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BlackBerry PlayBook

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BlackBerry PlayBook
File:Blackberry playbook size next to my tiny hand.egg b9780 (5100887836).jpg
DeveloperResearch In Motion
ManufacturerQuanta Computer
TypeTablet, media player
Release dateApril 19, 2011
Operating systemBlackBerry Tablet OS (QNX)
CPU1 GHz Cortex-A9 dual-core
Memory1 GB RAM
Storage16, 32 or 64 GB Flash
Display7" LCD display
1024 x 600 px (WSVGA)
16:9 aspect ratio
(1080p HDMI output)
GraphicsPowerVR SGX540
SoundStereo microphones, loudspeakers
InputCapacitive multi-touch touchscreen
GPS
Accelerometer
6-Axis Gyroscope
Magnetometer
Camera5 MP 1080p HD video (rear-facing)
3 MP 1080p HD video (forward-facing)
ConnectivityWi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n)
Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
Micro-USB
Micro HDMI
Power5300 mAh
Online services7digital & BlackBerry App World
Dimensions5.1" x 7.6" x 0.4" (130mm x 194mm x 9.7mm)
Mass0.9lbs (425g)
Websiteblackberry.com/playbook-tablet

The BlackBerry PlayBook is a tablet computer by Research In Motion (RIM), the Canadian telecommunications company best known for the BlackBerry smartphone. The company indicated it would deliver the machine to enterprise customers and developers in October 2010, and release it to consumers in early 2011, putting it in direct competition with Apple's iPad, iPad 2, and a slew of Android powered tablets.[1] Also announced was a new operating system, the BlackBerry Tablet OS, based on QNX Neutrino, to run on the tablet.[2] The device was released for general purchase in the United States on April 19, 2011, and early sales figures note that approximately fifty thousand (50,000) were sold on launch day, and some analysts estimate RIM to sell 3 million during their first year.[3]


The tablet has been surrounded with much hype since it was announced and received positive reviews from technology critics including at the Consumer Electronics Show. It was rumored for some time that the Playbook would be able to run Android applications, which was finally confirmed. Although the PlayBook won't have access to Google's Android Market, Android apps may be uploaded by developers to RIM's App World to be made available on the PlayBook.[4]

History

Rumors about the forthcoming computer, nicknamed the BlackPad in the press because of its expected similarity to Apple Inc's competing iPad, had circulated for several months prior to the announcement.[5][6] The PlayBook was first publicly demonstrated on October 25, 2010 onstage at the opening day keynote of the Adobe MAX 2010 conference by Research In Motion co-CEO Mike Lazaridis and Adobe Systems CTO Kevin Lynch.

Among the features demonstrated was its tight integration with and support for Adobe AIR applications and full Flash support. According to Lazaridis, "We're not trying to dumb down the internet for a mobile device. What we've done is bring up mobile devices to the level of desktop computers". Lazaridis then announced at the end of his presentation that developers who get Adobe AIR applications approved on the BlackBerry App World would be eligible for free BlackBerry PlayBook tablets.[7] Since then, the free PlayBook offer has been extended to include WebWorks applications.

Features

The BlackBerry PlayBook supports up to 1080p video playback. PlayBook Features a 3 MP front-facing camera for video chatting over Wi-Fi and a rear-facing 5 MP camera that records 1080p video. The PlayBook has a 1024×600 WSVGA, 7-inch display and 3D graphics acceleration, as well as HDMI-out. It features a variety of sensors, including gyroscope, magnetometer, and accelerometer. The PlayBook uses the Texas Instruments OMAP4430 Processor.[8] The BlackBerry PlayBook supports high resolution video playback (H.264, MPEG4, WMV), and audio (MP3, AAC 5.1, WMA 5.1 audio playback) formats. It also has a micro-HDMI port for HDMI video output. Among the PlayBook, Apple iPad, & Xoom from Motorola, the PlayBook comes in lightest at .9 LBs, compared to 1.33 LBs & 1.59 LBs, respectively.

Apps

The PlayBook includes a pre-loaded app offering access to 1,500 films from the National Film Board of Canada.[9][10] Other PlayBook apps include iSpeech Translator, Cocktales, and Adobe Connect Mobile.[11] At the initial launch, between 2,000 and 3,000 apps were available from the Blackberry App World, however, RIM states that as many as 3,000 additional apps have been submitted.[12] Additionally, RIM reports that the PlayBook is compatible with over 25,000 existing BlackBerry Java Apps, and over 200,000 Android Apps.[13]

Release

BlackBerry PlayBook was released in Canada and USA on April 19, 2011 and will be released in th UK on June 16, 2011[14] and the United Arab Emirates on June 12, 2011 [15]. Early reviews for the product have been mixed, praising the PlayBook's fluid UI, Adobe Flash supported webkit browser,[16] HDMI output, and multitasking capabilities. It has also been criticized since the PlayBook requires the BlackBerry for its native email and calendar applications, although third party email and calendar applications are supported. Following the mixed reviews, RIM's Playbook has begun to gain traction and receive better reviews, as the temporary issues are being solved. Walt Mossberg, columnist for The Wall Street Journal, wrote, "I got the strong impression RIM is scrambling to get the product to market."[17] Research In Motion's co-chief executive officer, Jim Balsillie, countered the criticism by noting that there are more than 60 million BlackBerry smartphones in use that are capable of pairing with a PlayBook.[18]

Android and Java Application Support

RIM has officially stated that it will expand its application ecosystem for the PlayBook to include BlackBerry Java and Android-based applications. In a press release, RIM states that developers simply repackage, code sign, and submit their Android apps into BlackBerry App World. For now, the PlayBook will only support Android 2.3 apps.[4]

Updates

A decision by RIM to not ship the Playbook with native applications for e-mail and calendar has been a source of much debate by reviewers and users. The only way to access email is through the web browser, Blackberry Bridge, or third-party applications from App World, which RIM chose for security reasons. However RIM has confirmed that these native applications will be available in upcoming updates to the system software.[19]

Reception and Sales

Various sources put the sales figure on launch day alone at approximately 50,000, exceeding expectations. [20] Additionally, the Playbook is estimated to have sold 250,000 units in its first month, which beats the Motorola Xoom for which there are only shipment figures of 250,000 to retailers after over two months of availability. The Blackberry Playbook is also expected to sell 500,000 units in its first quarter. [3]

References

  1. ^ BlackBerry maker unveils PlayBook tablet, September 27, 2010, Reuters
  2. ^ "RIM Unveils The BlackBerry PlayBook" (Press release). Research In Motion. September 27, 2010.
  3. ^ a b Analyst: BlackBerry PlayBook sales beat forecasts, April 21, 2011, cNET News Cite error: The named reference "cnet_launch_report" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b "RIM Expands Application Ecosystem for BlackBerry PlayBook" (Press release). Research in Motion. March 24, 2011. Cite error: The named reference "playbookecosystem_pressrelease" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  5. ^ Report: RIM's Blackpad set to take on iPad, CNET.com, July 30, 2010
  6. ^ RIM Readies Its Answer to iPad, The Wall Street Journal, September 21, 2010
  7. ^ "Adobe Max 2010 Opening Keynote". Adobe.
  8. ^ Skipworth, Hunter (2011-03-23). "Blackberry confirms PlayBook specs and launch date". Telegraph. Retrieved 2011-04-24.
  9. ^ Lau, Kathleen (18 April 2011). "PlayBook hits market with National Film Board app". Computerworld. Retrieved 20 April 2011.
  10. ^ Morison, Ora (20 April 2011). "Long way from Log Rider's Waltz". National Post. Retrieved 20 April 2011.
  11. ^ BlackBerry PlayBook App List, BlackBerry App World Website, April 25, 2011
  12. ^ ""Ten Best BlackBerry Playbook Apps"". PC Magazine.
  13. ^ "RIM Expands Application Ecosystem for BlackBerry PlayBook" (Press release). Research in Motion. March 24, 2011.
  14. ^ http://www.techradar.com/news/mobile-computing/tablets/blackberry-playbook-uk-release-date-and-prices-revealed-956466
  15. ^ http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/rim-optimistic-over-playbook-sales-in-the-uae
  16. ^ Austen, Ian (2011-04-11). "R.I.M.'s PlayBook Tablet Is a Whiz at Flash". The New York Times. Retrieved 2011-04-15.
  17. ^ Yarow, Jay (2011-04-14). "The Reviews Of The BlackBerry PlayBook Are Unbelievably Bad". Business Insider. Retrieved 2011-04-15.
  18. ^ Miller, Hugo (2011-04-15). "RIM Chiefs Defend PlayBook Against Critics as Debut Approaches". Bloomberg. Retrieved 2011-04-15.
  19. ^ Empire, BlackBerry. "BlackBerry PlayBook Unboxing". BlackBerry Empire. BlackBerry Empire. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
  20. ^ url=http://mobilesyrup.com/2011/04/20/first-day-blackberry-playbook-sales-estimated-to-be-50000/

External links

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