Right on schedule — sort of — Research In Motion announced on Tuesday that the first major update for its BlackBerry PlayBook tablet is now available for download. The highly anticipated update brings a number of much needed functionality to the PlayBook, but the most notable additions are certainly the arrival of native email, contacts and calendar functionality. BlackBerry Messenger support is still absent from the PlayBook as RIM said it would be, but BlackBerry Bridge has been updated, plenty of new social functionality has been added, RIM’s Android app player is finally on board and video chat has been enhanced as well. We took a hands on look at PlayBook OS 2.0 during the Consumer Electronics Show this past January and we can confidently say that if you own a PlayBook, you should download the new update, which will be delivered over the air, as soon as possible.
BlackBerry PlayBook Tablets will be getting the long-awaited major software update to version 2.0 starting February 21st, a leaked document has revealed.
An Engadget tipster sent in a snapshot of an internal document, which reveals the February 21st release date. This new information rings true with BlackBerry news site N4BB’s recent post, which also confirms the February 21st as the marker for the software rollout.
The document shows that the software will start becoming available to PlayBook users this Tuesday, though it doesn’t confirm which countries or regions would be privy to the update first. If you’re keen to get a taste of version 2.0 for the PlayBook, you’ll need to be checking on your device itself, or with BlackBerry Desktop Manager on your PC for the update notification.
Version 2.0 will bring in a bevy of new features and software, including native applications for Email, Contacts and Calendar – key applications that have been missing in the initial software version. Those who use a BlackBerry smartphone will also be able to control their PlayBook wirelessly using the phone’s touchscreen, a feature that sounds very interesting.
The same Engadget tipster sent in snaps of another document, which shows that Research in Motion will be launching a new service called BlackBerry Mobile Fusion on the same day as PlayBook 2.0. You may not have heard a great deal about BlackBerry Mobile Fusion, and that’s probably because it’s a business tool. When released on Tuesday, Mobile Fusion will provide businesses with a single interface with which they can monitor and control multiple BlackBerry Smartphones, PlayBook tablets as well as iOS and Android phones and tablets, all from one place.
One thing that will be missing from the PlayBook’s first major software update is BlackBerry Messenger, or BBM. This will still be available through BlackBerry Bridge, which works by wirelessly linking a BlackBerry Smartphone to the tablet. Hopefully we’ll see a dedicated BBM app for the PlayBook in the very near future.
RIM has extended its free PlayBook programme to Android developers for another two weeks. Developers have until March 2 to submit their app for RIM’s first tablet but they have to sign up until February 15 to be part of the programme. RIM is offering the PlayBook to developers as part of its long-term effort to lure makers of Android app into its own fold. They even have a platform to easily port an Android app for the PlayBook.
Attracting Android devs is one of the many ways RIM is trying to push the popularity of its tablet, whose price has been cut down to half as the company seeks to put it into the hands of many users.
As more people use tablets for their daily use, RIM is hoping it can offer a third option aside from Android-powered tablets and Apple’s popular iPad.
Last week at BlackBerry DevCon Europe there was much talk about the BlackBerry myths out there, but what also surfaced was a couple OEM PlayBook accessories, specifically a docking station and the BlackBerry PlayBook keyboard case – both make the “World’s first Professional tablet” look pretty good. According to BlackBerryCzech who snapped the pics, the Bluetooth keyboard case “looks great and works especially well”, includes a touchpad that supports multi-touch gestures. There’s no indication on any other specs, but supposedly has a 30-day battery life and it’ll add a bit more weight. The docking station looks like a brick. Not sure how much that weighs, but it certainly gets thePlayBook to sit up straight. The docking station connects via HDMI and comes with a LAN network port for when you’re without Wi-Fi, plus has all the usual USB ports.
RIM has been rumoured to be working on a 10-inch PlayBook and this apparently popped up at the same time the pics were taken. BlackBerryCzech reportedly said they’ve seen the “Mythical ten-inch tablet BlackBerry playbook”, but can’t disclose any other information on it, nor pics.
In addition, this is the week that PlayBook 2.0 is expected to drop – look out for Friday, February 17th as this is the latest rumoured date.
It’s no secret that RIM’s attempt to create an iPad-killer with its PlayBook tablet didn’t deliver a success. In a move that was common of last year’s parade of iPad competitors, the PlayBook shipped almost as a public beta with core functionality like a native email app missing from the device. The PlayBook’s dismal sales haven’t exactly inspired positive reactions from developers, which could signal the death of not just RIM’s tablet but also future smartphones based on the QNX operating system that powers the PlayBook. In a desperate attempt to build up a developer community, RIM has turned to an unlikely source: Android developers. The company has already developed tools that allow Android apps to be ported with relative ease to the PlayBook, but interest hasn’t exactly been high. Now, the company is hoping to entice more developers by offering a free PlayBook. This approach reeks of desperation and effectively illustrates the depth of RIM’s problems. It’s a stark contrast to Apple’s relationship with iOS developers. Apple has never had a problem attracting developers to iOS. Certainly Apple hasn’t had to resort to practically bribing them. But RIM isn’t the only company to resort to dangling freebies in an effort to create an app ecosystem. Microsoft was known to be paying developers to create or port apps before its Windows Phone launch. HP offered free Pre2 handsets to encourage webOS developers. Of course, neither of those attempts paid off in a big way. Though Windows Phone faired better than webOS. This certainly makes it clear that RIM realizes that it’s in trouble and that it knows it needs app developers to survive. The big question is – will this help at all? One of RIM’s big problems is that it missed the app bandwagon and no longer has a clear audience. Despite its run as the top dog in business, RIM seems to be almost giving up and focusing on a youth-centric model. Those are two completely opposite markets and RIM really isn’t doing all that well in either of them. Tie that to this free stuff for any Android app idea, and it’s a crap shoot as to what collection of apps you’ll get. If RIM ends up with mostly media and gaming apps, it’ll seem like a joke to business. If it doesn’t get anything by staid business apps, then it misses out on the consumer market. With consumers also beginning to dictate the devices they use at work, that could be an even worse defeat. All in all, it’s hard to see this as anything but a confirmation that RIM completely lost touch with technology in both consumer and business spheres. That made it easy for Apple to disrupt RIM’s entire business model. And at the end of the day, is a free tablet RIM has had to repeatedly mark down to generate sales going to be enough to encourage a broad range of developers to drop everything and port their apps for that tablet? Time will tell, but if I were a RIM executive, I wouldn’t hold my breath.
Research In Motion plans to give away tablets to Android developers who quickly port their apps to run on the PlayBook device. RIM developer executive Alec Saunders mentioned the program in a Twitter message on Thursday, with the company offering up a few more details on its Web site.
The offer doesn’t give developers much time, requiring Android apps to be optimized for the PlayBook and submitted for listing in the BlackBerry World store by Feb. 13 in order to get a free tablet. RIM has an app-playing engine that allows programs designed for Android to run on its QNX-based PlayBook.
The company also has a glut of the tablets and has been running various promotions designed to reduce inventory and boost the number of tablets in use. “Further details about the promotion will be posted on our developer site as soon as possible, but the plan is to provide one free 16GB BlackBerry PlayBook to every registered BlackBerry App World vendor who converts their Android app for use on the BlackBerry PlayBook.”
RIM has announced that they are now accepting Android application submissions for theirBlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0, and developer have to submit applications for approval by next Monday the 6th of February 2012.
RIM are expected to launch the BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 some time next month, although they haven’t given an exact release date as yet.
Seeing the great response for the BlackBerry Runtime for Android Apps at CES, developer meet-ups and conferences that we’ve attended over the last few months, we’re expecting a huge interest in the consumer space for these apps when the update is made available next month. We want to ensure that you are able to capitalize on this unique opportunity by having your applications available when BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 is launched!
Android applications which run on the BlackBery PlayBook OS 2.0 will also be compatible with RIM’s latest smartphone OS, BlackBerry 10 which is expected to launch later in the year, you can find out more details over at RIM.
There has been plenty of rumors surrounding the PlayBook OS 2.0 release date but one thing for certain is that it'll be in February. The dates have ranged anywhere from February 9th all they way to the end of February but one date in particular has been popping up more often then not and that's February 17th. Something that hasn't been mentioned though is the OS version we can expect. At CES the PlayBooks were running OS 2.0.0.7116 and RIM reportedly was testing later versions in house. New rumors are now suggesting we can be expect OS 2.0.0.7473 to end up in consumers hands come February 17th and while we'll take it all with a grain of salt -- it's something to keep an eye out for.
With all the excitement this past week with Research In Motion getting a new CEO, I almost forgot about our DreamBerry movement we have going on. Following up John Anastasiadis'sexy wrap-around BlackBerry concept phone, we have another cool looking mockup to drool over, this one for a tablet. This one was submitted by member ummie4... we'll let him tell you all about it:
Crackberry user ummie4 here. I wanted to show you my design for a DreamBerry! This is my idea for a next generation PlayBook 3.0. To take full advantage of the multitasking of the PlayBook, I wanted my PlayBook to have dual screens, so you can video chat on one screen while you view a Powerpoint presentation on the other. I love the Bold 9900's keyboard so I took the same style keys, made them larger and split them in half. I think a table device with a keyboard layout like this would be really sweet. You can hold the tablet with both hands and thumb type with ease without stretching too far. Above the keyboard are dual trackpads. I still think the trackpad is useful even on a touchscreen device. I think having two trackpads might make gaming controls more interesting than what other tablets have to offer these days. My PlayBook has a flashy brushed stainless steel bezel (like the 9900). It folds closed so you don't need a bulky case or screen protector, it protects itself.
Pretty creative thinking in this one and the logic behind it makes a lot of sense. Dual displays for TRUE multitasking would play to the strengths of BlackBerry 10 and be unique. I guess it's not technically a tablet - but it definitely plays to the book within the PlayBook name. Call it what you want though, I'm loving the out there thinking on this one. And hopefully Skype sees this post and gets their butts in gear to get Skype onto the PlayBook/BB10 (they'll want do it before February 1st or else the CEO is going to be getting a LOT of emails from CrackBerry's Skype petition/email campaign). Be sure to check out a couple more pictures of the PlayBook 3.0 concept after the break!
RIM introduced their new CEO, Thorsten Heins, in a video tonight, and he had some interesting things to say about the future of BlackBerry. Here are some of the key takeaways.
Heins starts off by talking about how grateful he is for the opportunity. He says RIM's "journey isn't over yet", and sees BlackBerry being among the top 3 wireless players worldwide if they keep doing what they're doing, and they do it well. This is a view shared by RIM's new chair of the board, Barbara Stymiest, and might not be what shareholders want to hear - at least the ones who have been clamouring for dramatic change at the company, and not just a leadership shuffle.
Heins is very realistic about the improvements RIM needs to make, however. He says "We have learned to execute. Yes, we have to get better at execution, but we've learned a lot going from a drawing room in 2007... Make sure that once we say a product is defined, that we move decively into execution mode, and get the product done in good quality, and on time, and also at good cost. ... We need to get a bit more disciplined in our own processes." In particular, he notes BB10 - "Needless to say - gotta ship on time, gotta ship with good quality."
He reiterates later on that he is very performance-driven, in addition to supporting prototyping and brainstorming. "When we decide on getting something done, I want it to be done on time at good quality, and at good cost, because that at the end of the day defines our customer satisfaction and it also defines our economic result." This message is a great one to deliver, especially if those rumours about the PlayBook's initial delay to launch due to processor changes are to be believed. It's really important for an exec to be able to to say "no" to certain ideas, if only to focus efforts and get goods out the door, and it seems Heins gets that. If RIM can simply pump out products faster, I think they'll be leagues ahead of where they are now.
Heins also speaks about how he's hoping to improve the spirits of those working at RIM. "[Our employees] need to see that BlackBerry is clearly makes a difference. This is not a 'me too' product. ... The employees have to see that they are not just fullfilling something, but they have to see and experience that they are participating in something." To that end, Heins goes onto say that it needs to be illustrated that internal feedback is listened to and considered... In other words, you won't have to send out anonymous letters to the media in order to expediate change at RIM. Regardless, Thorsten speaks with great admiration for the fighting spirit with which many employees have been tackling BB10, and that he can't wait to see it in the public's hands.
Heins went on to describe their corporate customer base as RIM's "fortress", which they will continue to defend, but has big plans for the everyday consumer too. "We need to be constantly communicating with our customers, with the audience, with the public, telling them about BlackBerry. You see this with the Be Bold campaign style." I'm really glad that Thorsten brought up the Be Bold campaign as the key example of good marketing at RIM, rather than the "Love" campaign, which never really struck a chord with me.
And what's Thorsten like personally? Well, he likes the outdoors and he's from Bavaria, where it was much easier to do some skiing. You can watch the full video below. How do you feel about the new RIM CEO? Will he be able to fill big Mike's engineering shoes? Can he match Jim's salesmanship? He definitely has a few fresh angles here without deviating too much from the established BlackBerry principles... As a speaker, he definitely seems more relaxed and confident that the co-CEOs of yore did when in front of the camera. For now, I'm cautiously optimistic about Thorsten Heins. I'm definitely interested to hear what Heins has to say on tomorrow morning's conference call, which we'll be livecasting starting at 7:45 AM EST. Be sure to tune in!
RIM announced that the very anticipated OS 2.0 upgrade for the BlackBerry PlayBook will be available to the masses sometime in February. Devs have been tinkering around in beta for a few weeks now, plus we had a look at the much improved PlayBook OS at CES this year – finally now includes contacts, calendar, email, plus a few other notable improvements like the on-screen keyboard, content sharing via Bluetooth, movie rentals and apps. There’s been a few rumoured dates as to when this OS update will officially be available, but BerryReview has been tipped that “RIM is committed & scheduled” to launch PlayBook OS 2.0 on Friday, February 17th. No other details are given, but at the very latest it’s only a few weeks away now.
