Back at DevCon a couple months back, we saw Android developers getting their applications moved over to BlackBerry App World thanks to the App Express center at the conference.  According to an email received byWJD Designs, Handster (a third party application market for Android) is going to be sending developers’ applications directly to BlackBerry App World for PlayBook.  They will be doing the conversions and testing the applications as well.  Here’s the full email:

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Last week RIM launched the BlackBerry DevCon Asia 2011 mobile application for BlackBerry smartphones and the BlackBerry PlayBook.  If you’re attending the event, it’s definitely an application you want to download.  You’ll be able to sign up for sessions and view your whole schedule all within the app.  So if you’re going to DevCon Asia, stay organized with the mobile app and download it free at BlackBerry App World!

Download BlackBerry DevCon Asia 2011 Mobile App >>

Zixxby is a fun shooter game on the BlackBerry PlayBook which was released yesterday by Marmalade.  I haven’t had the chance to try this one out yet, but it looks like a good quality game based on the screenshots. There’s 40 different levels across 4 different moons in the game.  You can get a copy of Zixxby from BlackBerry App World for $2.99.

Zixxby for BlackBerry PlayBook >>

Now here’s a great catch for attendees.  If only we were so lucky to get some free premium applications at DevCon.  Folks who attend BlackBerry DevCon Asia 2011 will be able to download Modern Combat 2: Black Pegasus HD for free.  This is only for users in Singapore, so don’t go crazy looking for the game if you’re not in the region.  The game is for the BlackBerry PlayBook with a price tag at $6.99, but obviously free here for users in Singapore.

Modern Combat 2 for BlackBerry PlayBook >>

Source: BerryReview

Wikitude was strictly for BlackBerry 7 smartphones.  Back at BlackBerry World 2011, we were able to see it working on the Bold 9900, which had just gotten announced at that time.  Today at DevCon Asia 2011, it looks like Wikitude has expanded to BlackBerry 6 OS!  So what about Wikitude requiring specific hardware for augmented reality?  OS 6 devices obviously do not support it, but the app still does integrate with BBM and lets you find friends on a map so you can communicate with one another.

Download Wikitude for OS 6 >>

Download Wikitude for OS 7 >>

Let the games begin.  The BlackBerry PlayBook just updated today to fix up some security which would in best hopes avoid a jailbreak or root from occurring again.  Only hours later, and we see the PlayBook has been rooted even with the latest OS!  Chris Wade reported on Twitter that he was able to get in once again.  This time it was done a different way, so RIM did patch up what they needed to before.  Now it’s up for the next security fix which I’m sure RIM will release once they see a newer version of Dingleberry drops.

My BlackBerry Bold 9930 wouldn’t let me open Twitter up until I updated it, as seen in the screenshot above.  This is a good way to make sure everyone gets the latest and greatest of the application.  Not sure if it was mandatory for just beta users or everyone.  Any way a couple of hours we let you know that RIM would be rolling out the new 2.1 version of Twitter for BlackBerry within 24 hours, but the time has already come from now.  If you haven’t been prompted to download it, be patient or try to get it manually from blackberry.com/twitter via BlackBerry web browser.

Alec Saunders from Research In Motion has confirmed on Twitter that BlackBerry 7.1 SDK will be releasing today.  About an hour ago, OS 7.1 NFC features were getting demoed on stage at DevCon Asia 2011, as also mentioned in the tweet.  I went over to the BlackBerry SDK site, but it looks like it’s still at just 7.  You can check up on the site to see when (and if) it updates to SDK 7.1.  I’m excited to see NFC applications finally launch!

BlackBerry SDK Site >>

Source: BerryReview

Thanks bogizo for the tip!

At both BlackBerry World and DevCon this year, we received free BlackBerry PlayBooks, the 16GB WiFi models to be exact.  It looks like those attending DevCon Asia today will also be eligible for the free tablet offer.  Click the link below for more info on the PlayBook giveaway to attendees.

BlackBerry PlayBook Giveaway FAQ’s

There were feuds going on over the whole “BBX” name for the next BlackBerry operating system and US courts have halted RIM from using the trademark as well.  So instead of going around in circles trying to get the BBX trademark for themselves, they decided to change the name as a whole.  BBX is now known as BlackBerry 10.  A bit scary to see RIM skip 8 and 9.  Perhaps they have plans for two other hybrid OS builds after 7, or maybe 10 is off to a fresh start.  Either way, the info was announced at BlackBerry DevCon Asia 2011 and tweeted on the BlackBerryDev account.