More Details on BlackBerry PlayBook Development from RIM Webcast

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Kyle McInnes
on November 4, 2010, at 3:27 PM
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playbook gestures

The first of the BlackBerry PlayBook apps are being developed as we speak and it will be interesting to see what people come up with. Today, RIM hosted the first webcast for developers in a series that will span 5 weeks of PlayBook development help. Some of the details we learned in the webcast include:

  • RIM will be opening app world for PlayBook app submissions in about 2 weeks. More details about free PlayBooks for developers will come then.
  • The PlayBook will have a few cool gestures for switching apps, showing the keyboard and displaying device information such as battery life (pictured above).
  • The PlayBook will eventually support more than just Adobe AIR development. Developers will also be able to write apps for the PlayBook in Java and WebWorks.
  • Currently, there is no support for app splash screens but RIM will include it if there are enough devs asking for it.
  • App deployment over the BES is not finalized. The first version is a WiFi only version so no direct connection with BES but there will be tethering. No more details just yet.
  • Not a lot of information available on GPS and location support but this will be explained in future webcasts.
  • The PlayBook will have capabilities that the BlackBerry doesn’t.
  • The AIR SDK can leverage both front and rear facing cameras.
  • Theme Builder is not in the plans for the initial release but they’ll consider it if there is enough positive feedback.

The best part of the webcast was when Mike Kirkup said the PlayBook has a “kick ass” video processor. Can’t wait to check it out.

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  • Grwisher

    Any word on details like price and battery life?

  • Anonymous

    judging from the given specs, i’d assume that the device will be good for 8 hours on a single charge
    its battery life should land somewhere between galaxy tab and ipad’s
    evidently longer than galaxy tab, slightly shorter than the ipad

    the price? i wouldnt guess it’d be any less than 500 without a contract
    and, obviously, what would you want this device for without a bundled data plan, no matter its 3G or 4G
    so I’d say $250~350 would be quite possible

  • Jcasey

    I signed up for the webcast but had a conflict. Did they say that they were going to record the webcast and make it available for download?

  • Prom1

    “App deployment over the BES is not finalized. The first version is a WiFi only version so no direct connection with BES but there will be tethering. No more details just yet.”

    Odd since BES 4.1 SP7 allows for WLAN connections – you need to define the WLAN network specifics but its there.

    Anyone else feel this is based on Nvidia’s Tegra2 chipset/platform? considering QNX’s strong efforts in the mobile industry and considering Audi uses the Tegra2 for their MMI system in all 2012 products being launched this late this year – its only a seemless fit.