Android apps could run slow on BlackBerry app emulator

Yesterday, we reported that RIM’s strategy to add Android compatibility to its QNX platform might prove to be a blessing in disguise for the company. But according to Dan Frommer, there might be a twist in the tale. RIM’s plan to run Android apps through Android “app player” may face performance issues as they run through an emulator. According to Jim Balsillie, Co-CEO of BlackBerry, "You're just not going to get things like gaming and multimedia, you're not going to get the speed going through a VM interface". Thus it is expected that heavy Android games and apps like Netflix will work poorly or might not work at all.

Futhermore, the developers are required to recompile their apps and submit them to RIM for approval. As the PlayBook sales are getting worse day by day, there is very little possibility that developers show their interest towards this. Adding to the fire, RIM only plans to allow those apps, which run on Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) or under. The PlayBook owners might not be happy with this, as apps may not work in full screen for them and they might be deprived of highly optimised Honeycomb apps. Moreover, based on the official video demonstration, PlayBook's elegant multitasking will not support opening of multiple Android apps.