At Max one of the most interesting announcements was around the BlackBerry PlayBook. The new device presents a slick 7'' screen and is packed with a 1GHz dual core processor and 1GB of RAM. The device will run BlackBerry's Tablet OS and come stocked with developer's favorite runtimes. Those include Open GL, WebKit, SMP, Adobe Flash, Java, and Adobe AIR.
For us Flash developers, the most important specs are that the device will ship with Flash 10.1 and with Adobe Air 2.5. This means all Flash content on the web will be viewable via the latest WebKit. And Flash developers can take advantage of the Blackberry Tablet OS SDK and a Flash Builder plugin to create ActionScript based projects. The SDK seems to be a custom version of the Flex 4 SDK, but from what I understand, they do not recommend you use the Flex 4 component set. BlackBerry has created their own core set of ActionScript components for general use and to assist with developing custom components that are performante on the device.
The SDK does support Flex's resource bundles, which means, your application can take advantage of internationalization. This is an important feature considering the PlayBook will be released in multiple countries in 2011.
Currently the PlayBook is to be shipped sometime early next year. But this has not stopped RIM from encouraging application development now. At Max RIM announce an offer for application developers. If you build an application and the application is submitted and approved into BlackBerry's AppWorld, you can be eligible for a free PlayBook. Look here for the announcement. http://devblog.blackberry.com/2010/10/blackberry-playbook-developer-prom....
Now you may be asking, "How do I develop an application without the hardware". Well, RIM has provided a Windows and Mac simulator to development environments. The simulator is an ISO file that will need to be run under a VMware Player on Windows or VMware Fusion on Mac. With the FlashBuilder plugin and the Simulator, you can developer, deploy, and debug your application.
For more information on developing for the PlayBook visit Adobe Labs.
And for those of you already diving into the Max prerelease of FlashBuilder Burrito, Adobe has already posted an article to get you up and running for PlayBook development.
RIM has also created a forum for questions and a blog where they have promised to post any new announcements about the hardware and software.
- http://supportforums.blackberry.com/t5/Tablet-OS-SDK-for-Adobe-AIR/bd-p/...
- http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/flash/blackberrytabos/
RIM has also announced a set of webcast series to help get developers up to speed on the development environment and the hardware.
Post new comment