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BlackBerry CEO confirms PlayBook BlackBerry 10 upgrades

Posted by Jerome Skalnik Comments Off

Jan 312013

RIM BlackBerry PlayBook Research In Motion (now known as BlackBerry) confirmed back last May that PlayBook tablets would be upgraded to BlackBerry 10 shortly after the launch of its first BlackBerry 10 smartphone. No mention was made of this at yesterday’s launch though. Fortunately for those looking for an update, BlackBerry CEO Thorsten Heins yesterday reconfirmed this in an interview with CNBC.

We will provide BlackBerry 10 software updates for all of the PlayBooks that are out there. So, the wifi and the 4G versions, they will all be upgraded to BlackBerry 10.

No timelines for when the upgrade will roll out were provided (nor were they asked for during the interview).

If you want to see more of what Thorsten had to say, here is the video:

Asked about their plans for the tablet market, Heins described it as one that has “special rules” and RIM would look at it from a “profitability perspective” but will “continue to be in it.”

BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 now available

Posted by Jerome Skalnik Comments Off

Feb 212012

RIM BlackBerry PlayBook Good news today for BlackBerry PlayBook owners. Research In Motion today announced the release of the much anticipated BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0.

“Building on the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet’s proven web browsing, multimedia and multitasking strengths, the new BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 introduces a range of new communications and productivity enhancements as well as expanded app and content support,” said David J. Smith, SVP Mobile Computing, Research In Motion.

BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 (version 2.0.0.7971) brings the following new features and enhancements to the PlayBook:

Integrated email client with a powerful unified inbox (including messages from Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter)
Social integration with Calendar and Contacts apps
Updated BlackBerry Bridge app wit a new feature that lets a BlackBerry smartphone act as a wireless keyboard and mouse for a BlackBerry PlayBook
Improved mobile productivity with new Print To Go app, an updated virtual keyboard with auto correction and predictive next word completion
New apps and content including a new BlackBerry Video Store (initially available in the U.S. with other countries to follow) and enhanced web browsing capabilities

The BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 software update is now available as a free download for all BlackBerry PlayBook tablets. It weighs in at about 402MB. If you need to, go to “Software Updates” and select “Check for Updates.”

RIM to launch BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 on February 21st?

Posted by Jerome Skalnik Comments Off

Feb 152012

While a number of past rumours have suggested that Research In Motion would launch its much anticipated BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 on February 17^th, users may have to wait a bit longer if the latest rumour turns out to be true. According to N4BB‘s sources, RIM will release the update on February 21^th.

For its part, RIM has only officially confirmed a release sometime in February. The update will add features such as native email, calendar, contacts and an improved BlackBerry Bridge. According to the report, one notable omission will be BBM which will not be ready in time. This should not be news as RIM itself announced that BBM would not be included back in October.

Rumour: February 17th release for PlayBook OS 2.0.0.7473 release

Posted by Jerome Skalnik Comments Off

Jan 312012

RIM BlackBerry PlayBook A report earlier this month indicated that Research In Motion would release its much anticipated BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 update on February 17^th. A new report adds its support for this date and adds new version number details.

While RIM was showing off PlayBook OS v2.0.0.7116 at CES, it has made further updates and is now testing updated versions. It now looks like version 2.0.0.7473 will get the nod in February.

RIM for its part has not announced any dates or version details beyond promising that the update will be released in February.

BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 to launch February 17th?

Posted by Jerome Skalnik Comments Off

Jan 212012

RIM BlackBerry PlayBook Research In Motion is expected to launch its oft-delayed and much anticipated BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 in February. The exact launch date has not been announced but BerryReview has learned from a “very solid source” that RIM plans to make the PlayBook update available on February 17^th.

BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 will come with new features and enhancements that include:

Built-in unified inbox supporting multitasking, rich-text email composing and editing
Built-in Calendar app
Improved BlackBerry Bridge with new features including ability to have BlackBerry smartphone act as a keyboard and mouse for PlayBook
Updated Documents To Go functionality
New video store

If the rumoured launch date is correct, PlayBook users now have less than a month to wait…

RIM to showcase BlackBerry 7.1 OS and PlayBook OS 2.0 at CES 2012

Posted by Jerome Skalnik Comments Off

Jan 092012

While we will have to wait until February’s Mobile World Congress to catch a glimpse of BlackBerry 10, Research In Motion will showcase both BlackBerry 7.1 OS and PlayBook OS 2.0 at this week’s Consumer Electronics Show. Also shown off will be updated versions of RIM’s BBM (BlackBerry Messenger), BlackBerry Traffic and BlackBerry Travel apps.

BlackBerry 7.1 includes a number of new features including:

BlackBerry Tag: NFC-enabled sharing
Mobile hotspot functionality for up to 5 Wi-Fi-enabled devices
Wi-Fi calling services (where supported)
Enhanced Universal Search
FM radio on the BlackBerry Curve 9360 and 9380

Latest BlackBerry PlayBook OS update closes DingleBerry exploit

Posted by Jerome Skalnik Comments Off

Dec 062011

Research In Motion today announced a new BlackBerry PlayBook OS update. The OS v1.0.8.6067 update is not a big one (weighing in at 5MB) but does address a few issues:

Support for Flash 10.3 and updates to Adobe AIR
Daylight savings time updates
Security updates namely to close the DingleBerry exploit

The update is available via OTA directly from your PlayBook. Just don’t install it if you intend to root your BlackBerry!

Research In Motion to exit tablet market? (Updated)

Posted by Jerome Skalnik Comments Off

Sep 292011

RIM BlackBerry PlayBook Citing anonymous sources at RIM’s manufacturing partner Quanta, Collins Stewart analyst John Vinh is indicating that Research In Motion may be considering exiting the tablet market after halting BlackBerry PlayBook production. In a research note, he writes:

“While Quanta last week acknowledged that it had laid off a significant number of production workers from a factory focused on producing the PlayBook, our research indicates that the ODM has essentially halted production of the tablet. Additionally, our due diligence indicates that RIMM has canceled development of additional tablet projects.”

After shipping some 500,000 PlayBooks in its debut quarter, RIM only shipped an additional 200,000 units in the second quarter that it has been available.

RIM has not responded to the report.

Update: RIM has now responded, calling the report “pure fiction.” It also added that it “remains highly committed to the tablet market.”

Read more about this story: Original story and RIM’s response

Price cuts and PlayBook 2.0 software coming to RIM PlayBook

Posted by Jerome Skalnik Comments Off

Sep 152011

RIM BlackBerry PlayBook On its second-quarter earnings call today, RIM outlined a number of steps it will take in a bid to turn around the PlayBook’s fortunes after revealing that it had shipped only 200,000 units of its QNX-powered tablet in its last fiscal quarter. Co-CEO Mike Lazaridis said that RIM will offer a number of promotions to increase sales, including incentives for businesses, rebates, and loyalty rewards for existing users.

Lazaridis also confirmed that a major software update was coming. PlayBook 2.0 will include the eagerly anticipated native e-mail, calendar, and contacts apps, the Android App Player, BlackBerry Balance (which helps separate personal from work content) and improvements to BlackBerry Bridge.

RIM will also launch its own movie service called the BlackBerry Video Store. It promises some 10,000 movies and TV shows with movies being available the same day as DVD releases.

Lazaridis indicated that PlayBook 2.0 would be unveiled at the upcoming BlackBerry DevCon in mid-October. The update (including the movie service) would then be released not long after.

Will it be enough or will the PlayBook be joining the HP TouchPad and others in the tablet graveyard?

Sprint cancels RIM BlackBerry PlayBook 4G

Posted by Jerome Skalnik Comments Off

Aug 122011

Sprint Research In Motion was dealt another blow today as Sprint confirmed that it had canceled plans to sell the BlackBerry PlayBook 4G. Sprint attributes the decision to a lack of customer interest. Paget Alves, president of Sprint’s business markets group told The Wall Street Journal, “It’s an interesting concept, it just hasn’t caught on with business customers as much as they would like.”

A Sprint spokeswoman indicated that the decision had “no impact on our relationship with RIM.”

Sprint originally announced that it would launch the BlackBerry PlayBook 4G back in January as part of CES 2011.

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RIM delays launch of upcoming devices including 4G PlayBook

Posted by Jerome Skalnik Comments Off

Jun 162011

Research In Motion

As Research In Motion today announced financial results for its first quarter for fiscal 2012 (more on this in a bit), Co-CEO Mike Lazaridis indicated that the 4G versions of its BlackBerry PlayBook would launch in the fall. In the past, RIM had indicated that these would launch in the summer.

RIM is planning at least three 4G versions of the PlayBook. These include the WiMAX model for Sprint, an LTE version for Verizon, and an HSPA+ headed one to AT&T.

As rumours had already suggested, RIM also confirmed that the BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930 would not launch until the end of August.

Poor BlackBerry PlayBook sales denied by RIM

Posted by Jerome Skalnik Comments Off

May 212011

RIM BlackBerry PlayBook

While Best Buy has indicated that RIM BlackBerry PlayBook tablet sales have exceeded expectations, another is reportedly painting a very different picture. According to BGR.com, a “trusted source from a major big box retailer” reports sales have fallen significantly short of expectations and up to 90% short of internal sales targets. The source adds that returns are also much higher, coming in at about 7%, a figure higher than those seen for the Motorola XOOM.

RIM quickly responded to the story with a statement that read:

The source of the reported comment is anonymous and unknown to RIM, but the comment is certainly inconsistent with the positive feedback we have received from our main retail partners. As previously indicated, RIM will provide a business update on BlackBerry PlayBook results on June 16.

The report also goes against recent shipment estimates that indicate that RIM may have shipped some 250,000 PlayBooks since its launch about a month ago.

RIM BlackBerry PlayBook sales top 250,000 units?

Posted by Jerome Skalnik Comments Off

May 182011

While RIM has yet to provide any official sales figures for the just-launched BlackBerry PlayBook tablet, RBC analyst Mike Abramsky (who estimated first day sales at about 50,000 units) now estimates that the company has sold about 250,000 units. Sales are described as “steady” and could top 500,000 tablets in its debut quarter.

Abramsky also found that PlayBook returns are “nominal to date.”

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RIM recalls about 1,000 PlayBooks

Posted by Jerome Skalnik Comments Off

May 162011

RIM PlayBook

RIM today confirmed that it is recalling about 1,000 BlackBerry PlayBooks due to a software issue.

RIM determined that approximately one thousand BlackBerry PlayBook tablets (16 GB) were shipped with an OS build that may result in the devices being unable to properly load software upon initial set-up.

The majority of the affected devices are still in the distribution channel and haven’t reached customers. RIM is working to replace the affected devices.

In the small number of cases where a customer received a PlayBook that is unable to properly load software upon initial set-up, they can contact RIM for assistance.

RIM launched the PlayBook on April 19^th. Estimates suggest it sold about 50,000 on the first day alone.

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RIM sells 50,000 PlayBooks on first day?

Posted by Jerome Skalnik Comments Off

Apr 202011

RIM BlackBerry PlayBook

Initial estimates suggest that Research In Motion sold about 50,000 BlackBerry PlayBooks on launch day, a figure that includes pre-orders. While RIM has yet to provide any numbers, RBC Capital Markets analyst Mike Abramsky came up with the estimate by checking with about 70 retail locations.

While these figures are a pale comparison to Apple iPad 2 sales, Abramsky notes that “the launch appears to have been stronger than the launch of Motorola’s Xoom (Android) Tablet, or the Samsung Galaxy Tab.” He also expects that RIM could ship about 500,000 PlayBooks during this fiscal quarter.

Abramsky points out that RIM must address a number of issues to improve sales. Among those is the fact that AT&T is still testing the BlackBerry Bridge app, and growing the number of apps available for the device.

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