Best Buy hints at Twitter and Kindle apps for BlackBerry PlayBook

By Adam Zeis on 17 Feb 2012 10:54 am

Best Buy Canada got a bit of a jump on things when they listed the PlayBook OS 2.0 software as "coming soon" in their recent ad, and now they may be getting a bit ahead of themselves once again. As listed on their PlayBook product page, Best Buy notes that PlayBook owners will be able to access both Twitter and Kindle apps.

Plug in to BlackBerry App World and read, write and game like never before. With thousands of apps for every use, you'll never run out of new and exciting options. Pick up Angry Birds or Cut the Rope, read the latest magazines, or connect online with Facebook and Twitter apps. With access to Kobo and Kindle, you can enjoy new late night reading without ever leaving your living room.

We still haven't heard any news regarding either of these apps, but they have topped the most-wanted list for PlayBook apps for quite a while. If you recall, Amazon had announced a Kindle app before the PlayBook ever saw the light of day yet we've heard nothing on it since. So this could be a big "oops" on Best Buy for dropping the ball, or just a crazy mix up that is getting us excited for no reason. In any case, we should find out very soon.

Source: N4BB

Topics: Twitter Kindle Best Buy News & Rumors PlayBook Apps

Adam Zeis 3031 (articles) 2792 (forum posts)

35 comments

Jeovex Feb 17, 2012 at 10:57 am

First!! And native twitter would be awesome.

JasW Feb 17, 2012 at 12:12 pm

While I'll be very glad to see both, neither would be as awesome as Netflix and Skype.

ianbordas Feb 17, 2012 at 2:16 pm

Kindle would be nice, but not as nice as getting SKYPE, TANGO and GooglePLUS (Hangouts) to the PB!!

P.S. Amazon MP3 & a movie download/rental App would also be greatly welcomed.

Ian
Bold 9900 & PlayBook 64GB Wifi

MattyC47 Feb 17, 2012 at 2:24 pm

OS 2.0 has a video store and a music store.

Skype and Netflix are more difficult and google plus sucks.

shuabert Feb 18, 2012 at 1:34 am

I only care about Skype and Netflix. I don't use Twitter and I don't care about Kindle when I have Kobo. What's the use of a front-facing camera on the Playbook when you can only use it to chat with OTHER Playbook users?

Bring us Skype and Netflix, RIM!

auditman Feb 17, 2012 at 11:00 am

Hope it comes soon!

CrackBerryTorch9800 Feb 17, 2012 at 11:03 am

I told my mom that buying a Ereader was a dumb decision. Too boot it runs on andriod. Im happy that I have class that day at 430 so i can play with os 2.0 all day :)

Barredbard Feb 17, 2012 at 11:52 am

Not entirely true. Ereaders have formidable battery life; better than any tablet, pretty much. It might make sense for someone who doesn't need/want all the bells and whistles of a tablet.

mingus007 Feb 17, 2012 at 1:05 pm

Agree w/you here. While a "one trick pony," the eReaders (and the Kindle in particular, IMO) does it exceedingly well. Got me a PBook, Kindle (gen3, I think), and yes, an iPad. If you're OK w/reading a book "like a web page" (off an LCD), then you're good. I'm amazed at the eInk actually being so much easier on the eyes and, more importantly, being able to read in bright sun conditions (ie- in a window at the coffee shop when I'm feeling bohemian). :)

I also like NOT being tempted to do anything else BUT read, which is always lurking w/a tablet or phone. Keeps the reading focused and enjoyable.

That said, I'd welcome seeing a native Kindle app on the PB in case I happen to not have my trusty Kindle w/me. Options are good.

shuabert Feb 18, 2012 at 1:37 am

I would definitely use a proper eReader over a tablet app if I had one (though I wouldn't shell out an extra $100 just for that). The e-ink is much easier to read.

Thunderbuck Feb 17, 2012 at 11:11 am

Yes, I saw that page and that Kindle mention jumped right out at me. Interesting.

Kobo is okay, but one feature Kindle has is the ability to "lend" an e-book for two weeks; I'll switch just for that ability.

bobaloo Feb 17, 2012 at 11:14 am

"Access to Kindle" is much different than having a native Kindle app.

I'm hopeful but skeptical

JasW Feb 17, 2012 at 12:10 pm

Very true. I already have "access to Kindle" on my PB -- through the Kindle Cloud Reader on the browser.

MattyC47 Feb 17, 2012 at 2:25 pm

ported android app?

shlammed Feb 17, 2012 at 11:17 am

The anwer is simple: they're talking about the ported Android versions, not native versions.

GuyIncognitus Feb 17, 2012 at 11:18 am

Yeah, that's my thinking too.

blackmoe Feb 17, 2012 at 11:21 am

That's my guess as well

koool1 Feb 17, 2012 at 11:28 am

You may be right but so long as they run well, I am ok with that.

Kiddo2050 Feb 17, 2012 at 11:22 am

Still it's Kindle that has to port the App so that's still good. I was worried that producers of the big apps (Kindle, NYTimes etc.) might not even bother to port their Apps to the PB.

sk8er_tor Feb 17, 2012 at 11:27 am

The ad also mentions access to the video store which RIM has said will launch in the US first, yet this is on the Best Buy Canada website.

koool1 Feb 17, 2012 at 11:24 am

Neither of these excite me but they add a lot to the Playbook platform so all good if they are coming.

I am waiting for Zinio, the video store and my integrated mail.

Tuesday could be a good day for Playbook!!!

2ys4u Feb 17, 2012 at 11:34 am

Lets get it, apps fall from the sky^

Darlaten Feb 17, 2012 at 11:38 am

Just out of curioisty - how do we know if Best Buy was actually the author of this advertisment? What if this was a document put together by RIM for Bestbuy as part of their increased marketing for the Playbook?

Thunderbuck Feb 17, 2012 at 12:02 pm

Presumably, they built this page in conjunction with RIM.

This update represents a "relaunch" of sorts for the Playbook brand, especially in the absence of new hardware. I would guess that senior RIM marketing people are coordinating with all the major retailers.

JREwing Feb 17, 2012 at 11:39 am

Makes my decision to purchase a Playbook all the more sweeter.

Crackberry-Hammer Feb 17, 2012 at 12:00 pm

Twitter is already mobile on the playbook. Twitter was terrible when it first launched but recently got a huge UI update. If you use it over WIFI you'll notice now. Looks great now so I'm not overly concerned for a dedicated App now. Overall though - good selling point

mssca Feb 17, 2012 at 12:14 pm

Is this new OS update has DLNA support for both media rendering (server to Playbook) and media streaming (Playbook to PS3)?

I sell these things and crackberry.com is my place of education to explain these things to customers.

shlammed Feb 17, 2012 at 12:54 pm

DLNA didn't make the cut in 2.0

nightspark Feb 17, 2012 at 12:41 pm

Now all we need is Netflix and Skype.

jyrbain Feb 17, 2012 at 2:12 pm

Who cares about kindle or kobo apps. Book reader doesn't discriminate between sources. I have my Indigo book and Amazon book purchases all on Book Reader and it works great!

This way you don't have to go through BS about restricting sharing books with friends. Its not like I have to ask Chapters if I can loan a paper back to my room-mate....

thehairlesscat Feb 17, 2012 at 3:11 pm

Amazon's handling of the Kindle App for Playbook is specifically why I haven't bought any Kindle books and haven't bought anything on Amazon for nearly a year now. If they are going to release an app, they should make some contrition to me if they want me to care.

Smiley88 Feb 17, 2012 at 4:19 pm

PB has two HD 1080p cameras? Are those guys serious? The last time i checked the front camera is NOT HD.

glassofpinot Feb 17, 2012 at 10:30 pm

Kindle - and any other eReader - is important for the Playbook. Hope they are right!

TomCanuck Feb 18, 2012 at 1:59 am

it says nothing about a kindle APP. it says access to Kindle. which is true using Amazon's html5 site right?

jayviper Feb 20, 2012 at 5:32 pm

I saw this article released 1 hour ago about the Kindle.
http://www.phonearena.com/news/BlackBerry-Playbook-OS-2.0-officially-lau...

Seems verified by BB.

------------------------------------------------------------
Jayviper
Playbook User
Professional Writer
B.A. Philosophy

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