BlackBerry Playbook OS 2.0 (now available)

[BGY11]

We know that many of you are looking forward to BlackBerry® PlayBook™ OS 2.0, and we wanted to provide you with an update on the progress that we’re making.

As much as we’d love to have it in your hands today, we’ve made the difficult decision to wait to launch BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 until we are confident we have fully met the expectations of our developers, enterprise customers and end-users. And here’s what we’re doing to accomplish that.

This must have been a tough decision for RIM, though if it means a release that doesn't feel rushed, then it may benefit them in the long run.

The article does mention that BBM won't be available as a native client, and given that the service relies on a separate PIN for each device, it kind of makes sense. What I think would have worked better is if a native client was made available that would benefit non-BlackBerry users, but still allow the Bridge function for those who already have a BlackBerry and want to keep using BBM on their Playbook.

[hugh]

Full copy of post

We know that many of you are looking forward to BlackBerry® PlayBook™ OS 2.0, and we wanted to provide you with an update on the progress that we’re making.

As much as we’d love to have it in your hands today, we’ve made the difficult decision to wait to launch BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 until we are confident we have fully met the expectations of our developers, enterprise customers and end-users. And here’s what we’re doing to accomplish that.

First off, we have decided to defer the inclusion of the BBM™ application to a subsequent BlackBerry PlayBook OS release. We are committed to developing a seamless BBM solution that fully delivers on the powerful, push based messaging capabilities recognized today by BlackBerry® users around the world and we’re still working on it. In the meantime, BlackBerry smartphone users will be able to continue to use BlackBerry® Bridge™ to securely access BlackBerry® Messenger™ on the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet’s high resolution display.

Secondly, we are excited to now be providing developers with the gold release of the native SDK for the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet as well as a beta of BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 (launched last week at BlackBerry DevCon Americas). The developer beta allows developers to begin porting their native apps to the PlayBook platform. In the following months, the developer kit will be updated with the full Cascades animation and UI engine that was first demonstrated at BlackBerry DevCon. We expect that the developer beta will generate thousands of new applications for BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0.


Shortly we will also be starting a series of closed betas of BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 with select enterprise customers from our Early Adopter Program (EAP). These betas will be rolled out over the course of this year and are an important next step to bringing our unmatched enterprise app deployment, device manageability, security and email integration capabilities to the tablet category. The betas will be conducted within global enterprise environments and will test the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet solution from end-to-end within corporate IT infrastructures. Feedback and improvements from these betas will benefit the overall BlackBerry PlayBook customer experience.

We believe BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 will deliver a great experience for our customers, building on the powerful performance introduced with BlackBerry PlayBook tablet earlier this year. The software update will add advanced integrated email, calendar and contact apps, a new video store, as well as new functionality that will allow your BlackBerry smartphone and BlackBerry PlayBook to work together even better.

For the enterprise, we’re addressing many barriers to tablet adoption, including device manageability and enterprise application deployment. Enterprises will uniquely have the ability to manage tablets from a centralized server, while BlackBerry® Balance ensures a seamless user experience for personal and professional needs and gives CIOs the peace of mind that corporate data is secure. Plus BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 will provide dedicated shelf space inside the BlackBerry App World™ storefront to make approved enterprise applications easily available to an organization’s end users. Together these features will help change the way enterprises view and use tablets.

So when could an end user get the new update? We expect to deliver the new BlackBerry PlayBook OS to customers in February 2012 and we’ll continue to keep you updated as we progress to the launch.

- David J. Smith, SVP, BlackBerry PlayBook, Research In Motion

[PokerChip]

Wow, I wouldn't want to be a shareholder right now. RIMM was trading at $70 mid February.

[99semaj]

The article does mention that BBM won't be available as a native client, and given that the service relies on a separate PIN for each device, it kind of makes sense.

The one thing they have going for them will be deferred

The reliance on PIN is the biggest drawback of BBM and BB IMO. I lose a lot of messages every year because I upgrade handsets very frequently and BBM and PIN messaging can't handle the change effectively.

If this is any indication of what we can expect from BBX, it looks like we will have the same small-minded thinking on a more robust OS.

[Gino Cerullo]

As badly as I feel for those people who bought a Playbook, RIM really doesn't have a choice. They need to pour all their resources in to their bread and butter, the smartphone. The Playbook has been nothing but a huge distraction that has cost them time and money and resulted in nothing more than bad press and a falling stock price.

They made a huge strategic mistake thinking that the tablet market was something that it is clearly not. A fresh new market that you could just waltz in to and score big bucks. Especially if you're going to do it with a half-hearted effort which is what the Playbook clearly was.

[MarcP]

Now they're saying, "Please buy a playbook.. Anyone?? Please???"

Buy two Playbooks, get one free!

[TorontoColin]

Originally Posted by Gino Cerullo

The Playbook has been nothing but a huge distraction that has cost them time and money and resulted in nothing more than bad press and a falling stock price.

I disagree. I suspect (or hope) that they've learned a lot about QNX from the Playbook experiment and will be able to deliver a more polished phone experience as a result.

[pharsyde]

Interesting read. The update, coming in February, is free for those us having previously purchased the PB

PB update

[j0dest3r]

Hopefully this isn't too little too late for our dear RIM.

[BGY11]

Please note that this thread is for discussion of the upcoming Playbook 2.0 update. Posts discussing the price of the Playbook or opinions of the device belong in the BlackBerry Playbook Reviews thread.

[james99]

There has been plenty of rumors surrounding the PlayBook OS 2.0 release date but one thing for certain is that it'll be in February. The dates have ranged anywhere from February 9th all they way to the end of February but one date in particular has been popping up more often than not and that's February 17th.

[j0dest3r]

Well today is the 10th and still no update. I heard around some were having troubles checking the update server for a while yesterday and some speculated it was b/c they were getting ready to release the update. ;-)

[mopepom]

At the price, the PB is a real bargain. a pity about Skype and Netflix.

90% of my use will be on WiFi.I think I will be able to access 3G through my jb'd iPhone, using MyWi. i do this on my iPad 1 currently, when travelling by car. Most highways have excellent cell coverage, with almost no dead spots.

I haven't decided to but the PB yet, because it is really a luxury. It's the price of 3 fill-ups of gasoline. Priorities, priorities?

[Tanta]

Well, I guess you have a 70 L gas tank!

[shabbs]

BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0.1.668 Released!

http://n4bb.com/blackberry-playbook-...-668-released/