A couple weeks back Mobile Nations surveyed its readers on our various platform-centric sites. We asked you questions about your computer, smartphone, and tablet buying history and plans.

The data was intriguing and interesting to dig into. After staring at the results and applying various filters to the data, one big conclusion became crystal clear: Smartphone enthusiasts most often buy tablets that match their existing phone's OS. In other words, people pick their flavor and stick to it.

Continue reading article

When I first reviewed the BlackBerry PlayBook a month ago, I was, by CrackBerry Kevin standards, pretty hard on RIM's first tablet. Part of this harsher-than-usual judgement was justifed based on what the PlayBook was lacking at launch and was well-documented across PlayBook reviews (I don't need to rehash it here - see our BlackBerry PlayBook review for full details). 

Another area where I was admittedly negative on the PlayBook at the time of my initial review was on the PlayBook's physical size. Having been an iPad and iPad2 owner since the release of each of those products, downsizing to the PlayBook's smaller 7" display and HD aspect ratio took some getting used to. And since I was working on my PlayBook review mainly from the desk in my office for a week, I was overlooking the true value in the major benefit of the PlayBook's size - Portability!!

Continue reading article

Read TiPb's Review of the Apple iPad 2

In a few weeks things will get crazy here on CrackBerry as the BlackBerry PlayBook hits the market and we do our content thing on it (think device, app, accessory reviews, how-tos, tips, tricks and more). Over at our sibling site TiPb.com, which covers all things Apple iOS related, they have now had a few days with their latest tablet toy, the Apple iPad 2, and have posted their initial review of it. Knowledge is power, so for the sake of being able to tell your Apple fan boy friends why your PlayBook is better than their iPad, you'll want to jump over at the link below and check out the review! :)

To be dead honest, as I type this the UPS man is actually on his way to my house with an iPad 2 (and yes, I bought it in white). I was hoping to have a PlayBook by now, but since that isn't the case I'm going to spend a couple of weeks getting to know the competition so that when I do review the BlackBerry PlayBook I can give it a real honest comparison to the current sales leader in the tablet market. We know the BlackBerry PlayBook is power packed out of the box and that the QNX-based BlackBerry Tablet OS has a ton of potential in it, but I'm sure there are going to be areas where iPad 2 > PlayBook as there will be areas where PlayBook > iPad 2. In the meantime, be sure to check out TiPb's iPad 2 Review.  Oh, and if you want me to do a CrackBerry Kevin unboxing of the iPad 2, let me know in the comments and maybe I'll do one up.  If I do do one, it won't be conventional... I can promise you that.

Read TiPb's Apple iPad 2 Review

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

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!

Learn More About the iPad: Read TiPb's Full Apple iPad Review >>

Back on January 27th, the day the Apple iPad was announced, we posted a poll here on CrackBerry.com asking readers how they felt about the iPad from the perspective of being a BlackBerry owner. The results: 12% said they loved the iPad (perfect compliment to a BB) and would buy one; 18% said it was cool but nothing life changing; 9% said their BlackBerry did everything they need already; 47% said it's just a big iPod Touch and **shrugged** while the last 13% voted that Apple sucks and the iPad is overhyped.

Fast forward a few months and the Apple iPad is officially available. Now that the reviews are pouring in and it's out there for all to use, I'm wondering if and how people's impressions of it may have changed. If you've changed your opinion of the iPad since that first poll, be sure to drop us a comment and let us know what you're thinking now.

Apple iPad Review: As you can imagine, our sibling site TiPb.com has been in iPad fever for the last couple of days with both Rene and Dieter working overtime to get the Apple iPad Review done. I posted Rene's mandatory unboxing video above to get you started... if you're interested in learning more then be sure to jump over and read the full Apple iPad review.

The Apple iPad - coming soon...

Apple's big announcement has come and gone and its wake it has left us with the Apple iPad - a mobile tablet computer ebook reader thingy that looks like an oversized iPod Touch or iPhone. It'll run all of the iPhone's apps, also run iPad-specific apps and will be available in models with or without 3G service. If you missed the live coverage, be sure to jump over to our sibling site TiPb.com who is all over it. Be sure to watch the video below too for some additional iPad enlightenment.

Once you're up to speed with Apple's latest gadget that fills in that void between smartphone and laptop, be sure to cast your vote above and let us know how you feel about it. I sort of look at it as a device that compliments the BlackBerry quite well (check out my iPhone Review for this year's Round Robin and you'll understand why I think that's the case - it's all about the Hierarchy of Needs). And be sure to ellaborate in the comments - I'm personally really curious to hear what you all think. Is it a Kindle killer? Your next must-have gadget? Is it technology for the sake of technology without their being a need for it? Sound off!!