Developing apps for the BlackBerry PlayBook

Research In Motion (RIM) recently announced the BlackBerry PlayBook, a tablet device that supports Flash Player 10.1 and HTML5 for browser graphics and animation. The PlayBook is equipped with a 7-inch multitouch screen; a 1GHz dual-core CPU; 1GB of RAM; and 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB of storage. The device also sports two HD cameras (front- and rear-facing) along with high-quality speakers and a mini-HDMI port.

Of course, I love the look and feel (and speed) of the PlayBook. However, as director of Developer Relations at RIM, I am really excited about the PlayBook’s operating system and its ability to seamlessly and simultaneously run applications developed in different development environments without any impact on the end user.

In this article, I explain the capabilities of the BlackBerry Tablet OS, which powers the BlackBerry PlayBook, and provide a few tips on how to develop apps for the PlayBook using Adobe Flash Platform technologies.

Inside the BlackBerry Tablet OS
The new BlackBerry Tablet operating system installed on the BlackBerry PlayBook is optimized to take advantage of all the horsepower. We decided early in the design of the PlayBook that the operating system needed to be made for the tablet market. We saw how attempts to grow an existing smartphone operating system were not meeting the expectations of tablet users. Powering the BlackBerry Tablet OS is the QNX Neutrino real-time operating system (RTOS), which is a unique microkernel architecture that allows us to take advantage of all the hardware on the PlayBook to create an experience unrivaled in the market. QNX Neutrino RTOS is used in a wide range of mission-critical hardware, including cars, unmanned aircraft, MRI scanners, and nuclear reactors.

Development approaches
From a developer’s perspective, one of the most compelling features of the BlackBerry Tablet OS is its ability to seamlessly and simultaneously run applications developed in different development environments without any impact on the end user. This capability enables developers to leverage their existing skills and tools in any one of several popular development approaches. The BlackBerry Tablet OS will support four different approaches for application development:

    Adobe AIR
    HTML5, JavaScript, and CSS using BlackBerry WebWorks
    Native C/C++
    Java

The BlackBerry PlayBook is unique in that it offers a flexible development environment that allows developers to focus on creating a great experience for their users in the tools they know rather than being forced to learn new tools, languages, and skills to build their applications. On top of standalone application development, the device also supports both HTML5 and Flash Player 10.1 in the browser for an uncompromised web experience for both developers and users.

Exploring Adobe AIR support on BlackBerry PlayBook
We worked very closely with Adobe to ensure that the BlackBerry PlayBook is optimized to give you the best possible experience for both Flash and AIR applications. There are many innovations in our implementation of Adobe AIR that provide additional functionality to take advantage of PlayBook’s unique hardware and feature set:

    Hardware-accelerated playback of video and graphics-intensive content, both in the browser and within AIR applications, enable a smooth, high-fidelity viewing experience on the BlackBerry PlayBook in full 1080p HD.
    Web View enables AIR applications to display HTML and Flash content by leveraging the BlackBerry PlayBook’s WebKit browser for rich hybrid applications.
    Application notifications allow you to bring the user’s attention to events generated by AIR applications immediately, even if the application is running in the background.
    Seamless communication between AIR applications on the BlackBerry PlayBook enables you to create Super App experiences.
    Extending Adobe AIR applications to use native C++ extensions provides you with the ability to write part of your application in the BlackBerry Tablet OS's native code (after we release the BlackBerry Tablet OS Native SDK).

To build an AIR application for the BlackBerry PlayBook, you can choose from three development approaches:

    Adobe AIR mobile with ActionScript 3.0 extensions
    Adobe Flash Builder 4.0 as well as Flash Builder "Burrito"
    Adobe Flash Professional

Adobe AIR mobile with ActionScript 3.0 extensions
If you already have an Adobe AIR application using the mobile profile, the majority of your code will work on the BlackBerry Tablet OS today. We created our own ActionScript extensions to provide user-interface components, support for gestures, multitouch, and multimedia. We have also created extensions for BlackBerry Services like the Payment Service, which allows you to sell digital goods within your application. A variety of vendors have ported their existing applications or assets to the BlackBerry Tablet OS in as little as a couple of hours using this approach. This is likely to be the fastest approach to bring your existing Flash and AIR applications to the platform.

Today you can download the Tablet OS SDK for Adobe AIR for Mac OS X, Windows, and Linux. A BlackBerry Tablet simulator is also available for download as a VMware virtual machine. The SDK includes both a plug-in for Adobe Flash Builder 4.0.1 and command-line tools.

The plug-in for Flash Builder gives developers a fully integrated development environment. Using the plug-in, you can package applications, deploy them to the simulator, and launch an interactive debugging session. When you are ready to distribute your application through App World, you can sign applications from inside Flash Builder.

The command-line tools enable you to write your ActionScript code in the development environment of your choice. You can use the Tablet OS SDK tools to package, sign, and deploy your application to the simulator or a device. To compile your ActionScript code and debug an application, you can use the command-line tools included with the Adobe AIR 2.5 SDK.

Flash Builder "Burrito"
In December, we released an updated version of our beta BlackBerry Tablet OS SDK for Adobe AIR that supports the Flash Builder “Burrito” beta. With the new tooling, we now support cross-platform user-interface components offered as part of the Flex mobile platform. Perhaps more importantly, you can take advantage of the built-in drag-and-drop user-interface builder to create visually rich applications for the BlackBerry PlayBook, right out of the box.

Flash Professional
For developers and designers who prefer to use Flash Professional, we are working on a plug-in to allow you to create applications for the BlackBerry PlayBook. Stay tuned to our developer blog for more information on timing and availability. In the meantime, you can package projects from Flash Professional using command-line tools provided with the SDK.

Adobe Flash Player 10.1
For existing Flash developers, the great news is that your web-based content and applications should work flawlessly in the browser on the BlackBerry PlayBook at launch. An updated version of the PlayBook simulator, to be released soon, will allow Flash developers to test their applications in the browser. For Flash developers who want to package their existing Flash assets as a standalone application, you can use the packaging, signing, and deployment tools discussed earlier to create your own AIR application, and begin to monetize your implementation through BlackBerry App World.

Getting started resources
One of the highlights of publicizing the BlackBerry PlayBook and the accompanying BlackBerry Tablet OS has been the opportunity to work more closely with the great developers in Adobe’s community. I’m constantly amazed by what application developers are already building on this platform. We would be delighted to work with you to bring your new or existing applications to the PlayBook, and we have an incredible incentive to help encourage you. At Adobe MAX, Mike Lazaridis announced a very exciting offer: If you submit your application to BlackBerry App World before February 1 and have it accepted for sale, RIM will ship you a free BlackBerry PlayBook. You can find out more details on the free PlayBook offer at www.blackberry.com/developers/blackberryplaybookoffer.

Adobe and RIM have a variety of resources to help both new and experienced developers get started building applications for the BlackBerry PlayBook using Adobe AIR:

    Deploying a Flex Application to the BlackBerry PlayBook (and Android Devices) by AdobeTechnical Evangelist Christophe Coenraets.

New RIM BlackBerry 10 OS

Thorsten Heins, the new CEO of Canadian smartphone maker Research In Motion (RIM), has announced that the company is now ready to challenge rival operating systems with its BlackBerry 10 OS at the RIM DevCon Europe.

The developer conference held in Amsterdam is a first for RIM and the biggest so far, with more than 2,000 participants clustering to The Netherlands for the BlackBerry- and PlayBook-centered convention.

Heins, who replaced Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie in January, jump-started the two-day event with an upbeat keynote speech with his first public appearance as the new CEO of RIM.

“We are ready to compete, make no mistake,” he said. “Upgrades to PlayBook 2.0 and our vision for BlackBerry 10 reflect our commitment to get it right.”

“I wanted to show really my commitment and RIM’s commitment to our developer community because without you the Blackberry solution wouldn’t be complete,” added Heins, assuring that the company is making important long-term choices to fasten its success in the smartphone and tablet market. “Developers are critical to our long term success.”

Heins also said that developers would receive over 25,000 PlayBooks as part of the company’s ramped up effort to support the community, and upcoming events such as ‘hackathons’ will see another set of tablet giveaways.

Without spilling the beans on a target date, he said that devices with BlackBerry 10 OS are set to arrive “later this year”, with applications ranging for home, cars and smartphones; however, PlayBook OS 2.0 has yet to tip up this month.

BlackBerry handsets topped rival smartphones in the Netherlands, Spain (pre-paid), UK (pre-paid), South Africa, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, claimed Heins.

“I’m thrilled to have been passed the reins by becoming the CEO of RIM. I’m absolutely convinced that RIM has an exciting future,” said Heins to conclude his keynote speech.

BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 in February 17

When Research in Motion released the BlackBerry Playbook, the company was criticized for coming up with a tablet that does not have what the company has been known for – native email client. Not only that, the PlayBook was also released without PIM (personal information management) applications such as a contacts list and a calendar.

RIM countered by explaining that the email and PIM functionality is not ready yet with the QNX-based operating system of the BlackBerry PlayBook in a way that it will be as secure as in the case of its smartphones. The company however promised that an update to rectify all this will be launched in the future and instead advised the users of the tablet to make use of BlackBerry Bridge, an application that connects the tablet to a BlackBerry smartphone where its email, calendar and contacts are blasted out n the PlayBook.

Fast forward to today.

A reliable source has whispered that the much-awaited launch of BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 will happen on February 17 and will bring to the tablet a native email client along with the contacts list and a calendar – much-needed stuff that were missing when the tablet was first released. Additionally, BlackBerry Bridge will also get enhancements, according to the source.

While waiting some more for BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 to finally be released, let us go over the specs sheet of the once (and until now?) ill-fated BlackBerry PlayBook from Research in Motion.

The BlackBerry PlayBook was announced by RIM as early as September 2010 but it waited until April of last year to finally let the tablet hit the shelves. The tablet is a solid black slab of plastic that measures 194 x 130 x 10 mm and weighs in at 425 grams. On occasion, the BlackBerry PlayBook was mistaken for the Kindle Fire because of the seeming resemblance between the two.

Despite getting a lukewarm reception, the BlackBerry PlayBook actually is a powerhouse on the inside. A Texas Instruments OMAP4430 chipset makes the tablet a speed freak and capable of true multitasking with its dual-core 1GHz ARM Cortex-A9 processor and 1GB of RAM makes the tablet a speed freak and capable of true multitasking. The tablet is available in three versions in terms of storage capacity and these are 16GB, 32GB and 64GB.

In terms of its display, the BlackBerry PlayBook makes use of a 7.0-inch LCD display with     a resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels and powered by 3D graphics acceleration, thanks to the PowerVR SGX540 GPU of the tablet. Camera-wise, the tablet also comes with a dual-shooter configuration like mst tablets today and these are a 5MP autofocus shooter at its back panel and a 3MP front-facing camera. Both shooters of the BlackBerry PlayBook are capable of 1080p video capture at 30 frames per second.

When you come to think of it, the BlackBerry PlayBook is actually at par with other high-end tablets from the competition. It is only a bit disadvantaged by its once-flawed operating system with missing components but the release of BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 ought to change all that. Though that may be a story for a different time, we really are interested in what effect will the OS update have on the sales and popularity of the tablet.

BlackBerry PlayBook 3G in 2013

Research In Motion (RIM), the manufacturers of BlackBerry range of smartphones, is planning to bring a 3G version of its PlayBook tablet by 2013.

Apart from being a fully cellular network capable device sans the calling function, BlackBerry PlayBook 3 G will feature a dual core 1.5 GHz processor and a faster graphic processor. As compared to PlayBook there will be no change in the features though. RIM will keep the same 7 inch display with a 1024 x 600 pixel resolution in the PlayBook 3G as well.

Following the launch, the new PlayBook 3G is expected to be available in only 1 variant featuring 32 GB of onboard storage facility.

Along with the PlayBook 3G, RIM is also planning to announce the launch of a new lineup BlackBerry Curve smartphones including the Curve 9220 and the Curve 9320. Besides the upcoming BlackBerry OS 7.1, both these handsets will have NFC and WiFi media server sharing features along with all native functionalities of BlackBerry.

Also, the upgraded BlackBerry OS 7.1 which was announced during the Consumer Electronics Show CES-2012:-RIM-announces-BlackBerry-7.1-OS-update full" target=" blank" 2012 and will soon be released for various compatible handsets across various regions in the world.

BlackBerry PlayBook Smartphones for 2012

Research in Motion is expected to refresh its BlackBerry PlayBook tablet later this year, and now a leaked slideshow of RIM's 2012 tablet and smartphone roadmap has surfaced at Boy Genius.

If the details are correct, the new PlayBook will have a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, an NFC (Near Field Communication) chip, and built-in 42Mbps HSPA+. Like the original PlayBook, the next model will be a 7-inch tablet with a 1024 by 600 pixel display.In addition to a new PlayBook, RIM will also be introducing a new BlackBerry Curve, a new Torch, and a new Bold in the third quarter. A BlackBerry 7.1 upgrade around that time will bring a "Wireless Media Server" feature for streaming media between devices.

In addition to a new PlayBook, RIM will also be introducing a new BlackBerry Curve, a new Torch, and a new Bold in the third quarter. A BlackBerry 7.1 upgrade around that time will bring a "Wireless Media Server" feature for streaming media between devices.

Perhaps the most interesting item on the roadmap is one simply named "Device" (located on the right of the slide). This BlackBerry "Device" is most likely the highly-anticipated BlackBerry 10 purely touchscreen device codenamed "London", which is expected to drop around September.

Blackberry Playbook additional features

Nearly 10 months after its debut, the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet will finally get email and other important missing features in February.

But after examining a preview of the software upgrade last week, several analysts said the device's maker, Research in Motion, continues to struggle with significant technical issues, which could hinder its effort to reverse its declining fortunes.

And they said the upgrade was unlikely to significantly improve sales of the tablet computer to businesses, a target market.

RIM's continued inability to make the PlayBook work directly with its global network means that corporations looking for high-security BlackBerry email on their tablets will first need costly software upgrades to their computer systems. For consumers, it means that the popular BlackBerry Messenger instant-messaging system is still missing from the tablet.

Neither development, some analysts say, is a positive sign for the BlackBerry 10 operating system, a variation of the PlayBook's software for the coming phones that RIM hopes will restore the BlackBerry's popularity in North America.

"There are obviously some technical problems integrating this that they weren't able to solve," said Mike Abramsky, an analyst with RBC Capital Markets. "They're being very disorganized and uncommunicative about it."

Abramsky and other analysts who attended demonstrations of the software upgrade at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week complained that RIM's reluctance to provide specifics about the new software, known as PlayBook OS 2, led to widespread confusion about its capabilities, particularly for business users.

Given that RIM effectively created the wireless email market with the BlackBerry, there was considerable surprise when the PlayBook appeared last April without email software or software for synching entries from users' electronic calendars and address books.

RIM has never publicly explained the reason for that omission. But many industry and financial analysts have said the features were absent because the company could not make the device work with its unique global data network.

That network connects directly to cellphone companies' networks. It is a major reason business and government BlackBerry phones have such high email security that it has been a source of contention in nations where law enforcement and security services would like to monitor BlackBerry users' messages.

For consumers, the RIM network bypasses carriers' normal text-messaging systems, making BlackBerry Messenger messages less expensive and faster.

But RIM's network was designed so that only one hand-held device can be used with any particular user's account, creating problems for people with both a BlackBerry phone and a PlayBook.

From what RIM previewed in Las Vegas last week, it appears that most PlayBooks will rely entirely on Microsoft Exchange Active Sync, the same technology found on phones or tablets that people use on the other common mobile operating systems - Apple's iOS, Android from Google and Microsoft's Windows Phone.
 

BlackBerry PlayBook OS 3.0

One of our sources let us in on a little secret. Actually, it is a fairly ‘top’ secret. RIM has apparently already started working on PlayBook OS 3.0. This news comes before RIM has even officially released PlayBook OS 2.0. Nevertheless, it is a good sign that the company is rapidly working to enhance the tablet OS in preparation for BlackBerry 10. Details on PlayBook OS 3.0 are slim at this point, but we’ll do what we do best to get you all of the juicy details.

What could be in PlayBook OS 3.0 Perhaps PlayBook OS 3.0 will utilize TAT cascades in a more robust manner. Maybe we’ll finally see the release of BBM, since it will be absent in the release of OS 2.0. Or, we could see PlayBook OS 3.0 be the true evolution into BlackBerry 10, which will then unite both phone and tablet. Whatever the case may be, keep it locked to N4BB. 

RIM Secure E-mail For All

BlackBerry manufacturer Research in Motion (RIM) has unveiled some new features for the Tablet OS software that powers its PlayBook tablet at its DevCon event in Amsterdam.  The update could be available as soon as the end of the month

RIM has finally understood the need to win over non-BlackBerry customers.  The new update to the Playbook's software will finally give current users and future customers the chance to access their e-mail and calendars securely without having to use BlackBerry Bridge to make a link between a BlackBerry handset and their tablet, something we described in our review of the BlackBerry PlayBook.

BlackBerry Bridge hasn't been abandoned, though, gaining new features like the ability to instantly share photos between RIM devices over Bluetooth.  Touchscreen BlackBerrys will also become trackpads for the larger tablet, while users whose BlackBerry has a physical keyboard will be able to type straight onto the screen of their tablet.  There will also be native support in the OS for Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

In future, Android apps should be compatible with the Playbook.

BlackBerry PlayBook specifications

Developer                  Research In Motion

Manufacturer             Quanta Computer

Type                          Tablet, media player

Release date              April 19, 2011

Operating system        BlackBerry Tablet OS (QNX)

Power                        5300 mAh

CPU                           1 GHz Texas Instruments OMAP 4430 (Cortex-A9 dual-core)

Storage capacity         16, 32, 64 GB Flash

Memory                      1 GB RAM

Display                        7" LCD display

                                    1024×600 px (WSVGA)

                                    16:9 aspect ratio

                                    (1080p HDMI output)

Graphics                       PowerVR SGX540

Sound                           Stereo microphones, loudspeakers

Input                            Capacitive 4-point multi-touch touchscreen

                                     GPS

                                    3-axis accelerometer-gyroscope

                                     Magnetometer

Camera                        1080p HD video: 5 MP rear, 3 MP front

Connectivity                 Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n)

                                    Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR                   

                                    Micro-USB

                                    Micro-HDMI

Online services            7digital, BlackBerry App World

Dimensions                 194 mm (7.6 in) H

                                  130 mm (5.1 in) W

                                   9.7 mm (0.38 in) D

Weight                        425 grams (0.94 lb)

BlackBerry App World

BlackBerry App World is an application distribution service and application by Research In Motion (RIM) for a majority of BlackBerry devices. The service provides BlackBerry users with an environment to browse, download, and update third-party applications. The service went live on April 1, 2009. Of the three major app providers, it has the largest revenue per app at $9,166.67 compared to $6,480.00 and $1,200.00 by the Apple App Store and Android Market, respectively

 History
On October 21, 2008, RIM announced at the BlackBerry Developer Conference that the company would open an application store for their devices. It was also announced that the store was scheduled to be open in March 2009, and would work in conjunction with PayPal's services. On January 19, 2009, RIM began accepting submissions of applications from developers.
On March 4, 2009, RIM officially named the store "BlackBerry App World" (previously called the BlackBerry Application Storefront). It was also confirmed that the service would not initially be available for desktops, and only a web-based catalog would be accessible from non-BlackBerry devices.

On April 1, 2009, at CTIA's trade show, RIM announced that App World had gone live.
At the BlackBerry sponsored Wireless Enterprise Symposium (WES), it was announced that an average of 1 million apps were being downloaded each day.
On August 19, 2010, BlackBerry App World 2.0 was released. This new version introduced BlackBerry ID - a single sign, account system that can be used on both the BlackBerry client and the BlackBerry App World desktop storefront. In addition to BlackBerry ID, BlackBerry App World 2.0 also introduced direct credit card billing and carrier billing for AT&T Wireless subscribers.

On December 3, 2010, Research in Motion announced that daily downloads were 2 million apps per day.
On February 2, 2011, BlackBerry App World 2.1 was released. This version introduced in-app purchases of digital goods, allowing for add-ons to be purchased within applications.

Pricing and availability
RIM announced that the store would initially be available in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada.
As of September 9, 2010 - BlackBerry App World is available in 113 countries and accepts payment in all 113 using a combination of PayPal, credit card, and carrier billing.

List of countries where BlackBerry App World is available.
Applications are both free and paid from $0.99 to $999.99 USD in the U.S. The registration and app submission fees charged to developers are currently $0.
The service is available in English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, and Brazilian Portuguese.

Storage

Apps can be archived on a MicroSD or on eMMC storage of certain BlackBerry smartphone models.

The archive function has been removed as of App World 3.0

BlackBerry Tablet OS

BlackBerry Tablet OS is an operating system based on the QNX Neutrino real-time operating system designed to run Adobe AIR and BlackBerry WebWorks applications, currently targeting the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet computer.

BlackBerry Tablet OS supports standard BlackBerry Java applications. Support for Android apps has also been announced, through sandbox "app players".A BlackBerry Tablet OS Native Development Kit, to develop native applications with the GNU toolchain is currently in closed beta testing. The first device to run BlackBerry Tablet OS was the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet computer.

A similar QNX-based operating system will replace the long-standing BlackBerry OS on handsets after version 7.

Multitasking

The OS is a multi-threaded POSIX OS (Portable Operating System for UNIX) which eases the functionality of multitasking. In order to switch between applications, a gesture is used on the right-hand side of the screen, which launches a windowed mode. The user can then navigate between open applications by swiping to their application of choice.

Version history

1.0.1

    Initial Release

 1.0.3

    Homescreen web browser bookmarks

    BlackBerry Bridge - the ability to connect to, and access data on, a BlackBerry smartphone using Bluetooth.

        Document editing through BlackBerry Bridge. It is now updated.

        BlackBerry Messaging capability through BlackBerry Bridge

    Video chat capability with other BlackBerry PlayBook users

1.0.5

    Improved functionality within the Facebook app, inc. notifications

        Video uploading direct from the camera or media folder & album selection for media uploaded

        Improved search, news feeds and pages functionality

        Message deletion

        Fast Calculation of Mathematical Operations

        Options and help centre functionality incorporated

    In-app payment support to allow the purchase of new levels of a game or latest edition of a magazine/newspaper

    Additional language supports for most EU countries

    Power management and charging improved, including charging while powered down.

    Improved WiFi Hotspot detection

    Adobe Flash Player security fix

    Easier to download and save pictures

 1.0.6

    Adobe Flash 10.3 update including security patches

    Adobe AIR 2.7 update

1.0.7

    Improved connectivity & productivity with the BlackBerry Bridge application many great features

        Enhanced Support for Saving Attachments

        ZIP Attachment Support

        Faster pairing between a BlackBerry smartphone and a BlackBerry PlayBook

        Faster attachment opening

    Additional Multimedia Features

        Portrait Support in Pictures App

        Pinch to Zoom in Video App

    Additional Language Support

    Improved Wi-Fi connectivity over WEP networks

    Airplane mode

    Differential software updates to allow only parts of the OS to be updated instead of a full update, ensuring smaller file sizes for updates

    Security fixes to Flash 10.3 and Adobe AIR

    Running apps created using BlackBerry NDK.

 1.0.8 (Current)

    Adobe Flash 11.1 update including security patches

    Adobe AIR 3.1 update

    Daylight savings time updates for time zones in the regions of Latin America, Australia and Central America

    Bluetooth and Wi-Fi software update to help to improve connectivity

    Fixed issues some users were experiencing with account payments in the BlackBerry App World

    Improved synching when restoring applications with BlackBerry Desktop Software

2.0 (In development)

On October 18, 2011 RIM announced version 2.0 Developer Beta of their tablet OS, called BlackBerry PlayBook OS. New version supports Adobe Air 3.0 and Adobe Flash 11, as well as WebGL. PlayBook OS also includes BlackBerry Runtime for Android Apps. It allows to run the Android applications, repackaged using presented tools and published via BlackBerry App World.The Playbook OS 2.0 stable release is planned for delivery in February 2012 and will included integrated email, calendar, and contact apps, as well as other features.

future updates

Other future updates

A decision by RIM to not ship the Playbook with native applications for e-mail and calendar has been a source of criticism and much debate by reviewers and users. The only way to access email is through the web browser, BlackBerry Bridge, or third-party applications from App World, which RIM chose for security reasons. However, RIM has stated that these native applications will be available in upcoming updates to the system software.RIM have announced their plan to introduce OS 2, in which the native applications as well as many more fixes to the software are expected to occur.

February 2012 has been announced as the release for OS 2.0 BBM support will not be included with the 2.0 update, although RIM appears to intend to support BBM in a future update. In addition to other functionality, the software update will add integrated email, calendar, and contact apps. BBM (aka BlackBerry Messenger) will, however, still be supported through the BlackBerry Bridge software, allowing users to continue to have access to it while bridged to their BlackBerry smartphone.

Reception and sales

Various sources put the sales figure on launch day alone at approximately 50,000, exceeding expectations.RIM announced in its quarterly earnings that half a million PlayBook tablets were shipped in the first quarter.However, after lukewarm market reception, there were reports that the company revised its second-quarter estimates from 2.4 million down to 800,000 – 900,000 units.When RIM announced their second quarter financial results, they revealed that they shipped 200,000 units.The combined unit shipment of 700,000 units during the first two quarter of release was only a small fraction of the 2-3 million units per quarter many had anticipated before the device's introduction. Following several months of poor sales RIM started discounting the price of Playbook from its original $499 retail price to $300 at many outlets in late September 2011.The price was further reduced to $199 at various retail outlets in both Canada and US in November due to apparent low market demand.RIM reduced the price of Playbook by over 50 percent in India under a limited festive season offer till December 31, 2011.Buoyed by the huge response, the company had decided to extend the offer by a week.The 16 GB model of the PlayBook can be bought for INR 13,490 in the Indian market instead of its regular price of INR 27,990. While the 32 GB model is available for INR 15,990, the 64 GB model is being offered for INR 24,490 against their regular prices of INR 32,990 and INR 37,990 respectively.

According to Strategy Analytics figures in the 2011 second quarter, the PlayBook's market share is 3.3 percent, compared to iOS (iPad, iPad 2) by Apple with 61.3 percent, Android by Google with 30.1 percent, and various Windows by Microsoft with 4.6 percent.In December 2011, RIM announced that it sold more than 150,000 PlayBooks in the third fiscal quarter, compare to 200,000 shipments in the second quarter and 500,000 shipments in the first quarter. In total, RIM shipped to reseller channels 800,000 PlayBook tablets in the first 9 months of fiscal year 2012 (ending Nov 2011).Due to low demand for the Playbook, RIM took a $485 million write-off to account for offering price discounts.

Encryption

Because BlackBerry Bridge accesses mail, calendaring and contacts directly from a tethered BlackBerry phone, the PlayBook meets the same encryption standards as the BlackBerry phone. It is the first (and as of September 2011, the only) tablet device to receive FIPS 140-2 certification, which makes it eligible for use by U.S. federal government agencies. In addition the Australian government also approved the use of PlayBook as the only tablet that meets its security standard.The Russian government is considering banning iPads due to security concerns and promoting the PlayBook instead.

Release and its applications

BlackBerry PlayBook was released in Canada and USA on April 19, 2011; in the UK and the Netherlands on June 16, 2011; and was released in the United Arab Emirates on June 25, 2011.Early reviews for the product have been mixed, praising the PlayBook's fluid UI, Adobe Flash supported webkit-based browser,HDMI output, and multitasking capabilities. It has also been criticized since the PlayBook requires a BlackBerry for its native email and calendar applications, although third party email and calendar applications are supported. The platform also has relatively few native third party applications compared to other platforms. Following the mixed reviews, RIM's Playbook has begun to gain traction and receive better reviews, as the temporary issues are being solved.[neutrality is disputed] Walt Mossberg, columnist for The Wall Street Journal, wrote, "I got the strong impression RIM is scrambling to get the product to market."Research In Motion's co-chief executive officer, Jim Balsillie, countered the criticism by noting that there are more than 60 million BlackBerry smartphones in use that can pair with a PlayBook.

The PlayBook includes a pre-loaded app offering access to 1,500 films from the National Film Board of Canada.Other PlayBook apps include Cocktales and Adobe Connect Mobile. At the initial launch, between 2,000 and 3,000 apps were available from the BlackBerry App World, however, RIM states that as many as 3,000 additional apps have been submitted

Future Android and Java application support

RIM has officially stated that it will expand its application ecosystem for the PlayBook to include BlackBerry Java and Android-based applications. In a press release, RIM states that developers simply repackage, code sign, and submit their Android apps into BlackBerry App World. For now, the PlayBook will only support Android 2.3 apps.

RIM stated that the compatibility with Android applications will be included in a software update of the BlackBerry Tablet OS.

RIM more recently announced that BlackBerry Java applications will not be supported in the next generation mobile platform for BlackBerry tablets (Blackerry 10).

Features

 The BlackBerry PlayBook supports up to 1080p video playback. PlayBook Features a 3 MP front-facing camera for video chatting over Wi-Fi and a rear-facing 5 MP camera, both of which can record 1080p video.The PlayBook has a 1024×600 WSVGA, 7-inch display and 3D graphics acceleration. It features a variety of sensors, including an InvenSense 6-axis gyroscope, magnetometer, and accelerometer. The PlayBook uses the dual-core Texas Instruments OMAP4430 Processor.The BlackBerry PlayBook supports high resolution video playback (H.264, MPEG4, WMV), and audio (MP3, AAC 5.1, WMA 5.1 audio playback) formats. It also has a micro-HDMI port for HDMI video output. Among the PlayBook, Apple iPad, and Xoom from Motorola, the PlayBook comes in lightest at 0.9 LBs, compared to 1.33 LBs & 1.59 LBs, respectively.

Rumors about the forthcoming computer, nicknamed the BlackPad in the press because of its expected similarity to Apple's competing iPad, had circulated for several months before the announcement.Research In Motion co-CEO Mike Lazaridis and Adobe Systems CTO Kevin Lynch staged the first public demonstration of the PlayBook on October 25, 2010 onstage at the opening-day keynote of the Adobe MAX 2010 conference.

Among the features demonstrated was its tight integration with and support for Adobe AIR applications and full Flash support. According to Lazaridis, "We're not trying to dumb down the internet for a mobile device. What we've done is bring up mobile devices to the level of desktop computers". Lazaridis then announced at the end of his presentation that developers who get Adobe AIR applications approved on the BlackBerry App World would be eligible for free BlackBerry PlayBook tablets. Since then, the free PlayBook offer has been extended to include WebWorks applications.

BlackBerry PlayBook

The BlackBerry PlayBook is a tablet computer made by Research In Motion. It was first released for sale on April 19, 2011 in Canada and the United States.

The PlayBook is the first device to run BlackBerry Tablet OS, an operating system based on QNX Neutrino, and runs apps developed using Adobe AIR.It was later announced that the BlackBerry Tablet OS would be merged with the existing BlackBerry OS to produce a new operating system, BBX (later renamed BlackBerry 10) that would be used universally across RIM's product line. A second major revision to the BlackBerry PlayBook OS scheduled for a February 2012 release.RIM has also announced support for applications for Android OS, allowing them to be sold and installed through the BlackBerry App World store.

Early reviews were mixed saying that although the hardware was good, several features were missing. Shipments totalled approximately 500,000 unit during the first quarter of sales and 200,000 in the following quarter.Much of the 700,000 units shipped to retailers remained on the shelves for months, prompting RIM to introduce dramatic price reductions in November 2011 to increase sales.