A new software update for BlackBerry PlayBook tablets arrives today, adding more Facebook features, improved video chat in the enterprise and in-app payment support. These are nice to have, but the two largest gaps still remain: no native email client and a relative lack of applications. Read more »
Research In Motion’s new Bold brings an updated operating system and several hardware improvements to help BlackBerry sales keep pace with competitors. But the handsets are still a stepping-stone because neither uses the new QNX platform yet. The PlayBook gains video chat and a Facebook app. Read more »
Tungle, a popular meeting scheduling app that we’ve covered previously, has announced that it has been acquired by Research in Motion, the maker of BlackBerry handsets and the PlayBook tablet, the latest in a string of productivity and UI-related purchases RIM has made recently. Read more »
The race to establish a strong third player in the mobile platform world kicked off in earnest this week with the launch of Research in Moti… Read more at paidContent »
Matt and Kevin share hands-on impressions of three devices this week: the BlackBerry PlayBook from Research In Motion, T-Mobile’s G2X Android smartphone and the G-Slate Honeycomb tablet. Join them live for the podcast and you can participate in the show through the live chat room! Read more »
Join Matt and Kevin for the live podcast where they’ll discuss the latest mobile tech news and share hands on impressions of new gadgets. The Sidekick 4G is in hand, but is it a hit? Find out and participate in the live chat room! Read more »
Opinions on the new BlackBerry PlayBook tablet vary in small ways, but many reviewers agree that the device is lacking some features and functions, making it appear unfinished. But a few reviews are forward thinking; the tablet wars won’t be won or lost on today’s products. Read more »
RIM will launch its much vaunted and eagerly awaited Blackberry PlayBook on April 19. In this review, I take a look at the 7-inch tablet and how it stacks up against its rivals, the iPad and the Honeycomb Android family of tablets. Read more »
Research firm Gartner published its tablet forecast through 2015, saying that Apple will continue to rule the roost. That may be so, but there are some key problems with such a forecast because the tablet wars are only beginning; it’s too early to call this race. Read more »
The pressure is mounting on Research In Motion ahead of the launch of its PlayBook, which will debut April 19. But RIM’s success over the next few years will hinge on its QNX operating system, not on a piece of hardware. Read more »
Google is holding Honeycomb back from the open-source community in order to keep the platform from being used for smartphones. Getting music to Android smartphones gets easier this week, and Research In Motion’s PlayBook tablet is set to gain access to Android Market applications. Read more »
The unanswered question of app availability for Research In Motion’s PlayBook tablet becomes clearer today: the company announced support not only for Java apps but also for Google Android software. That’s great for perspective PlayBook owners, but does this include RIM in Oracle’s suit against Google? Read more »
Research In Motion’s PlayBook Wi-Fi tablet is available for pre-order at the same pricing as Apple’s iPad 2. The device arrives on April 19 at more than two dozen online and brick-and-mortar retailers. That answers some questions, but others about the device still remain. Read more »
Does iPad 2 live up to the enormous amount of hype surrounding it? The answer is yes, and this research note explains why. We examine new features on the device and how they will help Apple grasp an even tighter hold on the tablet market, what that means for competitors like Google and Samsung and why the device could be the best example yet of computing in what Steve Jobs calls “the post-PC world.” Companies mentioned in this report include Apple, Motorola, Samsung and Google. For a full list of companies, and to read the full research note, sign up for a free trial. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
At the launch of the iPad 2 today, Steve Jobs noted the redesigned tablet would keep its current price structure while adding new features. However, for consumers who believe price is the most important feature, Apple is cutting $100 off the original iPad while supplies last. Read more »
In a short private session with Research In Motion, I finally got a hands-on look at the BlackBerry PlayBook. It’s better than I expected: elegant, intuitive and speedy when running multiple apps. I finally found out why Flash runs well on the PlayBook. Hint: think cars. Read more »
Research In Motion’s BlackBerry PlayBook will be available in a model with integrated 4G that uses Sprint’s national WiMAX network. Availability and pricing weren’t provided, but there’s a good chance Sprint will subsidize the PlayBook 4G and help get more customers on its fast data network. Read more »
Predicting what not to expect in mobile next year is a lot easier than predicting what will happen. You can be sure, for instance, that consumers won’t pay for on-the-go TV next year any more than they have in the past, and that carriers won’t embrace ... Read more at GigaOM Pro »
Research In Motion handset sales are up 40 percent from a year ago, but most of that growth was outside of the U.S. as consumers and enterprises adopt iPhones and Android handsets. RIM hopes to turn the tide with its enterprise-focused Playbook tablet next quarter. Read more »
RIM knows it faces stiff competition in the tablet space when it releases its PlayBook, and since apps will be key, the company has started accepting them for App World for consideration. Developers submitting an app that gets accepted to App World get a free PlayBook. Read more »
BlackBerry manufacturer RIM’s CEO Jim Balsillie made waves this week by taking a swipe at Apple at the Web 2.0 summit in San Francisco. To be fair, Apple CEO Steve Jobs struck first, but are Balsillie’s comments substantive or just a knee-jerk reaction? Read more »
As a long time BlackBerry user, I get pretty excited when RIM announces a new model. I’ve been particularly excited by it introducing a new tablet device, but I can’t ignore that it’s essentially hyping a product that isn’t likely to hit the market anytime soon. Read more »
Research in Motion finally unveiled its much-rumored BlackBerry tablet yesterday, and it looks a lot more impressive at first glance than the company’s most recent handset, the Palm Pre-like Torch. But is this a game-changing device, or will it stumble out of the starting gate? Read more »
