Video: Facebook integration w/ native messaging app on BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2

By Kevin Michaluk on 8 Feb 2012 12:51 pm

[ youtube video link for mobile viewing ]

When we took our first official tour of the native messaging on BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2 a month ago at CES 2012, one of the services that was missing from the social messaging integration was Facebook. We *knew* Facebook would soon be joining Twitter and LinkedIn, but it's good to see Facebook is now there too for when the highly-anticipated PlayBook software update drops later this month. You can hit up the video above to get a quick look of the Facebook addition within the Manage Accounts option screen and integrated into the native messaging client itself.

When he gave his first keynote presentation yesterday, RIM's new CEO Thorsten Heins spoke of the BlackBerry "Flow" experience, which allows you to move fluidly from one experience into another vs. the open/close paradigm that you're seeing (aka like iOS). RIM's implementation of native messaging, calendar and contacts on PlayBooks OS 2 (and therefore BlackBerry 10 of course) is a prime example of this flow-like experience. The more I use it, the more I'm loving it.

Oh yeah.. random thought... "Flow"... sounds like it could be a good product name for a future BlackBerry 10 phone model.

Topics: Facebook PlayBook OS 2 News & Rumors

Kevin Michaluk 3674 (articles) 3017 (forum posts)

47 comments

mister_turtle Feb 8, 2012 at 12:55 pm

Looking good! Can't wait for the update!

Kiddo2050 Feb 8, 2012 at 1:02 pm

Seems cool. I wish there was a jaw dropping app or feature in 2.0, but if such a thing doesn't show up until BB10 then OK.

I think for BB10 phones to be the hit we want them to be, we need a "wow can't get that on my iPhone" moment.

Many people in the US think RIM/BB is dead or about to go bankrupt. I believe they would switch back if they thought there was something cool that would make others switch too, but if they don't feel that "wow", BB10 will likely just retain the loyal users.

Translation: RIM needs something exciting, right now it seems like they are working towards "solid" rather than "exciting."

MattyC47 Feb 8, 2012 at 1:45 pm

here is a question for you. What excites you more about an iPhone or iPad than playBook 2.0 and essentially BB10?

if BB10 is essentially 2.0 which you would assume would evolve a little for BB10 what can't it do that the iPhone or iPad cant do?

I mean Apps was the argument but everyday I am seeing more and more and more apps in appworld. and not just cheesy android apps, but well built, sharp looking BB apps.

I don't know, quite a few of my friends and family who have iPhones, they are buying PlayBooks right now based on what I have shown them on my beta build, and most of them have said that if rim can get it right and have the same experience on a phone, they would switch.

who knows what BB10 will hold but one thing is for sure, excitment is definitely starting to build around RIM and the Blackberry brand

JackKennedy Feb 8, 2012 at 6:34 pm

browser is still better for iPad, cloud syncing, compatibility with computer (Mac), etc.

though I genuinely think iPad is overrated and a lot of android tablet are quite good too; Playbook 2.0, which is the software version is only competitive to the tablets from last year.

don't get me wrong, I think this updated message function/folder thing is great, but Playbook still has a long way to go to catch up with the tablets that will launch this year. The Galaxy Note "phablet" which was launched last year here in Asia has already exceeded Playbook 2.0 function-wise. This message thing has also already been done in Windows Phone since the very beginning and I think all platforms will catchup and incorporate this function at the new releases this year.

RIM needs to put in a lot more innovations if they really want to wow someone.

Kiddo2050 Feb 8, 2012 at 9:07 pm

compatibility with Mac LOL!

Ya I want all my devices that kill people to work well together!

iPad, iPhone and iMACs they are all iKillers!

JackKennedy Feb 8, 2012 at 10:25 pm

uh...iPhones's components are not made in Apple's factory...just like BlackBerries...

Just to be fair, BlackBerries are pretty much made in factories in the same situations and made by underpaid workers...probably a lot of them worked to death, but nobody reported it because RIM is not as big of a hit as Apple's products.

Kiddo2050 Feb 9, 2012 at 8:43 am

Actually I study this stuff for a living, Sorry to inform you, you are wrong. Apple's suppliers are know to be MUCH WORSE than the norm in how they treat workers. Even if that were not true (which it is) the fact that Apple is sitting on a $100 Billion cash mountain, means they cannot turn their back on these abuses.

Apple is supposedly a leader and Steve Jobs was supposedly some great business man visionary. Yes here is a vision: slave labor.

Sorry if it makes you feel bad, but people that use any Apple product can't go around feeling cool, they are a major part of the problem. Apple is cool, just doesn't cut it any more.

scbou Feb 8, 2012 at 10:59 pm

hmmm cloud sync ... you didn't try imessage with two devices on the same id, because it's cloud but sync Hell no!

Kiddo2050 Feb 8, 2012 at 9:01 pm

I'd be happy with BB10 which has some more eye candy than OS2, which is what I think Cascades will give, I'm just saying I don't think non-BB users will be excited enough to switch back to BB.

I don't know the answer, but if I were at RIM I'd get the best people I could in one room and say, we own a network and Apple doesn't what can we do to leaverage that network to create something that Apple cannot replicate.

Maybe it's something like connecting newbay to the network so that you can share photos and music with friends without even having to inform them (i.e., you pick the BBM group and the netowrk will inform people when you tag photos to that group) Maybe that isn't so cool but something like that.

What can I do that my competitor can't because I own a network.

npunk42 Feb 8, 2012 at 1:12 pm

Not jaw dropping, but what is? Its a cool update feature that will be useful for us persons.
Americans are a finiky bunch, they have been known for rooting for the underdog, but they will drop everything to line up behind the winner. Not all Americans, thats just an unfair unrationalized generalization, but true for the most part. When RIM picks it up again, offers a few useless perks to level the playing field, many Americans will flock back, particularly those who abandoned BB for Android/iOS toys recently.

westex#WP Feb 8, 2012 at 1:21 pm

have we heard an exact date for the release of 2.0??

berrybait Feb 8, 2012 at 4:04 pm

There is no exact release date.

matthew.popplestone@gmail Feb 8, 2012 at 1:35 pm

matty p

when i hear the word flow.. i think of a womans period... not a good name for a smart phone.. lol

just putting that out there...

barkomatic Feb 8, 2012 at 2:14 pm

No worse than "iPad" and that name certainly didn't hurt sales. :)

BB_Vee Feb 8, 2012 at 3:20 pm

yauchunh Feb 8, 2012 at 3:33 pm

+1 LOL

Snap51 Feb 8, 2012 at 5:46 pm

+1. I am still laughing 10 minutes after reading this.

BB10FTW Feb 8, 2012 at 2:29 pm

Ha I thought the exact same thing but is iPad can be super famous maybe it won't be so bad lol

Hiylow Feb 8, 2012 at 1:49 pm

Mathew, That comment is NASTY. Man, the more I hear about 2.0, the more I get excited. I have the 64g and I bought my son a 32g. My son wanted the Ipea and I told him no. He loves his playbook and so do I.

xtremez Feb 8, 2012 at 1:54 pm

Way to go man! Show your kid that Daddy knows best!

MXBerry Feb 8, 2012 at 2:15 pm

My son loves my playbook. He wait for me every day to get home from work to sit to play with it. He is just 3 years old and he love it. Is a perfect size for his age. =)

Douglasfx Feb 8, 2012 at 1:52 pm

I need this update NOW because people look at me like I am a looser every time I try to convince someone to get a Playbook : /

BB_Bmore Feb 8, 2012 at 1:58 pm

I like the BlackBerry "Flow" experience. Now lets get out the Os and market the heck out of it!!

the brother Feb 8, 2012 at 1:58 pm

Flow is the name of a weaksauce radio station in Toronto so it's tainted for me.

Let's hope all BB10 phones are more cutting edge than 93.5 fm.

Piece

Jince Feb 8, 2012 at 2:27 pm

LOL I have to agree with you on this one.

kupfernigk Feb 9, 2012 at 3:14 am

Flow is also the name of a universal business communication and data transformation program, so I doubt it could be used for a phone.

TeaBoy Feb 8, 2012 at 2:04 pm

i can feel the awesome-ness of os 2.0 now!!!

CrackBerryTorch9800 Feb 8, 2012 at 2:06 pm

So, any dates yet on when playbook 2.0 is coming out. I'm getting antsy waiting for it

MXBerry Feb 8, 2012 at 2:17 pm

Everyone are.... No date yet though...

the brother Feb 8, 2012 at 3:39 pm

When the clock strikes 02-17-12 in your time zone it will be avail. I'm already thinking I'm not gonna be feeling well that day *cough cough*

Parum Feb 8, 2012 at 2:23 pm

I'm not sure we need a WOW factor.
This feature is USEFUL! and that's exactly what Blackberry is supposed to be.

sirfly2fly Feb 8, 2012 at 3:02 pm

I think the thing BB10 will have exclusive compared to others is all the companies they acquired mainly TAT..TAT created apps are gonna be big

lindstrom Feb 8, 2012 at 2:29 pm

but more interesting that what the Inbox can contain, How is the integration in the OS?

I expect it to be very easy from anywhere - to forward "things" to other systems... So when I read an article on the Internet, or twitter or facebook - that I can use the OS menus to forward a link/copy of the message/web to the other services - or send to e-mail.. For this to be good - it must be implemented in the OS - so the feature is available using the same menus in any app.

We have also heard that the native addressbook/contacts should be powered by Gist, something that could be very cool IF it is implemented as an OS integration.

What went terribly wrong with OS1, was the completely lack of consistent GUI's. All apps using different menus etc... Still we have this mess going on in BBOS, where menu-items change positions all the time... somtimes "Copy" is on the top, other times at bottom of list, other times in the middle etc... OS2 MUST have this sorted out.

pcjackson Feb 8, 2012 at 2:33 pm

i cant wait to get 2.0. and a question to everyone reading and kevin from crackberry today i was reading a book and though of a cool app that bb can develope since a lot fo people do still have hard or soft covered books that may not be free in kindle or even kobo books making an app that you can scan a bar code and have it looked up on pb or bb phone and have it be downloaded for free instead of having to pay for it 2 if you only want books on the phone or pb.

thecsman Feb 8, 2012 at 3:29 pm

Unfortunately, that app would not work with a camera like the 9900. =(

I really hope the BB10 phones come with killer autofocus cameras.

El Platanero Feb 9, 2012 at 12:52 pm

Ha, I can see it now. "playbook owner found in book store scanning books to download for free."

allsportsfan Feb 8, 2012 at 2:34 pm

A nice little update shown. Let's hope OS2.0 comes out soon.

Bold 9900
Playbook 1.0

BB10FTW Feb 8, 2012 at 2:37 pm

Sweet, can't wait because I hate when I get a facebook message and I check it on my playbook and my Bold 9700 LED keeps flashing so i have to check it on there too. I Love the Unified inbox experience, it makes it so simple and much nicer.
Also for everyone looking for the WOW factor needs to just relax a bit. I don't think facebook integration is a WOW thing it's just useful and nice to have.
Don't forget that Playbook 2.0 is only the beginning of change and that much more is still to come. Android got a slow start with it's first version and it grew quickly so have a bit of faith that RIM still has some WOW in them!

shn'g Feb 8, 2012 at 2:49 pm

I switched from a blackberry to an iPhone not because it was cutting edge or had that huge wow for me but plain and simple because it worked when I needed it to and worked smoothly and well. For me as long as BB10 gets this part right, good OS which I know it will be and it is smooth to use and works well and when you need it to I will be getting one.. This is great to see things that are simple but no one else is integrating social networking and email into 1 app so good for blackberry! If it works seemlessly it will get people's attention and maybe they will realize that blackberry is making devices that are actually nicer to use than thier iPhones an androids and allows them to get around the os in less time and causes less hastle!

yauchunh Feb 8, 2012 at 3:37 pm

bb7 already works smoothly and well.

the 9900 is my first bb and its been very smooth (came from android that lagged and had to be restarted all the time). I've also tried my friends' older bbs and I would have to agree with you that the loading screen can be quite annoying, but they have certainly gotten the 'smoothness' part of it down in bb7s already. The pb has also been extremely smooth (flash videos in browser works better than my computer! lol). Based on my experiences (9900, and pb), I am sure bb10 will be very smooth too.

Shintocam Feb 8, 2012 at 3:13 pm

Does anyone know if the new unified messaging environment will also deal with Bridge Messages? IE can I use the new (and very nice) email app for my BB messages while I am linked to it? Maybe the emails will only be present while linked etc...?

travaz Feb 8, 2012 at 3:17 pm

Hey Kevin, what do you meanthe more I use it the more I love it? You holding out on us? :P

Blackberry_boffin Feb 8, 2012 at 5:09 pm

If you think back it's like the social feeds on BB OS right now but with the QNX touch.

shn'g Feb 8, 2012 at 5:44 pm

So with messages thats all that is connected with your social networking right? for example if I have a twitter account.. I won't be able to see all the tweets right? Only when I get mentioned or a private message?

xkalibur2k Feb 8, 2012 at 6:12 pm

Hey!! I need my royalties for "Flow"
I believe I suggested it in possible names for the upcomming BB10 phone here on crackberry.
Now where is that link...

soren203 Feb 8, 2012 at 7:01 pm

only missing texts, I wanna be able to read my texts on my playbook!!!!!!

buffandsweet33 Feb 9, 2012 at 5:20 pm

this messaging app looks so cool. i can't wait to finally use it!

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