Got an existing Blackberry handset and a hankering for the goodies promised with Blackberry 10? Tough cheddar; you’ll have to buy a new handset. Got a Blackberry Playbook? You’ll be able to upgrade.
Now that RIM has shown a preview of BlackBerry 10, more rumours are surfacing about the updated OS. The latest, from CrackBerry, claims that the platform will have a new screen sharing feature, which means you could show someone what’s on your phone’s display during a video call or while you’re messaging.
The Blackberry Playbook has some excellent hardware, but to date it’s been hampered by a lack of really good apps. The same could be said for Sony’s PlayStation phone initiatives; so far it’s been a lot of promise with little delivery. A PlayStation emulator for Playbook might just bridge the gap between the two.
RIM is killing the option to sideload apps in a future build of the PlayBook OS in an attempt to curb piracy. This means that they’ll have to be added directly through BlackBerry App World, similar to Apple’s modus operandi with the App Store.
You might not recall, but when the BlackBerry PlayBook came out last year it was close — oh, so close — to being a respectable iPad competitor. But the omission of native email, calendars and contacts was a fatal flaw, both for reviewers and the buying public.
This isn’t the review of the BlackBerry PlayBook 2.0 software. That comes tomorrow. Rather, these are just some early impressions and comparisons to the 1.0 software running through my head as I get acclimated with the thing. These opinions that may or may not change with time and familiarity.
To go along with the release of the PlayBook 2.0 update, RIM also included new remote functionality in the BlackBerry Bridge app, so that BB phones can control the PlayBook But as people are finding out, it can control much, much more than just a single tablet.
As predicted, RIM’s attempt to salvage the PlayBook — an updated operating system — is available today. Now, basic tablet functionality can be had by PlayBook users: e-mail, calendar and contacts programs, as well as a scattering of ported Android apps. The update is available now, via the PlayBook’s Software Updates menu. [RIM]
RIM’s Playbook tablet hasn’t exactly been a blockbuster success (or even much of a “success”) since its initial launch last year — due in part to a clunky UI and lack of basic features. However, according to a report by 4NBB, the vastly improved Playbook OS 2 could start rolling out next week.
