- He spent a year without the internet, then came back online. Why? Could you spend a day / week without the web? http://t.co/92TSJwDiqK ^eo
PREVIEW: BlackBerry PlayBook
March 22nd, 2011 a 10:33am
Today, RIM announced that the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet with Wi-Fi will be available in three models (16, 32 and 64 GB) at a manufacturer’s suggested retail price starting at $499. We’re excited to confirm PlayBook will be available at Rogers retail locations.
To whet your appetite even more, my colleague RogersMiranda recently had the opportunity to speak with RIM’s Jeff Gadway who provided her with a demo of the BlackBerry PlayBook:
We wanted to provide this special glimpse into the BlackBerry PlayBook with you as soon as possible, but that also means we can’t share specific details about pricing and availability just yet. Some Rogers media properties are also developing apps that will be optimized for the BlackBerry PlayBook. We’ll be sure to update you here on RedBoard when more details become available.
For a look at some of the business benefits of the BlackBerry PlayBook, check out our post and video on RedBoardBiz.
Are you planning to get a PlayBook?
Duane MacDonald is a regular contributor to RedBoard
Categories: 
Tags: 43 Comments
Trackbacks & Pings
Open list- Video: Rogers gives quick overview of the BlackBerry PlayBook | MobileSyrup.com
- Blackberry Playbook Ship Date Slips To April 19th « The IT Nerd
- Pairing Playbook with BB Phone - Page 2 - BlackBerry Forums at CrackBerry.com
- tether data from BlackBerry to Playbook? - Page 2 - BlackBerry Forums at CrackBerry.com
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Sweet! That looks sick! I can’t wait to get my hands on that bad boy!
It’s nice to see that blackberry is moving forward with their new OS. It’ll be exciting to see how this evolves… I wonder how long until this software makes it onto blackberry phones?
So what is Rogers price? Are you selling for the same price as Future Shop and Best Buy? Or does Rogers have subsidized price points if you add 3 years of tethering to your plan?
Caspan – we can’t disclose pricing and availability at this time. We’ll be sure to update RedBoard once we have more info.
That looks good! A tad too small for me though… will wait for Android tablets
Any chance of a preview of the Xperia Arc?
Hey Rahul,
Thanks for the suggestion to preview the Xperia arc. Stay tuned to RedBoard!
I got to play with one for an hour or so at a conference. From my pov the size is just right. It makes 10 inch tablets feel heavy and a bit awkward.
I have no idea if I’ll buy one or not- grainy web videos aren’t enough to base a purchase decision on.
As is always the case, it will depend on availability and pricing- two areas that Rogers leaves a lot to be desired in many instances.
‘Can’t share that info’, huh? Gee, what a surprise- you guys are famous for not telling us anything until 24 hours before onsale- an extremely annoying practice to say the least.
At any rate, what everyone should keep in mind is that RIM has decided that Canada (for once) won’t have to wait 6-8 weeks after the US launch to get their hands on a hot new device, or so we’re led to believe.
This might be viewed as a good thing at first blush- after all, RIM is a Canadian company, although the way our market gets pushed to the bottom with product launches (ie- Storm, Storm2, Torch, etc.) in favour of blanketing the US, you have to wonder sometimes if Canada even matters to them at all.
So just remember, now that we have the same on-sale as the US for the Playbook the availability here could be impacted significantly if demand skyrockets down south.
Will Canadian retailers get stiffed in favour of meeting the demands of the US market?
Don’t think it couldn’t happen- we were forced to wait almost two months for the Torch last fall, because RIM only wanted to sell it to Americans at first.
Same thing could happen with the Playbook.
If there’s a waiting list for this thing, count me out.
Well, it looks like if I decide to go ahead and buy one of these things, it’ll be in the US.
Just checked the Best Buy website and they’re selling all models for pre-order at $999.
So much for competitive pricing- it actually makes the Galaxy Tab (a ridiculously overpriced device) look like a bargain.
Canada gets hosed again!
Nice going.
@random: I think you must have been looking at a temporary page, or something because they are listed on Best Buy’s web sites as: 16GB $499 / 32GB 599 / 64GB 699. Those are WiFi only, of course.
random72, the site may have had an error … pricing is $499 – 699 tops for 64GB WLAN model.
The Playbook looks like a _great_ device. Very slick. It’s just a shame they don’t laso have an 8.9 or 10″ version (like Samsung will).
I imagine that with the existing RIM user base, this should be a popular tablet. If it gets developer support, it will certainly give iPad and Android tablets a run for their money.
Sweet!
I cant wait to see if you can Teather with this on your data plan for no extra charge.
Hi clone7 – Tethering will be available but only with data plans of 1GB or greater.
RogersDuane, that only half answers his question. That sounds like either a) a half-step answer or b) intentional as final pricing needs to be finalized. Most like b).
I’m VERY interested how Rogers will sell this considering its a WLAN only device.
I really like how the host smoothly avoided the Camera question. Looks like RIM is awaiting for developers to come up with a solid solution. I’m SERIOUS looking forward to:
CISCO, AVAYA and Polycomm to implement Video Conferencing with H.329 on this bad boy!
Doesn’t Rogers already provide free tethering on any data plan above 500MB?
Yes!
@ Donovan
It’s a wifi device. Therefore it will pick up any wifi connection. Rogers let’s you tether with any wifi device (obviously as long as your phone has wifi hotspot) with a minimum 1gb plan. How many other ways can it be explained?
Now if the question was: Can the playbook tether through anything other than wifi? Then you should direct your questions to RIM.
Thanks Rogers Duane.
I have been asking this question around but still have no definitely answer:
Will the Playbook be able download (from Android Market) and run Android apps?
Hi fsp4u1312 – I’m afraid I have no informaton to share.
It’s official boys & girls:
http://press.rim.com/release.jsp?id=4935
RIM Expands Application Ecosystem for BlackBerry PlayBook
[quote]BlackBerry PlayBook to support BlackBerry Java and Android apps
Native C/C++ development support added, in addition to HTML5, Flash and AIR support
Support from leading game engines: Ideaworks Labs (AirPlay) and Unity Technologies (Unity 3)
BlackBerry PlayBook becomes a new market opportunity for all the developers who have already created over 25,000 BlackBerry Java apps and more than 200,000 Android apps [/quote]
Question: If the apps are designed for a small phone, will they scale up to the playbook screen (magnify) or will they take advantage of the larger real estate of the screen?
When will the pricing be finalized, along with tethering prices, or any other special offers, could there be a free BB with purchase of the Playbook.
Yes, I want one NOW!!!
A quick update that might interest Playbook buyers (and you might want to add to the article): RIM officially announced that the Playbook will be able to run Android apps _in addition_ to the official Playbook apps from the BlackBerry app store.
BAM! Take that, iPad.
http://mobilesyrup.com/2011/03/24/confirmed-rims-blackberry-playbook-to-support-android-apps/
It seems RIM was serious about running android apps on the BlackBerry PlayBook. Today they sent out a press release announcing just that. Thanks to all those who also sent this in.
Does it seriously require you to have a Blacberry phone to access email??
NO
You can pair it with a Blackberry to have access to your phones email. But you can stil access anyemail off the Playbook like you would off a PC.
The video kind of implied to access Blackberry compatible email required a phone, and Gizmodo has stated that there is no native email or calendar app on the Playbook.
I’m :confused:
My uderstanding is that their will be. At first RIM said yes but not at launch but from what i have read that has changed.
At first RIM said you can use the tablet to “log into” your email as you normally would. But from the picture i have seen lately this has changed and their will be an app(s) for email.
RIM just relased the following:
“In a future software update for the BlackBerry PlayBook, we will also provide native e-mail, calendar, and contact apps for those customers who prefer to have these apps directly on the tablet.”
It’s really exciting that Android developers will be able to get their apps on the PlayBook. That possibility along with the all-new QNX OS considered, the PlayBook is really shaping up nicely. Can’t wait for it to launch!
Glad to see your enthusiasm Andrew!
Will the Playbook support Roger’s Rocket Stick?
I may have missed it on the posts, but could you elaborate?
Thanks
I don’t this so. The playbook only has a mircro usb port and no standard USB port.
You can pair it via bluetooth with a BB (Blackberry) and use the data from your phone.
Thanks for the info. The tethering is clear. However, I know it is easy to buy the micro to mini USB converter. I guess it really comes down to the question “Does the Playbook support Rocket Sticks”. It would be great to hear from a Roger’s rep or a RIM rep on this.
Good Question. How much is a rogers stick anyways?
I personally doubt that you’ll be able to use Rocket Sticks with the Playbook. Those sticks are meant to run on specific OS’, including Windows and Mac OS X, which probably require specific drivers to run it.
While tethering via bluetooth/your BlackBerry is one of the options, I would also suggest looking into Wi-Fi hotspot compatibility with your current handset. For example, If you’re using an Android handset running Froyo 2.2 or higher, you can probably tether via Wi-Fi very easily.
Having recently switched from the Torch 9800 to the Samsung Captivate, I’m hoping to use this method.
RIM is rushing this product to market to soon. It’s ridiculous to expect buyers to tether a blackberry so the can access blackberry services through a web interface on the Playbook. The OS isn’t finished since they are going to offer an update at some unspecified date to have built in blackberry services. Also there’s little in third party developer apps for the Playbook which is why RIM is running an emulator to allow Android apps to run on the Playbook OS. Good intentions but they fail miserably at producing a product to compete with Apple’s iPad.
Lets remember everyone…..data is compressed going thru blackberry servers! so u tether to your BB the data is a LOT less than all other raw devices…you get more bang for your buck.
Blackberry has failed in this launch by not releasing the 3G version. Having to tether to my Blackberry in order to access the web seems like inconvenience to me.
Starting to lose faith in Blackberry’s ability to keep up with the rest of the world….