BlackBerry PlayBook gets defended from criticism in a TV interview

posted by Nick T. / Apr 15, 2011, 10:02 AM

BlackBerry PlayBook gets defended from criticism in a TV interview

Remember when we reported how the BlackBerry PlayBook was being praised by users and developers alike? Well, things in real life did not turn out looking so bright. Reviews of RIM's anticipated tablet that followed actually brought up several of its shortcomings, namely the mysterious lack of an email client and the missing support for 3G wireless connectivity.

In a recent interview with Bloomberg, RIM's co-CEO, Jim Balsillie, did his best to defend the BlackBerry PlayBook from all the criticism it is receiving even though the tablet is not up for sale yet. Mr. Balsillie confirmed that an email client for the PlayBook will be out “very very soon” and will come as an over-the-air update. Until then, RIM's tablet will be able to handle emails and connect to 3G networks as long as it is paired with a BlackBerry smartphone. It was also noted that RIM was not considering email as being a “core component” of the PlayBook, which is quite surprising since that is what BlackBerrys are probably best known for. The rest of the interview seemed to be nothing more than corporate talk focused on features like Adobe Flash support and mutlitasking.

The BlackBerry PlayBook is launching on April 19, and we sure hope that RIM will not disappoint us with its entry to the expanding tablet market. Until then, feel free to watch the entire interview below and to check out our first impressions from the device.

source: Bloomberg via Engadget

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Display 7.0" 1024 x 600 pixels

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25 Comments

1. davecann2

Posts: 460; Member since: Mar 15, 2011

Is it just me or did RIM just throw out the playbook to stay relevant in the mobile world? Blackberry is becoming an out dated joke now. I think I read that the base model of the playbook will start at $500. If this is true then RIM just out-priced their product. Why would I pay $500 for a 7" crappy tablet when I can pay the same and get the ipad or an Android device? Not to mention that Wifi isn’t up to par, email is below sufficient and can only be checked when connected to another BB mobile device! RIM just threw in their towel in my opinion!

posted on Apr 15, 2011, 10:16 AM 7

6. protozeloz

Posts: 5396; Member since: Sep 16, 2010

playbook was a fail at some point.... saw a couple of reviews... RIM needs new management

posted on Apr 15, 2011, 10:54 AM 1

17. donpeppino9

Posts: 67; Member since: Jan 24, 2010

well to make a fair assessment, i don't feel that the tablet is a crappy tablet. I mean, what does it make a crappy tablet in your opinion? the only shortfall i see from this initial release is the lack of native email client and 3g option. everything else seems fantastic. The hardware specs are on par with the ipad's. IMO, i think the ipad represents an opportunity to become the enterprise favorite for tablets. it boasts strong hardware specs, combines android app avaialbility, blackberry email and security, without apple's restrictive nature all in one package. Plus it tethers to your blackberry! i'm sure everyone who uses a blackberry device for work will love having this. No longer do they need to buy a second device for fun when they can use the playbook to for personal enjoyment. now blackberry just needs to execute on their phones. but i am on the same boat as other people in regards to blackberry management.

posted on Apr 15, 2011, 2:48 PM 1

19. davecann2

Posts: 460; Member since: Mar 15, 2011

"donpeppinio9" For the sake of fairness you are correct. The Playbook is not a crapy device. But its not offering anything new yet it is competing at the same level as the big dogs. For the Playbook to even be considered a relevent choice they need to... 1. Reduce the price by at least $100 bucks, 2. Offer a good email clent (its expected from RIM) 3. Loose the dependency of having to use your BB phone. 4. Better and more available relevent Apps. App world sucks!

posted on Apr 15, 2011, 4:04 PM 2

2. ralphyd unregistered

Is it just me or does it seem like blackberry keeps shooting themselves in the foot. Up to this point I have been very impressed with this device but for blackberry of all companies to launch this without an email client seem a little hard to believe. Lets face it, with the domination the ipad currently has over the tablet market, any company that plans to compete at all will need to launch a flawless product from the start. To any normal nontechy consumer the first question they will ask is how does this compare to the ipad and if that consumer has any doubt about a product they're going to choose the ipad.

posted on Apr 15, 2011, 10:21 AM 4

4. davecann2

Posts: 460; Member since: Mar 15, 2011

I couldnt agree more! I've stated in a previous comment that Apple already has a good reputation for quality and innovation. This is why all tablets are compared to the ipad. All consumers are going to ask themselves " Is this product better than the ipad?" They not only have to be better but they have to be cheaper in price, and have a great marketing strategy. Otherwise they will fail. RIM needs to take some tips from Motorola with their wake-up call of the failure of the Xoom. Samsung is on the right track with the new Galaxy tabs coming out. Lots of hype, rumors pointing to lower price point, and a sleek sexy design to match what Apple is offereing.

posted on Apr 15, 2011, 10:37 AM 2

7. protozeloz

Posts: 5396; Member since: Sep 16, 2010

moto failed for obvious reasons.... they limited the market, delayed the international sales and their wifi version, gave in a confusing price tag and came with some **** believing people would love to send their tabs back when they have a month or two using them..... what where they thinking

posted on Apr 15, 2011, 11:08 AM 0

3. balls are itching unregistered

is is just me or does iphone suck a hairy ball and ass? hmmm? iphone sucks. Long live android the world's #1 OS!!

posted on Apr 15, 2011, 10:35 AM 4

26. iHateCrapple

Posts: 734; Member since: Feb 12, 2010

I hate Apple and iOS as much as the next guy...but, get a life.

posted on Apr 16, 2011, 11:13 AM 2

5. cornerofthemoon

Posts: 619; Member since: Apr 20, 2010

I dunno, releasing a tablet without so much as an email client is like releasing an automobile without breaks.....It took them a billion years to release this thing and too many pieces of the puzzle are still missing.

posted on Apr 15, 2011, 10:49 AM 3

9. Xpple unregistered

Web mail works fine. . . how many users on desktop use web mail 100% of the time? Most everyone I know does. Also, it will bridge with your blackberry and use it's email client. So anyone that is already on board with RIM is fine, and anyone that uses web apps is fine, and they will have Android apps pretty soon. It's much to do about nothing at this point. It's a new device, give it a little time to see how they move it forward.

posted on Apr 15, 2011, 11:33 AM 2

8. Xpple unregistered

If it isn't an Apple product it will get negative reviews on all major tech blogs because they are all pro-apple site. You think Engadget is going to give a tablet a better review than the iPad 2? Not a chance--how do you think they got a preview iPad 2 in the first place? By kissing apple's butt. They didn't get the iPad to preview so they kissed butt for a year then got the iPad 2. . . and just look how they creamed themselves over that review. In other words, you don't get apple preview devices unless you are sucking Steve's. . . you know what. Just watch a walk-through video of the PlayBook and you will see that it's very innovative and has taken the best of WebOS and moved it forward. Of course there won't be a lot of apps. . . it's a new OS. . DUH!!!! How many apps where there for the original iPhone? NONE! Time for apple fans to stuff that argument up their. . . . I liked what Android did with Honeycomb but I think RIM one-uped everyone with the PlayBook's gestures and multitasking. For a multi-touch tablet it looks like the top OS at this point. I hope Android and WebOS take some of the new gestures, multitasking ideas, and features and integrate them. Not to mention they will get a big chunk of Android apps to run on the PlayBook. Personally. . . I like what they've done with the PlayBook.

posted on Apr 15, 2011, 11:28 AM 6

10. davecann2

Posts: 460; Member since: Mar 15, 2011

Uggg.... I hate when trolls come on and post stuff like the above comments. Not all tech review sites are Apple fans. Your argument would be taken more seriously if you were able to site sources that could identify with your opinions. Maybe there is a REAL reason behind Apples success and Andriods buzz... Maybe there is a REAL reason that almost every artical on any Tech site states the Playbooks lack-there-of!

posted on Apr 15, 2011, 11:39 AM 6

27. Kjayhawk

Posts: 294; Member since: Oct 07, 2010

I agree if they were apple fans they would give android phones lower ratings really every high end android phone has recieved the same rating as the iPhone 4 or better! Tech buffalo and phonedog have rated many android devices higher. Cnet put multiple phones up against the iPhone 4 in competitions and declared android the winner! example of devices with same or higher devices: Droid X, Evo 4g, epic 4g, Motorola Droid, Droid desire, droid incredible, Thunderbolt. Really the idea the media is biased is a myth. engadget well didn't they spend a shit ton of money on getting a stolen iPhone? hell I would be biased too!! The fact is that android and apple fan boys need to stop making up excuses.

posted on Apr 16, 2011, 2:27 PM 0

15. downphoenix

Posts: 3165; Member since: Jun 19, 2010

100% correct! You earned a thumbs up!

posted on Apr 15, 2011, 11:57 AM 4

11. Crowleygd unregistered

The BB Playbook is a great peace of innovation as far as the bridge (allowing you to seamlessly sync and access your full blackberry wirelessly) feature. I think this is a huge step in the right direction. while everyone was out making new phones and rushing stuff to the surface, rim sat back and bought up companies that allow them to really be dominant in that niche business market. If you need a blackberry for work and want a tab or carry a laptop, there is no reason to not have this device...

posted on Apr 15, 2011, 11:40 AM 2

28. remixfa

Posts: 14605; Member since: Dec 19, 2008

there are some really nice things about the playbook. its definatly not trash. It does have me scratching my head though.. lol. The "seamless sync" is nothing more than having BB desktop manager on the tablet.. id be worried if it couldnt do that. And tethering with a BB... with a wire!! lol. You know android has had wifi tethering for years right? Id like to just go to RIM and ask the execs what they were thinking. When you say blackberry, you think email. The biggest thing missing is EMAIL!! That should have been the first APP made. Yes, you can totaly go to the web and manually search for your email, but who the heck wants to do that? Why would i pay 500 bux for a tablet to manually search for email when any smartphone already does it automatically?? Other than that, its a pretty pimp start for their new QNX OS. The ability to link to the android market and use android apps was a genius way to compensate for their own lack of apps. The gestures are awesome... and there is tons of other great things.. just some real head busting weird things missing.

posted on Apr 16, 2011, 4:08 PM 1

12. cornerofthemoon

Posts: 619; Member since: Apr 20, 2010

By the time RIM releases an email client everybody will be reading about it on their iPads, and Android tablets.

posted on Apr 15, 2011, 11:43 AM 2

13. cornerofthemoon

Posts: 619; Member since: Apr 20, 2010

I get the whole Blackberry Bridge thing but RIM just narrowed the market by not having an email client. Forgive me if I'm wrong but doesn't RIM want early adopters waiting in line and chomping at the bit to get one of these things rather than sit and wait for fundamental updates while being tempted by the competition?

posted on Apr 15, 2011, 11:50 AM 2

16. downphoenix

Posts: 3165; Member since: Jun 19, 2010

its also a wifi unit, meaning you can only check your email on it when you are in a wifi hotspot. Blackberry did it right, they made this for MULTIMEDIA. That's what people use TABLETS for. Have you seen the survey that said that people use their IPAD for GAMING more than anything else? They will probably have Email setup by the time 3G/4G models are released.

posted on Apr 15, 2011, 12:00 PM 2

14. cornerofthemoon

Posts: 619; Member since: Apr 20, 2010

It will be interesting to see which has an email client first, the PlayBook or the Nook.

posted on Apr 15, 2011, 11:53 AM 0

24. nooked unregistered

Nook has email. Just autonooter.

posted on Apr 15, 2011, 10:11 PM 0

18. jkeskel

Posts: 52; Member since: May 23, 2009

I went to a Playbook event this past sunday, there were live demos all around and it did have applications for getting most of the main email providers like Gmail, Yahoo, AOL and Hotmail, there just wasn't one for "other" yet. The reps at the event said it's coming shortly.

posted on Apr 15, 2011, 3:06 PM 0

20. TabletNetbook unregistered

After watching a few video reviews and reading a bit more about the PlayBook and its QNX OS I'm actually pretty impressed with what they've done here. Sure, it's a new OS and has some maturing to do. Other form factors will be put out by RIM thus it won't be a "one size fits all" solution. RIM says they will have 3,000 PlayBook apps at launch--that's more than any other non-pc tablet launched with. The security features are stellar and really make this the best tablet for enterprise thus far. Every time you boot the OS it checks to make sure that the OS is valid and if not it will re-install a previously known valid image from another partition--that's the reason for the longer boot time. Also, using the bridge feature for a blackberry phone allows you free tethering and maintains security. The QNX OS has a lot of great promise for this type of device. From what I've gathered the OS itself shouldn't crash as everything runs in it's own server process and if they crash it won't bring down the OS and it's easy to restart them. Everything essentially runs in its own sandbox thus it can be very secure. HDMI out has mirroring and presentation--mirroring obviously displays exactly what you are doing on the device while presentation lets you push something to the TV while using the PlayBook to do other things. iPad & Android only do mirroring. WiFi to move files to from your PC. Keyboard and mouse both work with the device however, it seems that there needs to be some work done for the mouse to work with the gestures. All in all it looks good but still has some maturing to do though it's great to have more competition in the market.

posted on Apr 15, 2011, 6:52 PM 1

25. cheetah2k

Posts: 2185; Member since: Jan 16, 2011

I'm not a blackberry fan, but I do like the Playbook. I dont actually use POP email - gmail instead. I do want a 3G version though - even Motorola hasn't released a Euro/Asia 3G version of the Xoom so wat up?