Canadian firm, Research in Motion – or RIM – have reported yet another quarter of negative growth as their smartphone market share dips below a quarter.

Now commanding only 22% of the smartphone market, RIM are reliant on a successful launch for their PlayBook tablet to boost the company’s fortunes.

The device is scheduled for release in the US and Canada on April 19th, making the next three weeks a nervous time for CEO Jim Balsillie and his colleagues at RIM.

The PlayBook will be available in a 16GB, 32GB or 64GB version, priced at $499, $599 and $699 respectively. A 1GHz dual-core processor will power the 7-inch device and a WSVGA capacitive touch panel will grace the front of the tablet.

Video recording capabilities of 1080p HD footage actually place the PlayBook ahead of the iPad 2 in terms of imaging.

A successful launch of the PlayBook will be key, not only in determining the future of RIM as a tablet manufacturer, but the future of RIM full stop. Some industry analysts are describing BlackBerry as a broken brand, while PaidContent.org predicted a dramatic brand shift from RIM, should the PlayBook not provide the impetus required.

RIM’s executives and investors will be keeping everything crossed as we approach the launch date for PlayBook, a UK launch is expected to follow in June.

View the original article here

UK release dates have reportedly been leaked for RIM’s BlackBerry PlayBook tablet as well as HTC’s 7-inch Flyer tablet.

The information, released by mobile operators Three, indicates a May release for the HTC Flyer, while RIM’s PlayBook is pencilled in for a June release.

The leaked slide also describes the PlayBook’s June release as “WiFi only”, which isn’t a huge surprise as rumours have previously suggested that RIM want PlayBook users to pair the tablet with a BlackBerry smartphone for 3G usage.

The two devices have caused rhttp://www.laptopshop.co.uk/news/wp-admin/post-new.phpipples of excitement in the tablet market, and both have been nominated as possible contenders to the Apple iPad’s crown.

While these projected release dates give the Apple device a 1 and 2 month respective headstart on the devices, the buzz around the two tablets will hopefully be sufficient to give them a fighting chance in the market.

A second quarter release date could also give the devices the edge over another of the challengers for the tablet crown – the HP TouchPad.

The TouchPad had been rumoured for a US release in April but this was later knocked back to June, with some sources reporting that HP were going to hold the item until September.

A quote from HP’s CEO, Leo Apotheker seems to confirm that the TouchPad will now be released in June, but this is a US release date only; no information is currently available for a UK release.

View the original article here

With the release of RIM’s PlayBook only a month away in the US, the Canadian company are stirring up hype about their new tablet.

One of the features of the new device will be a FaceTime style video chatting system, a slick application, which will be preloaded onto the device and allows peer-to-peer video conferencing. The app has been developed solely by RIM and will be exclusive to the PlayBook.

RIM’s timing in releasing this information is opportune, as – despite extremely healthy sales of the iPad 2 in its first weekend of release in the states – reviewers have criticised its poor quality cameras and video applications. If this video chatting feature is all its cracked up to be, it could be a major weapon in the PlayBook’s arsenal.

The PlayBook is certainly better placed to deliver this feature; its processor is faster for a start, clocking in at 1GHz compared to the 900MHz chip powering the iPad2. It also supports Flash on the web and handles true multi-tasking with the new QNX OS.

US consumers will have a chance to sample the delights of RIM’s new bit of hardware when it is released next month, UK enthusiasts will have to hold their horses for a little longer.

View the original article here

The much-hyped BlackBerry Playbook tablet PC could be making its way to stores in America in April and be sold at the relatively low price of US$499.

Makers of the device Research In Motion (RIM) have been keeping their release dates and price-tags pretty much to themselves so far but a leak picked up by the CrackBerry website appears to suggest that Home Depot will be selling the tablet in a matter of weeks.

The figure of $499 apparently refers to a 16GB version of the Playbook and even a very brief description of the device from the US retailer points to a business-centric promotions angle, with the phrases “crystal-clear video conferencing” and “wirelessly tether to your BlackBerry for email” making an appearance.

It will come as no surprise that RIM is keen to see as many BlackBerry users as possible start using a Playbook tablet and much of the early promotions work has focussed on the syncing and compatibility of the two mobile devices.

There have been some rumblings about the possible pricing of the Playbook already but it would seem as if RIM is aiming to notably undercut the soon-to-be launched Motorola Xoom, which is expected to cost close to $800 when it launches later this month.

In all likelihood, RIM will also soon be facing stern competition from a wave of new Android-operated tablets introduced by the likes of Asus, Acer and Toshiba.

View the original article here

BlackBerry manufacturers, RIM have added a browsing facility to the simulator of their new PlayBook tablet.

The Canadian company have added the browser in the hope that it will give app developers an insight into how PlayBook users will browse the web, as well as allowing them to experiment with the Flash and HTML5 features supported by PlayBook.

With a thriving and respected “application market” becoming a key weapon in the fight for tablet dominance, RIM will be hoping the added capabilities of their simulator gives developers the encouragement they need to produce some nifty new apps for App World.

RIM were keen to advertise the quality of the PlayBook’s browsing experience in a recent blog post:

“We are building one of the best uncompromising browsing experiences on a tablet with support for the latest industry standards and technologies, including HTML5 and Adobe Flash 10.1” said RIM’s unknown blogger. “With this updated simulator, out web development community can now start testing their web applications and Adobe Flash applications to ensure that they fully support the upcoming BlackBerry PlayBook tablet at launch.”

Note the mystery blogger’s gleeful reiteration of the PlayBook’s Flash capabilities, capabilities not shared by the PlayBook’s rival, the iPad 2. It is this discrepancy that RIM will seek to use to tempt customers away from Apple.

View the original article here

IBM has shown off cloud-based software on the BlackBerry PlayBook, offering the tablet a lifeline as it nears launch.

Research In Motion’s (RIM’s) co-Chief Executive Jim Balsillie appeared on stage at IBM conference Lotusphere to display IBM’s cloud-based products on the soon-to-be released tablet.

The software includes a cloud computing version of LotusLive Symphony, an office package that allows different people to work on documents, spreadsheets and presentations in separate at the same time.

IBM has also updated its Lotus Notes email, Connections file-sharing and networking software, and Lotus Sametime instant messaging software.

At the event, Balsillie promoted the availability of Lotus and Domino applications on the PlayBook, receiving an email from a contact in a Lotus email program and looking up his profile in Lotus Connections.

Balsillie claims multi-tasking, internet performance and security were key to attracting enterprise users to the PlayBook.

While the BlackBerry PlayBook showcased someone else’s product at someone else’s event it will boost interest in the tablet.

And it may help silence critics who have voiced disappointment that users can only access email, calendars and messages if the tablet is connected to a BlackBerry smartphone.

LotusLive Symphony will be available in the second half of 2011 on RIM, Apple, Nokia and Android devices.

View the original article here

The much talked-about Playbook from Research In Motion (RIM) has been demonstrated in a new demo video showing the tablet PC operating alongside a BlackBerry smartphone

With both devices seemingly in sync, it looks like a clear indication that RIM will be working hard to retain its smartphone customers in the tablet sphere as the market continues to evolve.

Analysts are convinced that 2011 will be a hugely significant year for the tablet sector and the Playbook is set to be one of the most notable slate PC launches to take place in the first half, with RIM desperate to at least come close to repeating the success it has had with the BlackBerry.

Tablets of course are at least partly considered as being media consumption devices but RIM wants to emphasise the efforts it has made to preserve the security features that have helped it sell tens of millions of BlackBerrys worldwide.

The thrust of the company’s preview clip is that you can use your email account pretty much simultaneously on both your BlackBerry and your Playbook, with the benefit of the latter being that you can get a better look at various data or websites before replying to your all important emails.

Hardly the most dynamic or dramatic of promos but it would seem to show how much RIM wants to see BlackBerry users in the queue for its tablet PCs when they are finally made available at some point in the next few months.

Here’s the clip…

View the original article here