’re a developer, or just want to check out the new simulator, you can hit the link below to head over and download this new SDK.

• Download the BlackBerry Java SDK 7.0 here

Source: Inside BB DevBlog

After the PlayBook launched Tuesday morning and people began to fire up App World, there was a lot of disappointment in the air. People were expecting the PlayBook to have access to both Android and BlackBerry OS apps. Now, this is something that we have discussed before and we think RIM has done a pretty good job of making clear up to this point. With all the questions and negative feedback that RIM has been getting about apps for the PlayBook, they have released a post on the Inside BlackBerry Developer Blog detailing apps for the PlayBook.

The article goes into much more detail, but I want to summarize the points for you here. First, RIM really wants you to build PlayBook-specific apps using either WebWorks or Adobe AIR. That’s the preferred method and quite frankly, the only method, until app players come later this year. Next is the question of Android apps on the PlayBook. To clarify a question that I have already been asked numerous times. No, the Android Market will not be available on the PlayBook!!! Android developers will have to repackage their existing Android apps to meet RIM’s specifications and then those apps will be submitted and distributed through App World. These “Android” apps will play through the “Android App Player” that RIM plans to release this summer.

And lastly, concerning existing BlackBerry apps for OS 5.0 and 6.0. These applications will have to be submitted to RIM for distribution through App World on the PlayBook. These apps will have to be repackaged to meet the requirements for PlayBook distribution. The “BlackBerry App Player” will be available, as quoted by RIM, “later in the year.” So, right now the list of available apps on the PlayBook is small. As more developers begin to work with both WebWorks and Adobe AIR, the number of apps will grow. Then when summer rolls around and Android developers can begin submitting their apps, App World will grow some more. And when “later this year” finally comes around, App World for PlayBook will grow even more with native BlackBerry apps. It’s just going to take time. You don’t think that when Apple started the App Store it had 300,000 apps, do you?

• Check out the Q&A at Inside BlackBerry Developer’s Blog

Source: Inside BB DevBlog

News….

• Foursquare For BlackBerry Updated To Version 1.9.5
• RIM Introduces BlackBerry Eclips Java Plugin for Mac
• BlackBerry DEVCON 2010 Keynote: Live Blog
• BlackBerry Playbook Preview Video
• PhoneHalo For BlackBerry At DevCon 2010
• The BlackBerry PlayBook Debuts At DevCon 2010
• RIM Makes Things a Little Easy for Developers – Build Web Apps for BlackBerry
• RIM Introduces BBM Social for the BlackBerry Platform
• Devcon 2010: New BlackBerry Advertising API
• Devcon 2010: RIM Announces Analytics for your BlackBerry Applications
• BlackBerry Theme Studio 6 Beta Now Available for Download
• Video: RIM Announces The BlackBerry PlayBook At DevCon 2010
• Video: BlackBerry 6 Running on The Curve 3G, Bold 9650, Peal 3G and Bold 9700
• QNX OS Slated To Replace BlackBerry OS Confirmed By RIM’s VP
• Up Close and Personal with the BlackBerry PlayBook
• MLHSoftware is 50% Off During Devcon 2010
• Full BlackBerry Devcon 2010 Keynote now Available for Streaming
• Kobo Social Reading App For BlackBerry
• Riz Performs Ping me Baby at BlackBerry Devcon 2010
• Poll: Are you Going to Buy the BlackBerry PlayBook?

Some nice Tuesday evening news straight from Waterloo, regarding the tools that are required by all BlackBerry application developers. The news comes just weeks before WES in Orlando, but if were getting great news before the conference just think what could come after. RIM is releasing enhanced Java and Web Development tools to developers that will enable them to make more compelling and creative applications for the BlackBerry platform. Grab the press release after the break for a full scope of what’s happening. Oh one last thing GO SUPER APPS!

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