playbook

Tablets
March 18, 2013
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BlackBerry CEO Heins

BlackBerry CEO wary of producing a PlayBook sequel

By on March 18, 2013 at 9:25 AM.

BlackBerry CEO wary of producing a PlayBook sequel

The BlackBerry PlayBook was not one of BlackBerry’s (BBRY) more successful products, which is why CEO Thorsten Heins is understandably wary about producing a sequel in the near future. Australia’s Herald Sun reports that while speaking at the BlackBerry Z10 launch in Australia this week, Heins said that he didn’t want to produce a followup to the PlayBook until the company figured out how to make it “not just… another tablet.” Heins also said that the tablet market had become so competitive that it was hard to earn a decent profit from selling them, and that he owed it to “shareholders to provide a return on investment.” So for the moment, it looks like BlackBerry will be all about smartphones first.

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mobile
August 7, 2012
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Developer ports Android app to BlackBerry PlayBook, sees 25 times more downloads

By on August 7, 2012 at 1:45 PM.

Developer ports Android app to BlackBerry PlayBook, sees 25 times more downloads

BlackBerry PlayBook Developer Success

Getting exposure in Apple’s (AAPL) iOS App Store and Google’s (GOOG) Google Play market can be daunting at best. Developers must compete for exposure with hundreds of thousands of other apps, and viral success or a big marketing budget is almost a requirement at this point if an app is to see any real success. Research In Motion (RIMM) on Tuesday presented another option, however: Develop for BlackBerry. More →

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Tablets
August 2, 2012
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RIM announces 4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook, hits Canada first on August 9th

By on August 2, 2012 at 9:25 AM.

RIM announces 4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook, hits Canada first on August 9th

4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook Release Date

Research In Motion (RIMM) on Thursday took the wraps off of a new version of its PlayBook tablet, the 4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook. Rumors had previously pegged July 31st for the new slate’s launch. RIM’s revised PlayBook features specs that are in line with the original model with one main addition: 4G LTE connectivity. “We’re excited to bring customers the first BlackBerry PlayBook tablet with support for 4G LTE networks,” said David J. Smith, EVP of Mobile Computing at RIM. “The new 4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook offers a broad range of premium features, including a stunning 7 inch display, front and rear facing HD video cameras, HDMI out and stereo speakers, and it also offers premium performance on high speed cellular networks, helping customers to be more productive than ever and to make the most of their time on the go.” Bell, Rogers and Telus in Canada will be the first carriers to offer RIM’s new tablet, and it will become available on August 9th. Pricing was not announced. RIM’s full press release follows below. More →

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Tablets
July 30, 2012
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As Apple preps smaller iPad, RIM’s 10-inch tablet takes shape in leaked photos

By on July 30, 2012 at 3:05 PM.

As Apple preps smaller iPad, RIM’s 10-inch tablet takes shape in leaked photos

BlackBerry PlayBook 2 Photos

While Apple (AAPL) prepares to attack the affordable tablet market with a smaller, cheaper iPad, Research In Motion (RIMM) is taking the opposite approach. RIM has been toying with a 10-inch tablet for quite some time, and the project was reportedly sidelined last year as focused shifted to the struggling vendor’s next-generation BlackBerry 10 smartphones. Recent rumors suggest the larger PlayBook has been resurrected, however, and will debut some time next year. A user on Vietnamese forum Tinhte published purported images of the device and we have no reason to doubt their authenticity. Few details are found in the photographs beyond the fact that it looks like a larger version of RIM’s 7-inch slate, and we can also see a 7,250 mAh battery in one image. There is also “BlackBerry 4G PlayBook” branding on the bottom of the tablet, so it’s safe to assume it will at least ship with an HSPA+ radio. More →

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Featured
April 17, 2012
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A month with the new iPad

By on April 17, 2012 at 10:00 AM.

A month with the new iPad

Apple released its third-generation iPad on March 16th and I purchased mine one day later on the 17th. There were no lines at my local Best Buy when I went to buy the new model. In fact, there were still more than 100 new iPads in stock when I picked up my iPad more than 36 hours after it was released. The store was eerily quiet. It felt nothing like an Apple launch. More →

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Business
March 30, 2012
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Research In Motion is dead

By on March 30, 2012 at 9:40 AM.

Research In Motion is dead

I saw from the inside and outside how RIM transformed the mobile landscape, and how the company even battled its own inner demons throughout the years. Here are my thoughts on the company’s worst quarter in five years:

RIM grew incredibly fast. It grew faster than the company knew how to manage, and RIM slowly — and then quickly — slipped as a result. This is the company that used to make users choose between a device with Wi-Fi and no GPS, or GPS and no Wi-Fi, just to have two products on the market instead of one. This is the company that refused to take the consumer market seriously for a number of years. This is the company that couldn’t see the future when it was right in front of them. More →

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Breaking
March 29, 2012
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RIM reports Q4 miss; Balsillie resigns as director, CTO and COO both out

By on March 29, 2012 at 4:45 PM.

RIM reports Q4 miss; Balsillie resigns as director, CTO and COO both out

With expectations at an all-time low and analysts lowering estimates left and right, Research In Motion on Thursday reported its results for the fourth fiscal quarter of 2012. RIM posted a surprising beat in the third fiscal quarter when it managed earnings of $1.27 per share on $5.2 billion in sales. At the same time, however, the Waterloo, Ontario-based BlackBerry maker issued worse than expected fourth-quarter EPS guidance of between $0.80 and $0.95, and it said revenue would likely fall between $4.6 billion and $4.98 billion. RIM has now confirmed adjusted net income of $0.80 per share, on revenue of $4.2 billion, down sequentially from $5.2 billion despite the launch of multiple new BlackBerry 7 smartphone models. Read on for more. More →

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Business
March 26, 2012
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RIM: ‘Grim and getting grimmer’

By on March 26, 2012 at 1:45 PM.

RIM: ‘Grim and getting grimmer’

Research In Motion is set to report its results for the fourth fiscal quarter and full fiscal year on Thursday, and Wall Street is bracing itself for another disappointing quarter. RIM’s fourth-quarter guidance came in worse than expected when the company posted its third-quarter results, and now several analysts are lowering their expectations even further. Pulling no punches, Barclays Capital’s Jeff Kvaal wrote in a note to investors titled “Grim and getting grimmer” that BlackBerry 7 sales have been poor thus far, and he has lowered his projections as a result. Read on for more. More →

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Software
March 15, 2012
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RIM confirms PlayBook tablet to get BlackBerry 10 update

By on March 15, 2012 at 11:00 PM.

RIM confirms PlayBook tablet to get BlackBerry 10 update

Research In Motion on Wednesday confirmed that the PlayBook tablet will eventually receive an update to unify its operating system with next-generation BlackBerry smartphones.The PlayBook’s first major update was delayed by several months and the device still does not support BlackBerry Messenger, but RIM vice president of product management Rob Orr stated that the tablet will be upgraded from the PlayBook OS to BlackBerry 10 some time after the company launches its first BlackBerry 10 smartphone in the third or fourth quarter. “We’ve said publicly a number of times that our first BB10 handset will be available towards the end of 2012, and that’s still firmly the case,” Orr told TechRadar. “At some point after the launch we’ll bring BB10 to our PlayBooks, yes.” RIM took a $485 million charge related to the PlayBook in its fiscal third quarter, but it did manage to increase sales by slashing the price of the 7-inch slate. Now that all those tablets are in the hands of consumers, the hope is that RIM will manage to release a timely BlackBerry 10 update to ensure all the new features RIM is planning to introduce with BlackBerry 10 become available on tablets as quickly as possible. More →

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Tablets
March 14, 2012
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BlackBerry PlayBooks with HSPA+ and LTE radios pass through the FCC

By on March 14, 2012 at 5:20 PM.

BlackBerry PlayBooks with HSPA+ and LTE radios pass through the FCC

Research in Motion’s BlackBerry PlayBook may be down, but it’s definitely not out. Over a year ago, the company revealed plans to release an LTE-compatible PlayBook as well as a 3G model that will work on HSPA+ networks. Details surrounding these variants have been few and far between, with some assuming they were simply canceled. As it turns out, two tablets from Research in Motion recently passed through the FCC equipped with HSPA+ connectivity and AT&T compatible LTE radios. BGR in January exclusively reported details about RIM’s plans to introduce a new PlayBook tablet around May or June that will be equipped with a 1.5GHz processor, built-in HSPA+ and NFC support. More →

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Tablets
March 13, 2012
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RIM reveals new $120 PlayBook keyboard case [video]

By on March 13, 2012 at 11:00 PM.

RIM reveals new $120 PlayBook keyboard case [video]

Following the much delayed BlackBerry PlayBook 2.0 update, the tablet finally has a native email client, other PIM apps and a larger selection of apps thanks to its Android player. Research in Motion is now looking to further boost interest in its debut slate, and it has announced the BlackBerry Mini Keyboard for those users looking for a physical keypad option on top of the virtual one. The accessory retails for a lofty $119.99 and is available for pre-order starting today, with shipments going out on March 23rd. The concept of the keyboard is similar to the competition. It includes a multitouch trackpad for browsing, a keyboard for easy input and a battery that last up to 30 days. Unlike the ASUS Transformer Prime, RIM’s accessory does not have a docking feature and is just a carrying case with an integrated Bluetooth keyboard. RIM’s video demonstation follows below. More →

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mobile
February 28, 2012
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RIM reels in developers with promises of change

By on February 28, 2012 at 11:45 AM.

RIM reels in developers with promises of change

To say that the past 12 months have been a bit rocky for RIM and the Blackberry eco-system in general would be grossly understating the obvious. The once great manufacturer has seen record capitol losses and watched its market share slide at an increasing rate. One of several reasons for the slip has been a lack of developers attention for the BlackBerry platform, especially relative to competitors such as iOS and Android. The Blackberry Playbook, RIM’s attempt at entering the tablet world, has floundered for just this reason. Ignoring the myriad other concerns about the company’s current state for the current moment, the lack of apps available for the PlayBook rendered it more or less DOA. Read on for more. More →

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Software
February 21, 2012
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BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 finally brings native email to RIM’s tablet

By on February 21, 2012 at 7:30 AM.

BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 finally brings native email to RIM’s tablet

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. More →

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