[BBPandy]

RIM has introduced a new encryption system recently for its App World for the Playbook. With the advent of the recent PlayBook OS 2.0.1 update, the apps and games downloaded via App World are encrypted. These apps will only function if they are run by the person who purchased them. For example, if I purchase an app and gave one of my friends the BAR file, it would not work.

First of all I think this is a great way to curb piracy while still allowing us to sideload HOWEVER what I want to know is if this encrytion is locked to our BBID or to the device. From what I have read These apps will only function if they are run on a single Playbook with the BlackBerry ID you used when you made a purchase. That doesn't make sense. What if I had multiple devices? I use to have 2 PlayBooks & once BB10 comes out I will have it on both my phone & PB...also what if I replace my PB? would the apps no longer work? This doesn't make sence. Having people locked to hardware IDs is what caused a lot of the problems with BIS/BES. I don't think RIM would make this misake again. Im sure it must be just locked to your ID. To me this makes just makes sense.....but all the articles I've read say that it's locked to both hardware & BBID ????

[rupam95]

Man, Plants Vs. Zombies is a really good game. Thumbs up so everyone can see!

[Yaceka]

This is really stupid as an owner of 2 Playbooks. Hopefully I won't to lose all of my apps on my second Playbook.

[JeepBB]

For what it's worth, I don't believe anything has changed from the perspective of Joe Average PB User. You can continue to download Apps from AppWorld onto every PB you own... what you can no longer do is drop the bar file onto the interweb for general consumption by people who haven't bought the App.

I always load Apps onto my PB and also onto my son's PB - they share a BBID.

The same App works perfectly on both PB's (even when being run at the same time). So any bar file encryption must be keyed on BBID (not device PIN).

[Dunt Dunt Dunt]

Blackberry App World Purchases Now Encrypted to Curb Piracy

While this might be good for Developers, and even users in the long run. Piracy/Hacking has at times driven technology to the ultimate benefit of the consumer.

Would Apple even be around today if a couple of guys didn't create Napster all those years ago and start the MP3 Music craze?

What would happen if you couldn't JailBreak or Root a device?

Where would the PlayBook be without side-loading of "any" android app.

RIM is in a bad position - they need their devices to be secure and the want to protect developers, but this could also stagnate the platform...

Do you really believe that Google or Apple could not lock their OS down if they WANTED to????

[mikeo007]

The encryption key is applied when you download the application. So you can't transfer the binaries o someone else. This doesn't change anything about the way apps are installed on multiple devices using the same BBID.

You download the app on device 1, it's tied to device 1. Then you download the app onto device 2 using the same BBID and that copy of the app is tied to device 2.

[morlock_man]

While this might be good for Developers, and even users in the long run. Piracy/Hacking has at times driven technology to the ultimate benefit of the consumer.

Would Apple even be around today if a couple of guys didn't create Napster all those years ago and start the MP3 Music craze?

What would happen if you couldn't JailBreak or Root a device?

Where would the PlayBook be without side-loading of "any" android app.

RIM is in a bad position - they need their devices to be secure and the want to protect developers, but this could also stagnate the platform...

Do you really believe that Google or Apple could not lock their OS down if they WANTED to????

Do you honestly think music piracy has benefited the entertainment industry? Music has been going downhill for years, leaving us with mostly mass marketed garbage. Apple has capitalized on that. Why shouldn't they? Microsoft pretty much started the mp3 problem with Windows 95, Apple just monetized it with the iPod and iTunes. They snuck in and stole the whole industry, leaving us with little more than pre-fab pop bands and lawsuits. Bill Gates and Steve Jobs were the original Pirates of Silicon Valley.

Also, this doesn't pertain to sideloading android apps, unless they've been pirated from App World.

And I don't see how offering a secure and stable app marketplace where the devs won't have their work stolen would stagnate the platform. Other platforms might thrive for a little while due to the piracy possible on their devices, but developers will end up moving away from those platforms as the pirates refuse to pay for their products.

[1magine]

Digital music sales are through the roof. And previously overlooked artists and albums have seen a resurgance. Ask bettey lavette and the various holders of the Beatles titles. As for all new music being garbage... You are clearly not looking in the right place. There has been groundbreaking and well written music released in every genre over the last 5 years. If you want, I'll send you a playlist from rap and hip hop to jazz, punk, pop, alternative etc...shows lik HIMYM have spawned their own websites dedicated to the music played on the show, old and new and Amazon has profitted well from such fan sites.

[Dunt Dunt Dunt]

Do you honestly think music piracy has benefited the entertainment industry? Music has been going downhill for years, leaving us with mostly mass marketed garbage. Apple has capitalized on that. Why shouldn't they? Microsoft pretty much started the mp3 problem with Windows 95, Apple just monetized it with the iPod and iTunes. They snuck in and stole the whole industry, leaving us with little more than pre-fab pop bands and lawsuits. Bill Gates and Steve Jobs were the original Pirates of Silicon Valley.

Depends on which portion of the industry you are worried about. But there are thousands of artist that would never have seen Radio or a brick and mortar music store, that are successful today. As for the mass marketed garbage... don't listen to it, there is plenty of un-marketed music that is really good - not to mention the availability of all the old stuff.

Also, this doesn't pertain to sideloading android apps, unless they've been pirated from App World.

Exactly.... Not sure if you have noticed but there are a number of sites that have such apps already package and ready to go. For a while they were even being posted here.

And I don't see how offering a secure and stable app marketplace where the devs won't have their work stolen would stagnate the platform. Other platforms might thrive for a little while due to the piracy possible on their devices, but developers will end up moving away from those platforms as the pirates refuse to pay for their products.

And where exactly will developers go???

I'm not really saying that piracy is good, or even that it is necessary. Just that at times it seemed to help technology to grow. And if I were a developer, not sure I would mind if say 5% of my apps were stolen if it meant that my sales increase by 50%.

Besides Piracy is only the 2nd driving factor of technology, PORN being number one - may RIM should use it. :

[1magine]

Amen. truth is, the movies and the internet owe everything to the porn industry. Hence the success of Android and their use of Flash.

[Saiga]

Piracy has had a history of helping hardware manufactures. Look at Sony for an example of that. The vast majority of PSPs sold were bought for one reason. And that was because it was extremely easy to run pirated games on it.

The PS2 had the same situation but it wasn't nearly as common as it was for PSP.

The same can be said about the PlayBook to a lesser extent. The PlayBook having readily available pirated apps help give certain people a reason to own and use one. The same as people buying a ipod just because they can jailbreak it.

The same as this guy I know that will only buy Garmin GPS devices because the maps are easily pirated. Dude has a 400 dollar GPS with over two grand worth in pirated maps on it.

Point is, some people are pirates. Pirates don't pay for digital goods. Taking the option away doesn't mean they will all of a sudden start paying for crap. It just means they will go to a platform that let's them continue to pirate.

[janeka]

While this might be good for Developers, and even users in the long run. Piracy/Hacking has at times driven technology to the ultimate benefit of the consumer.

Would Apple even be around today if a couple of guys didn't create Napster all those years ago and start the MP3 Music craze?

What would happen if you couldn't JailBreak or Root a device?

Where would the PlayBook be without side-loading of "any" android app.

RIM is in a bad position - they need their devices to be secure and the want to protect developers, but this could also stagnate the platform...

Do you really believe that Google or Apple could not lock their OS down if they WANTED to????

Finally someone with common sense comes along with facts, not BS.

[janeka]

RIM can do what they want i know for a fact my new site with games/apps for the playbook will still be available and it still sideloads with perfection.