For me, as for many other users, journalists that are interested in technology, experience with the playbook did not start well, but has improved - a lot - after a smokescreen in which the tablet is surrounded by RIM dissipated. Leaving aside the delay in launching the device - announced in late 2010 and released only in April 2011 - the lack of services for email, calendar and schedule and released Android application store, but unavailable, the playbook is a tablet and so, perhaps the only really able to cope, albeit belatedly, the Apple iPad.
Released in the U.S. and Canada, the device begins to arrive in Latin America in June. The playbook with Wi-Fi was released in three models with 16 GB of storage and priced at $ 499, 32GB for $ 599 and 64GB for $ 699. In the future, RIM plans to have versions for connections 3G, 4G, LTE and HSPA +.
In fact, the test began in the playbook BlackBerry World event held in Orlando, USA, 3-5 May for partners and developers. There, we received the first device, which did not work. Yes, he had the same problem of software update that prompted the recall announced last week, less than one month after the announcement of the device. It's just a smokescreen, fog, or the gray cloud that seems to be around the first tablet of RIM. However, working with a playbook in hand, the experiment was another test, and the first - and bad - printing was broken.
Starting with the design of the tablet, it is important to say that much has been said about its size during the BlackBerry World, since RIM has had time to evaluate the contestants and their many forms. And what else has heard of this answer is that its seven-inch - 13.0 cm x 19.3 cm wide x 1.0 thick - were well thought out. Some of the inspirations for the creation of the playbook and its size were taken by the executives' agendas, books and the Moleskine, the Italian brand of notebooks.
For his appearance, the playbook can remember quite a e-reader, but the differences are significant, as the capacitive multitouch screen LCD - the frame is also sensitive to the touch, unlike what happens with the useless area around the screen iPad 2 - and rubberized back, imitating a cover. Factory, the device comes with a neoprene sleeve, which in no way matches the slogan of the first tablet of the professional world and the elegance of the corporate world, but oh well, the accessories are there for this, right?
Still on the design, RIM has been very economical on the buttons, too much.
Located at the upper edge, the buttons on and off, volume, and play are small even for women like my fingers. Sometimes it is difficult to wake up the device from hibernation, increase or decrease the volume. On the bottom, you find the entry for the boot, the doors of Micro and Micro USB HDMI, and three magnetic pins for docks to be launched in the future. Importantly, unlike other manufacturers did, RIM decided not to ignore the people (and they are many) who still rely more on their flash drives and external hard drive than the power of the cloud.
But RIM rivals the iPad 2 - now in its second version - and is ahead of other competitors like Motorola and Samsung to present its first ever tablet with front and rear camera, both for high-definition pictures and videos: the front 3 megapixel and 5 megapixel rear. With all this, the tablet RIM makes high-definition video to 1080p, is compatible with H.264, MPEG4, WMV video output with HDMI. And beside the front camera is a LED light to notify that warns when the battery is running out, for example. Lightweight with only 400 grams, the playbook has a battery at its height, lasting one weekend. Hibernate does not seem to save much battery power, worth more than just shut it off most times.
Inside the Playbook
With respect to the inner part of the playbook, it's important to talk about the boldness of the BlackBerry to opt for a particular operating system, the BlackBerry Tablet OS, QNX created from, but at the same time recognizing the importance of Android and aggregate your device to store application software from Google. Even if the Android Market is not yet available for the playbook, such integration may represent a step forward in the war of the giants of mobility, IOS, Apple against Windows Phone, Microsoft, or against Google's Android. Moreover, by offering its own system, which carries the whole tradition of Canadian maker of BlackBerry smartphones, RIM running back in the race for increased security in data exchange. Accustomed to address the privacy of corporate clients and the need to provide security for executives and information exchanged between BlackBerrys, RIM is less likely than Android to suffer from hacker invasions, for example.
In the case of BlackBerry, it seems indeed a wise decision, since its enterprise solutions for smartphones are globally known and recognized. That is, for RIM, is more business to create a system to talk to their handsets as it does with Google Android, for example. As for the app store itself, the App World, RIM is aware that it leaves much to be desired when compared to competitors, especially the end user, who is more interested in entertainment. While the app store for Android playbook is not posted, the way is the user's Playbook be content with what you have, the book reader application and Kobo mount "scrapbooks" - scrapbooks with photos - for example.
And what has not, as Angry Birds, announced at the BlackBerry World, but not yet available.
With a very user friendly interface, colored as the operating system is weak only when the user goes after what, in advance, know that the BlackBerry owed and that everyone expects to come from the factory: address book, e- mail and calendar, for example.
Moreover, the Tablet BlackBerry OS (QNX) is very intuitive, sensitive, multitouch and gestures and with one of the easiest mechanisms of tactile and close programs, which consists of dragging a finger down the edge to edge higher once to minimize the window and a second to close it altogether. A home with only what matters at the top - date, time, data from Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, battery and settings and so on. At the bottom of the home, the user has access to all programs, or to "folders" favorites, gaming or media services (in the playbook, 'media').
And to compensate for the absences, RIM has worked and is working to improve the user experience with browser. Without Safari, Mozilla, Google Chrome or Internet Explorer, the playbook has a minimalist browser, and therefore effective. Windows, star of favorites, downloads, full screen option, historical: the basics for navigating the Internet is there. In addition to the home page "Bookmarks" customizable and can be displayed in lists or icons. Just like RIM announced at the BlackBerry World, and its problems were resolved quickly: during the tests, he was quick and accurate in the opening pages. And one more point in its favor: the use of Flash technology from Adobe.
This is indeed one of the letters on the sleeve of RIM against its competitors, particularly Apple. Arm in arm with Adobe, the playbook promises a user experience of browsing the Internet more fully and at the same time, attracts developers from the Flash development community for BlackBerry devices, which use much Java, and in future , joining the Android application developers who want to be available for Android and QNX. According to the BlackBerry, are more than 1.6 million sites in Flash, "rise."
The ability to perform multi-tasking is another slogan of the playbook. Rick Costanzo, RIM's director for Latin America, was among those who called attention repeatedly to the real multi-tasking ability playbook. Talking to press the BlackBerry World, he was keen to demonstrate such a possibility to surf the internet and dozens of open applications while a movie was viewed on a television connected to the tablet. This type of test was impossible, since the tablet does not come with HDMI cable factory, but in fact, independent of the number of programs open and running, the playbook has always done very well thanks, no screens or error " crashes. " One explanation for such a good performance of RIM's device is on dual-core processor coupled to 1 GHz 1 GB RAM memory and symmetric multiprocessing. As Costanzo, the playbook is the only tablet that takes real advantage of dual-core processor.
Finally, remember that the tablet RIM is ready to work connected to BlackBerry smartphones using the BlackBerry Bridge. And many business solutions that make the Canadian manufacturer known worldwide, including BlackBerry Messenger, which are not yet available in tablet, will be soon. For now, we can just hope the smokescreen surrounding the playbook since its launch has dissipated and that the expected updates to reach the tablet before it arrives in Brazil - no date set for it. Only so users can enjoy the device in what he does best: a strong hardware, software friendly, and personal and professional applications. Vale also hope that with the framework of the Law on tablets Well, RIM decides to produce it in Sorocaba, Sao Paulo, where it already has a factory equipment.
In time, last week, the site Business Insider reported that RIM must have sold about 250,000 units since April as an RBC analyst Mike Abramsky, may sell up to 500,000 units in the first quarter. If the count is true, RIM has sold more than playbooks initial sales of tablet Motorola's Android, the XOOM.
The test was done with the playbook a 16GB model and Wi-Fi and items of plant: Display cleaning cloth, neoprene sleeve, battery charger and micro-USB cable.
