RIM is Giving Free Playbooks for Submitting ANDROID apps!

Solar2D Android
#1

Hey everyone, I found this article on Gizmodo today, and thought you guys might like it! :slight_smile:

http://gizmodo.com/5881914/free-playbooks-for-android-app-developers

RIM has an online tool that will determine if your .apk is compatible with BB App World. I ran the tool, and got these 2 errors:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/3371101/FreePlaybookErrors.tiff

I was wondering if there would be any way to remove these 2 errors? We can all get free Playbooks then!

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#2

I was going to give this a try today as well. Just out of curiosity what did you build for? If you did Android maybe try Kindle fire or Nook, just a thought.

I would think the Maps thing could be fixed by unpacking and editing the .apk file once built. I am not sure about the JavaToNativeShim.

[import]uid: 73307 topic_id: 21333 reply_id: 84472[/import]

#3

I’ve tried with “android”, “kindle fire” and “nook” and I keep getting the same “JavaToNaiveShim” error.
Maybe a fix? we wan’t playbooks!!! :smiley: [import]uid: 57552 topic_id: 21333 reply_id: 84504[/import]

#4

Frankly, the fix lies at the Blackberry end.

If Corona apps work on ‘real’ Android machines, then RIM need to add the necessary to allow their devices to run apps that already run on Kindle, ARM7 etc.
Its like trying to make a Mac compatible computer and complaining about Safari doing things wrong.

If they want to claim android app compatibility, theres enough apps out there which won’t run to require RIM to find a cure/add the right libs.
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#5

The first error you are getting is because its a feature that Android’s allow, but the Playbook doesn’t. That has nothing to do with Corona, or the Android version of it. It’s just something not supported on the Playbook.

The second error though, is also the one I get if i try to do this with any Corona made android apps I have. It seems just by the error text that the playbook does not support one of the native features the android does that I guess is in most/all apps created by Corona. [import]uid: 69700 topic_id: 21333 reply_id: 84625[/import]

#6

Same issue here, the rejection I got was

Impact Type Reason
5 uses-access-native com.ansca.corona.JavaToNativeShim
I think Corona would need to add a build target for playbook like they did with Fire & Nook. [import]uid: 110373 topic_id: 21333 reply_id: 84637[/import]

#7

Would be good if the Ansca team could get another build format setup that works with the BlackBerry specifications for the Android conversions. This way it would open up another market for all of our apps to be placed on and if done before march could get some of the Corona dev’s some free playbooks.

not a lot of real apps are out on the BlackBerry market and if Corona Apps could get into that market using this new Android conversion method it would give us access to a pretty blank marketplace with lots of room to take over in. [import]uid: 69700 topic_id: 21333 reply_id: 84721[/import]

#8

I filed an Official request:
(Case 12018) Blackberry App World Rejection due to com.ansca.corona.JavaToNativeShim

We will have to see if it makes financial sence to look into a fix. If there are enough play book users out there that would pay us for apps I mean. [import]uid: 110373 topic_id: 21333 reply_id: 84791[/import]

#9

Very cool! Thanks brad for submitting the request. Now we just have to wait and see.
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#10

I keep geting the same error. Any news on this? [import]uid: 103773 topic_id: 21333 reply_id: 85196[/import]

#11

Just dismantled the apk and its due to NDK usage by corona.

I uploaded the skeleton here:

http://pastebin.com/X4w3jgrL

You can see important API’s like nativeGetContentWidthInPixels are in this section of code. I wouldn’t hold my breath about corona removing this any time soon. [import]uid: 8872 topic_id: 21333 reply_id: 86390[/import]

#12

Thanks for the info kam187

Could you please let the rest of us know how to overcome the problem?
I am unable to understand it completely.
Thanks a ton in advance. [import]uid: 103835 topic_id: 21333 reply_id: 86391[/import]

#13

Its not possible. Corona uses the NDK and RIM don’t support it right now :frowning:

The android NDK allows you to use native code inside your app. Corona uses that for a bunch of stuff (see the function definitions in the file I uploaded). RIM don’t support use of the NDK - so you’d have to remove this library totally. Since you really need those functions, your apk just won’t launch if you do that. I tried it! [import]uid: 8872 topic_id: 21333 reply_id: 86393[/import]

#14

So basically we’re screwed…bye bye to the free playbook =( [import]uid: 57552 topic_id: 21333 reply_id: 86394[/import]

#15

yep :frowning: [import]uid: 8872 topic_id: 21333 reply_id: 86398[/import]

#16

I’ve tried with old Corona SDK compiler too for 1.6 and 2.2 Android and I get “com.ansca.corona.CoronaPortal” error.

Maybe it’s fixable error? [import]uid: 41145 topic_id: 21333 reply_id: 86676[/import]

#17

Just do a simple java app, track timer or whatever and submit it. From what I can tell by the RIM docs there is no info on what type of apps that qualify. BTW, didn’t that offer end on feb 10th? [import]uid: 13560 topic_id: 21333 reply_id: 86700[/import]

#18

Well, we have an extra couple of weeks to try to figure it out now (they extended the deadline), but it doesn’t really look fixable short-term, unfortunately. In the future though, support for BB through their conversion process would be pretty great anyways…

Just make sure you register with BB AppWorld by 15 February if you want to be eligible at all! [import]uid: 87138 topic_id: 21333 reply_id: 86817[/import]

#19

Any news on this? It would be nice to get an official reply from Ansca. Any plans to support BB playbook?
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