Get Kindle, Google Maps, DropBox and IM+ on your BlackBerry PlayBook!

If you're looking to get some big name apps like Kindle, Google Maps or DropBox onto your BlackBerry PlayBook after upgrading to OS 2.0 - have no fear. You now have the ability to sideload (aka load outside of BlackBerry App World) many Android apps with just a few simple steps.  All you'll need a Windows PC and your PlayBook, and by following a few simple steps which we'll go over in detail, you'll be up and running with some great apps in no time at all. You can check out a full list of working Android apps as well as download some BAR files from our thread in the forums, then head to the link below for a full tutorial on how to sideload Android apps on your BlackBerry PlayBook.

How To Sideload Android apps on PlayBook OS v2.0 for use with the Android App Player
Links to over 243 BARs for your BlackBerry PlayBook

Yesterday Kevin had an opportunity to sit down with Michael Clewley, one of the Project Managers of the PlayBook team at Research In Motion, about the launch of PlayBook OS 2.0. Held over video chat on the BlackBerry PlayBook, Kevin asked Michael about not only the launch of the new OS and some of the new features, but also about the future of PlayBook OS 2.0 and where it fits in on the road to BlackBerry 10. Since then, Kevin has decided that all interviews on CrackBerry should be conducted over video chat, because it rocks! If you didn't get a chance to watch the interview, you'll want to make sure you take the time to do so. However, if you can't commit to almost 27 minutes, we cover the main points for you after the break.

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Creepy... we know. :)

We're barely through 30 hours of use following yesterday's 5am EST release of BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0, but we figured given all the PlayBook 2.0 craziness on the site and in our PlayBook forums that it was time for us to check in with a quick owner's poll. 

When we originally reviewed the BlackBerry PlayBook, the two biggest strikes against it were the lack of native email, calendar and contacts along with a lack of compelling apps in BlackBerry Word. PlayBook 2.0 addresses the native messaging and information management gap in a big way, with what I think is a pretty awesomely-implemented solution, including oodles of social integration. And with more time to get apps on the platform and the introduction of the Android App Player in 2.0, the app gap is closing too (of course there are still some big titles like Skype, Netflix and Kindle that we're waiting to see appear in App World). 

OS 2.0 brought with it a lot more than the above -- our full walk through is coming soon -- and overall I'm pretty happy with the update (I voted Loving It! Go #TeamBlackBerry). Yes, there are still plenty of things I'd like to see (which I'll point out in my full review coming next week once I have spent more quality time on 2.0), but knowing 2.0 isn't the end game but part of the bigger journey into BlackBerry 10 puts it into perspective. As was discussed in our interview with Michael Clewley from RIM's PlayBook team yesterday, PlayBook OS 2 provides the foundation for BlackBerry 10, which is an entirely new platform that RIM is migrating over to. There are a lot of services that RIM still has to bring over from BBOS to the PlayBook OS/BlackBerry 10 and we know there's a lot more still to come (like native BBM on the PlayBook).

Putting aside the fact we know there's more to come, we want to see what you think of PlayBook OS 2.0 as it stands right now. Vote on the poll above and let us kow in the comments! Oh yeah, and if you don't yet own a PlayBook, be sure to enter here for your chance to win one!

Okay, this may be a bit of a shocker, but Research In Motion released the BlackBerry PlayBook 2.0 OS today! We here at CrackBerry have spent of most of the day poking and prodding the new OS to learn of its secrets. It seems you have as well. One of the biggest questions we're seeing from you is how do you sync Microsoft Outlook contacts and calendar entries with the PlayBook?

Outlook is a very powerful email and scheduling client used by many companies and individuals. At the moment, it appears that those users who connect to a Microsoft Exchange server have no issues with syncing - though web access to that account might be required. Not everybody uses an Exchange server though.

For the many who use Outlook as an email reader - perhaps with accounts like siteowner@mywebsite.com, the PlayBook won't be able to retrieve your contacts without a little outside help. To do that, I'm going to suggest you sync your Outlook contacts and calendar with a GMail account. How-to's after the break.

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With all the content out there on the web these days, it can be rather difficult keeping track of it all and even of you do manage to keep all your interests somewhat organized, there is always the question of how you go about sharing that information with others. Luckily, Taptu has come up with a solution that may appeal to you. Using your BlackBerry PlayBook and the recently released into App World Taptu app, you can not only keep track of the information that intereests you but share it as well to social networks such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Features:

• Search for RSS Feeds using Bing or Import them from Google Reader
• DJ Your News: Do you have 5 different sports streams you follow? Merge them all together to create you own Sports stream and color code it to your liking. And why not share your new stream with your friends?
• Discover Stories related to the one you are reading as well as Streams specific to the Topic/Genre the article you are reading about. 
• Tweet, RT, Quote a Tweet from your Twitter stream: Someone you follow on Twitter has tweeted an interesting tweet, Quote it and add your comments or RT directly from Taptu. 
• Update your status, Like and Comment from your Facebook stream: See something a friend has sent that you want to Like or Comment on? Do it right inside the app.

The Taptu app is available now in BlackBerry App World and is available for the BlackBerry PlayBook. If you're looking for a better way to control your news feeds and share your interests, give Taptu a go -- it might be the solution you are looking for.

Download Taptu for the BlackBerry PlayBook

With PlayBook OS 2.0 now in the hands of the masses, there is still a lot of folks out there wondering where some of the apps RIM showcased are. One app in particular, Zinio -- has been a target for that question as many were hoping to have the app as soon as PlayBook OS 2.0 was made public. Sadly, you'll have to wait a little bit longer for it but you can take solace in knowing that it is coming. It's not just RIM saying it is, Zinio themselves took to Twitter to address the situation:

@BlackBerry fans, Stay patient. The @zinio app for the Playbook is coming real soon #ResearchInMagazines

With over 6,000 new developers having signed up for PlayBook development there is a lot of apps that are still in the queue to be released. With each new day that passes, more apps will arrive and eventually Zinio will be among them.

Just a few hours after the BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2 download became available, I had the chance this morning to get some interview time with one of the hardworking Product Managers on the PlayBook team, Research In Motion's Michael Clewley. Instead of doing the standard 'ole over the phone stuff, we kicked things up a notch and connected Waterloo to 'Peg City (aka Winnipeg) via the newly-updated Video Chat app on the PlayBook.

Above you can watch the 26 minute interview (written follow-up summary to come) in its entirety. I was going to edit this down shorter, but I know our CrackBerry Podcast fans would be mad if I did. We go through a lot of OS 2 topics during this one, starting off with the 5am EST launch time. i thought RIM just wanted to get me out of bed early this morning but it turns out they picked that time so they could launch globally on the same date. Smart.

From there we walk through some of the new features hitting the PlayBook in OS 2. We get some clarification on where PlayBook OS 2 sits along the road in the migration to BlackBerry 10. We talk about closing the app gap and the Android app experience on PlayBook OS 2. We get into PlayBook in the enterprise and we also talk about content on the PlayBook. We cover a lot, so sit back, relax and enjoy the show... err.. video chat!  

A cool addition to the new BlackBerry PlayBook 2.0 software is that of the BlackBerry Video Store. Much like the Music Store, it allows you to browse movies and TV shows for both purchase and rental. There is a pretty good collection of titles (although it could always be better) so most likely something for everyone. It does have it's quirks however as I found out, like the abscence of Back to the Future despite both BTTF II and III being available. Once I recovered from that blow, I did find quite a few movies that I would say are worth downloading. Older titles will run you around $9.95, while shiny new ones are $19.95. When you choose a title to purchaes or rent (after signing up for an account) you can even watch while it continues to download which is a pretty sweet deal. Overall I really dig the Video Store but I just hope the catalog continues to get bigger. Currently available only in the US, the Video Store comes pre-installed on the BlackBerry PlayBook 2.0 software. And yes, I love Robin Hood even though I hate Kevin Costner :-)

PlayBook Contest #1: Leave a comment to this blog post for your chance to win a free BlackBerry PlayBook and $100 in accessories from ShopCrackBerry.com!

With BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 now available, things are PLAYBOOK CRAZY around CrackBerry right now (take a step inside our PlayBook forums to witness it first hand). If you own a BlackBerry PlayBook, you're loving the chaos. If you don't own a PlayBook though, well, we understand that you're maybe finding the content a little overwhelming. Don't worry, we're sure the craziness will die down at some point...

In the meantime though, in true CrackBerry fashion and in honor of the release of OS 2.0, we're going to give you a chance to win a free BlackBerry PlayBook. Better yet, we're going to give you FOUR chances to win, with a new PlayBook contest coming up each week for the next four weeks! You'll want to keep it locked to CrackBerry.com. Good luck!

CrackBerry's PlayBook Contest #1 Details

The Prize: Win a 16GB WiFi BlackBerry PlayBook + $100 in free PlayBook accessories from ShopCrackBerry.com

How to Enter: Just login to Crackberry and leave a comment to this blog post! Tell us what you're loving about the PlayBook, OS 2.0 or CrackBerry!

The Details: Contest open worldwide. Contest ends Wednesday, February 29th at Midnight PST.

The BlackBerry PlayBook 2.0 software brings along some much-awaited apps like native Messages (email), Calendar and Contacts. The Messages app is a home for all of your accounts including Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. You now have one stop where you can check out all of your incoming messages, complete with LED and banner alert. The Messages app is easy to get running once you setup your accounts and everything is simple to navigate so you should have no issues figuring it all out. Check out the video above for a quick look at the Messages app and how it all works.

Having a native contacts app on the BlackBerry PlayBook is awesome. Thanks to the new PlayBook 2.0 software, it's easier than ever to get your contact list on your PlayBook - all it takes is a few steps. If you have your contacts stored with your email service, just enter your account info, choose to sync contacts and you're done. If you want to import contacts from Outlook or the like, you'll have to tweak a bit more but it can be done (you'll need web access to your account - we'll get into that more later). Everything is there when you start up the app - contact info, recent social interactions, calendar info and much more. Check out the video above as we take a look at the native Contacts application on the BlackBerry PlayBook.

Along with native Messages and Contacts, the BlackBerry PlayBook 2.0 software is sporting a native Calendar application as well. Setting up your accounts is super easy and once you're up and running there's nothing to it. There are various views available like monthly and weekly, and you can color code each calendar for easy viewing. You'll find many of the same options in the calendar here as on your device as well, so most things should look pretty familiar. Check out the video above as we walk through the features of the Calendar app on the BlackBerry PlayBook.

Well, that didn't take long to figure out. One of the enhancements within BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 is an updated keyboard, which includes some nice new features over the original PlayBook OS keyboard. I love how the keyboard now inserts the number row above the letters when filling out fields and also love the addition of text prediction, which was lacking.

Absolutely loving PlayBook OS 2.0 this morning, I called up Phil Nickinson, our Editor in Chief on our sister site AndroidCentral, for a little video chat to show off to him some of the OS 2.0 hotness. As soon as Phil saw me typing on the keyboard he said, "type in Phil... do you get Collins?" Sure enough, after typing in Phil and hitting the space bar, "Collins" was autosuggested. I showed Phil a few other things, and then he stopped me after I typed another name. Ben. The first word suggested was the name "Medlock." Phil got excited. Or mad. Can't really tell which. "Congrats... that's SwiftKey."

It turns out Ben Medlock is the CTO of SwiftKey, a third-party Android keyboard, and that's a little pre-programmed autosuggestion they put into their autosuggestion. Along with Swype, SwiftKey is one of the big and awesome third-party software keyboard technologies/developers out there. And while we haven't seen any official acknowledgement from either BlackBerry or SwiftKey on this one yet, without a doubt we can say PlayBook OS 2.0, and it looks like BlackBerry 10 will be rocking SwiftKey technology on the keyboard front in some form, either officially or behind the scenes. 

At CES we got to check out the updated video chat client on the BlackBerry PlayBook, and with today's launch of OS 2.0, everybody can get in on the action. It wouldn't be a stretch to say that this is the app that has seen the most dramatic change out of everything that's new. Now video chat contacts are pulled in from social networks that are registered on the tablet. Each friend also has online and offline status shown clearly, so you can know whether or not to even start calling in the first place. You can even edit the information for those contacts as you would in the new stand-alone native address book. Speaking of which, you can launch into video chat from the address book, too. There's also a new Presenter mode which lets you shunt a video call out to a larger screen over HDMI while flipping through other apps and notes on your PlayBook.   

There are certainly some key use cases for video chat on the PlayBook. For example, moms who don't know much about technology, feel like they need a tablet, and have a kid studying abroad that already has a PlayBook. While I'm not convinced that video chat will be little more than a novelty, especially without hooks into external networks like Skype, it's great to see the existing service on the PlayBook improving. How often do you guys video chat? Who do you talk with? Is it worth RIM's while to invest in this area, or should they just get in bed with Skype?  

Setting up your accounts on the BlackBerry PlayBook is one of the first things you'll want to do. This gets all your email, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn messages into your inbox and it only takes a few steps. For the most part you just need to enter your account login and password, and the PlayBook does the rest. No messing with SMTP servers or crazy setup information - it's dead simple. Keep reading for a step-by-step of how to setup your accounts on the BlackBerry PlayBook

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