Wednesday, November 16, 2011
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The BlackBerry PlayBook is a tablet computer by Research In Motion (RIM), best known for the BlackBerry smartphone. It competes against Apple's iPad and a slew of Android powered tablets.
The device was released for general purchase in the United States on 19 April 2011, and early sales figures note that approximately fifty thousand (50,000) were sold on launch day.[2] Early reviews were generally negative, noting several missing features and commenting that the system appeared to be rushed to market. Follow-up sales slowed considerably; originally predicted at over 2 million, later adjusted downward to just under 1 million, sales were eventually revealed to be approximately 700,000.[3]
The PlayBook is based on the BlackBerry Tablet OS, a new operating system based on QNX Neutrino, and runs apps developed using Adobe AIR.[4] It was later announced that the BlackBerry Tablet OS would be merged with the existing BlackBerry OS to produce a new operating system, "BBX", that would be used universally across RIM's product line. RIM has also announced support for applications for the Android OS, allowing them to be sold and installed through the BlackBerry App World marketplace.[5]
Contents
[hide]
* 1 History
* 2 Features
* 3 Release
* 4 Applications
o 4.1 Future Android and Java Application Support
* 5 Other future updates
* 6 Reception and Sales
* 7 Security
* 8 References
* 9 External links
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.[6][7] Research In Motion co-CEO Mike Lazaridis and Adobe Systems CTO Kevin Lynch staged the first public demonstration of the PlayBook on October 25, 2010[8] onstage at the opening-day keynote of the Adobe MAX 2010 conference.
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.[9] Since then, the free PlayBook offer has been extended to include WebWorks applications.
[edit] 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, both of which can record 1080p video.[10] The PlayBook has a 1024×600 WSVGA, 7-inch display and 3D graphics acceleration. It features a variety of sensors, including an InvenSense 6-axis gyroscope, magnetometer, and accelerometer. The PlayBook uses the dual-core Texas Instruments OMAP4430 Processor.[11] 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 0.9 LBs, compared to 1.33 LBs & 1.59 LBs, respectively.
[edit] Release
BlackBerry PlayBook was released in Canada and USA on April 19, 2011; in the UK[12] and the Netherlands on June 16, 2011;[13] and was released in the United Arab Emirates on June 25, 2011.[14] Early reviews for the product have been mixed, praising the PlayBook's fluid UI, Adobe Flash supported webkit-based browser,[15] 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. The platform also has relatively few native third party applications compared to other platforms. Following the mixed reviews, RIM's Playbook has begun to gain traction and receive better reviews, as the temporary issues are being solved.[neutrality is disputed] Walt Mossberg, columnist for The Wall Street Journal, wrote, "I got the strong impression RIM is scrambling to get the product to market."[16] 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.[17]
[edit] Applications
The PlayBook includes a pre-loaded app offering access to 1,500 films from the National Film Board of Canada.[18][19] Other PlayBook apps include Cocktales and Adobe Connect Mobile.[20] 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.[21]
[edit] Future Android and Java Application Support
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This section may need to be updated. Please update this section to reflect recent events or newly available information, and remove this template when finished. Please see the talk page for more information. (September 2011)
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.[22]
RIM stated that the compatibility with Android applications will be included in a software update of the BlackBerry Tablet OS.[23]See version history.
RIM more recently announced that BlackBerry Java applications will not be supported in the BBX next generation mobile platform for BlackBerry tablets. [24]
[edit] Other future updates
A decision by RIM to not ship the Playbook with native applications for e-mail and calendar has been a source of criticism and 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 stated that these native applications will be available in upcoming updates to the system software.[25] RIM have announced their plan to introduce OS 2: where the native applications as well as many more fixes to the software are expected to occur. More details regarding the launch of OS 2 are rumoured to appear when RIM host the Developers Conference on the 18th-20th of October 2011.
February 2012 has been announced as the release date for OS 2.0.[26] BBM support will not be included with the 2.0 update, although RIM appears to intend to support BBM in a future update. In addition to other functionality, the software update will add integrated email, calendar, and contact apps. BBM (aka BlackBerry Messenger) will however still be supported through the BlackBerry Bridge software allowing one to continue to have access to it while bridged to his or her BlackBerry smartphone.
[edit] Reception and Sales
Various sources put the sales figure on launch day alone at approximately 50,000, exceeding expectations.[27] RIM announced in its quarterly earnings that half a million PlayBook tablets were shipped in the first quarter, and expects to move almost a million in the second quarter of 2011. However, after lukewarm market reception, there were reports that the company revised its second-quarter estimates from 2.4 million down to 800,000 – 900,000 units.[28] When RIM announced their second quarter financial results, they revealed that they shipped 200,000 units.[29]
According to Strategy Analytics figures in the 2011 second quarter, the PlayBook's market share is 3.3 percent, compared to Apple's 61.3 percent with its iPad and iPad 2 (iOS), Google Android (numerous manufacturers) with 30.1 percent, and Microsoft (also numerous manufacturers) with 4.6 percent. [30]
[edit] Security
Because BlackBerry Bridge accesses mail, calendaring and contacts directly from a tethered BlackBerry phone, the PlayBook has the same security capabilities as the BlackBerry phone. It is the first (and as of September, 2011, the only) tablet device to receive FIPS 140-2 certification, which makes it eligible for use by U.S. federal government agencies. In addition the Australian government also approved the use of PlayBook as the only tablet that meets its security standard [31]. The Russian government is considering banning iPads due to security concerns and promoting the PlayBook instead
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