So we know that the BlackBerry PlayBook will lack native email, calendar, contacts, etc. at launch (read this editorial I wrote with my take on it), but we do know that the native apps are coming to the BlackBerry PlayBook and QNX platform). RIM told us this back at CES, we heard it again last week at CTIA, and we read it again yesterday in a Verizon BlackBerry PlayBook FAQ document:
In a future software update for the BlackBerry PlayBook, we will also provide native e-mail, calendar, and contact apps for those customers who prefer to have these apps directly on the tablet.
So the question now is, how do YOU feel about this? On a tablet device like the PlayBook, is something like a native email cilent with notifications critical? Or is accessing your webmail client through the PlayBook's web browser at your leisure ok for now seeing as you likely have a mobile phone that's always on and always connected? I know there are going to be a LOT of opinions on this one, so cast your vote above and let us know where you slot into the mix, and then sound off in the comments!
Reader comments
CrackBerry Poll: How Important is it to you for the BlackBerry PlayBook to have native email, calendar, contacts, etc.?
The next survey on crackberry should ask "Who hopes the Playbook is a complete failure" . The Apple fanbase will come out in droves. They want every tablet out there to fail. It's crazy. They are crazy. These are the kind of crazies Jim Jones WISH he could have had. But Steve Jobs has them and they are making him rich. But Jim Jones proved that all cults will come to a bitter end. Playbook is the beginning to the end of Steve Jobs' crazy cult. The only question is, what cocktail will Jobs give them in the bitter end?
Don't believe the Apple Fan boy hype! People who buy Apple products fear, yes they FEAR any other company who might deliver a superior product than Apple. They have their entire self-esteem invested into Apple products so much so that if any competitive product comes along it is perceived as a threat to their overly inflated ego. They see themselves as superior because they see their Apple products as superior and any competitor's product that bests an Apple product would show them as foolish consumers.
The Playbook is such a competitive product that it definitely has these fools running scared which is why you see so many of them trolling all the blogs, including one dedicated to Blackberry users. They have to convince the world that the Playbook will be "DOA", "useless", "too little too late", "a silly device without its core apps", etc. etc. The Samsung Galaxy Tab and the Xoom hadn't received nearly a fraction of this much attention from these creeps. Do you want to know why? Because when you compare the Playbook to the Ipad2:
1) true multi tasking -- The Playbook has already demonstrated true and effortless multi tasking power (videos & games running simultaneously on screen) vs the Ipad AND the Ipad2. It's the ONLY tablet that has demonstrated this ability. Ipad2 may have a similar dual core processor and but with only 512mb of RAM it's easy to see why it's not very good at multi-tasking.
2) Ability to view ALL websites using its "core" browser. I do believe Ipad2 "needs an app" in order to view Flash content and yet still can't view an all Flash website in its original form.
3) email and messaging -- That's right, the Playbook can and will take access your email and allow you to have messaging even if you don't have a Blackberry phone. All you have to do is download 3rd party apps for it. Apple creeps want to distract you from this obvious fact. But if you do have a BB phone, all your messaging will be 100% secure and accessible on the Playbook.
4) Wifi to 3G capability out of the box - It's the only wifi tablet in 2011 that is capable of piggy-backing on your phone's 3G network right out of the box. Of course non BB users can download an app that will tether their non BB smartphone.
5) The only tablet that is ready for Enterprise use at release time. Apple has been trying desperately to break into the enterprise business. Here we are 5 years after the 1st Iphone's release and they still haven't penetrated even a small fraction of the enterprise market. The Ipad2 still isn't secure enough or even designed for enterprise use. Just think, all those enterprise BB users can now easily add a tablet to compliment their Blackberry phones. And they will! That means an instant home run for Playbook even before the consumer oriented Playbooks are released (3G & 4G Playbooks).
6) 1080p recording & playback vs. only 720p recording for Ipad2.
7) 3mp front facing 5mp rear cameras.
8) HDMI out ports via any generic HDMI cable vs having to buy an adapter from Apple.
9) GPS (gps not included on Ipad2 wifi models, only on 3g models)
10) 1gb of Ram vs. the Ipad2's 512mb of RAM not even mentioned at Ipad2's unveiling
11) APPs Baby Apps! Ipad launched with ZERO apps made for it. Playbook will launch with apps made exclusively for it. If you like being an app troll, stick with Ipad2 and scour through Itunes for hours and hours shopping through their millions of worthless apps. I'm sure there's the perfect fart counting app on Itunes.
12) Turn on the Playbook and begin using it right out the box...no dependency on something stupid like Itunes. Turn on an Ipad2 and you'll be required to hook it up to a PC via Itunes just to activate it. Got MP3's? You'll have to first send them through Itunes before you can use them on your Ipad2. Playbook will allow you to transfer your mp3's to other devices without such limitations.
13) PORTABILITY!!!!!!!! You don't need a special bag to carry around your Playbook. Slip it in and out of your pocket. You will truly take this tablet with you when you leave the house. Ipad2 owners simply leave the house without their Ipad2....because it's too big and inconvenient and too uncomfortable to hold for longer than a few minutes (hence the goofy cover/kickstand that comes with it). You mean you wanna drop $500 plus on a device that you use only at home? I thought that's what desktops were for. Oh, you want to be able to watch videos in bed. I thought that's what your TV was for? And glance at email in bed.. I thought that's what your smartphone was for?
14) Screen size-- See # 13 above
I am glad to know that RiM has said that they are going to fix this issue, and not saying non-issue; put a "bumper" on it...
I have a Blackberry Storm 2 that says RIM cannot be trusted (or is not competent enough) to provide software updates. Buy a tablet that has everything you need, and you need e-mail.
Lol, of course everyone wants safe and secure auto-synch blackberry email! If so get a BB with BIS and FFS stop whining about not having a BB email app or bbm! Its not about the software, the BIS is simply not available yet on PB! (And when it is, surprise, it's probably not added for free on a $499 device!)
In the mean time, people with a BIS or BES can bridge their services and security. Extra value for customers! I know that's weird for Apple sheep...: different devices do different things!
Phone: connectivity - tablet: productivity and entertainment!
Native email and calendar matters not a jot to me..........
It's a tablet first and foremost, not a phone, not a laptop, not a pc. I think most people are forgetting this simple fact. RIM has created this tablet with business in mind but also knowing we aren't always working (even though we should be). Those who are upset about the "missing core apps/clients" probably don't have a clue as to how they plan on using the PB to increase their productivity.
I was going to write a bit of a rant but why bother. No, native email, calendar, contacts, bbm is not important to me.
All i care is sitting next to an iphone ipad user on the uptown 1train and as soon as we get out of the tunnel heading to 125th street. Why, because i dont have to pull out my blackberry to check my email or bbm i can do all that on my playbook with my blackberry still in my holster. that all i have to say.
I don't see the big deal about native email and calendar on the playbook when the majority of people buying it will at least a smartphone that'll handle email and majority of readers on crackberry already have a blackberry so all we have to do is bridge. Plus it's a tablet so who will actually be on it 24/7 to where constant email access will be important? It has full browsing capabilities so checking email via browser is alright with me if I'm not bridged to my torch.
I would not buy the tablet unless it has all of that native stuff, including the messenger.
Really? Do you own a tablet right now? What's so good about having "all that native stuff"? Are you saying that you are incapable of downloading an app for email and chat? If you already have a tablet, are you using the native email program? On your home computer, do you use the native email program?
On my Blackberry, I've downloaded Bolt & Opera as my browser in addition to having my native BB browser. I've also downloaded Bjive rather than use BBM so that I can chat during wifi only access.
On my home Windows PC, I use Thunderbird for my email client. This was not the native app on the computer. I also use Firefox which also was not a native app.
Even if a tablet is released with no apps installed on it, it could still be a success if it were the most powerful, portable, and user friendly tablet.
I actually like the fact that my emails/calender/PIM aren't available when my BB isn't attached. Probably won't even use the native apps. I have friends over all the time(as well as my little sis) and knowing that I can let them freely play with my playbook and not worry about privacy/security is an excellent feature. No more, "damnit! did I long out of my email before I left?" Lol. Non BB users well... There's an app for that! Haha. To think there won't be non-native apps for those features available is foolish.
I have lots of friends with Ipads, or even ipod touches (which is just a mini tablet really), and nobody that I know uses the native email on them. I just don't see it as an issue. Sure, it'll be nice when it has it, but I don't think people use a tablet as a primary email device.
LOL @ People who think the iPad is a toy. All the PlayBook can do is go on the internet and play games unless you have a BlackBerry, which many people do not. RIM is supposed to be setting the standard for a business with it's superior email and calendar capabilities. It's just embarrassing.
Kevin's a great guy and all, but his last article is clearly just attempting to justify another huge mistake by RIM.
BlackBerry PlayBook: Announced September 27th, Released: ???
Apple iPad 2: Announced March 2nd, Released: March 11th
People are still waiting in lines for their iPads, but the hype for the PlayBook has already built up and died down before they've even set a release date.
Looks like tmelon is another fearful Apple fanboy creep. Let's face it, the Ipad2 is a toy. At only 512mb of RAM, it simply isn't powerful enough to be a serious computing device.
Yes, RIM has set the standard for business with superior email and calendar capabilities. That's why the wifi only version is being released so that businesses with enterprise needs can take advantage of it with ease. It is ready to go to work right out of the box for enterprise use with BIS/BES. RIM has the enterprise market already cornered which will translate into instant success for the Playbook at release. Ipad2 hasn't even made a scratch into the enterprise market and it never will because it is truly a toy. A true enterprise computing tablet device is one that can do some serious multi tasking--meaning that it can run multiple applications simultaneously onscreen. Ipad2 can not! A true computing tablet device is also one that is portable meaning it can be taken anywhere at any time and held for any length of time. Ipad2 is not and can not.
Wow. Something announced March 2nd and released March 11 is truly a reason why something is better? Is that what you use to make your buying decisions? I can see why buying toys interests you. But do you really have to troll Blackberry specific user sites to show the world how foolish you were to waste your money on Apple product after Apple product?
RIM may want to sell to people without a BlackBerry, but since there are 55 million people with a BlackBerry, I don't suppose its an urgent issue.
Once they've got some level of penetration of the existing BlackBerry market, I'm sure they'll release devices others can use.
Native Calendar and to a lesser extent contacts are important to me. I could really care less about native email.
I'm still a bit annoyed that the cyberwebs is blowing up with the Playbook not having a native application for email and calendar. For those who buy the WiFi only version, this product will almost always be tethered to their Blackberry! Our phones are always right next to us and this enables us to easily manage our information on the bigger tablet experience. I'm sure by the time the 3G and 4G versions come out, that native PIM support will be there.
Of course, Blackberry users will already have a Blackberry for email so they either do not need to tether or will have no problem doing so... but how do you expect to attract non-Blackberry users- the key to overall success- to the platform? It really needs to be able to doing email well right out of the box, and not just within a browser.
Native email or calendar isn't important to me at all. I have a BB so I can use bridge if I need it. In the absence of bridge, I'd prefer a good Remote Desktop application where I can log into my home server and access my email and calendar features if I didn't have my blackberry vs. having a native client. Having a native client would be just one more think that would have to be sync'd to be of any use and one more thing to track to make sure it was sync'd.
So for me, I hope there will be a good RDC app that I can run.
One problem with that is for instance my Gmail account is synced with my outlook account at my office computer. Everytime I get an email it is deleted from my Gmail on the browser and transfered to Outlook.
So that would be a problem for getting email on the Playbook browser.
But, for me, not an issue because of BlackBerry Bridge.
There can be no doubt in my mind that the BlackBerry PlayBook is an amazing device, with that said, to me, BlackBerry is synonymous with the native clients that it offers on the smartphones. If RIM had called it just the “PlayBook from RIM”, I would have accepted that, but calling it the BlackBerry PlayBook means that it must live up to that name with the native clients that BlackBerry offers.
If it weren’t for those native clients, I wouldn’t own a BlackBerry. To me, that's what makes it a BlackBerry. With that said, I don't fault them for not having it available at launch, as long as they do VERY-SOON after.
Is this an argument about whether or not all this is important at launch? Correct me if I'm wrong, but hasn't it been said that this native apps will be made available by an update later on?
So the Playbook I purchase on April 19 will have these native Apps on it a little further down the line. If this is true, I couldn't care less.
I am still very excited to get my Playbook.
I agree with the comments above, why woul you want native email on a tablet as well as a phone and computer, for one thing its just another device that needs syncronising, which if you are using email on more than 2 devices it becomes problematic!
For me personally I am happy there is no native email and PIM, I will just tether mine to my Torch anyway.
Let's be honest, I don't know of any email providers that don't have browser based access anyway so I don't see what the problem is.....
I think the problem is that they [RIM] will want to sell this to people that don't already own a BlackBerry. The issue is a very small one for those that already have one. But if they want to sell this to people, they will be hard pressed to represent it well without certain things that they're known for.
People would be come to the conclusion that it will have everything a BB has and be very dissapointed when [at first] it doesn't. first impressions are very important.
If RIM made the native clients available, if would be easy to convince someone to get one vs the competition since you can talk up the most used feature (by non-business users), BlackBerry Messenger. Being able to 'BBM' is essential to most users. Heck, I know people who bought a BB JUST to be able to BBM with their friends that already own a BB.
The point is that people want options, so if the feature can be turned on/off, it would benefit all.
I really don't see a big deal of all this.
Plus for me I can use bridge to pair my torch and the Playbook. Those without a BlackBerry will receive their email on their smartphone (whichever one it is).
With bridge you can delete the email on 1 device and have it delete on both BlackBerry devices which solves the "deleting the same email on multiple devices problem" that was mentioned before.
I will be glad when the native email comes, but the way I figure it is that my bb is by my side 99% of the time anyways. So, I can just use my bb to get bbm, email, etc. Or just bridge it and get it on my playbook.
My original plan was always to tether my bb to it when I am away from my home or office anyways. I want to use my cell data plan that I pay for every month.
I guess as a blackberry user, I don't see the huge issue. I can understand if you don't have a blackberry, but in the grand scheme of things, most people use their smartphones for messaging and emails regardless of the type of tablet that is in their messenger bag.
I can be sitting at home, and still read and respond to most of my emails via my blackberry unless I am currently on my computer (even then, I still use my bb lots lol!)
+1. EXACTLY!!!!
Why do I need to receive the same info on both my PB and my BB. I'd rather receive it on my bb and use my PB for entertainment becuase I don't think I'll be carrying an expensive device outside in crowded public places like downtown where people can easily jump you or rob you. Just my oppinion though.
I don't understand what the big fuss is about. Not having these native apps I think is a great idea. Chances are, if you have a tablet, you'll have a cellphone that is capable of email as well.
The tablet industry is an entire new product - not just a larger smartphone (as noted by Apple). People will use these devices differently.
I cannot tell you how annoying I think it is when I'm sitting at my computer and I receive an email on my Mac. And then on my iPad. And then on my BlackBerry. And then I have to check all three notifications to make them go away. Because let's be real, two-way push is not the same on all devices and it bother's me not to check my BlackBerry when the red LED blinks.
The same argument can be said about the iPad 2's crappy cameras. People are complaining how low-res they are. But really... are you going to have your iPad as your camera and not have your smartphone on you?
Plus, RIM is releasing them anyway. So how can anyone complain?
Oh my God! Someone with a brain! Welcome, good sir!
Seriously, this is my argument as well. Why would I want to have my phone ringing and my tablet ringing at the same time? It's just stupid and doesn't make any sense in a real world scenario. People are looking into this way too much and aren't thinking about it logically.
Completely agree! I have an iPad provided to me by my employer and I have my email set up on it. 100% of the time I use the iPad, my BlackBerry is with me, and both devices alerting whenever I get an email is really annoying. Plus the awful syncing issue, have to go in and mark everything read on the iPad. Looking forward to Bridge soooooooo much so I don't have to deal with this issue! I bet most of the people who voted for "Extremely Important to have native clients" don't have a tablet already. Having everything (email, contacts, calendar) on both devices is more of an annoyance than it is a convenience.
This was very close to what I was going to write as well. This all the sudden has come up as this HUGE!!!!!! issue, but whats all the fuss? I think it is odd that it doesn't have a native client on launch day, however, I think it renders every web technology out there. So logging into gmail or hotmail or whatever is perfectly viable. I bet you could even save it as a bookmark... maybe even have it save the password if you wanted it to.
If you use BES then you will have a BB to bridge to. Personally, I have a BB which I am more likely to have on me or near me more times than the Playbook will be. I will prefer to use the BB bridge rather than impose one more email notification.
Thats my opinion anyway.
+1
Could get along without an Email Client, but why should I have too? All the Communications capabilities that makes a BlackBerry so great - Email, BBM... are missing from the PlayBook for now.
Think we are going to have to wait for the finished product - next year when it has 3G/4G, Native Email, Access to BlackBerry Messenger, Contacts and Calendar built-in to the OS.
3G/4G ready by the summer pal, if not sooner.
I guess if you count one very small carrier...
It doesn't matter at all but it is still silly not to have it ready by launch.
RIM still has three weeks until the PlayBook is released, and I see no reason they couldn't at least write an email client in that time...
Did you not even at least glance over the blog post CrackBerry Kevin put up earlier today on the reasoning behind the client email availability? Yes, RIM could have put a native app on it for email, long ago, and guess what, you can get a third party app right now that will do that if you choose. RIM didn't want to do it until they have full & secure (what RIM is famous for) client connectivity through their NOC (both BIS and BES). Since this is a new OS for them, it takes time to implement it fully and they want to be sure it is very secure, so, end users can trust it. This is what RIM has been famous for since the onset... extremely secure and reliable email services through their own BIS/BES servers. As Kevin pointed out, by the time the 4G radio versions are ready, you will see a full email client service available on the PB as a standalone product.
No email at all, I'd be annoyed. But email through Bridge, when I always carry my Bold, and email through the browser, I'm not worried. I'll probably use the native app once it's there, but I'm not particularly upset waiting for it either. I use Gmail from home, so using it on the go wouldn't bother me in the slightest.
Not having it isn't a loss; it just isn't as big of a gain.
This thing is so bad it's embarrassing! No e-mail? Sort of sounds like a little toy tablet for 1st graders!
Rim has no clue. First they take far too long to even come out with the thing, and now it has no e-mail. I would be surprised if they sell more than 20,000. My BB phone is better!!!!!
how much are you willing to bet that they will sell more than that on April 19th? 20,000 is a very small number for something getting released in the US and Canada
RIM could put an Etch-a-Sketch in a shiny black case, and they'd still sell thousands (at least at first) on name recognition alone - what the lowest common denominator of consumers will do isn't the point. The point is whether or not this thing is any good. Nobody wants a BlackBerry/RIM device for the apps or the sexy little bells and whistles. If anybody even THOUGHT about buying this, they did so because of communication capabilities - primarily email and BBM. And to find out that it can't do those...what do people think is going to happen here? People are not going to get into line to pay $499 for a piece of glass with an unproven browser and crappy version of Need for Speed inside. And I don't care what the device can do when tethered because only 5-10% of the people who buy it will ever bother to do that. People are getting a rid of their old BB phones as quick as they can...this device needed to be something new on its own, and they're anchoring it to their dying smartphones.
I know 20,000 is a tiny number. I am sort of being a dick about it. In other words, I don't think the Playbook will be a successful product in the market. Far too little and far too late. Wouldn't you rather have an iPad 2? It is so slick, it's insane. Yet I wanted a Playbook too, but I have to pass on it for now.
"Wouldn't you rather have an iPad 2?"
Less memory.
Fewer DPI.
Only 720HD.
Less powerful.
Limited multi-tasking.
Less robust.
Less secure.
And that's just what I can think off in the moment. The iPad 2 is a cute toy, and great to show off with. But it's not enterprise ready.
Lots of companies will appreciate the fact the Playbook is more secure (and therefore less expensive to manage).
Unless RIM screws up in some other way, they'll do ok with the Playbook. They don't have the marketing ability of Apple, but in pretty well every other way the device matches or exceeds the iPad2.
Uh. I would rather have an iPad 2. No question.
First off, it's definitely not less powerful. The graphics on the iPad are way above the PlayBook and the XOOM and the dual core A5 processor is easily as good as whatever is in the Playbook. And I have no idea what needs to be so secure. All you can do is browse the web and play with your (ANDROID) apps and games.
The biggest advantage to me is the decently sized screen. I know RIM loves small screens and all, but I'd like a tablet that is significantly bigger than a smartphone.
And of course the PlayBook highly encourages (in my opinion, needs) a BlackBerry to function. It's not like you have to have an iPhone to get full potential out of your iPad.
I mean honestly, what can the PlayBook do that any other tablet can't?
"I mean honestly, what can the PlayBook do that any other tablet can't?"
Watch two videos at a time? (Maybe more).
Do stuff in the background while you play games or watch movies, without degrading the video etc.
Play and record 1080p video.
Link with BlackBerry devices to allow BBM, calendar sync, email etc.
Run Flash applications and better still 1.5 million Flash dependent websites.
I don't particularly care that you're a devotee of Apple, but at least get your facts right. The iPad is a decent enough product, but doesn't come close to the Playbooks capabilities.
Having said that there's no disgrace in you loving a poorer quality product. It's about choice.
But if you have to be an Apple fan, at least don't be an Apple moron.
I keep reading how people keep saying how great and flawless the iPad2 is... Below are some of the issues that iPad2 users are having:
1. IMPORTANT!! The iPad2 does not recharge when connected to MOST computers. The tech support says that only the newest iMacs and Macbook Pros's can support the 10W requirement. So please don't count on USB recharging.
2. Another common report is that safari is pretty cranky. When moving from one page to another, the user often have text from the previous page stuck on the screen over which the new page loaded. The only way out is to restart safari after completely killing it.
3. Some QC issues (back-light bleed north east of home button). No resolution bump (even though the panels are being manufactured), and poor cameras. (***I wonder if Jobs is going to say non-issue, like he did when he responded to the iPhone4 antenna issue... !!! )
4. The iPad's screen resolution hasn't budged, photo quality is mediocre, there's still no Adobe Flash support, and ports for HDMI, USB, and SD all require adapters.
You are spot on.
1) The tablet market is way overhyped and over saturated. Manufacturers see people gobbling up the iPad and assume there is a huge market for tablets. WRONG
2) RIM is releasing this garbage way too late, everyone wants an ipad2, No one except a few handful of crackberry users want them LOL
3) So here's my biggest point: The biggest buyers of this failbook are going to be companies to give to their employees since tablets are fun, luxury items and everyone wants a iPad for entertainment purposes. My question is: Do you think companies are really going to give them these tablets for "work and productivity" when they don't even have native email? LMFAO FAIL
Adios RIM, you'll be bought by Google in two or three years.
I couldn't agree with you more. Whenever this silly PlayBook gets released it will sell exponentially less than the iPad and even the XOOM. The only people who are excited about it are people here who are still in denial about it not being a toy.
What's wrong with toy's?
Nothing at all. But toy seems to be an insult used quite a bit to describe the iPad, which has much more functionality than the PlayBook.
"which has much more functionality than the PlayBook"
Which proves that you haven't even looked at the Playbook. Because nothing could be further from the truth.
How dumb are you? It surfs the web...the ACTUAL web...not the pretend web that steve jobs says you can see. If you have the web, you can get your email....personally, it makes no difference if this thing has native email or not. Hotmail, gmail, outlook, ALL ACCESSIBLE...learn your facts
Ahh, another nerdy Apply Fanboy creep coming to troll the BB blogs. And pretending to be a BB user at that!
How long is far too long? When should the Playbook have come out? If it comes out in April are you saying that there will be no more room left in the tablet market at that time? Is it still too late for PC manufacturers to make PCs or TV manufacturers to make TV's? You're so awesome with your all-knowing wisdom about product release timing. You are wiser and far more successful than RIM could ever be. RIM is so clueless that you claim your BB phone is better! That's a contradiction but your are the all-knowing product release guy so who am I to question such unexplained widsom. You already know that less than 20,000 Playbooks will sell because it's only for 1st graders. Because adults only use email on their tablets and spend all their time using said email and nothing else. And because downloading an email app or messaging app is such an unheard of thing these days. No one ever downloads Thunderbird or Firefox for the Macs & PC's. No one ever downloads apps to their Ipad2 just so they can view some Flash content. You are just way too wise for us. Thank you for gracing this blog with your informative and well-thought out summation of the Playbook.
I have a Blackberry for that, I don't need a tablet to handle my emails, BBM and calender..........
I already have a BlackBerry and that is why i want the PlayBook, and i am sure others are in the same situation. So having a BlackBerry and getting a PlayBook doesn't mean your BlackBerry is going to stop receiving emails or loose your contacts. :D lol Just means we are going to have to wait for a lil bit.
I'm just excited that we all have an official date to look forward too.
Bring on the PlayBook
What no one is addressing, which I would love to know, is whether BES users will eve be able to use the Tablet without the bridge. I would like to essentially use the Tablet, without the bride, to act as a second blackberry smartphone. Without the bridge, I want to mark an e-mail read on my smartphone and have it marked read on the Tablet. I want BBM to go to both at the same time under the same idea. I know it is hard, and requires a substantial change to the Blackberry platform, but without that, I am not sure I will get one.
I have many computers. Each connects to my Exchange server. When I mark an item read on one machine, it marks it read on all machines. If a machine is disconnected from the server, it catched us in synching the next time it connects. The same should be true for those who want multiple blackberry BES devices.
There's no such thing as a secondary smartphone. You're not going to have 2 devices with the exact same sim card. The wifi version of the Playbook displays BB's PIM services only when "bridged" to a BB phone. 3G and 4G Playbook versions will not need to be bridged and will have their own PIM services on the device. For the scenario you've described, you will actually need enterprise services from RIM (BES) but the answer to your question is "Yes", there can be syncing across all of your Blackberry devices. Contact a RIM enterprise rep and he'll help you out.
The Playbook will be amazing regardless
It's not unusual for products to be brought to market before all features are implemented. But this is not the Xoom temporarily lacking Flash. This is a BlackBerry product lacking core functionality for its most probable customer base - business and government users. This is a huge mistake.
And it's not just being able to access Gmail using a browser. A great many BlackBerry users are on BES/Exchange. Even the Xoom and the iPad integrate Exchange accounts properly so that calendar items, tasks, contacts, and messages stay in sync across all devices.
True....BUT, true BES users will already have a BB, and using the bridge function (as most will) will allow them to get their work email/calendar functions on the PB, and from the BES Administrator standpoint, allowing the security policies to be mirrored on the tablet as well. Once the bridge connection is terminated, none of the emails or files are stored on the PB, making it much less of a security problem. Coming from a BES Administrator view in a very large corporate environment (thats me), its a win/win for us and the user. I know we are very excited about it and have ordered many (we have 30,000 + users).
When the native email functionality eventually rolls out for the device, we will most likely turn off that functionality anyway (for the wifi models). Now, when the 4G models are available, they will be treated just like any current BB device, so, the BES security policies will be rolled out to them as per status quo. No difference really.
Was thinking same thing if bes user you would have a bb phone I would think! But I'm waiting for verizon or any unannounced provider to get it before I buy wifi, why go 3g when I can have 4g, plus maybe netflix will get off their butt and make a product that everyone wants blackberry instant streaming if they don't bring it to playbook I'm done, can download and convert for free been doing it years(plus no buffer half way through 50 percent of the movies)!
I'd like to point out the "real world" numbers will be skewed for "real" users. I think we lose sight on the fact that we are addicts and abusers so for "regular" people, the number of people that care either way is probably significantly lower.
I dont know about others but i sure need my playbook to have those. nuff said
even in my work place, I use web to access outlook, so i don't need native email
I use my phone to connect everywhere, don't need a tablet to do exactly the same.. On the contrary! I'm happy that the PB is actually different from a BBPhone.
Wouldn't want to pay 3x for the same device...(Cough*ipodtouch*iphone*ipad*cough)
"Nuff said"? What, you can think of any reasons to explain why you "sure need your Playbook to have those"? Do you own a Blackberry phone? Because if you do you "sure don't need to have those stuff" on your Playbook.
Guess what. If you're not a BB owner, you could always download apps of the email & messaging kind. I'm sure you've downloaded apps before. You know, the kind that can provide functions not already available on a device. I'm sure you've downloaded apps onto your PC and smartphone that were different than the native apps. Thunderbird? Firefox? This would be no different.
Nuff said.
lol at #biwinning
I have yahoo, gmail and outlook email, all can be access in web, what's the problem of not having native email?
Well, I don't have an active Blackberry at the moment so I get none of the features because of it? That doesn't make sense.
Also, the reason why just jumping to the web isn't always fun is because it's not designed to be touch friendly as you would expect a native app to be and it also removes the clutter that is found on most websites.
LOL @ "clutter". Is that why you download apps...because you want to cut down on a website's clutter? If you answer yes then you're such a liar. The reason why you haven't been having fun jumping to websites in your browser is because you've been using Apple products. As a general rule, Ipad(2) and Iphone(3/4) DON'T render websites as they were meant to be rendered! And I agree , that's not fun at all!
So you've basically caught on to the idea that downloading apps help you extend or augment your tablet or smartphone experience. Yet here you are saying that certain features not found on the Playbook "doesn't make sense" when you could simply download the apps that you want to extend or augment your tablet experience, including email and messaging apps. I think you're just grasping desperately for reasons to trash talk the Playbook. You must be an Apple fanboy creep. Get lost! The Playbook WILL be a success and everyone will know you're an idiot for collecting that "clutter" of Apple products which are all multiple versions of the exact same thing.
Just looked at the poll results. kevin you've got a site full of haters.
Sooooo dumb. For 90% of people: Email on the playbook? Touch the Gmail icon...done!
All other comments ... useless techno geek babble.
Lol looks like it.
Tablets the way apple have transformed them are accessories. Its hard not to rely on a computer without them. I mean u still need to access itunes on a pc and to load crap on it. I mean the tablet didn't even come with a proper standard port?!
The playbook improves on that without having to solely rely on bb desktop manager but its quite dependant and this opinion is not based on these missing native apps alone. Its a Multimedia tablet that will still rely on connectivity with a pc unlike the traditional tablet or laptop. If it had usb host I would think a little differently.
You're making a mountain out of mole hill because it will be coming even though I too think they should be there from the start. I hardly took advantage of these features on my netbook.
Anyone remotely interested in a playbook will have a phone with these features should be ok for now you've done well without thus far. Look elsewhere if its no good - hey maybe retrieve mail Via pop 3 on your web based email if that helps? So many angry ppl haha. If you're a business using using bes than you'll be right for now. At least we get cut and paste straight up and multi tasking.