Browsing via BlackBerry? Click here to view video

One of the coolest demonstrations we saw today was HTML5 applications running on the BlackBerry PlayBook.  As you already know, the web browser on the PlayBook is the best web experience you can get on any tablet available.  So here we get to see an application running via HTML5, and then another web application strictly through the web browser that still provides an excellent app experience.

Not the food, but during the DevCon keynote, BlackBerry Jam was announced. What is BlackBerry Jam? “Well BlackBerry Jam goes back to jamming with your friends, your peers, and your family. It’s those conversations that lead to new ideas and new connections.”

BlackBerry Jam is a commitment to working closely with developers, and to provide them with the tools and programs that they need to be a success. Within the BlackBerry Jam community there will be important information and gatherings such as hackathons that RIM has been hosting. Which they just finished their fourth successful hackathon here in San Francisco. BlackBerry Jam is committed to focus on how they can collaborate, listen to the feedback that the community provides, to find new ways to evolve tools, and build a better support system for the development community.

Check out the links below for more inforation about:

BlackBerry Jam

BlackBerry Jam Sessions (BlackBerry Hackathon events) 

Earlier today at the BlackBerry DevCon Americas 2011 Conference, the Native SDK for the BlackBerry PlayBook is now available. With this release this new NDK allows developers to take advantage of the power of the PlayBook. Additionally, the simulator team has been able to provide an OpenGLES 2.0 environment to test 3D games.  Developers  to take advantage of this powerful  software here.

Check out the full press release >>

Browsing via BlackBerry? Click here to view video

We got to see a bunch of new applications ported over to the BlackBerry PlayBook.  One of them was Tomb Raider in the beginning of the DevCon keynote.  It was really fascinating to see how smooth the game worked and how responsive the on screen controls were.  This is one of many game examples of what’s coming to the PlayBook.

During the DevCon keynote, RIM showed off some OS 2.0 features on the BlackBerry PlayBook.  We’re told the OS will be available today as a developer beta build.  Features of OS 2.0 include Runtime for Android apps, Adobe AIR 3.0, WebWorks, and NDK 2.0 soon.

To get the OS, you must register your BlackBerry PlayBook for beta software.  Click the link below to begin.

BlackBerry PlayBook Beta Registration >>

There have been a lot of negative press in regards to RIM, especially when it came to apps and development.  Today, live at DevCon in San Francisco Alec Saunders put to rest some of the myths that have been circling over RIM.  One myth was the BlackBerry market is shrinking. The fact is there are 70 million active BlackBerry subscribers, and  a 20 million jump from last year.

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During BlackBerry DevCon keynote, RIM officially announced the availability of the Android app repackaging tool for the BlackBerry PlayBook officially available.  The new BlackBerry Runtime allows you to run Android applications on the BlackBerry PlayBook, so now this is a tool that allows you to port it over.  There’s an App Express station setup here at DevCon but you can alternatively do it yourself if your up for it by downloadin the tools.

Android App Repackaging Tool >>

Browsing via BlackBerry? Click here to view video

The Astonishing Tribe (TAT) demoed some applications for the future of BlackBerry Tablet OS which is on the BlackBerry PlayBook and will be BBX in the future here at the DevCon keynote. The contacts application gives you quite a bit of info about who you have there including demographics, topics and more.  As for the photos app, well it speaks for itself.  Check out the video!

The keynote over at DevCon 2011 is still going on, but we wanted to share some screenshots of BlackBerry Tablet OS 2.0 with you early on.  The UI has some new features to it, and it looks like native apps remain up top in a bar on its own.  This is the future of BBX as Mike Lazaridis suggested was the unified OS for tablets and BlackBerry smartphones of the future.  We can’t wait to get our hands on it!

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SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA–(Marketwire – Oct. 18, 2011) - BlackBerry DevCon Americas 2011 – At BlackBerry DevCon Americas 2011, Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ:RIMM)(TSX:RIM) today unveiled BlackBerry BBX, its next generation mobile platform that takes the best of the BlackBerry® platform and the best of the QNX® platform to connect people, devices, content and services.

In addition, RIM announced a series of developer tool updates, including WebWorks for BlackBerry smartphones and tablets, the Native SDK for the BlackBerry PlayBook and a developer beta of BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 with support for running Android applications. RIM also provided direction for developers on how to best develop and monetize their BlackBerry applications for today and for the future.

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