Poll: Remove side-loading support from PB?

**aha** · 04-08-2012, 12:16 AM

Simple: like the idea to remove sideloading or not?

[Edit1] I think I made a mistake.

In the poll, "Yes, I like it" means "Yes, I like RIM's decision to remove sideloading".

If Mods can modify the poll to clarify this, that would be great.

Thanks!

[Edit2] I think both poll results have shown the majority of the Crackberry nation want to keep the sideloading feature at least for now. Is RIM aware of this? Are Alec or Crackberry Kevin aware of this?

[Edit3] Crackberry has set up an officially poll here to follow up on this issue. Alec Saunders from RIM also clarified his twits earlier as reported here. I am still not quite sure if my sideloaded kindle app will work after the upcoming update, but I am glad that RIM pays attention to what users have to say and react in a timely manner. It's a tough time for RIM but they do seem to be changing for better.

...

**goku_vegeta** · 04-08-2012, 12:19 AM

I want my sideloading

**aha** · 04-08-2012, 12:25 AM

Originally Posted by goku_vegeta

I want my sideloading

Me too. Most of my android apps are side-loaded and free.

Removing sideloading capability means shutting the door to all the free android apps that is not available in App world, which is way more than the free and paid android apps available in app world combined.

I thought RIM wants to increase the app count on PB and BB 10. Who is doing the math in RIM?

**CDM76** · 04-08-2012, 12:34 AM

I've never side loaded yet.
Its a security issue. Once the apps are in AppWorld you can somewhat trust them ... converted .bar files may or may not be able to be trusted. Yes MOST are likely decent, but do you know with 100 % certainty that they ALL are secure and not trojans ?

**EricB1968** · 04-08-2012, 12:37 AM

The ability to sideload has to stop even though I want sideloading to stay. Today I've noticed premium native playbook apps showing up on these share file sites. That's not a good thing and it only benefits the low lifes who will install illegal apps.

**DarcDroid** · 04-08-2012, 12:39 AM

I would rather not updating my PB than lose sideloading capability

Sent from my BlackBerry 9700 using Crackberry Apps

**Yaceka** · 04-08-2012, 12:42 AM

Removing a consumer's option is never a good thing. I don't even know why anyone would be saying yes to this... If you don't like side loading you can easily ignore it pretend it doesn't exist. It's not even like the playbook directly tells users about sideloading. It'd be like a carrier locking out the ability to do wifi hotspots with their phones. Sure, you could say you never used it or didn't want to use it, but it's an option that is taken away from you.

TLDR: Taking away hidden features from an already purchased device is a disgusting practice. People shouldn't be supporting this.

**soren203** · 04-08-2012, 12:45 AM

i dont sideload android apps cuz they just bog down my playbook but i think it is stupid to get rid of sideloading

Sent from my BlackBerry 9780 using The Official CrackBerry App

**kennyliu** · 04-08-2012, 01:25 AM

Make Android player optional (e.g. option to disable it), and I won't care about sideloading.

As far as I understand, Android runtime is an extra strain on the HW resources for those who don't use it.

**DAnklaud** · 04-08-2012, 01:42 AM

I need my sideloadables, so i say its gotta stay, on the note of pirating RIM need to sign the .bars to your serial number on your playbook for paid apps so even if you manage to rip a copy from the play book it will only work as a back up for you and if u try to distribute it it will not run on others playbook, then the 3rd party devs distributing there's here on CB for free by there own choice for side loadables , we can properly manage ours on our desktops, and andro devs have it easy too

**narci** · 04-08-2012, 01:59 AM

Originally Posted by Yaceka

Removing a consumer's option is never a good thing. I don't even know why anyone would be saying yes to this... If you don't like side loading you can easily ignore it pretend it doesn't exist. It's not even like the playbook directly tells users about sideloading. It'd be like a carrier locking out the ability to do wifi hotspots with their phones. Sure, you could say you never used it or didn't want to use it, but it's an option that is taken away from you.

TLDR: Taking away hidden features from an already purchased device is a disgusting practice. People shouldn't be supporting this.

Fyi...sideloading was never intended to be a consumer option. It's purpose is for development users.

I wonder how many people who Sideload are actually using it for development?

Hidden feature? You need to jump through some hoops and use signing keys and external apps to get an Android apk sideloaded.

How many people could figure out by themselves how to Sideload without looking it up on the Internet?

**Pearl9100** · 04-08-2012, 02:28 AM

Axe it.

10 char

**bodjor** · 04-08-2012, 02:41 AM

Originally Posted by Pearl9100

Axe it.

10 char

I would axe the Android Player altogether. Cripple feature.

**bohbohboh** · 04-08-2012, 03:14 AM

time to play it hard and remove the android player. converted apps will have to be re-written, no 2 way about it.

do it before big names jump onto the pb via android and you'll forever be enslaved to the player.

**bbfan1040** · 04-08-2012, 03:59 AM

Side loading is bad for developers!

BUT, I need Kindle?

I wish Amazon would support BlackBerry!

**VishRS** · 04-08-2012, 04:26 AM

Sideloading is crap. All the android sideloaded apps are notchy!

**GibsMcWooley** · 04-08-2012, 06:31 AM

Leave the sideloading functionality on the PlayBook. Having the ability to tinker with my PlayBook is what sets RIM apart from Apple and the iPad in my opinion. I don't want to see an iTunes approach being used by RIM for transferring and controlling content on my PlayBook. Quite frankly, I bought it, I own it, let me use it as I please.

**SifJar** · 04-08-2012, 06:38 AM

Originally Posted by bodjor

I would axe the Android Player altogether. Cripple feature.

They really can't do that now after having promoted it so heavily before its release.

**tunes666** · 04-08-2012, 06:45 AM

It looks like its just a way of Blackberry trying to force Developers to do something, not sure if it will work though... it just looks a bit silly as if there is some plan to damage blackberry, with so many users and decent hardware, why on earth is this problem even here? It almost makes me not want to buy the most App Rich devices out of principle.

**chasvs** · 04-08-2012, 06:53 AM

this is just RIM being RIM. In this case they are shooting themselves in the Head instead of the foot as they normally do! RIM is DEAD!

**chrisrobinfollett** · 04-08-2012, 07:06 AM

The only reason I side loaded an app was for kindle. I would prefer a native version I don't like the extra time it takes to install the apps. Also the time it takes to open apps is too long. There is also no automatic update notifications for new versions. If getting rid of side loading speeds adoption of more native apps then I say get rid of it and it will benefit 90% of users.

**Denus** · 04-08-2012, 07:06 AM

@chasvs: Don't know about that.
Maybe the removal of the side loading feature will give a boost to the assortment of real native apps.
Developers will have to work a little harder, but RIM should give a better support to them too.

I sure will miss the emulators though...

**OniPod** · 04-08-2012, 07:07 AM

I honestly do not really care either way. I do have apps that I have sl'd on my PB. If I couldn't use them again, it wouldn't be the end of the world.

I did vote yes though.