News & Rumors

Press Release: Research In Motion previews BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 at CES 2012

by Kevin Michaluk

on 9 Jan 2012 09:17 AM

262

BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0

CES 2012 is just kicking off in Las Vegas, and if you've been wondering what Research In Motion will be displaying at the show we now know the answer. While the release date is still set for February, RIM will be showing off BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0, which brings with it a TON of long-waited feature enhancements that are going to make the BlackBerry PlayBook **THAT** much better. In addition to the expected native email and calendar, some other surprises are there, including my favorite - the ability to use your BlackBerry Smartphone as a remote control for your PlayBook. Yes, you can actually use that beautiful keyboard from the Bold 9900 to type on the PlayBook (this was one of those killer features I saw when I was down in Waterloo this past summer). Keep reading for full details and stay tuned to CrackBerry as we bring you back LOTS of hands-on content this week live from the show!

Press Release

RIM Previews BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 at CES

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA--(Marketwire - Jan. 9, 2012) - (CES 2012) - This week at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ:RIMM)(TSX:RIM) will be previewing new features of BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 that will enable customers to stay even more connected and productive in their personal and professional lives.

"BlackBerry PlayBook is already recognized for delivering powerful performance, true multi-tasking, advanced web browsing and HD multimedia in an ultra-portable design," said Mike Lazaridis, President and Co-CEO at Research In Motion. "With BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 we are building on this strong foundation, as well as leveraging our strengths in communications, social integration and productivity, to allow people to use their BlackBerry PlayBook in new ways throughout the day."

CES 2012 attendees who visit the BlackBerry booth at CES (South Hall 3 Booth # 30326) will get a sneak peek of upcoming BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 functionality including:

Advanced Messaging Experience:

New unified inbox - a powerful unified inbox within the built-in messaging app allows users to quickly manage their personal email and work email accounts as well as the messaging capabilities of popular social networking sites like Twitter®, LinkedIn® and others - all in one place.
Multi-tasking within email - by extending the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet's multitasking capabilities to 'tabbed email', users are able to reference one email while they compose another.
Rich-text email composing and editing - new features within the Messages app enable users to benefit from full support of fonts, formatting and editing of email threads, offering a robust email experience similar to that of a PC or laptop.
Inbox management tools - allows for powerful inbox search across multiple email accounts, as well as the ability to set out-of-office messages and email signatures directly from their tablet.

Deep Integration of Social Relationships:

Innovative people-centric calendar - in addition to standard calendar features that help users plan and organize their day, the powerful built-in Calendar app provides the unique ability for users to view their calendar by who they are meeting with that day and review valuable information about that contact. Information is consolidated automatically from social networking sites about that contact and/or their company.
Relationship-centric contacts app - more than just an address book, the new built-in Contacts app serves as a social hub - merging and consolidating information from multiple sources (including email and social channels) into one contact file for each person in their address book. Each contact file includes information such as recent status updates, conversations, related news articles and mutual contacts that are kept up-to-date automatically.

Making Your BlackBerry Smartphone and Tablet a Powerful Pair:

Remote control for the BlackBerry PlayBook - new BlackBerry Bridge features allow a user's BlackBerry smartphone to act as a keyboard and mouse for their BlackBerry PlayBook - effectively providing a wireless remote control for their tablet. Perfect for pausing a movie when a BlackBerry PlayBook is plugged in to a TV with an HDMI connection, or for using the tactile QWERTY keyboard on a BlackBerry smartphone to compose a message or document on the BlackBerry PlayBook.
Opening content on the BlackBerry PlayBook - BlackBerry Bridge allows you to take documents, emails, multimedia files and web pages found on your smartphone and open them quickly and directly on the BlackBerry PlayBook so you can use the larger high resolution display for an optimized viewing and editing experience.

Improved Mobile Productivity:

Updated document editing capabilities - updated Documents To Go® functionality makes it easier for users to create and edit documents while on the go. Improvements include: enhanced support for the virtual keyboard, the ability to view and update embedded charts and chart sheets within spreadsheets, a new formula wizard with over 100 functions as well as the ability to edit presentations including text, bullets and formatting.
Print To Go application - this app allows users to wirelessly "print" from their laptop or PC directly to their BlackBerry PlayBook over Wi-Fi®. A digital printout is created on the BlackBerry PlayBook so that users can view, sort and manage their digital printouts as though they were physical sheets of paper. The Print To Go app is the perfect way to consolidate info from various related sources like a hotel web confirmation, an airline boarding pass email, the show event schedule or even a map of the destination city and make them available for quick access on the go.
Increased control and manageability of corporate data - the combination of BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 with BlackBerry Mobile Fusion and BlackBerry Balance will help to overcome many barriers to widespread tablet deployment, including device manageability and the ability to secure, manage and control confidential corporate information on the device. Plus BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 supports dedicated shelf space inside the BlackBerry App World storefront to allow IT departments to control distribution of enterprise applications and to make those approved enterprise applications easily available to the organization's end users.

New Apps and Content:

Your favorite apps plus thousands more - many exciting new applications built for the BlackBerry PlayBook will be made available on BlackBerry App World with the availability of BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0. From gaming and lifestyle to business and productivity, RIM is showcasing some of the latest apps available for the BlackBerry PlayBook at CES 2012 including Angry Birds, Cut the Rope, Groupon, Thomson Reuters, Zinio and many more.
Video store - a catalog of thousands of movies and TV shows will be available through the integrated BlackBerry Video Storefront* with new releases to be made available for purchase or rent the same day they come out on DVD. Users will be able to begin watching media as soon as they start to download the file, so users won't have to wait for the entire file to transfer before they can enjoy great entertainment on the tablet's high resolution display, or on an HDTV via the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet's HDMI output.
Enhanced web browsing - the BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 browser also includes a new reading view, which is designed to make web sites even easier to enjoy by eliminating page clutter at the touch of a button. What's left is a cleaner format that is great for reading online news articles, blog posts, or websites that contain heavy amounts of text.

Availability

The BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 software update will be available as a free download for all BlackBerry PlayBook users and is expected to be available in February 2012.

BlackBerry Video Store will initially be available in the United States. Support for other countries is expected to be added later this year.

Filed Under: News & Rumors; Tags: CES2012, press release

262 Comments

Posted by seb.hebert Monday, Jan 09, 2012 44 days ago

Off to a good start. If they can keep releasing updates and features on a bi-monthly basis, the PlayBook will keep rising in the tablet world.

Posted by ianbordas Monday, Jan 09, 2012 44 days ago

OMG! All these cool features will make my beautiful PB even more awesome!!! Can't wait!!!!! The ball is on your side RIM, BRING IT in 2012!!!!!!

Posted by mfreedmn_97 Monday, Jan 09, 2012 44 days ago

Sorry to be 'negative' but YAY...Angry Frickin Birds ? Cut the Cord ? Groupon ? How about SKYPE, NETFLIX, BLOOMBERG, SONOS ? Real apps. With real world applications. If I wanted a toy to play games with I'd buy an Ipa.....er, Xbox.

Posted by seb.hebert Monday, Jan 09, 2012 44 days ago

my thoughts exactly... no word on Netflix and silverlight, no word on a proper and offical Drop Box app, no word on skype... this is why I'm upset. Also, no word on android app support? Or did I just read over that bit?

:::: UPDATE ::::

I also noticed no notes on file format support and further bluetooth support for wireless multimedia connectivity.

Posted by Thunderbuck Monday, Jan 09, 2012 44 days ago

A2DP is already supported in the 2.0 developer preview. No reason at all to believe it wouldn't make the release.

I've heard that .mkv files are apparently supported in the 2.0 preview; haven't confirmed that.

Do you REALLY care about an official Drop Box app? Facebook didn't have an "official" iPhone app for, what, 2 years? There are a couple of reasonably functional clients.

Agreed, Skype and Netflix would be great. There have been rumors on announcements on both, though.

Posted by SixYearBlackberryUser Monday, Jan 09, 2012 44 days ago

Ditto! If I wanted to play games I would get a device for games. Skype and Silverlight would be nice!

Posted by ianbordas Monday, Jan 09, 2012 44 days ago

True SKYPE is a MUST!!

But what can you do with Silverlight that so special?

Posted by adokis Monday, Jan 09, 2012 44 days ago

why is netflix something that RIM has to ensure is part of the updates?

Clearly the hardware and software is capable of handling video etc - maybe get on netflix about the lack of support on BB Playbook.

Posted by scalemaster34 Monday, Jan 09, 2012 44 days ago

RIM needs Netflix.... Netflix doesn't really need RIM. RIM should be going to Netflix and asking (or begging) them how they could help them build an application.

Posted by drecar Monday, Jan 09, 2012 44 days ago

why is netflix relevant or required if there will be a video store available to pb?

Posted by seb.hebert Monday, Jan 09, 2012 44 days ago

because I already pay for Netflix and I can watch it on my PC and PS3...

Posted by Blackberry_boffin Monday, Jan 09, 2012 44 days ago

Then it's your problem that you bought a PB. Go back to your PC/PS3.

Posted by drecar Tuesday, Jan 10, 2012 44 days ago

oh, me too. however ive been patiently waiting for bbvs so i can cancel netflix. im not satisfied with the content.

Posted by blue-b Monday, Jan 09, 2012 44 days ago

How do you know that they have not, keep bugging netflix. I already cancelled my account with them and told them I'm not coming back until they have playbook support. I certainly don't need netflix, and made it clear if they want my money they have to step up.

Posted by rickkel Monday, Jan 09, 2012 44 days ago

I too think this is the way it needs to be done. So far I cancelled AAA (Auto Club) because they decided to only make their app for iPhone and Android, skipping over BlackBerry. I was with them for 24 years so I got a call from their Client Retention Department. She got an earful and asked "what we could do to keep your business..."? I told her make a BlackBerry app, then told her to cancel my 24 year membership. She didn't know what to say.

I have sent several emails to other companies too. Netflix, Consumer Reports, Cox Communications and our local newspaper and PBS to name a few. I told them if they don't have a BlackBerry app in one year, those memberships will go too.

I believe this is the only way to get it done. It's all about $$$.

Posted by PLTM Monday, Jan 09, 2012 44 days ago

totally agree. I dont care for apple or android and it is insulting that for me to be paying my hard earn money to these companies and cant enjoy the luxuries that apple and android user do. It is my choice of device and i use the one that is productive to me. BB is productive for me and i expect if im paying my money, i get all the same benefits apple and android users get using the device of MY choice.

Posted by williamsbh76 Tuesday, Jan 10, 2012 44 days ago

We all have a choice but with any choice has sacrifice. I have been a big fan of RIM from the since I got my first smartphone but the letdowns have continued to come in landslide form from them. When companies have no problem building apps for other platforms, should we really blame the company releasing the app or should we look at the hardware that cannot carry it? ie- Netflix works on almost any iOS,Droid, Wii, PS3, Xbox, PC, Mac, and just about any half a$$ blueray player on the market.... but not on any RIM device. Who is at fault? You name just about any app in existence that exists on all the other platforms but RIM devices and again, who is to blame? I am Playbook owner and I have faith that it has the best operating system and comperable hardware to any tablet out there, iPad included but without the ability to be more that an internet browser, run mobile office document, and play a few games it will never rank with Apple or Android devices. The most basic thing I need for my business is a calendar that syncs with Gmail and it is sad that I have to rely on my ipad 2 to be my workhorse in the field at my job because my PlayBook can't provide this basic function that any $100 crap Android tablet can. Oh, and it is nice to be able to watch TV when I have 30-60 minutes of downtime during the day. Yes "people" are fickle and go for bells and whistles, but "people" buy devices with their hard earned money. And those dollars spent keep the businesses in business. The only way to get those dollars spent is give users a reason to buy your product and in the tablet market that reason is apps, content, and basic functionality. Who is to blame? Where there is smoke there is fire and there is a lot of smoke coming from RIM. I want them to succeed but I refuse to buy another device from any carrier and pay the money I have to pay for the device, to my wireless provider, and home/business internet provider only to be limited on what it can do by the manufacturer of the device itself. The last I checked, no wireless carrier was offering a discount on my monthly service just because my device doesn't have the app I want and it ain't the wireless provider's fault! Why should anyone sacrifice anymore than we have to?

Posted by Kevstra Tuesday, Jan 10, 2012 44 days ago

Just because RIM has had some issues, doesn't mean they are to blame for the lack of a Netflix or Skype app. RIM produced a platform that is more than capable of running Netflix or Skype software, and there are a decent number of people using the device that would utilize that software. The problem is these companies seemingly refuse to support BlackBerry hardware. Perhaps they just need to be convinced many of their customers could use that support.

Posted by williamsbh76 Tuesday, Jan 10, 2012 44 days ago

I understand what you mean but I still think a lot of the problem is RIM. The BB phone OS is so aged and running too much basic JAVA crap to ever have the support that most apps require. Have you ever looked at Google Voice on a Berry compared to a Droid or Apple device? It is a really sad comparison. As for Netflix, the other day I read a post where a user called Netflix to see what the issue was with the Playbook getting Netflix and was told that "Netflix is in negotiations with RIM." I decided to try this for myself and got the same answer. The customer service agent refused to elaborate. Take it as you will, and considering that RIM freely gives out the dev tools, it looks bad for Netflix. But, Netflix, despite all of its epic fail would surely not want to piss off Playbook owners, especially when the PB rolled out and was slated to be a major iPad competitor in the beginning. The problem is Silverlite compatibility which is required to run netflix so who's responsibility is it to get Silverlight on the PB, I'm thinking RIM since it has to be built into the OS. As for Skype and other apps, who can say who needs to bend to get us these apps? Maybe RIM's reputation of poor app capabilities has made developers hesitant to work on PB apps until they see what the tablet is going to do. All I am saying is there is enough blame to go around but RIM looks the worst considering all of it's fails over the last couple of years added with the fact that these developers have had no problems on the other major platforms.

Posted by steve911 Tuesday, Jan 10, 2012 44 days ago

You're not making much sense bud.

Posted by SixYearBlackberryUser Monday, Jan 09, 2012 44 days ago

Silverlight allows you to watch certain live tv (like morning news shows)offered on the internet from those TV stations. Other stations allow you to watch programming without silverlight.

Posted by ianbordas Monday, Jan 09, 2012 44 days ago

Ohh okay so it's another format that competes with Flash? Well, then I hope they also allow Silverlight, the more formats the PB can handle the better!!!

Posted by 123berryaddicted Monday, Jan 09, 2012 44 days ago

Also silverlight is used often in the corporate world, as it ties in with ms sharepoint

Posted by Thunderbuck Monday, Jan 09, 2012 44 days ago

Silverlight support is starting to fade, though, and Microsoft isn't showing a lot of enthusiasm for supporting it.

What LOOKS most likely is that HTML5 will replace both Flash and Silverlight in the long run.

Posted by captain_tinker Monday, Jan 09, 2012 44 days ago

For me, Remote Potato. The main interface website runs off of Silverlight. It makes it much easier to navigate the page. Trying to use the old HTML mobile site that doesn't have all the options I need is very difficult to use on the playbook.

Posted by joelled Monday, Jan 09, 2012 44 days ago

oh hush up!You act as if its only up toRIM to make these as! If both skype and netflix are taking eternity to support the playbook what do you want RIM to do? Hold back the release of their update?? You're not even sure if these are all the changes coming so freaking relax and be happy!!

Posted by diegonei Tuesday, Jan 10, 2012 43 days ago

People seem to think RIM is the one to blame, saying "no, no! don't develop an app for our devices! we need you not!"...

That's a shortsighted and missinformed point of view to say the least.

If you want netflix, skype, sugarsync or any other app to come, sound off where the devs can here. Not here.

Posted by mckillio Monday, Jan 09, 2012 44 days ago

I suggest you and anyone else that wants these apps barrage these companies with emails, showing our support for the PB. I have for a few apps but not as much as I should.

Posted by Certificed RCHE Monday, Jan 09, 2012 44 days ago

Rim doesn't own those companies, so there is much they can do.

Posted by ajst222 Monday, Jan 09, 2012 44 days ago

I will admit it..yes. There definitely needs to be apps such as those that Android and Apple have. SKYPE AND AIM ARE BIG ONES FOR ME!!

Posted by AlETabooger Monday, Jan 09, 2012 44 days ago

I have a Playbook and an IPad 2 and all I have to say is... RIM has disappointed me again!

Here I come IPhone!

Posted by mscooley Monday, Jan 09, 2012 44 days ago

Am I missing the Android player in the list of features?

Posted by Rootbrian Tuesday, Jan 10, 2012 43 days ago

WHY DON'T YOU CALL/E-MAIL/POSTAL MAIL AND URGE SKYPE AND NETFLIX TO MAKE AN APP FOR THE BLACKBERRY PLAYBOOK?!?! IT TAKES A MOVEMENT TO GET A COMPANY TO DO IT, SO IF YOU DON'T DO ANYTHING AT ALL, YOU WON'T BE HEARD!!! JUST CALL/MAIL THEM AND TELL THEM YOU WANT A DAMN APP!

Damn. That is all.

Posted by NickA44 Monday, Jan 09, 2012 44 days ago

So they are sticking with OS 2.0 for the PB and not BB 10?? Who cares what they call it though, at least it's going to be available in February like they said (hopefully). But I'm not holding my breath.

Posted by Thunderbuck Monday, Jan 09, 2012 44 days ago

"BB10" refers to the phone variant of QNX, not the tablet's OS.

Posted by mattBAM Monday, Jan 09, 2012 44 days ago

Not 100% true... Alec Saunders pointed out a few months back that BBX (Now BB10) is the ONE platform, so I think a lot of people naturally are awaiting a renaming from PB OS 2.0 to BB10... Personally though, I want BB10 scrapped because technically the QNX OS (Which is basically the same from phone to tab from my understanding) is at 2.0, but it would sound funny to say "Yeah I'm running BB10 2.0" (at least in my mind).

Posted by netviper Monday, Jan 09, 2012 44 days ago

Can't wait for this one.

Posted by vistate1 Monday, Jan 09, 2012 44 days ago

they listened...now all they need to do is deliver.

Im excited.

Posted by Malachi.2.15 Monday, Jan 09, 2012 44 days ago

woohoo!!! the blackberry remote control is going to be awesome! I can't wait!!!

Posted by morpho4444 Monday, Jan 09, 2012 44 days ago

Maaan! can u imagine... having the playbook hooked to hdmi to the TV and using the BB 9900 as the remote control for watching movies and all kind of crazy shit!!!!

Posted by imcurved Monday, Jan 09, 2012 44 days ago

I hooked it up with my TV (http://youtu.be/m8jB0GIa7Xo) for my mom to watch online tv dramas and it's awesome. The only thing is every time the new episode loads, it minimizes the screen so she has to walk over and maximize the screen. I was thinking about getting a bluetooth mouse for that so the remote control using the BlackBerry phone feature is a big hooray.

Posted by Thunderbuck Monday, Jan 09, 2012 44 days ago

Yes!!

This sounds fantastic! More than expected, in fact. (Yay, Zinio!!!)

Posted by falosmic Monday, Jan 09, 2012 44 days ago

Sounds awesome !!! woohhoooo!!!!! But the most important thing is they deliver on time!!!! No delays and disappointing again

Posted by toolonglyf Monday, Jan 09, 2012 44 days ago

ooh hold on here! Don't be so sure... We are not in February yet... Remember in September they were still saying they were going to release after DevCon?
Nothing is certain yet.
I still cant wait and I really hope they don't drop the ball

Posted by scott.slater Monday, Jan 09, 2012 44 days ago

Wow, that is quite a list of new features. I can see why they had to delay it, this will be like getting a whoe new tablet actually.

Posted by ippyg Monday, Jan 09, 2012 44 days ago

It definitely is! While people have to spend $499+, each year to buy a new tablet, BlackBerry gives us a free update and BAM! Brand new! :D Score for TeamBlackBerry!

Posted by hispanola Monday, Jan 09, 2012 44 days ago

Maybe with Android tablets, but not the iPad. iOS 5 was a free update for my first edition iPad. Not to mention that the OS 2.0 update is months late! I can only hope RIM finally delivers.

Posted by bitek Monday, Jan 09, 2012 44 days ago

i start thinking that 16GB might not be big enough anymore. pb might become small nuclear power house with this update !

Posted by rapsball4 Monday, Jan 09, 2012 44 days ago

That's why I switched up to a 64GB a month or two ago (wish I had waited for the current $300 sales). A lot of native games weigh in at ~500MB, the videostore will mean more media on there regularly, enough other features will get me using it more like a laptop so all my documents will probably end up on there...