How To Load Android Apps On Z10

The BlackBerry Z10 is the only smartphone that has a built in Android emulator allowing it to run some Android applications as well as BlackBerry 10 applications. Since BlackBerry 10 is a new platform, it is lacking in the available applications department. This was probably why BlackBerry built support for Android apps to run on BlackBerry 10 through an emulator, so it could say that there would be over 70,000 applications at launch in BlackBerry World. Of those 70,000, 1,000 are native BlackBerry 10 applications and the rest are all Android ports and Web apps.

GoodEReader has put together instructions and a step by step video on how to install Android applications on the BlackBerry Z10. You'll need to put the Z10 in Developer's Mode and create a password that you'll remember. Once you've done that you'll need to connect your Z10 to a PC via microUSB cable. You'll need to visit GoodEReader's Playbook and BB10 App Market to download the apps; you will not be able to install standard Android .APK files on the Z10. The apps in GoodEReader's App Market have already been converted to BAR files which will install on the Z10.

BlackBerry made a wise move in building an Android emulator for the BlackBerry PlayBook and BlackBerry 10. It allows them to have a decent number of popular applications available to users, even if they're not native BlackBerry 10 apps. A new platform is only as good as the apps available to run on it, so adding Android apps into the BlackBerry 10 mix makes some very popular apps readily found in BlackBerry World.