27 Steps to Android Apps on your Playbook

**randymc2641** · 07-21-2011, 06:54 PM

Just shortened this to steps.

OK here is my best to make a guide for installing Android apps.

1st off credit goes to the folks over at n4bb.com for the Android Player leak, and info on installing apps.

Also to louis.keeper for his how to on side loading

Also credit to offthahorseceo for the method of loading apps from within the file manager.

Thanks to HataX and TerrenceRowl for simplifying the process.

And note for admins/mods: Remove any offending links as required

1. Enable Development Mode on Playbook (Settings/Security/Development Mode then set to on)

Note the development mode icon indicator, press it and note the IP address (we'll use 192.168.1.131 for purposes of this howto)

2. Download sys.android.bar file

3. Side load the Android Player (see link here on general side loading)

4. Download and install platform-tools

5. Unzip into "C:\"

6. Run Android Player on Playbook.

7. When loaded swipe down from the Top of the Playbook

8. Click Set Home view and select Installed Applications. Hint: To navigate backwards, swipe left from the bottom bezel on the Playbook.

9. Select Settings/Applications and check the Unknown sources box.

10. You must now close Android Player and Reopen it (Leave the Android Player running!)

11. This is also a good time to dowlonad some apk files. The first one you will need is Astro file manager

12. Move the file downloaded in step 11 into the "C:\platform-tools\"

13. Hit the start key and in the search box type cmd and hit enter.

14. Type: "cd C:\platform-tools\"

15. Type: "adb connect 192.168.1.131:5555" Replace with your ip

Screen will read: "connected to 192.168.1.131:5555"

16. Type "adb root"

Screen will read: "restarting adbd as root"

17. Type "adb connect 192.168.1.131:5555" Replace with your ip

Screen will read: "connected to 192.168.1.131:5555"

18. Type adb install Astro.v2.3.1.noexpire.apk

Screen will eventually read: "Success"
(Dont worry, Steps 14-19 are only for the installation of the file manager)

19. Take a deep breath the hard part is now over.

20. Find the desired apk for the program you want to install. copy it over to the playbook using the USB cable or WiFi connection, put it in the downloads folder.

21. Navigate back to the apps page

22. At the bottom of the list you will find ASTRO, run it.

23. Navigate to the Download folder and click the app you want to install.

24. Select the "Open App Manger" Option

25. Select "Install" and "Install" again

26. Select "Open" and there you go...26 steps to installing android apps on the Blackberry Playbook :-)

Programs needed:

Platform-tools
JRE 32 Bit or 64 Bit
DDPB Installer
sys.android.bar file
ASTRO

**lyricidal** · 07-21-2011, 06:56 PM

and here are some apps to go with it:
http://forums.crackberry.com/blackbe...r-apps-631724/

**randymc2641** · 07-21-2011, 07:40 PM

Anyone know how to get the Home view mode change to stick?

**TerrenceRowl** · 07-21-2011, 07:49 PM

Platforms Tools

Suggestion: This would be a simpler task for users rather installing the Andriod SDK and the updates

**randymc2641** · 07-21-2011, 08:01 PM

would that basically eliminate steps 4-8 and change the references in the following lines? I am all for making it a shorter process.

**2001bmw330xi** · 07-21-2011, 08:01 PM

wow... i don't think i'm smart enough or have the patience for all that - will wait for the official, but this is all so exciting! kudos to you guys for figuring it out and compiling all the info on here. gotta love cb.com!

**AngusMcTavish** · 07-21-2011, 08:06 PM

Can a Mod please sticky this?

**AutoPilot2020** · 07-21-2011, 08:15 PM

when installing from astro it says i cannot instal an app not from android market

**AngusMcTavish** · 07-21-2011, 08:22 PM

Originally Posted by AutoPilot2020

when installing from astro it says i cannot instal an app not from android market

Go into android player settings/applications and verify the unknown sources checkbox is selected.

Sent from my BlackBerry 9780 using Tapatalk

**TerrenceRowl** · 07-21-2011, 08:22 PM

Originally Posted by randymc2641

would that basically eliminate steps 4-8 and change the references in the following lines? I am all for making it a shorter process.

Exactly. Thanks to HataX for the upload.

**therapyreject174** · 07-21-2011, 08:31 PM

Worked perfectly for me. Thanks a lot.

This thread needs to be stickied.

**sportline** · 07-21-2011, 08:47 PM

sounds interesting. what apps you guys actually installed? game? news? what about size optimisation, do we have to use apps for gtab?

**randymc2641** · 07-21-2011, 08:57 PM

Originally Posted by sportline

sounds interesting. what apps you guys actually installed? game? news? what about size optimisation, do we have to use apps for gtab?

check the 2nd post here

**Deniru** · 07-21-2011, 09:12 PM

Hey guys - im following the process step by step...im getting stuck at step 18. im typing exactly what it says to type in but i keep getting a response saying "cant find Astro.v2.3.1noexpire.apk" i have the file sitting on my desktop - is there a specific place im supposed to place this file?

**lyricidal** · 07-21-2011, 09:15 PM

Originally Posted by Deniru

Hey guys - im following the process step by step...im getting stuck at step 18. im typing exactly what it says to type in but i keep getting a response saying "cant find Astro.v2.3.1noexpire.apk" i have the file sitting on my desktop - is there a specific place im supposed to place this file?

make sure you point directly to the .apk - so since its not in the same folder as adb.exe you'd have to put "C:\Users\YOURUSERNAME\Desktop\Astro.v2.3.1noexpir e.apk"

**abedauhajre** · 07-21-2011, 09:17 PM

I followed the steps to sideload the android app, but the app is not showing in the playbook. Suggestions!!!!

**Deniru** · 07-21-2011, 09:21 PM

Originally Posted by lyricidal

make sure you point directly to the .apk - so since its not in the same folder as adb.exe you'd have to put "C:\Users\YOURUSERNAME\Desktop\Astro.v2.3.1noexpir e.apk"

Thank you for the info, I tried that and it still didn't work. I moved the apk file into the platform-tools folder so it is in the same folder as adb.exe...
still same error msg? any thoughts?

**Covsteve** · 07-21-2011, 09:30 PM

12. Move the file downloaded in step 6 into the "C:\platform-tools\" What file?

**TerrenceRowl** · 07-21-2011, 09:36 PM

Originally Posted by Deniru

Thank you for the info, I tried that and it still didn't work. I moved the apk file into the platform-tools folder so it is in the same folder as adb.exe...
still same error msg? any thoughts?

Rename the file to Astro.apk. Copy it to platforms-tools folder.

adb install Astro.apk

**dnyanks310** · 07-21-2011, 09:47 PM

when i try to do adp root it says "error more than one device and emulator" anybody know what I'm doing wrong?

**randymc2641** · 07-21-2011, 10:19 PM

Originally Posted by Deniru

Thank you for the info, I tried that and it still didn't work. I moved the apk file into the platform-tools folder so it is in the same folder as adb.exe...
still same error msg? any thoughts?

Step 12 says to put the downloaded file in the same folder as adb.exe I changed these steps to make it easier, can anyone confirm they have used the updated steps (minus Android SDK) successfully?