BlackBerry PlayBook news, tips, tricks and fanboy enthusiasm thread

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yllus

Elite Member & Lifer
Aug 20, 2000
20,577
432
126
It never fails - the rare days that I don't take my PlayBook with me to work are the days that an OS update or something like the Android Player leaks out.

Inside BlackBerry - BlackBerry Tablet OS v1.0.7.2942: now with differential updates!

BlackBerry® Tablet OS v1.0.7.2942 is available today and it introduces one small but very important new feature: differential updates. The differential updates feature allows us to update only the sections of the BlackBerry Tablet OS that require updating. This should result in smaller download file sizes and therefore faster updating for you!

...


In addition to adding new features to the BlackBerry Tablet OS, the BlackBerry PlayBook team at Research In Motion® (RIM®) is always looking for ways to improve your BlackBerry PlayBook tablet experience. As such, we’re thrilled to tell you that we’ve also improved the performance of two key features in BlackBerry Tablet OS v1.0.7.2942.

- Improved Wi-Fi® connectivity to WEP networks

- Faster pairing between a BlackBerry smartphone and BlackBerry PlayBook tablet via the BlackBerry® Bridge™ app, and faster attachment opening via BlackBerry Bridge.

...

There will also be an update to the BlackBerry Bridge application at this time, so make sure to install it on your BlackBerry smartphone for maximum compatibility!
 

yllus

Elite Member & Lifer
Aug 20, 2000
20,577
432
126
I thought about having to continue developing and support my little Twitter app project and decided to just release it for free instead. So I give you:

Lemma for the BlackBerry PlayBook

It's available now by searching for "Lemma" on the PlayBook itself, though at the time of this writing it's not in the Newest featured category. The source code is opened up, written in HTML 5 and JavaScript, and I'm more than happy to let someone else take over and throw improvements into the project.
 

PeeluckyDuckee

Diamond Member
Feb 21, 2001
4,464
0
0
Any updated news on when the Android player will be made available for the Playbook?

Still very much so enjoying my Playbook. Look forward to bringing it with me when I fly in a couple of months.
 

silverpig

Lifer
Jul 29, 2001
27,703
11
81
Any updated news on when the Android player will be made available for the Playbook?

Still very much so enjoying my Playbook. Look forward to bringing it with me when I fly in a couple of months.

There were some screenshots on BGR posted today of a Chinese source that had PlayBook OS 2.0 and there was an android player icon in it. Should be released in september I think.
 

yllus

Elite Member & Lifer
Aug 20, 2000
20,577
432
126
Another prominent company is getting out of the App Store and going HTML5. Two incidences don't make a trend, but I sense something is getting started here - and it benefits the PlayBook in that it's an easy stretch to develop for as well if you're working in HTML5 anyways.

BBC News - FT pulls app over customer data dispute with Apple

The Financial Times has withdrawn its app for iPhones and iPads after a dispute with Apple over ownership of customer data.

Apple insisted sales must take place via its App Store, giving it ownership of the data and a 30% cut of revenues.

However the newspaper, owned by media group Pearson, will continue to be accessible by Apple devices via a browser-based web app.

The decision to pull its apps followed months of negotiations.

About 25% of the FT's sales come via its website, and mobile devices comprise some 22% of the traffic on ft.com.

An FT spokesman said the disagreement with Apple was "amicable", and the newspaper still intended to offer other apps via the App Store, including one for its weekend luxuries magazine How to Spend It.

However, any future App Store offerings would be funded via advertising, not subscriptions, thereby avoiding a repeat of its dispute with Apple.

The FT originally launched its web browser as a way of simplifying the development process by providing a common point of access for all devices.

"The main factors on our mind when we launched app.ft.com were that it just isn't practical to maintain separate development for each individual technology platform," Stephen Pinches, the FT's group product manager for emerging technologies, told the BBC previously.

"We are planning to push our web app out to multiple platforms this year: Android, PlayBook, WebOS and others, and this really is the most logical and strategic approach."

The newspaper expects to launch the Android version of the web app in the next two months.

The web app uses open HTML5 code, which is viewable via any internet browser, including Apple's Safari.

But, having failed to end the impasse with Apple over customer data, the newspaper is now going a step further, cancelling its App Store app altogether and encouraging Apple customers to switch to the web app.

Other firms are also gravitating towards browser-based applications as a way of by-passing Apple's sales platform.

Amazon launched a web app for its Kindle eBook reader earlier this month that was specifically tailored for iPad users.
 

Deeko

Lifer
Jun 16, 2000
30,213
11
81
I've been using the bridge functionality since picking up the new Bold earlier in the week. Its definitely a nice touch. I wish more were bridged - text messaging, pictures/videos (easier anyway)...but as it stands, its definitely useful.
 

Deeko

Lifer
Jun 16, 2000
30,213
11
81
I wouldn't be surprised if the Touchpad blowout wasn't a wakeup call..."Hey, we can sell lots more if we do it cheaper!"
 

runawayprisoner

Platinum Member
Apr 2, 2008
2,496
0
76
Hm, RIM shareholders are calling for company sale or patent sale.

Looks like I'll be able to pick up a Playbook before long... at $99.
 

Deeko

Lifer
Jun 16, 2000
30,213
11
81
Hm, RIM shareholders are calling for company sale or patent sale.

Looks like I'll be able to pick up a Playbook before long... at $99.

Outspoken individuals have extremely low impact on the company. Shareholders - even big ones at certain funds - have been calling for Microsoft to break up, at least for Ballmer to step down, for many years...has that happened yet?
 

lupi

Lifer
Apr 8, 2001
32,539
260
126
Even if they do go on sale at that price I probably wouldn't buy. Have my tp for basic tablet use and with cameras instaalled it ruins tthe reason I have a bb in the first place.
 

runawayprisoner

Platinum Member
Apr 2, 2008
2,496
0
76
Outspoken individuals have extremely low impact on the company. Shareholders - even big ones at certain funds - have been calling for Microsoft to break up, at least for Ballmer to step down, for many years...has that happened yet?

No, but those happened while Microsoft still had the ability to sustain itself until the next decade or so, and also they don't specifically tell the company to sell itself or its patent portfolio. Different situation.
 

Deeko

Lifer
Jun 16, 2000
30,213
11
81
No, but those happened while Microsoft still had the ability to sustain itself until the next decade or so, and also they don't specifically tell the company to sell itself or its patent portfolio. Different situation.

You do realize that RIM is still making a lot of money, right? They aren't in a Palm situation, or even a Motorola situation. Last quarter, they made $4.9 billion - up from $4.2 billion the previous year. Net income was $695 million.

Obviously they have work to do to regain marketshare and consumer perception, but that's why they're switching to QNX. Either way, they're still a healthy company that's not exactly on the verge of bankrupcy, and this thread isn't about that anyway, so I'll get back to discussing the PlayBook now.
 

runawayprisoner

Platinum Member
Apr 2, 2008
2,496
0
76
You do realize that RIM is still making a lot of money, right? They aren't in a Palm situation, or even a Motorola situation. Last quarter, they made $4.9 billion - up from $4.2 billion the previous year. Net income was $695 million.

Obviously they have work to do to regain marketshare and consumer perception, but that's why they're switching to QNX. Either way, they're still a healthy company that's not exactly on the verge of bankrupcy, and this thread isn't about that anyway, so I'll get back to discussing the PlayBook now.

Well, I was originally discussing the possibility that shareholders' pressure would force the company to take drastic measures, and they may go for a Playbook firesale just like HP.

http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/07/shareholder-calls-for-rim-to-sell-itself-or-its-patents-in-crit/

Disregarding what happened to Microsoft and what-not, this is RIM's problem now, and it would partially effect the Playbook should the open letter go through.
 

goog40

Diamond Member
Mar 16, 2000
4,198
1
0
Staples sent out $200 off coupons to some customers via email.

For existing Blackberry users, it's possible to get a Playbook for effectively $120 ($200 off coupon, combined with a $30 off $150 Staples coupon, plus that $100 GC offer for current Blackberry users).
 

lupi

Lifer
Apr 8, 2001
32,539
260
126
Staples sent out $200 off coupons to some customers via email.

For existing Blackberry users, it's possible to get a Playbook for effectively $120 ($200 off coupon, combined with a $30 off $150 Staples coupon, plus that $100 GC offer for current Blackberry users).

even though I wish it didn't have a camera, I probably would have purchased at that price as I expect to be stuck with a BB phone for quite some time.
 

XJustMeX21

Golden Member
Nov 26, 2005
1,606
0
76
Just went back to Blackberry with the 9930, and while I do miss gaming on my phone it's the best at texting and email and the web is actually very good on it. Would pick up a Playbook at $250 if I could
 

alent1234

Diamond Member
Dec 15, 2002
3,915
0
0
You do realize that RIM is still making a lot of money, right? They aren't in a Palm situation, or even a Motorola situation. Last quarter, they made $4.9 billion - up from $4.2 billion the previous year. Net income was $695 million.

Obviously they have work to do to regain marketshare and consumer perception, but that's why they're switching to QNX. Either way, they're still a healthy company that's not exactly on the verge of bankrupcy, and this thread isn't about that anyway, so I'll get back to discussing the PlayBook now.


that's revenue, the profit is decreasing, margins are going down. the financials are going downhill. they are shipping cheap phones for teens and the clone android makers are starting to do the same and will take market share from RIM over the next year or two.

cash dropped in the last six months but the inventory level is up. bad news coming

RIM is as good as Novell was in the 1990's



As I posted earlier in the thread, please keep this thread on-topic - which is news, tricks, tips and enthusiasm for the Playbook. If you have criticisms of the device, doubts about RIM as a company or otherwise, or observations about marketshare you can post those opinions in other more general threads about tablets.

Moderator PM
 
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Deeko

Lifer
Jun 16, 2000
30,213
11
81
Egh - I could reply to this....again....but the point is obvious enough. They're still making money, so they aren't going bankrupt tomorrow. And that's not the point of this thread.
 

alent1234

Diamond Member
Dec 15, 2002
3,915
0
0
they are making less money every quarter along with declining market share. at some point in the near future they will start to lose money because their operational costs will be less than revenue.

their inventory already doubled over the last 6 months compared to last year. it's not because they are selling every phone they make. they are going to have to take a charge against it.