When word got around the BlackBerry was working on a tablet, people were immediately expecting a flop with the way Android & iOS were booming. But once they introduced a demo of it showing off the recently-acquired QNX OS on board. Critics opinions changed quickly on it. The BlackBerry PlayBook offers a 7inch touchscreen w/1024 x 600 resolution along with multi-touch & gesture support, powered by a dual-core 1GHz Texas Instruments processor, 1GB of RAM, dual HD cameras (3MP front-facing & 5MP rear-facing) that supports full 1080p HD video recording + playback, GPS, Wi-Fi a/b/g/n support, Bluetooth 2.1, micro-USB, micro-HDMI, 5300mAh battery, and available in three storage sizes (16GB for $499, 32GB for $599, & 64GB for $699). In honor of the current BlackBerry World conference going on right now in Florida, we present our review of the BlackBerry PlayBook. How does RIM’s first tablet measure up, keep reading as we put it through the TGSB standards.
I stand by my statement of being one of the best tablets out (in regards of pure ability). The PlayBook specs helps its trump the competition in various arenas. For starters, the PlayBook offers great screen resolution for watching HD videos. The PlayBook is equipped with two stereo speakers that make for the loudest audio experience on a mobile device (phone or tablet). It also does something that no other tablet offers, the full internet just like on a desktop. Add this along with tabbed browsing, the ability to copy/paste, save web images, and full Adobe Flash support makes this browser the best in show.
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| PlayBook screen shot |
Unlike the iPad 2, the PlayBook has great cameras equipped on it that can provide great photos & video. It also allows any device (not just BlackBerry devices) to power the PlayBook with internet tethering by the way of Bluetooth. And finally, the PlayBook allows easy OTA software updates so no need to plug into a computer to get the latest OS software.
The PlayBook is almost the best tablet due to its shortcomings. For starters, the PlayBook launched with almost no real app support at all. None of the familiar apps that people usually check for are not yet available. That’s right, no Angry Birds, ShopSavvy, Yelp, nothing. It had some apps at launch but ones no one has ever heard of. Not even the apps from the phone version of the BlackBerry App World are available. Among other functionality MIA on the PlayBook is a built-in email, memo, contacts, and calendar app like on any other device/tablet. You the full internet to access some of these apps/features but consumers would have loved those apps in place at launch. But in RIM’s defense, they are all on the way very soon via OTA updates.
The PlayBook does have a key feature available for BlackBerry owners and it is called BlackBerry Bridge. This allows you to share your BB things (email messages, calendar, contacts, tasks, memos, and device files) with your PlayBook via Bluetooth. All you need is a BlackBerry device running OS5 or higher with your PlayBook. While the Bridge feature isn’t super solid as of yet as the app would crash on the email messages at times along with the Bridge browser. This is the core selling point for RIM and the executive crowd already armed with BlackBerry devices. Nice but needs a little work.
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| Taken with the 3MP front-facing camera |
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| Taken with the 5MP rear-facing camera |
Both the 3MP lens in the front & the 5MP on the back does the job for quick shot or recording material for YouTube in 1080p. Both cameras work great when you have a decent amount of lighting since there’s no flash accompanying the 5MP lens, otherwise the results will wind up grainy. But when the proper light is available, the photos come out beautiful photos. Same lighting rules applies for recording video as well.
In our time with the PlayBook, we’ve come to see that it offers great specs, speed, & power where everyone counted RIM out for the count. The native email app & the App World selection aren’t quite there yet, but it will be. Despite its lows, it still offering the full internet, great dual cameras, 1080p HD video capture, and speedy processor all in a great 7inch tablet. The PlayBook is well-built tablet offering great battery life (which gave us a day and a half of juice) and a new OS operated by swipes/gestures. Expect the major cell carriers to soon offer the PlayBook in all 4G flavors (HSPA+, LTE, & WiMAX) as well. So far Sprint’s on-board along with Verizon to offer it to its subscribers. No word yet from AT&T or T-Mobile. Anyone interested in picking one, wait it out until more interesting updates/apps make its way to RIM tablet. Maybe when everything comes together, it will take the tablet crown.
Photos taken by Black Hill Photography
