Sideloading my Blackberry Z10 – Does it work?#VZWVoices #Save

So it’s been a couple months, and I’m going to admit it – the Blackberry Z10 is growing on me. I do love the photo quality and the hot spot capability I wrote about previously. But I sat there frustrated with the app issue. What’s the big deal? Not everyone is app heavy.

The average smart phone user has 120 apps. On my android phone I only have 75(ish) apps. I’m not highly app heavy. But there are some I used daily. Some I want to use daily – and even with as responsive as the phone is, I wasn’t able to. So I ventured into the world of “side loading”. I know, that leads to the question of “what is side loading?”

The easiest way to explain side loading – it’s hacking or “jail-breaking” your phone to get it to do what you want. Basically it results in loading Android apps on your Blackberry format. So after you do that you will have all of the apps (or most of them you want!)

I went into my side loading adventure and had to find some instructions on how to actually go about it. I found a great article from Brothatech on how to do it step by step. I’ll try to explain it below, but definitely check back to his article to see if he has extra steps that can help you out.

Also – you will need all of your android apps (which are in APK file format) to Blackberry format (BAR). You can make them yourself if you hae the APK files, or you can search for the different files. Check out APK to BAR Converter to find the best files (or make your own).

So down to the nitty gritty. The first thing you need to do is go into your security area and find Developer Mode. Toggle the switch to ON and you are almost ready to go. It’s going to ask you for a password to do this, make one you can remember!

1. Go and add theBB10/Playbook App extension to Chrome. Yes, you can only do this in Chrome!
2. Plug your Z10 into your laptop with the USB cord.
3. Open your BB10/Chrome Book extension. After it’s installed it should automatically open. If it does not look for the BB logo on the far right of your address bar and click it.
4. It will ask for your device IP address. Put in the one on the developer mode screen.
5. Click the device address after “manage your device”. Proceed through the security warning (it’s safe I promise).
6. Once you have done this you will see the upload button on the upper right side and can remove/add apps to your Z10! Remember they have to be BAR files to work!

Give it a try – it will actually work!

I spent an evening doing this, and I was able to get all of my must have apps but one. The only one that didn’t take was Instagram. I’ll have to take a fellow blogger out for coffee to get her to help me with that one! But otherwise it’s completely functional.

So has it won me over? Not completely. I’m still happy with the photos, the hot spot, the responsiveness etc. I’m happier than I was with the app situation. I will admit I am using the device a lot more now that it has some of my daily use apps on it. I was even able to get my fitbit tracker on it! But I’m still not 100% convinced.

What are your must have apps?