Research in Motion’s BlackBerry PlayBook tablet is shaping up to be one of the most exciting devices in the coming months. Now we have 10 minutes of the tablet in action (below), courtesy of the folks over at the mobile device site BGR.
What surprised me the most about the demonstration is just how well suited the PlayBook is to media. RIM has been positioning the device as a more business-oriented alternative to the iPad, but from the looks of it, the PlayBook also handles music and video effortlessly as well.
RIM’s new operating system — based on technology from QNX software, which RIM acquired earlier this year — looks absolutely modern with zippy touchscreen response, and overall more polish than the best Android tablet on the market right now, Samsung’s Galaxy Tab. The tablet also juggled multiple applications seamlessly in the demonstration, looking even better than the iPad’s recent multitasking update. One thing’s for sure, RIM needs to get this new OS on its phones as soon as possible.
The RIM representative also demonstrated the PlayBook’s touch sensitive bezel, which gives all four sides of the device’s bezel extra functionality. The top bezel will be left open to application developers — meaning users can swipe down from the top of the tablet to reveal application menus, or other options. The left, right and bottom bezels are reserved for system functionality. Swiping from the right bezel while a full-screen video was playing instantly minimized the video. It also looks like swiping up from the bottom bezel reveals the PlayBook’s software keyboard, which the rep confirmed is multitouch capable — meaning you can type on multiple keys at the same time.
RIM says it’s actively working on universal search capabilities, but it doesn’t sound like it will be available upon the PlayBook’s launch. The company is also now accepting PlayBook apps from developers for its BlackBerry App World store.
COMMENTARY: The BlackBerry PlayBook tablet is scheduled for release in the 1st quarter 2011. The retail price has not been announced, but it is assumed that it will be somewhere between $400 and $600.
Any comparison between the PlayBook and the iPad are irrelevant, since Apple may release a new iPad about the same time that the PlayBook comes out. The old iPad will be nearly a year old, and will need to be replaced with something more advanced if it is to retain its lead in the tablet computer space. I have no doubt that Steve Jobs and his eager team of new product designers and engineers will have some new tricks up their sleeve, to keep ahead of the pack.
I've been accused of being an "iPad hater", which is absolutely preposterous, of course. I love Apple computers and mobile devices. They are leagues ahead of the competition. However, like other mobile device reviewers, I have been critical of Apple for not including a webcam, lack of sufficient RAM and not supporting Adobe Flash.
I love the LED screen on the iPad. I love the better lighter weight and mobility of the PlayBook (7 inches) versus iPad (9.7 inches). I am still bothered how long it took RIM BlackBerry to finally come out with a touchscreen smartphone, the Torch, which I gave high marks
The lack of support for Adobe Flash, smaller RAM and the LED screen are real energy savers when compared with the PlayBook, but this could all change next year. So, before I declare a winner or even go so far as to call the PlayBook an "iPad Killer", I will wait until next year, when I am able to review both devices side-by-side.
Courtesy of an article dated December 9, 2010 appearing in MobileBeat
Comments
You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.