Hasta La Gadget!

A leaked version of RIM's Android app player running on a BlackBerry PlayBook. Photo: N4BB.com

RIM can’t seem to get its act together. First, it rushed the release of the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet, a product that many agreed felt unfinished. And this morning, the company accidentally released an incomplete version of its app player for running Android software.

PlayBook makers Research in Motion posted the Android application player to its website, allowing eager BlackBerry fans to download the app before its official release. The player was quickly taken down shortly thereafter, but not before a number of users downloaded the application. The N4BB website first reported the app player’s appearance.

A RIM spokesperson confirmed to Wired.com that the app player was posted in error, and that the version available isn’t what we’re going to see after its official release.

“We recommend that users refrain from downloading and installing this software since it is outdated and non-functional in many respects,” a RIM spokesperson said in a statement provided to Wired.com.

The BlackBerry PlayBook needs a Hail Mary to survive in today’s crowded tablet market. Dozens of new Android-powered tablets have debuted this year, all of which are competing for customers who want an alternative to Apple’s tablet device. HP’s recent release of the TouchPad touts webOS, an underdog operating system still espoused by Palm evangelists. The iPad 2, of course, continues to dominate the industry, representing approximately 83 percent of all tablets shipped in 2010, according to research firm IDC.

The PlayBook also faces challenges on the application front. The PlayBook launched with over 3,000 apps, far more than Google’s current number of tablet-optimized apps (around 250), as well as HP’s (about 300). Apple’s tablet app selection remains far ahead of the pack at around 100,000.

So instead of putting all its eggs in bolstering BlackBerry App World — RIM’s app download store — RIM expects to boost its user base by attracting Android lovers with the Android app player.

Today’s accidental leak is the first we’ve seen of the Android app player since the company demoed a version at its BlackBerry App World in May. RIM recommended against downloading the Android app player.

Despite RIM’s pleas, many have already uploaded copies of the leaked application to file sharing web sites, allowing those who missed out to test the early version.

“I think they realize that their app store hasn’t really taken off,” said BlackBerry app developer Gurbir Sidhu in an interview with Wired.com. ”More developers are interested in Android apps, and there is more effort being put into Android development.”

Some say, however, that the Android application player may not be enough to save the PlayBook.

“Even with the Android app player, it does not support every app out there, and most apps still need to be ported over to work well,” Gartner mobile analyst Phillip Redman told Wired.com. “So though the intent is to open up [the PlayBook] to a wider variety of mobile apps, it will still be limited.”

Redman speaks to a larger issue in application development: Native versus ported apps. When an application is written in a native language — or a coding language created specifically for a particular operating system — the programs generally run smoother, faster and with less system hiccups. When an application is ported over to a non-native environment, reliability and performance isn’t always up to par.

“In the end, native apps work best on each device and I think this will have limited impact overall,” said Redman. “There are very nice Android tablets out there if a user wants to go that direction and get the best performance and choice.

Of course, the PlayBook has other issues to deal with in its uphill battle. The device still doesn’t have native e-mail, calendar and contacts applications — three items we’ve been promised would be coming since the PlayBook’s debut three months ago.

Whether or not the Android player attracts more users for RIM is a lingering question for after the program’s official release.

Hope, however, remains. Some who have downloaded the program early seem to enjoy the Android app player experience on the PlayBook, even using the early version.

“It’s a little early to make a judgement based on an early beta but it’s not bad,” wrote one early user on a BlackBerry enthusiast forum. “I’m actually surprised that any apps worked, pleasantly surprised too as it bodes well for sideloading apps in the future,” the user wrote.

The official beta release of the Android App Player for the BlackBerry PlayBook is scheduled for release later this summer, according to RIM.

Check out the video below for a demo of the Android app player running on the PlayBook.

This article was written on October 08, 2007 by CyberNet.

Last year we gave away some copies of Mojopac, and a lot of people seemed excited about the features the software offered. With Mojopac you can carry your own your own copy of Windows XP wherever you go, including any applications that you use.

Previously Mojopac ran you $50 to buy, but it can now be downloaded for free! That’s right, the new MojoPac Freedom was recently announced giving you the ability to carry your games, applications, and all of your operating system customizations with you on your iPod or USB drive.

How can they offer it for free? They still have a Deluxe version available for $50 but it hardly differs from the free version. The only added benefit that you really get is the technical support, but I have a feeling that their real money maker is in the Enterprise version. That has a lot of additional features consumers won’t really need, and by offering a free version for personal use they are more likely to get people to spread the word about their program. It’s kind of like how Microsoft offers Windows and Office to students at significantly reduced costs, because they know that if students are familiar with their products then they will carry that into the workplace.

Mojopac should work with almost all of your applications, but you can get a little reassurance by viewing a list of known programs that work with it. On the list you’ll see programs like Microsoft Office, World of Warcraft, iTunes, and dozens more.

Get Mojopac Freedom (Only works with Windows XP, Vista version is being tested)
Mojopac Video Demonstration
Source: jkOnTheRun

Copyright © 2011 CyberNetNews.com

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This article was written on June 05, 2008 by CyberNet.

Windows only
One of the features that Mac and Linux users alike are accustomed to is having shortcuts to any connected drives sitting on their desktop. It provides a quick and painless way for you to access USB drives, memory cards, cameras, and anything else that you connect to your computer.

Windows users can get the shortcuts on their desktop as well with a handy little application called Desk Drive (from the same people who created FreeSnap). With it you can automatically add desktop shortcuts for any external devices and media, including networked locations. You can also specify drive letters that you want to be excluded.

This is really a feature that you’ll either love or hate. Personally I like keeping my desktop as tidy as possible, and don’t place many shortcuts on it. If you frequently access an external drive this could be useful to you, but for me it’s just added clutter.

The only bad thing is that Desk Drive always needs to be running in order for it to work. It stays tucked away in the System Tray, but it does eat about 12MB of memory while running. Not a whole lot, but enough to make you think twice about using it. You might be better suited to just create shortcuts to your drives the old fashioned way, but that doesn’t work so well if you have multiple devices that always get assigned different drive letters.

Desk Drive [via Freeware Genius]

Copyright © 2011 CyberNetNews.com

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This article was written on October 20, 2006 by CyberNet.

It seems inevitable that PC’s easily get full of clutter and junk whether it be from the user or from applications that don’t properly install/uninstall themselves. I reformat my computer every two months or so just to keep things tidy and running quickly but it doesn’t hurt to do some maintenance from time to time.

CCleaner is one of those great apps that will help clear some space by removing unnecessary files. It cleans up after a ton of applications like Microsoft Office and WinRAR but it also goes digging deep into the registry to find places where it can do a little housekeeping. Another benefit is that CCleaner works with Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Opera adding the ability to remove temporary Internet files, URL history, and cookies.

After you get CCleaner up and running then you should head over and download WinPatrol. It gives you full control over what happens to your computer. You’ll find it constantly monitoring for adware, keyloggers, spyware, and much more.

WinPatrol also prompts you when applications try to do things like add startup programs without your consent. By using WinPatrol you are sure to catch problems before they start to arise.

Thanks for the tip Pete!

Copyright © 2011 CyberNetNews.com

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A year and change after its launch, Apple’s iPad has established itself as both the progenitor and dominant entity in a new category of device: tablets. A large part of its success has undeniably been down to the enthusiasm shown by developers, who have recently crossed the notable marker of producing 100,000 applications compatible with the device. As is true of the vast app selection on the iPhone, quantity doesn’t guarantee quality, but the abundance of software available for the iPad at least offers a better chance of finding some wheat in amongst the chaff. And as to its competitors, here’s hoping Ice Cream Sandwich and Windows 8 get here before this Apple juggernaut crosses the million mark, eh?

iPad passes the 100,000 apps milestone, rest of the tablet world looks on in disbelief originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Jul 2011 03:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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