Quick Hit: Rim Recalls 1,000 Playbooks, Not Really a Big Deal

RIM had to pull 1,000 Playbooks from the distribution chain to Staples on Saturday due to defects. None of the recalls affect users who already have their Playbook's. Here’s the scoop.

The problem with the defective Playbooks is on an OS level, apparently the bad OS build responsible is unable to load software properly during it’s initial set-up. According to reports all the devices recalled were still in the supply chain so no users were really affected, and RIM says there hard at work trying to replace the devices ASAP.

This isn’t a good look for Research In Motion, it comes hot off the heels of their latest OS update, which could mean they’re releasing a buggy build, and they don’t seem to be winning over anyone except hardcore BlackBerry users with the Playbook as it stands.

I wish the best for RIM, but they have a lot to do before they’re taken seriously in the tablet game.

Related Stuffs:

• Source: The Mac Observer
• Article: RIM Launches New BlackBerry OS

RIM Launches New Blackberry OS 7, Two New Phones And Announces Video Chat Coming For Playbook

By: Kareem@techsual.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seems like someone’s trying to overcompensate for all those bad PlayBook reviews, Research in Motion has gone announce crazy today. RIM announced two new phones, a new OS and said that they will be brining WiFi video chat to the PlayBook soon.

 

First Off BB OS 7:

RIM has integrated what they call Liquid Graphics into their new OS which according to their press release will help deliver “faster rendering and seamless panning and zooming.” Sounds Spiffy, although they didn’t say exactly how it achieves this faster rendering and whatnot. Another big addition to the new OS is a better browser that comes with a JIT (Just in Time) JavaScript compiler which is cool, I’ve heard some good things about JIT compilers and their performance, should make things load a little faster. Along with that JIT action the new browser will be coming with additional support for HTML 5 tags such as <video> (yay!!).

The new BB OS 7 also comes with voice activated search and a feature RIM is calling BlackBerry Balance, which separates personal content from corporate content. I guess that’s their attempt to make it easier for people to have one device for personal and business use, rather than having to carry around a separate phone for each. BlackBerry balance also works in conjunction with a little thing called BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5.0.3 to add better controls over blocking certain content from certain contacts.

Second The New Phones:

They are the BlackBerry 9900 and 9930 and are the Thinnest, most powerful BlackBerry smartphones to date.  The 9900 will be available on AT&T/T-Mobile’s HSPA network while the identical 9930 will be coming to Sprint/Verizon’s CDMA.HSPA+ network. Here's the stats:

• Screen Size: 2.8
• Interface: Touchscreen/Physical Keyboard
• Resolution: 640x480
• Processor: 1.2 GHz Qualcomm
• Storage: 8GB
• Camera: 5MP (capable of recording 720p video)
• Wireless: Bluetooth, WiFi

The new phones will be running the new BB OS 7 and apparently thanks to it’s aforementioned new liquid graphics, will be able to run games and video at a full 60 FPS.

Third PlayBook Video Chat:

Pretty much the same as any other OS’ chat functionality. You’ll be able to chat with other PlayBook owners face to face over a WiFi connection, I’m assuming it will be a free app and is all set to be unleashed upon the droves of PlayBook owners May 3rd (tomorrow).

Research in Motion also announced they’ll be releasing an official Facebook for Blackberry PlayBook app sometime in the near future. But no announcement of a native SDK so developers can get cracking on those apps that seem to be all the craze nowadays.

Related Stuffs:

• Source: PCMag
• Article: What's Up With The PlayBook, iPad 2 and Xoom
• Article: RIM's Co-CEO defends Against Bad PlayBook Reviews

Video: BlackBerry PlayBook Demo

PlayBook Launches Today

 

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Research in Motion’s first tablet, the BlackBerry PlayBook launched today, the real question is can it overcome all the bad pre-release press?

Although the BlackBerry PlayBook is an ideal solution to any BlackBerry smartphone owner, there dosen’t seem to be many benefits of it outside of that group. The PlayBook has some pretty sweet features for those who own both devices, such as the near-field communication capability which allows users to see their emails, calendar and other information from their BlackBerry phone on their PlayBook without any need for synching or tethering with a wire. There’s also the QNX operating system which is supposed to be built from the ground up to be a multitasking OS.

Will these things be enough? I know there are some people out there who see this as the ideal role of a tablet PC and if it succeeds with BlackBerry users there’s a good chance some consumers might jump on board once there’s more of the bells and whistles and hype that fuel the sales of the iPad 2.

RIM decided to price there PlayBook at the exact same pricing as the iPad 2. Here’s the list:

• 16GB: $499
• 32GB: $599
• 64GB: $699

So there you have it, I just have one question. Do you plan on getting one and why or why not?

By: syeed@techsual.com

Source: eweek

RIM’s CO-CEO Defends Playbook Against Bad Reviews

Research in Motion (RIM) co-Chief Executive Officer, Jim Balsillie defended the company’s soon to be released Playbook tablet against an onslaught of bad early reviews, which were so negative they caused RIM’s shares to fall 91 cents in the market today, just a day after their release.

Most of the negative comments seemed to be about the Playbooks lack of built-in email functionality, inability to connect to mobile phone networks, and its very limited number of apps, which we all know can make or break a newer phone or tablet before it even has a chance.

Balsillie said that he didn’t think the comments were fair, and stated that there are more than 60 million BlackBerry users out there who can pair their phone to their Playbook and access secure mail and connect to the internet. Apparently RIM is really banking on that BlackBerry tethering to push those Playbooks. Most reviewers seem to think that the company is really rushing things and should have probably waited to add their promised Android app compatibility as well as having a decent number of apps ready before they launched something meant to compete with the dominating iPad 2 in the tablet market.

My only question is do people really want a glorified dock for their BlackBerry’s?

• Source: Business Week
• By: syeed@techsual.com

Tablet Face-Off

 

Technorati Tags: Android,Motorla,Xoom,PlayBook,BlackBerry,WebOs,PcWorld

What with all the tablets floating around after CES it was bound to happen, PCWorld ran an article today comparing the iPad 2,  Motorla Xoom,  Blackberry Playbook and WebOs slates.

Check out the link below to read the full article.

Article: Table Chaos: iPad 2 vs. Xoom vs. PlayBook vs. WebOs Slates