Hot on the heels of Apple’s iPad, there’s a new beauty prince hoping to make its name on the international stage in the form of RIM PlayBook – or in its most common name – the BlackBerry tablet. The newly crowned 7-inch (1024 x 600) capacitive touchscreen slate is planned to include a 1GHz dual-core processor and run along a specially designated BlackBerry Tablet OS. According to RIM’s CEO, Mike Lazaridis, who recently spoke at Research In Motion’s annual BlackBerry Developer Conference, the PlayBook would be “an incredible gaming platform for publishers and the players.” With a powerful Cortex A9 CPU inside, paired with 16GB / 32GB of storage capacity, a microUSB hub, HDMI, 802.11a/b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth and 1080p HD video support, we – gadget junkies – have got now all the reasons to start believing and embrace the top executive words. It can easily play any Flash content or be used for video conference talks, thanks to the two integrated cameras – a 5 megapixel rear one, and another 3 megapixel up front. And while most specific details about price or availability are yet to be determined, you can find the full PR announcement, along with specs list and RIM’s official video right after the jump spot.
Update1: We’ve just added a nice comparison chart that would make it more easier for you to find which tablet (whether it’s a BlackBerry Playbook, Apple’s iPad, Samsung’s Galaxy Tab, or Dell’s Streak device) you’d like to try for yourself or maybe even buy. Check it out after the break. (courtesy of Engadget).
Update2: RIM has just confirmed that its upcoming Playbook tablet will indeed be offered to consumers with either 16GB, 32GB or 64GB of storage capacities. Furthermore, the mobile company has pledged that it will also include a huge 5,300mAh battery with its brand new BlackBerry tablet – which means significant amount of extra time to work. checkout the latest video half past the break.
Update3: RIM co-CEO Mike Lazaridis just demoed the new RIM PlayBook machine onstage at Adobe’s MAX conference, along with Adobe’s Kevin Lynch. As you might expect from such event, the new “BlackBerry tablet” will indeed run both Flash and Air formats pretty well. Hey! You can see the video evidence yourself, right after the break.
Update4: Bloomberg is quoting RIM’s co-CEO Jim Balsillie who said that RIM’s 7-inch tablet will be under $500 when it gets official Stateside, in the first quarter of 2011.
Update5: Bloomberg is citing “three people familiar with the matter” who said that RIM is deftly working on this secret project to assimilate Google’s 130,000 Android apps withing its upcoming PlayBook machines. Interesting!
Update6: And…looks like a RIM sales guy just been caught saying “we will also support Android apps when we release the Dalvik engine on top of QNX.” See for yourselves, after the break.
Continue reading RIM’s PlayBook is The New BlackBerry Tablet