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From the forums: Verizon Webinar BlackBerry PlayBook FAQ notes that native email, calendar and contacts are on the way!

by Kevin Michaluk on 28 Mar 2011 04:41 PM
60
 

BlackBerry PlayBook Native Apps

Forums member mediq91 dropped a bit of good info in the forums today in the form of a BlackBerry PlayBook FAQ taken from a Verizon webinar. The document contains a good summary of answers to all the common PlayBook questions like specs and BlackBerry Bridge, but nothing really new that we haven't seen before. It is good to see more solid information coming straight from RIM however. The cool thing to note is that native clients for email, calendar and contacts will be included in software versions down the road (it just won't be quite ready for the April 19th launch). We've been told by RIM on a few occassions now that the native clients would come to the PlayBook at some point, but this is the first time we've actually seen it in writing.

In a future software update for the BlackBerry PlayBook, we will also provide native e-mail, calendar, and contact apps for those customers who prefer to have these apps directly on the tablet. 

Definitely good news for those of you worried that the tablet would be left without these native apps should you not have a BlackBerry to pair with it. It makes sense that these do need to be there before the QNX software hits phones down the road. Hopefully this native support will be ready to roll when we see the 4G version of the PlayBook  hit this summer (it's just gotta have native BBM, don't you think?) or hopefully even sooner... I'm sure we'll learn more about this soon.

So what are your thoughts? Does this make you any more motivated to buy a PlayBook now knowing the features will implemented sooner rather than later via a software update? Were you going to get one no matter what? Or does it not change the fact that you're still not sold on the PlayBook? Leave a comment and let us know then swing by the forums do downlad the full FAQ pdf and to discuss!

Download the PlayBook FAQ .pdf and discuss more in the forums

Filed Under: News & Rumors, From the Forums...; Tags: BlackBerry Playbook, From the Forums
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60 Comments

Posted by the brother Monday, Mar 28, 2011 331 days ago

This sounds nice!

 
 
Posted by theoden13 Monday, Mar 28, 2011 331 days ago

It seems foolish to me to release a product without core applications available. Doesn't make me more or less likely to buy it but it means I will not buy it till they are released (and I want to see the Android emulator actually working). Buying a product and depending on a software upgrade is foolish IMHO. It shows just how far behind the curve RIM is that they have to release a product without core applications ready.

 
 
Posted by jstarett Monday, Mar 28, 2011 331 days ago

Uhh... Motorola did the exact same thing with Xoom

 
 
Posted by elsteve9 Monday, Mar 28, 2011 331 days ago

Yeah, and they got crucified for it, too.

Motorola's incompetence is no defense of RIM's incompetence. I'm usually pretty reluctant to complain, but seriously? It doesn't ship with a CALENDAR!?!?!
It's one thing to ship it with a slow calendar, or a buggy calendar, but NOTHING!?! Holy hell. When did they realize they'd need one? Yesterday?

-Stephen

 
 
Posted by jamesbyjr Monday, Mar 28, 2011 331 days ago

Stephen,

You do have a valid point if you will be using the Playbook as your primary device. However, I have a question for you. How many computers do you have? In addition, do you own a smart phone? If you answer yes to both questions, why are a calender and email so important on a tablet! How many places do you check email and calender events? I have an iMac, a Torch, and a laptop, and now I am purchasing the Playbook. I have made my cell phone my central point for email and calender events because I constantly have my cell phone with me. I have found it to be counterproductive to have email and calender events all over the place, and going to multiple devices; even when you are synchronizing. I am glad that Blackberry is allowing their customers (those who have Blackberry phones) to pair their devices to eliminate duplication of emails, tasks, etc... On the Playbook, you can go on line and check your email. In addition, if needed, you probably can download a free calender.

I wonder how many people who have iPads, iMacs and iPhones actually use email and calender on their iPads! I bet you very few...

 
 
Posted by Diegito6 Tuesday, Mar 29, 2011 331 days ago

In my case you are absolutely right, I have the ipad and i rather check my email with the browser and google calendar is the best. I really dont see the big deal with the PB not having a native email app yet. I'll be getting a PB but i'm going to wait for a 3G version.

 
 
Posted by rmjones101 Monday, Mar 28, 2011 331 days ago

You would consider Flash a core application?

 
 
Posted by elsteve9 Monday, Mar 28, 2011 331 days ago

There isn't an android emulator; android apps have to be recompiled and run as native apps.

-Stephen

 
 
Posted by BerryGuy25 Monday, Mar 28, 2011 331 days ago

I agree, releasing it without email or calendar apps is kind of silly. If we believe what RIM has said in the past, that they've been working on this before they announced and even before the iPad 1 came out, how in the hell are these core apps not ready to go??

Backwards as usual I guess...

 
 
Posted by enzo07i Monday, Mar 28, 2011 331 days ago

too many anti-RIM Blogs,may they find some peace of mind, just like all the blogs of PCworld are all anti-RIM,

 
 
Posted by Yousif Abdullah Monday, Mar 28, 2011 331 days ago

Good to hear more about this, but what is the stance of the WiFi only model?

Peace,
Yousif.

 
 
Posted by pozi240 Monday, Mar 28, 2011 331 days ago

Maybe some of the "negative nellies" out there will finally stop their whining about the native email client. LOL

 
 
Posted by nasigorengpete Monday, Mar 28, 2011 331 days ago

i dont understand why they didn't prioritise those basic apps from the beginning. yes they promise a software upgrade.. but this is RIM, i still haven't seen a single update for my torch since i bought it last October.

 
 
Posted by UrbanGlowCam Monday, Mar 28, 2011 331 days ago

The Torch has definitely received official software updates since its launch. Where have you been? I don't know which carrier you're on but maybe they're to blame.

This is great news for the Playbook!

 
 
Posted by raptorfan Monday, Mar 28, 2011 331 days ago

Also, current OS are handled by the carriers at their own (slow) pace but it doesn't stop you from loading any OS version. For the Playbook the OS is a completely different animal - updates will be direct from RIM, and I read somewhere QNX can update itself without a reboot (!), if true this should avoid having to re-install the apps every time.

 
 
Posted by greatness10 Monday, Mar 28, 2011 331 days ago

There has probably been 7 or 8 software upgrades for the torch since launch.....448 is the newest version.

 
 
Posted by rapsball4 Monday, Mar 28, 2011 331 days ago

I am getting one anyway as a developer, but in theory if I wasn't, this would probably bump me from about 40% likely to buy one to more like 60%. Nice, but as somebody with a BlackBerry always on me, I can survive with Bridge if it didn't happen.

 
 
Posted by vesprm6 Monday, Mar 28, 2011 331 days ago

cool... unless emails get truncated on the playbook like they do on my bb handheld

 
 
Posted by rgm Monday, Mar 28, 2011 331 days ago

Never understood the native email client argument. The zoom's native email client is Gmail, which works on the Playbook as well, so I don't get what the whining is about. Especially the Tech blog reporters and editors.

 
 
Posted by mckillio Monday, Mar 28, 2011 331 days ago

Agreed. I don't have/use a contacts, calendar, or email apps/programs on my laptop. Why would I need it on my PB?

 
 
Posted by TheScionicMan Monday, Mar 28, 2011 331 days ago

If that's true, then this whole complaint about the PB email client is moot.

And BBM using a PIN is a great example of why having the PB duplicate the functions of a BB is unneeded and bridging is a better solution. 2 PINs, 2 Data plans and double the download charges when you update your tablet client and your phone client as well. And odds are extremely good that you WILL have your phone around because the PB isn't a phone.

 
 
Posted by bulls2213 Monday, Mar 28, 2011 331 days ago

maybe this'll shut up some of the whiners on iGadget... i'm sure they'll find something else to nitpick though

 
 
Posted by axe50 Monday, Mar 28, 2011 331 days ago

Unfortunately, it won't.

They will find something else no doubt. While it should have been there from the start, this is good news. Hopefully it won't take weeks or months to appear...

 
 
Posted by jstarett Monday, Mar 28, 2011 331 days ago

Course there is...

1) Its not a 10-inch screen
2) There are none or barely any apps
3) You are stealing another os' apps for apps
4) Consumers haven't used it yet so all the awesome comments are voided.
5) It doesn't connect to itunes or the iphone
6) The screen isn't as pretty as the Ipad 2
7) You don't have facetalk

Thats some I have seen or think they will talk trash about

Me on the other hand will be picking it up as soon as I can afford it! Sadly I will not be included in the first wave of buyers

 
 
Posted by diegonei Monday, Mar 28, 2011 331 days ago

That makes it two of us brother... Once it hits Brasil... I could expect $499 to become at least R$3500... Unless RIM managges to get it in under the same regulations the Kindle used (book reader). That would make it only $499+shipping (times currency ofc). Oh well, one can dream eh? ^^

 
 
Posted by BlackStormRising Monday, Mar 28, 2011 331 days ago

Like...why tiny hippos instead of big hippos?

 
 
Posted by Bold_until_Hybrid_Comes Monday, Mar 28, 2011 331 days ago

How will bridge bbm work if devices with 4G have their own PIN? Two accounts running at once on PB or one of them doesn't work??

 
 
Posted by mckillio Monday, Mar 28, 2011 331 days ago

If you're bridging your phone then that probably means you want your phone to take precedence. Ideally they will sync and combine all info.

 
 
Posted by sk8er_tor Monday, Mar 28, 2011 331 days ago

"It makes sense that these do need to be there before the QNX software hits phones down the road"

But will the email, calendar, etc on the PlayBook WiFi be the same as those on a BlacKBerry smartphone? Will it work through BIS for consumers when using the WiFi PlayBook to get read/unread status, push email, etc?

 
 
Posted by Riders On The Storm Monday, Mar 28, 2011 331 days ago

Flame if you want, but I think this is not a good start. Future is a relative term, so hopefully it is the near future not another two quarters away.

I do not see the edge that the Playbook has to make it an instant success, which is what RIM needs. Loyal Blackberry users will buy this, but it's the indecisive consumer who knows little about technology that should be targeted. Out of the box to sell a tablet that can't be used for email or a planner does not seem like a good start to a product competing in a space where there is one big name.

 
 
Posted by RoninKSB Monday, Mar 28, 2011 331 days ago

Amen. To succeed the Playbook needs to appeal to every potential customer. The way it is now, it seems to be targeting current BB users and only a select subset of those with newer devices (i.e. will the BB Bridge support the Storm?). The competition is entrenched and the response is the release of a half-baked device.

I agree with a post above, no one should buy anything as expensive as the Playbook for the potential of what it might do later on, it should do what you need from day one. The updates should be to improve existing functionality not to add functionality that should be there from the beginning. And this kludge solution for apps, is not the answer either.

I am going to reserve judgment until I get to play with the thing because the device might just be so awesome and the experience so great that I and a lot of other people will be willing to overlook these missing elements. After all, it has happened before (coughiPhonecough).

 
 
Posted by greatness10 Monday, Mar 28, 2011 331 days ago

"The updates should be to improve existing functionality not to add functionality that should be there from the beginning"

So I guess the iphone getting a wi-fi hot spot was something that was there from the beginning? Clearly that was added through an OS update.

 
 
Posted by Riders On The Storm Monday, Mar 28, 2011 331 days ago

No because the iPhone could still act as a phone, web browser, email outlet, and multimedia device.

Without email or a calendar what is the Playbook? A 7 inch wifi web browser? It seems to be lacking any ability to be a communications tool.

 
 
Posted by sk8er_tor Monday, Mar 28, 2011 331 days ago

Check your email online via hotmail.com or gmail.com. That's what the average consumer will do. The average consumer does not use an email client on their PC. Anyway, Email and calendar are not ready. Would you prefer that RIM delay selling the PlayBook for that reason? If you prefer waiting, then wait until the software is ready before buying one.

 
 
Posted by Riders On The Storm Monday, Mar 28, 2011 331 days ago

I agree and disagree. I think most PC users do not use a desktop client. That said, I think the smartphone space is different. You didn't buy a Blackberry or smartphone to use the web browser to check email, did you?

Plus, how will that help the corporate space? If this is supposed to be a supplement to corporate Blackberries, then email is critical.

I won't be buying a Playbook. However, if an "average" consumer was looking at reviews and information because they wanted to buy a $500 tablet and the WSJ or CNET says this tablet can't do email or have a calendar, do you think he or she be spending the money on that tablet when there are other viable, proven options on the market?

The Playbook needs to generate positive uproar and feedback for RIM, not another, "close but no cigar story."

 
 
Posted by sk8er_tor Tuesday, Mar 29, 2011 330 days ago

I think the corporate space doesn't want email/calendar stored on the PlayBook for security purposes. They will most likely be using the BlackBerry Bridge, no?

I agree with you, it would be nice to have email and calendar right from the beginning but not if it means delaying the release. I for one will be using it mostly for browsing the web and media. For email and calendar, I will be using my Torch as it's always ON and connected.

 
 
Posted by RoninKSB Monday, Mar 28, 2011 331 days ago

isn't the addition of a WiFi hotspot an improvement of existing functionality? i.e. the built-in cellular radio? Now, if the iPhone shipped without, say cut and paste, you would be comparing apples to blackberries.

As that actually did occur, I leave open the possibility that using the Playbook will be such a "magic" experience that potential consumers and reviewers will overlook/forgive the missing parts.

 
 
Posted by Riders On The Storm Monday, Mar 28, 2011 331 days ago

I think that's a great point. It's just interesting, the company that prides itself on their push emailing does not include it in device that they seem to be touting as their jewel.

 
 
Posted by sk8er_tor Tuesday, Mar 29, 2011 330 days ago

and when we get it, will it even be push email? Will the WiFi PlayBook connect to BIS?

 
 
Posted by Sloughing Monday, Mar 28, 2011 331 days ago

You're far more optimistic than I am. I don't even think loyal Blackberry users will blindly buy this. Blackberry calendar support for the average consumer is already lacking when compared to Android\iPhone.

The only thing that can possibly make the Playbook attractive is 100% support for flash on day one.

 
 
Posted by Sloughing Monday, Mar 28, 2011 331 days ago

"sooner rather than later via a software update"... You're completely delusional if you are confident that these features will be released in a reasonable time frame. RIM has made no indication when this software update will occur. If the playbook doesn't have day 1 native support for multiple email & calendar accounts it will be a failure.

 
 
Posted by Dekerta Monday, Mar 28, 2011 331 days ago

This is the mistake RIM makes with EVERY. SINGLE. PRODUCT. THEY. MAKE.

RIM is shooting themselves in the foot not including the native email client at release. Product reviews are written when the product is RELEASED, not 8 months later.

We all know the Playbook is going to be awesome, but most of the general public doesn't... All that matters is that every review is going to say "You can't email with the Playbook", and that's how it will be known forever, whether they include it in the future or not.

 
 
Posted by Dreadz24 Monday, Mar 28, 2011 331 days ago

+1.....You are correct.

 
 
Posted by elle-ade Monday, Mar 28, 2011 331 days ago

I don't mean to flame, but this is a seriously dumb comment to make. All phones/gadgets get released whenever, with updates to follow.

When the IPad was released with never-to-be flash and no camera (!!), that didn't stop all the tech blogs from hailing it as the next Coming, neither did it hinder sales.

More to the point of the comment, why should you need an email client when you can simply access your email like you would on a computer? If you actually watched any of the promo videos you would have heard the RIM guys saying the Playbook is not a bigger mobile device, its a small computer.
Why should I need a facebook app when I can see the full site?? etc etc

The real problem RIM has is marketing. With their marketing director gone, I hope they replace him with a real hype guy.

 
 
Posted by lnichols Monday, Mar 28, 2011 331 days ago

RIM should provide a much narrower date than just the "future". That could be a year later or more. They should be able to say something like before month X. I mean I wouldn't use an e-mail client anyway, I don't use one on my Mac, but it would help clear up things for those people without a Blackberry that are considering the playbook.

 
 
Posted by bigelectriccat Monday, Mar 28, 2011 331 days ago

Maybe RIM should hire the apple marketing guros, I am sure they can spin this so everyone will want a tablet without a native email client......

Is it just me or is it fun watching RIM self destruct!!!

 
 
Posted by Shamwari Monday, Mar 28, 2011 331 days ago

i think its just you mate

 
 
Posted by redefinescience Monday, Mar 28, 2011 331 days ago

would you even need native applications?

there's a browser,

facebook
hotmail
gmail
yahoo mail
myspace
...
...
countless flash games
countless flash video sites
...
crackberry.com (seriously, with a full browser do you REALLY need an app?)

my 2 cents.

 
 
Posted by q649 Tuesday, Mar 29, 2011 330 days ago

People can't seem to survive without an icon directing them to a program. It's like no one has ever used a web browser before, even though we all have a computer.

In fairness, one benefit of an icon is the ability to alter the icon graphics based on the reception of new email, or calendar event, etc.

You're not going to die without it.

 
 
Posted by mortys11 Monday, Mar 28, 2011 331 days ago

This will be DOA

When people walk into a store to try this out and they see no email or calendar ???

What were they thinking ?

Let's make a tablet to sell to our existing customers only, with less functions than their current phone which most users want to upgrade from anyway.

I would be shorting this stock as fast as possible ....the ship is sinking !

Oh, if they put bbm on other platforms they are finished!

 
 
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