RIM PlayBook gets the firm's famous email at last
But PlayBook OS 2.0 does not add many other features which will woo users away from iPads and Kindle Fires
Published: 21 February, 2012
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RIM has finally brought its signature applications, native email and calendaring, to its PlayBook tablet, and is looking to the updated operating system to revive the product's lacklustre sales.
PlayBook OS 2.0, based on the platform the BlackBerry maker acquired with QNX, also comes with a new video store for US users of the tablet, but with even most Android slates failing to dent the iPad's position, the consensus is that RIM has delivered too little too late.
The update is already late itself, having initially been pitched for late 2011. The most important feature of the upgrade is support for built-in email, calendar and contacts - still the main reason people like the BlackBerry experience, whether for enterprise use or consumer social networking. For the latter group, PlayBook OS 2.0 has tight integration of
Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. But while the unified inbox looks good, it is concerning that RIM has not yet found any other compelling reasons for people to love its environment, still touting email as the most significant improvement in OS 2.0.
Other enhancements include additional BlackBerry Bridge features for converting a RIM smartphone into a keyboard and mouse for the PlayBook; Print To Go and other updated document and productivity features; and support for a selection of approved Android applications.
RIM has promised Android emulation on the tablets and its future BlackBerry 10 platform, which will converge PlayBook and handset OSs. This is designed to address the shortage of applications for its devices, but it also wants to maintain its reputation for a quality assured and secure experience, hence the limitations on which Google apps can be run (and a lack of in-app advertising support).
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