The Android app market is a "chaotic cesspool", according to RIM. The makers of the BlackBerry PlayBook plan to limit the tablet so apps can only be downloaded from official channels, to avoid becoming like Android.
BlackBerry boss Alec Saunders claims that a quarter of Android apps are pirated and downloaded via dodgy channels. So he's confirmed that Research in Motion will restrict you to only downloading apps from the official BlackBerry App World.
The PlayBook will no longer be able to sideload apps from other sources when it gets its next software update, although app developers will be able to sideload to test their apps on the PlayBook.
The Android folk at Google pride themselves on the open and unrestricted nature of the Android app ecosystem. The Android Market, recently renamed Google Play, isn't the only source of apps for Android phones and tablets -- Amazon has its own app store, for example -- but even the official store is totally unregulated.
That lack of regulation is both Android's best feature and its worst. It's totally open so there's none of the restrictions found in the walled garden that is Apple's App Store, but there's also no guarantee of quality, or that apps are free of malware.
Google has also found itself in hot water over apps guilty of trademark infringement, a subject recently tackled by Manchester United.
Restrictions are nothing new to BlackBerry users, though. Heck, the PlayBook only just started doing email.
Is this a step towards a draconian walled garden, or is RIM right to protect its ecosystem? Sideload your thoughts in the comments or on our Facebook page.
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Comments 14
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anonymous 10 April, 2012 10:32
What a load of nonsense, the man's clearly been reading from the book of Jobbs. I've downloaded 100's if not 1000's of quality apps on Android and never had a single problem, sounds like childish mud slinging to me.
billfred 10 April, 2012 10:47
So, how is the BB app world doing? .... awww that's awkward.
anonymous 10 April, 2012 10:47
WTF comment.. Android rocks.. i guess 90% users installs apps via PLAY.. ppl can read comments before downloading.. thus quality assurance.. BB sucks
anonymous 10 April, 2012 11:49
Nothing more than sour grapes from RIM...a manufacturer that as failed to keep up with customer demands, struggled to develop its own "ecosystem", and generally just sucked for a long time. Pretty hilarious really.
Android apps that are worth having quickly rise to the top of the listings. Then there are sites like Lifehacker who frequently draw attention to other quality apps. It's hardly difficult to find quality apps from quality sources.
falo 10 April, 2012 11:50
I would say the chaotic cesspool description should be aimed at all the bloody Handster-ported apps currently on the App World.
Naryan 10 April, 2012 12:03
That's a shame, I actually really, really like the BlackBerry PlayBook, real pity the minds behind it are such asshats.
"The Android market is a chaotic cesspool. That's why last year we decided it would be fitting to support it on our tablet line."
Kinda missing the point here RIM. Telling people they can only download from the channels that you deem fit, instead of just telling people they can choose to download from the official channels if they want to. How's your own app store doing btw? OHHHH TOO SOON?
anonymous 10 April, 2012 12:58
I quite like chaotic "cesspools".
Peter Hudson 10 April, 2012 13:10
In the time I had my galaxy s2 I barely ever ventured into the app store. There's no way I would ever pay for an app on the marketplace.
anonymous 10 April, 2012 13:55
YES blackberry of course your right and the playbook was a success wasn't it
anonymous 10 April, 2012 13:56
All their doing is making it so people will have to "jailbreak" the new tablets.... it won't stop people from completely not downloading illigal or pirated apps.. I know they have tuff security but its nothing when half or more people who own the tablet will be looking to find a way to jailbreak it. This looks like rims way of trying to degrade the android market in a very sloppy way of trying to gain any kind of traction in a tablet/smartphone war they have clearly lost. Just sayin'
AppleRocks16 10 April, 2012 15:23
Research in motion - heres the thing: You are just jealous of Androids success, and to add on to Naryans comment, how is your app store doing? Not very well, just as I thought.....
anonymous 10 April, 2012 16:28
So Blackberry open up sideloading of Android with Playbook OS 2 in February only to announce a restriction of such six weeks later?
Good work, RIM. Is it really nay wonder that you are losing business hand over fist?
caleb97 12 April, 2012 17:52
The Android Market, sorry Google Play Store is fantastic IMO. Yes there are a few dodgy apps but the majority are trustworthy and fantastic. Not to mention that Google Play has way more apps than the Blackberry App World.
Also Android gives users choice, you can choose to download and install apps from anywhere you like or set it to only allows apps from the Play Store to be installed if you prefer.
musicman96 14 April, 2012 18:33
have you seen your own app store blackberry :p trolololol