Tech Blog

[#1]

I've been listening to the keynote speech at the BlackBerry Developer Conference that is going on now and they've just announced their new BlackBerry PlayBook tablet and the BlackBerry Tablet OS.  Here's a rundown of what we can expect!

The new BlackBerry PlayBook is the first professional tablet, but it's also a lot more.  Get ready for an entirely new device and experience.  The new tablet features:

• 7" LCD, 1024 x 600, WSVGA, capacitive touch screen with full muti-touch and gesture support
• 1080p HD video capabilities, as well as H.264, MPEG, DivX and WMV support
• MP3, AAC and WMA audio playback
• HDMI video output
• Ultrathin and portable at only 9.7mm thick and weighing less than a pound (~400g)
• Rear and front facing capable of recording 1080p video (3 MP front facing, 5 MP rear facing)
• Cortex A9, 1GHz dual core processor
• 1GB RAM
• Wireless A/B/G/N capabilities
• Bluetooth connection to your BlackBerry via Bluetooth 2.1+EDR
• Uncompromised high-fidelity web integration with hardware accelerated video and Flash 10.1
• Always on and ultra mobile
• BlackBerry Tablet OS

The BlackBerry Tablet OS is the backbone of this device.  It is developed based on QNX software (as was predicted in previous posts) and basically brings back the full web experience.  Expect full Flash 10.1 support along with hardware acceleration and full HTML 5.0 compatibility.  This is a big thing as this means games built using Adobe Flash are a go on this new tablet.  The PlayBook will also support OpenGL and POSIX, and there seems to be a big push to ensure that this tablet will be the go to gaming platform.  Additional application platforms that will be supported include WebKit, Adobe Mobile AIR, Adobe Reader, and Java.

Another useful feature is that you can output a video via the HDMI output while doing other things on the device, which will make it very handy for handling presentations and more.  You can also "amplify" what is on your BlackBerry, so there's no need to redownload files.  The transfer will simply be handled via Bluetooth.

The new BlackBerry Tablet OS also offers multi-tasking capabilities (like the current BlackBerry OS), symmetric multi-processing, high reliability, high security and impressive performance.  The backbone of this OS, the QNX software is already featured prominently in Cisco equipment, medical devices, in dash car displays, video lottery terminals and much more.  Overall, expect this to be an entirely different experience.

Here's a video preview as well.

Apparently this should be available early 2011, but there is no current info regarding potential pricing.

Personally, I can't wait to see this.  What about you?

EDIT: Fixed a mistake referring to RAM

[#2]

If this supports an easy interface with a PC where I can simply use Windows Explorer to drag and drop items onto or off of it, I am ABSOLUTELY a fan.  I personally don't like the way Apple products interface with PCs - and not owning or wanting a Mac, I am stuck not liking it - and therefore not getting an i-anything.  Now that there is some competition coming out for Apple, I may be interested in jumping on the tablet bandwagon!

JB

[#3]

One thing not mentioned - will there be any way to expand the memory with a SD or MicroSD slot?

JB

[#4]

The BlackBerry PlayBook is now on http://www.blackberry.com if you want to take a look at more pictures and get more info on the available features.

[#5]

@ Juice0904, while it wasn't directly mentioned, I'm fairly sure it will offer either SD or microSD support (likely microSD).

I also didn't mention, but there will likely also be 3G and 4G support in future models.

[#6]

Well, this will be interesting...

I can't see this being less expensive than the iPad, but I must agree with Juice where if they allow me to drag and drop data ike they do with a normal Blackberry, in addition to that very welcomed list of supported video types-- I'm all for it!

Blackberry does business very well, but this will likely be the device that decides if they can do play.

[#7]

Its about time we put apple to RIP! I cant stand the fact that Jobs does not support Adobe flash because of his own political agenda. And its about time there is a device that supports camera's like Blackberry does! Now if only they can come to Canada sooner. We are of course Canadian!

M

[#8]

Can<t wait to see this jewel, USB and hdmi, dual core, and very nice OpenGL graphics, WOW!

[#9]

I can't wait to get one.

[#10]

With so many android based tablets set to hit the market, I think it is best to wait and see what is out there.  Lots of choices is always a good thing.

[#11]

Blackberry has no experience in making anything but handheld devices....

Everyone is rushing to make a Tablet after Apple's success with the Ipad...

It's not the hardware that makes the Ipad great, its the sheer number of applications that are already available for it.

What's going to run on this Blackberry tablet??

By the time this comes out the next version of the IPad will be out that will kill this thing off.

[#12]

"Availability
The BlackBerry PlayBook is expected to be available in retail outlets and other channels in the United States in early 2011 with rollouts in other international markets beginning in (calendar) Q2."

zzzzzzzzzzzz

Do you know how many other Tablets are going to be out by next summer?  It will be all Ipad's and Androids

[#13]

The main target for the BlackBerry PlayBook to start is current BlackBerry users.  RIM is actually starting smart by primarily targetting current BlackBerry users as this will also allow for opportunities to continue to tweak the BlackBerry PlayBook and the Tablet OS before they really target the entire consumer market.

As to available apps, there are currently over 10,000 apps on BlackBerry App World, and the new BlackBerry WebWorks platform is going to allow apps to be developed even easier.  No more Java programming knowledge will be required.  If you can code HTML, you can develop an app.  And that will make things much easier for developers and will encourage developers to program for the BlackBerry platform.  So that's a non-issue at this point.

And RIM has actually had experience in creating a variety of different accessories for their handhelds.  There are bluetooth headsets, speakerphones, media gateways, presenters and more.  This is just taking some of those to the next level.

But, and this is a big but, how this all turns out will depend on whether RIM can take advantage of the new OS to the max.  For that, only time will tell.

[#14]

"By the time this comes out the next version of the IPad will be out that will kill this thing off."

Not until Apple gets off their high horse and lets content from other developers run on their products. I have an iTouch myself, good for music and video games to keep me entertained when I travel and work out, but good for nothing beyond that. Without flash support I find web browsing pretty much useless on it, and an iPad is just an iTouch with 2 big batteries in it.

Seems like RIM is making more of a professional product with more usefullness, will have to see what their price point is.

I wonder if anyone can answer these questions though:  Does Apple pay their fanbois? Or do they do it for free? If they do it for free, why?

[#15]

• Cortex A9, 1GHz dual core processor
• 1GHz RAM
• Wireless A/B/G/N capabilities

In the specs you should change the 1Ghz Ram to 1Gb Ram

because this is a mistake.

Just to let you know

[#16]

Apple products are usualy priced above average market price, and also, RIM will most likely lower the price of the tablet if you purchase it with a 3G plan from a canadian provider. They will also allow a cellphone to share the 3G connection to the Playbook through bluetooth.

[#17]

Thanks taek! And good catch. I'll change that ASAP.

[#18]

You changed it.

Good

[#19]

The tablets being released aren't all going to be Mac OS or Android.  Check out the UX10 mock ups by LG.  Thats where Id be looking for a tablet to do everything with.  Will be running Windows 7.  Talk about fully featured.

[#20]

Why is the teaser image on Futureshop.ca that leads to this blog a photchop of the PlayBook with an Apple iOS app running on it (the game)?

[#21]

@ Kspraydad, my best guess is because the PlayBook has a big focus as being capable of gaming.  The new BlackBerry Tablet OS is supposed to be very gaming friendly.  And my guess is that games exactly like this (possibly even this one) will be available for the BlackBerry PlayBook.

[#22]

A tablet really needs to be at least 9-10 inches. Very disappointed in the small screen size!

[#23]

First off, I want to say I have a BlackBerry, and I love it.

Honestly... this just seems like a knee-jerk reaction from RIM to get a product on the market to get a piece of the action. RIM (as a whole) has been spiraling downwards for a while now, and this just strikes me as another attempt to try and prevent the company's eventual demise.

That being said, I hope it is successful, because it looks like it could be a great product and fill a void that business users would appreciate... without having to move to an Apple product if they don't want to.

[#24]

Well I checked out the specs on http://www.blackberry.com and I've got to say this thing looks pretty impressive.  What I'm hoping (probably unlikely) is that you can add or use data from your existing blackberry data plan on the tablet.  Canadian carries I doubt will be that generous and it'll probably cost something insane like $40 a month for 1GB of data.  I have to say though hats off to RIM for bringing out something that actually looks like it can compete in the tablet market.

[#25]

Any Idea on the disk space and the battery life ? Not sure why it is not 4G but I like the Bluetooth interface with other Balck Berry and the USB/HDMI ports. 7 inch is a bit small but I guess it is manageable. Definelty above $400

[#26]

@ Kilgore_Trout, you will be able to tether this with your BlackBerry.  I'm not 100% certain how this will work with unlimited data plans, but users with other data plans (e.g. 1GB of data or 6GB of data, etc), should have no problems with this at all.

@ shredder.  No idea about battery life yet, but the QNX OS that is the basis for the BlackBerry Tablet OS is focused on high power effeciency (low power requirements), so it should be fairly decent.  Only time will tell there.  As to hard drive space, I've heard that there may be 16GB and/or 32GB models, but this is entirely speculative at this point and I don't really know.  My guess is that we will likely just have to wait until closer to release for this info.  As to the 4G comment, 4G versions will likely be available in future models (may also include 3G capabilities).  The idea is that since you're already receiving much of this data on your BlackBerry, why resend it again.

Should be interesting to see how it actually functions at the end of the day, that's for sure!

[#27]

I am sold!

Love how blackberry is so universal with alot of their features like flash,hdmi, etc.

Unlike the Ipad

[#28]

This device completely PWNS anything that the competition has and will have by the time that it comes out. The people here that are saying otherwise, while entitled to their individual opinions, have no idea what RIM has done here. They have shell-shocked the industry with this device. It basically did a quantum leap over its contemporaries.

For example:

* It is running a dual core 1 GHz processor. Anyone who thinks that doesnt matter because the 'iPad also has 1GHz' doesn't understand what dual core means and i won't bother explaining it further than saying that the performance of a dual core CPU can be significantly higher.

* It has 1GB of RAM. Nothing else even comes close. To put this in perspective, the iPad only has 256 MB of RAM.

* It supports full Flash 10.1, with hardware acceleration. So not only does it support Flash and give you the view of websites that you're intended to see, it can do rendering faster because the hardware is being interfaced with also.

* An earlier poster mentioned the 250,00 apps that the iPad has available. You're right, that's pretty impressive. You know what is also impressive? The over 10,000,000 million Flash apps that can run on the PlayBook. Keep in mind that this is only for Flash. Java devs can also write for it, as well as devs writing for iPad/iPhone, as the underlying OS is POSIX compliant.

* The iPad doesn't even have one camera and the PlayBook has TWO. One that is rear-facing and one that is front-facing...and the weaker of the cameras is 3MP. The strongest one is 5MP.

* The PlayBook suppors 1080p video. Enough said

* The PlayBook supports video formats that the IPad doesn't touch.

I could go on and on but don't want to be labeled as a RIM fanboy. The bottom line is that this device just changed the game and became the standard, even before its release. The underlying OS is bloodly amazing. If you don't believe, me, Google 'QNX Neutrino RTOS' and enlighten yourself.

[#29]

If it has a SD slot and a camera for video conferencing, im getting off the apple wagon.

[#30]

@ Teddy Ruxpin, well said!  And it looks like you've done just a bit of research into what the QNX Neutrino RTOS is all about.  Good on you.

@ Gem Webb, I'm pretty sure it will have either an SD or microSD slot (not 100% certain though).  If not, those files should be available via your BlackBerry (and the Bluetooth tethered connection).  As to video conferencing, the front camera is apparently for that exact purpose.

[#31]

Another piece of **bleep**

[#32]

I cant wait to get my hand on one of theese. Soo cool. I was in love with the Torch but the Playbook makes my inner geek ssquee!

[#33]

how much it is going to be?

[#34]

@teddy ruxpin The 2nd gen iPad will be coming out at pretty much the same time so comparing it with the current iPad is kinda useless. By the time the playbook is out the first gen iPad is year old tech. Also, the video formats point is useless cuz you can just use the vlc app on the iPad and play pretty much every format of video. I'm typing this from my iPad and I'd love to see the playbook do well, but it's the little things that are gonna make or break the playbook and galaxy tab. Apple does the little things extremely well. I'm looking forward to seeing what the next gen of tablets brings. Also remember that well every company will be on their first generation, the iPad will be on second gen, so it'll be a significantly stabler product from a bugs and stability point of view, especially since everyone is rushing to release a tablet right now. Apple is a step ahead at the moment and as such they have a massive advantage

[#35]

If u look on the blackbery site it says there will be a microSD slot.

Ps. Im geting on even if it costs 1 million $