This morning, we had an intimate encounter with the BlackBerry Playbook. Representatives from RIM took us on a BB Playbook bus, went around Ayala while demo-ing their upcoming tablet.
Unlike the other tablets out there where you have menus or at least a Home button, the BB Playbook does not have anything on the screen except the screen itself. The small power button is placed on the top of the device, along with a playback button and volume controls.
The Playbook’s navigation relies on the edges of the screen (the bezel part) and gestures from that end activates several menus and controls the panels/windows for individual apps that’s running in the background.
The tablet is very thin at just 9.7mm and weighs about 0.9lb (400g, has a little bit of heft). It supports WebKit/HTML5, Adobe Flash Player 10.1, Adobe Mobile Air, POSIX, OpenGL and Java. The tablet can also do video playback in full 1080p HD, H.264, MPEG, DivX or WMV. Hook it up to an external monitor via HDMI and you’d get the full HD experience on a big screen.
The multi-tasking capability is very impressive. Imagine running a full browser streaming YouTube, playing Need for Speed and playing music all at the same time, in real time. Switch between windows in a snap and the rest of the apps will continue to run in the background, uninterrupted.
RIM BlackBerry Playbook
7″ capacitive display @ 1024×600 pixel
BlackBerry Tablet OS
1GHz dual-core CPU
1GB RAM
Dual HD cameras (3 MP front facing, 5 MP rear facing)
1080p Full HD video recording
HDMI port
WiFi 802.11n
Bluetooth 2.1
Recorded videos of the Playbook in action but have not yet finished uploading it on YouTube. Will update once that is done.
At the moment, the WiFi-only variant will be released but they promised a 3G/4G variant will follow. However, they added that you can pair the Playbook with any BlackBerry and share internet connection (called BlackBerry Bridge).
The tablet will be introduced in the Philippines soon so we’re fortunate enough to be one of the first few ones to get to play with it. Reps could not comment on the release date or the indicative price but they say it will be competitive and near the announced $499PHP 29,284INR 42,290EUR 475CNY 3,632 they had in the United States.
Update: See BB Playbook in action…
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sossimo says:
I saw that BB mobile roaming around Ayala. Cool
deuts says:
More choices… more choices!
Bryan says:
Hope the other BB playbook model will have BIS and 3g/4g. so we could be online 24/7. hehehe.. i really love this tablet more than the other brands. right size, right screen and resolution. ilang gig kaya capacity nito?
jologs says:
Wow, this looks good. Since this supports flash, could I play FB games on it like Restaurant City? Hehehe. Yan lang naman ang hanap ko sa tablet e. Sana pwede. :)
Lance says:
i do believe that’s not how you play with a car game in a phone or a tablet.. you should do it like your holding the car wheel controller.
sherwood says:
Sir yuga, what do you prefer? Apple Ipad or Blackberry Playbook?
Jon says:
Very nice specs! Looks like a picture frame though, because of the thick black bezel.
che renegado - roxas says:
i want one !!!!!!!!!!! now i dont know wat to ask my husband 1st, a DSLR camera or a BB Playbook …
Solid Hosting says:
This I will surely get! I like BB a lot!
wreek888 says:
Im sure this gonna be pricey. Not lets than 40k i believe but if you buy in the states, it will be around 22k
nameless says:
bb playbook is love. iPad sucks. doesnt have adobe flash player and the camera is a total ripoff.
jake says:
yes the playbook can play all facebook games that do not require keyboard control.
GadgetMeister says:
Nice to have device! I’m hoping it can sync your pushed emails from BB that way you can view HTML emails in all its glory as compared to viewing it from a cramped screen…
BTW, there’s a typo in the paragraph before the obligatory specs sheet:
“Imaging running a full browser streaming YouTube…” It’s supposed to be “Imagine” right?
Pinoy Technology New says:
nothing against the Playbook but the OS interface looks like a copycat from webOS. I haven’t got hold of this but had surely used webOS a lot.
wapome says:
Hi Mr yuga. Weren’t you also contacted by RIM Asia Pacific? I read from techpinas blog he met a RIM’s representative about the Blackberry Playbook
luiboowee says:
Wait! Sharing internet (3G) with BB Bridge? So you mean we can now tether using BB’s bluetooth? or still connect via USB? Sir Yuga, can you please clarify the BlackBerry Bridge part? Kasi if we can bluetooth tether na using BB handset, why bother wait for the 3G/4G model pa if someone already has a BB 3G version to pair with? Can’t wait.. I have BB Curve 3G and been using it as a modem successfully (everytime I have 3G connection though)
luiboowee says:
Is the BlackBerry Bridge same with a mobile wifi hotspot apps available in Android?
Vlad says:
i have an iphone4 and an ipad1, but would like to try the bb messaging. my question is can i get a line from lets say globe, add the 300 pesos bbm socials add on, place the sim into the bb playbook 3g, and have bbm in the playbook?
if this is the case, im going to be selling my ipad1 and get the playbook.
am not open kasi to replacing my iphone4 for a bb9780 or torch.
technobaboy says:
i think blackberry will have a hard time competing with iPad and the Android lot
Edwin C says:
I don’t like this. I want that Asus Transformer tablet.
KennyV says:
Nice marketing strategy. Mas effective yan pag traffic sa Ayala haha!
Lee says:
You CAN have flash on a tablet, if what you want is the performance equivalent of a Pentium II. It’s the EXACT same story with every crappy also-ran android tablet. Thanks, but I’ll keep the iPad, you guys can have your flash games.
kc says:
is it true the price is 22k? sino naka bili na?
Tristan says:
Wow! Cool! More choices for us on the tablet pc-wars! Hmmm I hope I can win this one in Slashgear’s contest! :D
Jonaflormicfren says:
I like to have it. http://youshudno.blogspot.com/
SpunkyGlitzes says:
Hi Sir Yuga,
Didn’t you have problems with BB features? I heard it was BB dependent.
enzo says:
no its not bb dependent, I have playbook, and I love it, I don’t have the BB phone. I am pinoy here in mexico that is why I have the Playbook since april 26, 2011. I is really addictive, the gesture and swipe gives you joy, OS is fun to use