Android™ Runtime Development

[Ted_Hopp]

I'm a bit confused by the documentation on app icon sizes. In particular, is it possible to build a single .bar file that will run on both PlayBook and BB 10 OS and have the correct icon size? We plan to submit apps to the Android Port-A-Thon, but we would also like the apps to run on the PlayBook.

This page seems to say two things at the same time: you need an 86x86 icon in the <code>res/drawable-hdpi</code> folder for running on PlayBook and a 114x114 icon for running on BB 10 OS. On the other hand, it says that with a 96x96 icon in <code>res/drawable-xhdpi</code>, "converting to BlackBerry PlayBook and BlackBerry 10 OS will be optimized." Does that mean I can have a single code base but still need to generate two .bar files? Or does it mean that a single .bar file will run correctly on both platforms?

Elsewhere I remember reading that if a .bar file didn't have an 86x86 launch icon, it would not appear on a PlayBook. How does that square with the single 96x96 icon described above?

[mwhiteman · Accepted solution]

Hello,

If your application fuctions correctly on both, the best method is to use a high resolution icon (114x114) for your application. This will work on BlackBerry 10 and be automaticly scaled down for BlackBerry PlayBook when installed.

Cheers,

[Ted_Hopp]

Thanks, Matt. That's exactly the info I needed. I assume that the 114x114 icon needs to go in res/drawable-hdpi. Should the other density folders have appropriately scaled versions of the same icon, or would that cause problems?

[mwhiteman]

Hey,

If you have other lower resolution icons for other Android devices that's fine. Our tools look for 114x114 or the highest you have and convert appropriately. So, it doesn't matter if you have icons in the other folders or not. 

[mr-bong]

i am British and only just got into apps. so excuse any unfamiliarity you may deem laughable :-)

i used to work for Geac Canada in the uk so im maybe not a total alien ;-)

i have just used the browser tool to submit 19 apps i have live on google play

to blackberry for qnx and blackberry 10 and playbook

my icons are 147 x 130

will these simply get scaled down??

or do i have to resubmit recompiled apks and re bar them please ??

it takes up to and sometimes over a week to get one review turnaround

so i thought id ask you as you seem to know all the ins and outs

thanks

malcolm pugh

ex geac,apak,3i

[mwhiteman]

Hello,

Your icons should get scaled accordingly for both BlackBerry PlayBook and BlackBerry 10. It is always recommended to test your application before submission to BlackBerry World. If you do not have any physical devices, you can use our Simulators to verify the look and function of your applications.

You can download the latest Simulators here:
 https://developer.blackberry.com/devzone/develop/simulator/simulator_installing.html

Cheers,

[mr-bong]

Thanks. Kind of you to get back to me so quickly.
Malc.

[mr-bong]

i submitted through the browser tool adapting existing android apps

to become bar files for review, so could not really use simulator on them.

15 that way.

the other 4 i did via blackberry plugin to netbeans with a 9900 simulator, so i guess in future

if i ever do any more netbeans ones i can utilise other simulators, thanks for the link.

it takes eons to get anything reviewed at all, so thanks for the information

on the icins. at least they should work first time.

ive had the 15 in since sunday and the other 4 in 12 days with no reviews.

i guess they are very busy after the app a tron. ;-)

i wont quit on this until they are live. i never have.

malc

[mr-bong]

thanks a lot

11 of them went live today.

been a long road out of eden - you helped a lot - thanks