BlackBerry's iPad competitor gets a public preview - and it's Flash, Flash, Flash
At the Adobe MAX conference in LA yesterday, RIM co-chief executive Mike Lazaridis gave BlackBerry PlayBook its first public outing (see video above).
At the Adobe MAX conference in LA yesterday, RIM co-chief executive Mike Lazaridis gave BlackBerry PlayBook its first public outing (see video above).
The PlayBook is pitched as a rival to Apple's iPad. It has a smaller screen (7-inches to the iPad's 9.6), and needs to be tethered to a BlackBerry phone for full functionality. But unlike the iPad, it features a camera for video conferencing, can play full high def video, and support's Adobe Flash.
And, indeed, Flash mored a central part of Mr Lazaridis' demo, which included running the Flash-based YouTube - as in the website, not an app.
The RIM boss also displayed full high definition BBC videos running in Adobe Air on the PlayBook, plus an MRI imaging application - presumably an attempt to woo the lucrative medical market. The PlayBook is being billed, after all, as "the professional tablet".
Although with that Flash support, RIM might want to push it as better for play, and better for video and news website viewing, as well.
The PlayBook is due for commercial release next year.
Yesterday, Mr Lazaridis announced a PlayBook development kit was available for software makers.
One incentive for them to jump onboard: they'll be given a free PlayBook.
NBR staff
Wed, 27 Oct 2010
Wed, 27 Oct 2010
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BlackBerry's iPad competitor gets a public preview - and it's Flash, Flash, Flash
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