The BlackBerry PlayBook delivers professional-grade, consumer-friendly experiences that redefine the possibilities of mobile computing. This ultra-portable tablet looks and feels great, measuring less than half an inch thick and weighing less than a pound. The micro USB port allows for an easy connection to your computer with memory of 16 Gb. It features a vivid 7-inch high-resolution display-WSVGAn display resolution (1024 x 600) that is highly-responsive with a fluid touch screen experience. It also offers industry leading performance, uncompromised web browsing with support for Adobe Flash Player 10.1, true multitasking, HD multimedia, advanced security features, out-of-the-box enterprise support and a robust development environment.
A professional-grade tablet, the BlackBerry PlayBook helps transform the way you work and play by combining the features you need with a powerful, ultra-portable design you want. You'll enjoy uncompromised Web browsing, true multitasking, and brilliant multimedia playback, as well as advanced security features and out-of-the-box enterprise support.
Works smarter, play harder with the BlackBerry PlayBook (see larger image).
The vivid 7-inch multi-touch display looks and feels great in your hand (see larger image).
Measuring less than half an inch thick and weighing less than a pound, the PlayBook features a vivid 7-inch high-resolution display that looks and feels great in your hand--and it supports 4-fingered multi-touch gestures. Wirelessly connect to your BlackBerry smartphone for real-time access to email, calendar, address book and task list, Documents To Go and BBM using BlackBerry Bridge (see more details below).
In addition to ultra-fast Wireless-N Wi-Fi support, this PlayBook model features a 1 GHz dual-core processor, 16 GB of storage, 1 GB of RAM, GPS for navigation and location-based services, dual HD webcams for video chats and snapping pics, and a highly intuitive BlackBerry Tablet OS based on powerful, user-friendly QNX technology. Plus, you'll be able to discover new apps via BlackBerry App World.
The PlayBook also offers a high-fidelity web experience with support for Adobe Flash Player 10.1, Adobe Mobile AIR and HTML-5--enabling you to enjoy all of the sites, games, media and richness of the full Internet. And you'll enjoy immersive 3D games thanks to the built-in accelerometer and 6-axis motion sensing (gyroscope).
Key Features
Uncompromised Web Browsing
With the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet, you get access to the full web--not a scaled down mobile version. That means you get all the rich websites, games, and videos, the way they are intended to be enjoyed. The PlayBook offers support for Adobe Flash Player 10.1 and Adobe Mobile AIR as well as HTML5 and Webkit browser technology.
Multitasking
Other tablets claim to support multitasking, but it just isn't the same. On the BlackBerry PlayBook, apps can run simultaneously and in real time. It's a sophisticated approach to multitasking--giving you more choice around how your applications run, allowing you to tailor the experience to your individual needs.
Stunning Multimedia
Don't settle for amateur grade multimedia. Whether you're mobilizing your existing pictures, music, and videos, discovering new media or creating new content, the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet offers a high fidelity, multimedia experience allowing you to fully immerse yourself in whatever you enjoy.
Video chat via the dual cameras with Full HD 1080p resolution.
Facebook for BlackBerry PlayBook app.
The 7-inch multi-touch capacitive display has a 1024 x 600-pixel resolution for stunning playback of video and immersive 3D games. The PlayBook also comes with an HDMI output for connecting to a compatible HDTV or monitor and playing back Full HD 1080p video. It's compatible with video encoded in H.264, MPEG4, and WMV formats.
Ultra Portable
You don't spend your life on the couch, neither should your tablet. Your BlackBerry PlayBook tablet is perfectly suited to your busy lifestyle--it's small enough to go anywhere and powerful enough to take you everywhere.
And with the dual cameras, you'll be able to video chat with friends and family wherever you roam (and are connected to a Wi-Fi network). The forward-facing camera has a 3-megapixel resolution while the lens on the back offers a 5-megapixel resolution--and both cameras can capture video up to Full HD 1080p.
More Apps, More Choice
Discover a huge catalog of rich apps developed and optimized just for the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet--all available through the BlackBerry App World storefront. Games like Need For Speed Undercover and Tetris, an eReader from Kobo and a powerful music store by 7Digital are just a few of the pre-loaded apps that come with the PlayBook. You can also download the Facebook for BlackBerry PlayBook app, which integrates popular features and functionality such as Facebook Chat, view and add friends, and interact with the News Feed.
Business Ready
The BlackBerry PlayBook tablet is designed to empower those who want tools to power achievement. PlayBook enhances personal productivity and offers businesses a straight forward, no hassle way to quickly embrace tablet technology. It includes DocsToGo and Adobe Reader software as well as support for enterprise VPN connectivity and corporate intranet browsing.
BlackBerry Bridge
On its own, the BlackBerry PlayBook is a high performance tablet. But for BlackBerry smartphone users there are additional benefits added to the PlayBook experience, like access to BlackBerry services living on the handheld. Get access to BBM (BlackBerry Messenger), email, calendar, contacts, memo pad, tasks from your BlackBerry smartphone--all on the large display (see more details below).
Specifications
- Display: 7 inch multi-touch capacitive LCD screen, 1024 x 600-pixel resolution
- Processor: 1 GHz dual-core processor
- Storage: 16 GB for storage
- Memory: 1 GB of RAM
- Communications: Wireless-N Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n)
- Webcams: 3 MP forward facing, 5 MP rear; both capture Full HD 1080p video
- Audio: Stereo speakers
- GPS: For navigation and location-based services; includes accelerometer, 6-axis motion sensing (gyroscope) and digital compass (magnetometer)
- Ports: HDMI video output, Micro USB port
- Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.1 x 0.4 inches
- Weight: 0.9 pounds (15 ounces)
What's in the Box BlackBerry PlayBook 16 GB, USB cable, BlackBerry charger, cleaning cloth, operating instructions You'll get 90 days of complimentary technical support. Speak with a BlackBerry expert if you need help or just want to learn more about your tablet's unique features. |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to have a BlackBerry smartphone for the BlackBerry PlayBook to work?
If you don't have a BlackBerry smartphone, you still get all the powerful features of the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet like the uncompromised web, true multitasking, stunning multimedia, and tons of apps. If you do own a BlackBerry smartphone you can realize additional benefits delivered by BlackBerry Bridge like access to your BlackBerry email and the ability to browse files found on your BlackBerry SD card--all right from your tablet.
What is BlackBerry Bridge?
BlackBerry Bridge allow you to wirelessly connect your BlackBerry PlayBook tablet to your BlackBerry smartphone for a secure, enhanced view of core BlackBerry services on the tablet's large high-resolution display--including full email inbox (BIS and BES), address book, calendar, memo pad, task list, and BBM.
What is necessary to download attachments to the PlayBook via Bridge?
- MicroSD card in the BlackBerry Smartphone that is bridged.
- Room on the MicroSD card for the content being downloaded.
- The attachment has to be under 3 MB in size for it to download.
Which apps does Bridge work with?
BlackBerry Bridge is a feature that allows BlackBerry smartphone owners to interact with core BlackBerry applications including email (BIS and BES), calendar, contacts, on the Playbook's large 7-inch high resolution screen. BlackBerry Bridge links the two devices notification systems so you are alerted of new emails, BBMs, and calendar reminders right on the PlayBook's display. Through this same relationship, businesses running BlackBerry Enterprise Software can allow their employees to securely access information found on corporate internet sites using PlayBook. You also have access to your Smartphone browser so you can get on the web from virtually anywhere.
What smartphone software version is required to use Bridge?
All BlackBerry smartphones with OS 5.0 or above will be able to leverage BlackBerry Bridge, which accounts for approximately 60% of BlackBerry smartphone users today.
Is it true that the BlackBerry PlayBook will support Android apps on the PlayBook?
RIM has announced that it will launch an "app player" that provides an application run-time environment for Android v2.3 apps. This new app player will allow you to download Android apps from BlackBerry App World and run them on your BlackBerry PlayBook. The new app players for the BlackBerry PlayBook are expected to be available from BlackBerry App World in the summer of 2011.
Better than I had hoped, 
Don't Forget to Get the Free Keyboard (See end of review), 
