This document provides an overview and development details for the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet. It discusses the PlayBook specs, browser capabilities, the simulator, SDK, application development process, testing apps on the simulator, compiling for submission, and submitting to BlackBerry AppWorld. The presentation was given by Joseph Labrecque and covered the PlayBook OS, SDK, application lifecycle, and submission process.

1. BLACKBERRY PLAYBOOK
DEVELOPMENT OVERVIEW
Presented January 25th 2011 for the KCDevCore Adobe User Group
by
Joseph Labrecque

2. About Me
Joseph Labrecque, MA
Flash Platform Developer
Multidisciplinary Artist
Adobe Education Leader
University of Denver
Fractured Vision Media, LLC
An Early Morning Letter, Displaced

3. What we will cover
• BlackBerry PlayBook Overview
• BlackBerry Tablet OS Simulator
• BlackBerry Tablet OS SDK for Flash Builder
• Application Development
• Application Testing on the Simulator
• Compiling the Application for Submission
• Submitting an Application to BlackBerry AppWorld

4. BlackBerry PlayBook Overview
• QNX® Neutrino® RTOS which powers mission-critical systems on the space
station, government defense systems, life-saving medical devices and millions of
in-car systems
• Reliable, high-performance kernel engineered for multi-core hardware
• Multi-threaded POSIX OS (Portable Operating System for Unix) for true
multitasking
• Developer options: Tablet OS SDK for AIR, Flash Player 10.1, HTML5, WebWorks
for Tablet OS, C/C++ Open GL SDK, Java SDK

5. PlayBook Browser
• Based on BlackBerry 6 WebKit browser
• HTML5 and CSS3
• Full Flash Player 10.1
• Acid3 Score: 100/100
• CSS3 Selectors Test: 578/578
• HTML5Test: 208/300

6. BlackBerry Tablet OS Simulator (0.9.2)
ISO disc image for VMware Player (Windows) or VMware Fusion (OSX)
• Extract ISO from the downloaded file
• Guest OS should be “Other”
• VM Memory should be 1024
• Accelerate 3D graphics
• Enable development mode and note device IP address

7. BlackBerry Tablet OS SDK for Flash Builder
Run the BlackBerry Tablet OS SDK Beta 3 for Adobe AIR installer (0.9.2)
• Install as Flash Builder plugin
• Be sure to change the install folder for Flash Builder Burrito
• Be sure to point to the Adobe AIR 2.5 SDK folder ({FB}sdks4.5.0)
• Verify installation once finished!

8. Application Development
Create a new Mobile Flex Project (or Mobile ActionScript Project)
• Choose BlackBerry Playbook as target platform
• Once the project is created, you can edit the properties to include Tablet OS libs
• You do not have to include Tablet OS libraries if you will not use them
• Now just build and test your project as normal

9. BlackBerry Tablet OS SDK for Adobe AIR
• AIR developers can access QNX UI classes used by core PlayBook applications
• Tablet OS extended AIR APIs
QNX Class Examples:
• qnx.media.QNXStageWebView
StageWebView with more integration into the webkit on the PlayBook
• qnx.system.QNXApplication
Bevel swipe down event
• qnx.system.Device
Battery level, state, and monitor
Device info
• qnx.media.MediaPlayer
Hardware accelerated play black of media and other non-Flash supported codecs

10. More Application Development Specifics
blackberry-tablet.xml
<qnx>
<initialWindow>
<systemChrome>none</systemChrome>
<transparent>true</transparent>
</initialWindow>
<publisher>Fractured Vision Media, LLC</publisher>
<category>core.media</category>
<icon>
<image>QNX-icon.png</image>
</icon>
<splashscreen>QNX_splash.png</splashscreen>
</qnx>

11. Application Testing on the Simulator
Create a new run/debug configuration for your project
• Launch method should be “On device”
• Choose “Development mode” for the Deployment mode
• Choose “Install and Launch” for Deployment method
• Pop the IP address from the simulator into the Target input here

12. Compiling the Application for Submission
Export release build for your project
• Choose to export and sign a platform-specific application package
• Choose to include Tablet OS libraries (or don’t)
• DO NOT sign the application
• Blackberry will work with developers to sign later on
• You will now have a .bar file to upload to BlackBerry AppWorld

13. Submitting to BlackBerry AppWorld
Submit your compiled .bar to BlackBerry AppWorld
• Sign up as a vendor (individuals- notarized form, businesses- proof of inc.)
• Add a product – basic info… title, description, et cetera
• You will need; 90×90 icon, 480×480 icon, 640×640 max screen capture
• Add “Releases” – upload your .bar file and provide SKU, version, et cetera

14. Now… wait…
The review and approval process now begins!
• You may be waiting weeks for approval
• Want a free PlayBook? Better get something submitted before March 15 th!
• Tick… tock…

15. In closing…
Joseph Labrecque, MA
Blog: http://inflagrantedelicto.memoryspiral.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/JosephLabrecque
Email: Joseph.Labrecque@du.edu
Thank you!

17. Shameless plugs…
• Buy my book!
Flash Platform and Android cookbook! Published by [PACKT] later this year!
• An Early Morning Letter, Displaced
A Prison of Oneself, Shudderflowers, 6Threads, and more… iTunes, Amazon, Zune…
• Emergent Collective One
FREE community compilation CD - http://bit.ly/FVM005
• Upcoming Conferences
Speaking at D2W 2011 - http://d2wc.com/
Attending (speaking?) 360|Flex Spring 2011 - http://www.360flex.com/