Today RIM has released an updated version of the BlackBerry Tablet OS simulator (for the BlackBerry PlayBook) that now includes support for the BlackBerry browser. This was lacking in the previous version, but now developers can test their web and Flash applications using the browser. Some notes for developers:

• The User Agent will continue to match the current User Agent pattern used with BlackBerry smartphone products. This will enable developers to continue to leverage the development investment they have placed into building web pages optimized for BlackBerry already.
• The browser builds on the existing support for web standards such as HTML5 for the BlackBerry by adding support for HTML5 Video and Audio based on the power and flexibility of the underlying BlackBerry Tablet OS.
• The browser supports Adobe Flash 10.1, and Flash developers will be able to test the Flash player in the simulator.

The new version is available now and can be downloaded from the link below. Check out the Inside BlackBerry Developers Blog for more.

Download the updated BlackBerry Tablet OS simulator

Watch the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet preview video!

Wow Wow Wow Wow Wow. This is purely awesome. Seriously, we've been talking about the QNX OS and BlackBerry tablet rumors for months now, yet somehow I wasn't convinced we'd actually get to see the tablet get announced at BlackBerry DevCon this year.  But wow, did it get announced, and WOW.. is it frack'n awesome. The BlackBerry PlayBook is the OS and the type of product we've been wanting to see from Research In Motion for a long time now.  And it looks like it's going to deliver. An operating system that delivers EVERYTHING... awesome web, gaming, video experience. Awesome hardware specs. It doesn't sacrifice the BlackBerry enterprise heritage. The future of BlackBerry looks promising once again!

Key features and specifications of the BlackBerry PlayBook include:

• 7" LCD, 1024 x 600, WSVGA, capacitive touch screen with full multi-touch and gesture support
• BlackBerry Tablet OS with support for symmetric multiprocessing
• 1 GHz dual-core processor
• 1 GB RAM
• Memory: 16GB, 32GB and 64GBB versions to be available
• 5300mAh battery
• Dual HD cameras (3 MP front facing, 5 MP rear facing), supports 1080p HD video recording
• Video playback: 1080p HD Video, H.264, MPEG, DivX, WMV
• Audio playback: MP3, AAC, WMA
• HDMI video output
• Wi-Fi - 802.11 a/b/g/n
• Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
• Connectors: microHDMI, microUSB, charging contacts
• Open, flexible application platform with support for WebKit/HTML-5, Adobe Flash Player 10.1, Adobe Mobile AIR, Adobe Reader, POSIX, OpenGL, Java
• Ultra thin and portable:
  • Measures 5.1"x7.6"x0.4" (130mm x 193mm x 10mm)
  • Weighs less than a pound (approximately 0.9 lb or 400g)
• Additional features and specifications of the BlackBerry PlayBook will be shared on or before the date this product is launched in retail outlets.

* RIM intends to also offer 3G and 4G models in the future.

Watch the video preview above and check out the full press release below. You can also visit blackberry.com/playbook for more info.  Excited yet? How about that name PlayBook? I'm LOVING it. Drop us a comment with your thoughts or talk about in our BlackBerry PlayBook forum.

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Just in case you weren’t excited about the upcoming BlackBerry Developers Conference before, some information being tossed around today may change your outlook on the situation. According to the folks over at the Wall Street Journal and the Financial Post, RIM is seemingly poised to launch some new hardware and services at this year’s event. Of course, for all you CrackBerry readers this may not exactly be new news or come as a surprise at all. In reality, we've been talking about a new OS developed by QNX and the BlackBerry Tablet for months now. Go back as far as WES 2010 and even more recently, the last CrackBerry podcast and you'll hear us speak of QNX, the OS they are developing and what exactly, it would be released on and what RIM has planned for it as a long term solution.

The news today was that, Research In Motion would be announcing (or at least showing off) the BlackBerry Tablet at the BlackBerry Developers Conference. Which would indeed be running the new OS as developed by QNX software. In addition to that, it was also noted that the OS would eventually carry over to newer, upcoming devices such as the BlackBerry Storm 3. While we have heard before that it was Research In Motions intentions to demo the device we've since heard that idea got put on the back burner but, it's anyone’s guess now. Finally, the last piece of information to come out today was the Research In Motion is also planning to announce a new advertising service using Mobclix. Rumours have been abounding for a while about the RIM and Mobclix connection but nothing solid has ever come from those rumours.

All this information is great to see as we draw closer to the opening of the BlackBerry Developers Conference but, one thing to remember is that until announced they are just rumours. It's rather easy to take every rumour from the past 6-8 months that has never fully come to light yet and say yes, that's what Research In Motion is going to announce. But, the fact is it's all speculation until those press releases start to roll out. We'd be remiss though if we didn't say that the excitement of seeing what we've been talking about for months now turn to reality is high.

Sources: WSJ, FP

Ok podcast fans, get ready for a humdinger of an episode. With all of the Crack Team podcast members now owning a Torch and having spent a good deal of time on it, we go round table style and discuss our loves, likes and dislikes (a couple of hates too) in regards to the BlackBerry Torch and BlackBerry 6. There are definitely some good insights and interesting debates mixed into this discussion (a couple of laughable moments too).

Then at 52 minutes into the show we switch gears and weigh-in on all of the BlackBerry tablet rumors of the moment and toss in some additional fuel for the fire. We even make a few friendly bets as to which way we think things will go (my money is on RIM not calling the tablet "BlackPad" - I just can't see them cutting their uber-popular BlackBerry brand in half. It has to be BlackBerry "something". And BlackBerry BlackPad is just way too lame). We speculate on the OS and what it'll be capable of and a whole lot more. Exciting stuff for sure.

Take a listen. We're kinda of hyper on this one... it's a long a show but I promise you'll stay awake. Enjoy!

In between all of the ongoing phone rumors sits the much debated "BlackPad" rumors. The latest comes in from Apple Daily stating that the RIM tablet (maybe BlackPad, maybe not) will be shipping as early as November of this year and be priced at $499. The tablet is said to be sporting a 9.7 inch display along with Bluetooth, Wifi and front and rear facing cameras. We've heard so much speculation on this one, but it's hard to say for sure what it will have feature-wise as well as what will make it tick. We're not certain that it will be running an actual BlackBerry OS (QNX based anyone?) so we'll see how it all pans out. The tablet will be manufactured by Quanta starting with 2 million units in September, with another 8 million the following year. You can keep up with the latest info at our rumored device page.

Source: Apple Daily
Via: Engadget

Interesting. The folks over at MobileCrunch earlier today posted that Research In Motion has recently taken over the domain name "BlackPad.com". Now, despite what you think of the name itself, many folks are eluding to the fact that this URL could be one of many used for the rumored upcoming BlackBerry Tablet. Now while we here would like to believe that as well, the fact is Research In Motion owns over 4,000+ registered domain names already.

Practically every single device that Research In Motion has put out they have taken the domain name for, even the code names and numerical versions of such. For example, the most recent iterations are that of BlackBerry9780.com, BlackBerry9800.com and finally, BlackBerrytorch.com. It's Research In Motions right to protect their Intellectual Property from cyber squatters, they've even been known to ask domain registrars and ICANN to hand over domain names from their owners if they are even remotely related to BlackBerry.

That said, from the information available to us; Research In Motion appears to have no trademark holding over "BlackPad" and while yes, it's possible it could be used rumored upcoming BlackBerry Tablet it's not such a far stretch of the imagination to just assume Research In Motion just wanted the domain just to have.

Source: MobileCrunch

To tablet or not to tablet... that is the question!

Alright, since the issue of the BlackBerry tablet seems to not be going away any time soon, we decided we'd summarize and share what information we know and what information is still left totally up in the air at this point. We certainly do not know all the details here, frankly no one does. Anyone outside of those involved directly with the project are basing information on pure speculation and that is it. Some of that speculation may be accurate, some of it may not. In fact, from what we gather the project's roots reach quite a way back so that many of the details we're hearig now have already likely changed (maybe many times over), so you really have to take anything anyone says with a BIG grain of salt. Yes, we're included in this statement.

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Now that I've got your attention with the BlackBerry Tablet photo (thanks James!), here's the scoop....

This week I received a bunch of emails, phone calls and BBMs from industry contacts seemingly out of the blue that were all to the tune of So what's this I hear about a BlackBerry Tablet?! It took a little digging to figure out where this BlackBerry Tablet stuff was coming from all of a sudden, but I got to the bottom of it. The source is from a research firm that specializes in component supply chain information - and the company sent out a brief report this week touting "RIMM to Launch Own Tablet in Late 2010" which got the industry insiders buzzing. The text in the image above that was sent in to us is from that report, which states three sources have confirmed that RIM has placed an order with supplier Hon Hai for 8.9" displays for use in a tablet.

Interesting stuff. I wouldn't read too much into it at this point in time (I can't see RIM trying to go head to head with the iPad just yet), but it at least shows RIM is playing with the notion of bigger screens. What's really interesting and to the contrary is that not too long ago RIM's Founder and Co-CEO Mike Lazaridis was on Walt Mossberg's D7 and when asked about a BlackBerry Tablet Mike L. dismissed it, saying "I don't see the benefits of a tablet over a notebook... A lot of technology falls in the middle." It could be the thought on this has changed with all of the tablet buzz of late.

Maybe today's announcement of RIM acquiring QNX Software is related to this report (8.9" displays for in-car touchscreen systems??) or maybe they're toying with an accessory to use with your BlackBerry (sort of like Celio's new touchscreen RedFly we showed you at MWC). Or maybe they do in fact have a team in Waterloo looking into building a full-out BlackBerry Tablet. Who knows. Could all be BS. At this point it's speculation.

So what do you think? BlackBerry Tablet? Yay or Nay? Sound off in the comments!