DailyTech - Quick Note: PlayBook 2.0 Calendar, "Bridge" Smartphone Control Demoed

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Gadgets Quick Note: PlayBook 2.0 Calendar, "Bridge" Smartphone Control Demoed
Jason Mick (Blog) - February 7, 2012 4:33 PM

25 comment(s) - last by mavricxx.. on Feb 9 at 6:24 PM

BlackBerries turn into free Bluetooth controllers and keyboards for RIM's tablet -- now that's more like it

Looking to get back on a winning path, smartphone maker Research in Motion, Ltd.'s (TSE:RIM) is baking a major overhaul to the operating system (OS) of its first tablet, the PlayBook.

Some of the features in this update -- PlayBook 2.0 -- were demoed in near-release form at the DevCon Europe show, RIM's take on a worldwide developer convention. RIM finally appears to be getting its innovative juices flowing, based on the early preview of the pending OS.

The neatest by far is "BlackBerry Bridge". With this app, you can use your Bluetooth-paired BlackBerry smartphone to control your PlayBook. Swipes translate onto the big screen. And you can type on the keyboard, turning your smartphone into an instant Bluetooth keyboard.

_{You can now use your BlackBerry as a PlayBook keyboard -- that's pretty cool.

[Image Source: PocketLint]}

It would be pretty cool if you could do that on your Apple, Inc. (AAPL) iPhone and iPad, which lead the world [1][2] in single model device sales -- but oh, yea, the iPhone doesn't have a physical keyboard.

RIM also has a spiffed up calendar app, which allows you to pull up contact details from social networks and send invites via Facebook and its ilk. A cute visual touch is that the app bolds your busiest days -- so if you want to show off, just get really busy and impress your coworkers with your "boldness".

_{RIM has spiffed up the calendar app in PlayBook 2.0. [Image Source: PocketLint]}

PlayBook 2.0 is expected to land sometime late this month as a free upgrade for current owners of the tablet.

Source: Pocket Lint

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Entropy issues!

By messele on 2/7/2012 5:34:19 PM , Rating: 2

Completely pointless. If you want a keyboard get a Bluetooth compact keyboard and use that.

RIM are managing to defy the laws of physics and actually travel against the arrow of time. They should concentrate on native email etc. and not pointless gimmicks.

Maybe they are regretting copying Apple instead of having a slide-out physical keyboard as every other single product of theirs does. It's what they are (well, were) uniquely famous for.

RE: Entropy issues!

By retrospooty on 2/7/2012 7:08:30 PM , Rating: 1

LOL... Also funny how they came up with their own instant message app in 2010 or 2011. LOL. WOW, instant message, but only for BB users. What an innovation. I hope they dont give away their secrets to AOL, Yahoo, MSN, etc. from Y2K. IT could affect the future!

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RE: Entropy issues!

By RubberJohnny on 2/7/2012 8:52:52 PM , Rating: 2

LOLOLOL...Also funny that you know nothing about the subject matter at hand, WOW it makes you look like a goose.

BB Messenger was released in early 2006.

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RE: Entropy issues!

By retrospooty on 2/7/2012 9:04:43 PM , Rating: 2

Whatever. That changes the point in no way. After their email service they haven't invented anything worthwhile.

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RE: Entropy issues!

By Pirks on 2/8/2012 4:23:40 AM , Rating: 2

yeah anti-RIM trolls are usually dumb and uneducated, this figures :) I noticed too

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RE: Entropy issues!

By retrospooty on 2/8/2012 7:03:06 AM , Rating: 2

LOL, OK, so being incorrect about the release date on an obsolete platform's "already outdated on release date" product makes me dumb an uneducated? Sorry, this changes the point zero. If I were dumb and uneducated, I just might have bought a RIM product.

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RE: Entropy issues!

By Cheesew1z69 on 2/8/2012 8:46:39 AM , Rating: 2

quote:
dumb and uneducated

Just...like....you. Go figure.

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RE: Entropy issues!

By Pirks on 2/8/2012 3:24:42 PM , Rating: 2

no solo dances clown. no Sojar - no fun. GTFO.

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RE: Entropy issues!

By Warren21 on 2/8/2012 7:18:50 PM , Rating: 2

As someone has already pointed out, you're about 5-6 years off target. What does this have to say about iMessage though, if we're going specifically on the topic of a closed-system instant messenger? I don't see the weight to this argument.

When introduced iPhones weren't even on the market and smartphones were few and far between. Forget about anything Android, obviously.

Since then, they have not innovated much, sure. If you're going to make an asshat comment though, check your facts. Now you just look petty and ill-informed.

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RE: Entropy issues!

By mavricxx on 2/9/2012 6:24:03 PM , Rating: 3

Hater, goes to show you know nothing about RIM or innovating. I GUARNATEE YOU, APPLE AND GOOGLE WILL COPY THE BRIDGE and REMOTE FEATURE...IT'S THAT GOOD!

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Pretty neat feature...

By DukeN on 2/8/2012 9:44:09 AM , Rating: 2

This is pretty sweet for those that hook up their playbooks to a big screen (playbook has a standard micro-HDMI out).

Because the tablet plays 1080p videos just fine (pretty much the only thing that'll do it out there outside of Tegra 3 based tablets), this is a fantastic solution for those looking to output videos to their big screen. Or for those that actually use the playbook to take videos (excellent 1080p quality provided there's enough light).

RE: Pretty neat feature...

By messele on 2/8/2012 2:40:05 PM , Rating: 2

Do you know what would be really cool?

Firstly, how about not having to hook the tablet up to the TV but instead you set it to beam video to the TV wirelessly, freeing you up to carry on using the tablet to do other things.

Also, how about not using a tablet to shoot video or take pictures, cos it makes you look like an escaped mental patient who claims they invented a teleportation device in their garage.

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RE: Pretty neat feature...

By DukeN on 2/8/2012 2:46:40 PM , Rating: 2

Please show me another tablet that can display wirelessly to the TV most people own.

I guess all the people you see using their iPads to take (HORRIBLE) videos and pics are escaped mental patients?

The Playbook actually has decent quality video/photos compared to most tablets.

Do you even have anything positive to say?

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RE: Pretty neat feature...

By messele on 2/8/2012 3:48:23 PM , Rating: 2

Yeah I do. RIM should have concentrated on making the damn thing do basic tasks well first instead of focussing on crappy legacy niche applications like FLASH! (ahhhhhh.....) for the sole reason that they can put it into an advert to make the market leader look bad.

Instead of focussing on making themselves look good (Samsung take note).

I've never actually seen anybody use any tablet to take photos of videos, save for using them for Skype, which seems a decent application. I think I'm safe in saying the majority will own a decent phone and will use that instead.

Oh and I'm not naming my tablet but, yeah, it beams a 12Tb media library to any TV in the house. OK it was at an extra cost but that cost was minimal with the enjoyment it has given us.

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RE: Pretty neat feature...

By DukeN on 2/8/2012 3:49:11 PM , Rating: 2

I love the armchair CEOs.

RIM, Samsung and Apple are the main smartphone companies that are very profitable at the moment. And you have advice for two of them.

Quick to blast anything and everything, but can't even name the device you own? So this tablet 'beams' video to any TV in the house?

If you cared to read (it's not an easy task, I know), I had asked about something that displayed wirelessly to MOST TVs.

STFU trollboy, and go back to necrophiling your Steve Jobs blowup doll.

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RE: Pretty neat feature...

By Pirks on 2/8/2012 4:47:15 PM , Rating: 1

retro is not a pro-Apple troll, he's just an anti-RIM troll, so he shits on Lazaridis doll instead

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RE: Pretty neat feature...

By messele on 2/8/2012 4:58:05 PM , Rating: 1

I don't give a shit about most TV's. Most TV's allow you to plug things into them negating the need for inbuilt wireless crud with clunky menus and shit future proofing. Like PlayBooks that require you to dedicate something that should be sat on your lap to something that is tethered to the box on the other side of the room.

Doesn't bother me whether you believe I'm talking crap or whether you believe RIM have really come up with something that people actually want. I'm not the one who's going be left with an obsolete paperweight as they are too pig-headed to stand up and demand more of the company that promised so much and delivered so little. Tell me all this stuff again when RIM has finally haemorrhaged all their operating capital.

Still, that phone that can type to your tethered portable media centre eh? Woah, shit get that patented right away, everybody's gonna want to get in on that tethered-but-wireless action!

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RE: Pretty neat feature...

By Pirks on 2/8/2012 4:42:00 PM , Rating: 2

Does a clueless anti-RIM troll has anything positive about RIM to say? Does ice burn? Does fire freeze?

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but oh, yea, no one cares.

By JackBurton on 2/7/2012 4:52:22 PM , Rating: 2

quote:
but oh, yea, the iPhone doesn't have a physical keyboard.

But oh, yea, no one cares. Seriously, RIM just needs to give it up. Using your BB as a keyboard for your tablet? Wow! You know what also has a keyboard with a display? A laptop. And this is innovation to you? Sounds like a useless gimmick to me.

RE: but oh, yea, no one cares.

By V-Money on 2/7/2012 5:13:17 PM , Rating: 2

quote:
You know what also has a keyboard with a display? A laptop. And this is innovation to you?

Innovation: 2. A new method, idea, product, etc

As a matter of fact I'm pretty sure it fits the definition. I don't see why people see additional options as a bad thing. For instance, I like playing games and having a somewhat capable computer, but I like mobility so I have a laptop (15.6" with dedicated graphics) over a desktop. As a college student I take a lot of notes, and I always use my touchpad paired with a bluetooth keyboard. I could use my laptop, but it takes up more room and is more prone to accidents. My touchpad is light, small, and works great. I always carry my phone with me, so if I happened to have a blackberry phone I could use a playbook and it would take up even less room and weight than the touchpad.

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RE: but oh, yea, no one cares.

By Pirks on 2/7/2012 5:35:54 PM , Rating: 1

Feeding clueless anti-RIM troll much?

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RE: but oh, yea, no one cares.

By dmk2000 on 2/7/2012 6:08:25 PM , Rating: 1

Pirks...
Are you on RIM payroll? Listen, I hate to see any company fold, it is not a company that suffers but employees, you know, humans who have bills to pay and such. Now your blinded defense of RIM is pathetic. Granted, once in a while you have a good point, and as far as you concern, it is a great company, BUT. You see, if everyone viewed RIM just like you, then RIM would be bigger than Apple, right? Unfortunately/fortunately, most people including investors do not see RIM the way you are, therefore stock price reflects this view. Now if RIM wants to survive and prosper, it has to change, or at least do something tangible quick. So making blackberry phone control tablet is cool and such, this is my friend is not an innovation, it is a side effect. This is not what make regular Apple brainwashed people stop and say “ WOW, I need this NOW”. So once again, in order for RIM to survive they need innovate BIG way and now.
P.S. my wife owns iphone, me Blackberry tourch.

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RE: but oh, yea, no one cares.

By Pirks on 2/7/2012 6:40:29 PM , Rating: 2

Saying "nobody needs XXX or YYY" is still clueless trolling no matter how you slice it.

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RE: but oh, yea, no one cares.

By XZerg on 2/7/2012 7:43:16 PM , Rating: 2

who said: nobody needs xxx ;)

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RE: but oh, yea, no one cares.

By retrospooty on 2/7/2012 7:06:25 PM , Rating: 2

"Now if RIM wants to survive and prosper, it has to change, or at least do something tangible quick. So making blackberry phone control tablet is cool and such, this is my friend is not an innovation, it is a side effect. This is not what make regular Apple brainwashed people stop and say “ WOW, I need this NOW"

Exactly. RIM has a major problem if they cant hurry and get QNX on phones. They have already announced its delayed from mid 2012 to late 2012. By the time its released the market will be flooded with Android 4 phones and looking at IOS6 and Android 5. QNX has a HUGE hill to climb... It cant just be as good, but need to be better than the others to get any cred. Now look at RIM's track record for the past 5 years. What are the odds it will come out polished and not buggy as hell?

Good luck.

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