Playbook OS 2.x - Interesting in [Market-Ticker]

Posted 2012-02-23 11:14
by Karl Denninger
in Technology

Playbook OS 2.x - Interesting

So I succumbed to the $199 Playbook at Best Buy yesterday.

It came with the 2.0 OS, which out-of-the-box is quite nice. It is a VERY credible web and email device -- email is now native and supports all the common protocols, including most-particularly (from my point of view anyway) multi-client IMAP w/SSL, which is (again IMHO) the natural choice for enterprise customers who actually give a damn about multiple device access that is synchronized, coherent, push-mode and secure.

It also can run some Android applications, which was the reason I bought it -- and to hack on it. Unfortunately the "hack on it" has run into a few issues, in that the previous rooting methods have been patched and thus far I've been unable to force a downgrade of the OS so I can get root.

My first impression, however, is that as a web, email and media consuming device this thing is insanely nice for $200. It has decent speakers too, which are plenty loud enough for playing movies in a reasonable room environment, unlike many other tablets.

I would be much happier with widespread Android application capability. What I've gotten working thus far has been nice, but it's a pain in the ass to do it and that doesn't help. The multi-tasking nature of the OS, and the way it "just works", however, is not to be ignored.

If RIMM was to open this thing up to the Android Market without fear or favor they'd have a monster. Unfortunately they'd also have no revenue stream off the applications, which means they have to figure out how to make money off of it.

If you want a mobile media device and don't like the idea of paying $500 for one, and especially if you like the 7" form factor (I do -- a lot!) for $200 it's damn hard to argue with this thing.

Discussion below (registration required to post)

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User Info	Playbook OS 2.x - Interesting in forum [Market-Ticker]
Uwe Posts: 6455 Incept: 2009-01-03 19446 Online	Can you run TOS on it? -Uwe- ---------- Whenever the legislators endeavor to take away and destroy the property of the people, or to reduce them to slavery under arbitrary power, they put themselves into a state of war with the people, who are thereupon absolved from any further obedience. - John Locke 2012-02-23 11:25:02 Permalink
Otiswild Posts: 5627 Incept: 2009-03-09 Inside you, the force is!	$199 brings it into the realm of credible. $499 was a pretty funny joke. I'm pretty happy with my 2nd gen iPad. Which reminds me, I have to bill my friend for DNS and hosting services ($20/yr to piggyback on my dreamhost account ), I do wish Timewerks gets an update to full-res iPad.. 2012-02-23 11:30:57 Permalink
Flyanddive Posts: 578 Incept: 2008-10-10 Detroit	Although expensive, the new windows 8 tablets coming out are fantastic! Can't say enough about them; A game changer definitely. ---------- "I've seen people go into real poverty trying to pretend to be rich." 2012-02-23 11:33:21 Permalink
Genesis Posts: 130777 Incept: 2007-06-26	The problem is that at the $500+ price-point I'll buy and use a laptop (and have.) ---------- I don't care* if it makes sense -- only if it makes money. -- Me* Bank (n): See scam, fraud and theft. *Eat a bankster -- they're low-carb.* *What part of "shall not be infringed" was unclear?* 2012-02-23 11:36:59 Permalink
Dazedncornfused Posts: 313 Incept: 2010-10-13	Can I download the entries in Google Calendar, edit and make new ones? That's the task that I can't get the Kindle Fire to work with. ---------- Stand up and be counted or line up and be numbered. Last modified: 2012-02-23 11:42:42 by dazedncornfused 2012-02-23 11:41:53 Permalink
Genesis Posts: 130777 Incept: 2007-06-26	The new ones at Best Buy, right now, cannot be downgraded and then rooted -- they fixed the hole in the latest release. The cat-n-mouse game will continue and once that's possible it should work, because once you have root you can load GAAPS (Google's base Android apps, which is how you get the other base capabilities including the market.) If you have one with an older OS on it and don't upgrade to the latest, then yes, or wait until a new version of Dingleberry comes out that knows how to back-hack the new firmware. Security and stability is both good and bad. Good in that it doesn't crash and "just works." Bad in that if you want to INTENTIONALLY break into it, it's quite a bit harder than it would otherwise be! ---------- I don't care* if it makes sense -- only if it makes money. -- Me* Bank (n): See scam, fraud and theft. *Eat a bankster -- they're low-carb.* *What part of "shall not be infringed" was unclear?* Last modified: 2012-02-23 11:46:18 by genesis 2012-02-23 11:45:36 Permalink
Mayorquimby Posts: 13909 Incept: 2008-09-18 The Archaic Past	I don't use my laptop much now that I have my ipad. What are the margins like at $200? ---------- They who wish to hurt you, work within the law. - Morrissey Gold is theft. 2012-02-23 11:46:06 Permalink
Genesis Posts: 130777 Incept: 2007-06-26	Dog**** I'm sure. It won't replace my laptop but the browser works very well and as a media device it's very credible also. The app dearth is the big gotcha if you want to do something like replace what you'd do with Android or the iPad, but if you're simply looking for a quick and portable web and email device it works REALLY well. ---------- I don't care* if it makes sense -- only if it makes money. -- Me* Bank (n): See scam, fraud and theft. *Eat a bankster -- they're low-carb.* *What part of "shall not be infringed" was unclear?* 2012-02-23 11:47:45 Permalink
Mayorquimby Posts: 13909 Incept: 2008-09-18 The Archaic Past	I would love to see someone produce a solid affordable competitor to the ipad. While I love Apple products, they are a ripoff (their effing laptops cost a fortune and still come with 4 gigs ram with ram prices plummeting). I wonder where Windows fits into all of this down the road. ---------- They who wish to hurt you, work within the law. - Morrissey Gold is theft. 2012-02-23 11:49:25 Permalink
Flyanddive Posts: 578 Incept: 2008-10-10 Detroit	I understand what you're saying about the laptop, but the new tablets may actually make laptops a thing of the past. Here's a video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8-K1ELv6.... ---------- "I've seen people go into real poverty trying to pretend to be rich." 2012-02-23 11:50:29 Permalink
Genesis Posts: 130777 Incept: 2007-06-26	I don't know. The problem with things like Windows 8 is the footprint for the OS -- it's ridiculous. This is where QNX shines bigtime. The other thing the Playbook got right is the on-screen keyboard. It's quite nice and fast. A lot of the Android ones just plain suck. Theirs appears to be about on-par with the iPad, which has a decent one as well. ---------- I don't care* if it makes sense -- only if it makes money. -- Me* Bank (n): See scam, fraud and theft. *Eat a bankster -- they're low-carb.* *What part of "shall not be infringed" was unclear?* 2012-02-23 11:50:52 Permalink
Aliveh Posts: 4047 Incept: 2008-01-18 Los Angeles	someone intelligent who actually shops at Best Buy - I guess there's a reason they routinely post >$1 Bn net income. 2012-02-23 12:23:27 Permalink
Flyanddive Posts: 578 Incept: 2008-10-10 Detroit	True, but why buy a desktop, laptop, and tablet separately when one device is all you need? Intel is only a few months away from sticking its flagship core i7 in mobile devices. Also, you can attach external hdd's to it for more storage. The big downside isn't the OS, it actually works flawlessly, the battery life is abysmal at 4 hrs. ---------- "I've seen people go into real poverty trying to pretend to be rich." Last modified: 2012-02-23 12:25:34 by flyanddive 2012-02-23 12:24:36 Permalink
Genesis Posts: 130777 Incept: 2007-06-26	Well my laptop rocks.... To get me off that you have to replace all it does in a smaller package for less. Good luck. ---------- I don't care* if it makes sense -- only if it makes money. -- Me* Bank (n): See scam, fraud and theft. *Eat a bankster -- they're low-carb.* *What part of "shall not be infringed" was unclear?* 2012-02-23 12:26:04 Permalink
Raster Posts: 2164 Incept: 2007-08-16 Rar!	Hey KD, I posted this back a couple of weeks ago - thought you'd find it interesting: http://tickerforum.org/akcs-www?singlepo.... RIM's tools for converting Android APK files to BlackBerry apps works quite well. That seems to be where they're going with this. They're giving out free Playbooks to anyone who converts an Android App to Blackberry and puts it in their market. Anyhow - if you're interested in making a TickerForum app in about 10 minutes, check out http://www.andromo.com/ - (disclosure: it's my company). Heck - I'd make it for you if you want. ---------- "Bah something 'sploded" - King Karl, Circa November 8, 2010 CE 2012-02-23 12:31:26 Permalink
Flyanddive Posts: 578 Incept: 2008-10-10 Detroit	Haha, I'm not saying you're going to buy one, but it's a big reason your assessment of Apple topping is a good one. ---------- "I've seen people go into real poverty trying to pretend to be rich." 2012-02-23 12:32:02 Permalink
Genesis Posts: 130777 Incept: 2007-06-26	I looked at Adromo and while I was able to quickly build an app, it was basically just a wrapper on the browser. That didn't do much for me but perhaps I didn't look closely enough :-) Incidentally you don't have to convert, it appears -- it looks like the QNX OS on the Playbook can host the Android environment as a guest OS (!) and thus basically run the apps directly! ---------- I don't care* if it makes sense -- only if it makes money. -- Me* Bank (n): See scam, fraud and theft. *Eat a bankster -- they're low-carb.* *What part of "shall not be infringed" was unclear?* Last modified: 2012-02-23 12:35:01 by genesis 2012-02-23 12:34:00 Permalink
Patentleathershoes Posts: 9996 Incept: 2007-09-13 On the Daisy Chain	Tempting. ---------- "An unborn child's property rights are protected by law. His right to life is not." Ronald Reagan 2012-02-23 12:59:56 Permalink
Soros Posts: 3113 Incept: 2007-08-31 La La Land	Is there a skype app for the playbook yet? I was about to buy one for my mom a while back but that's a deal breaker ---------- So long and thanks for all the fish. 2012-02-23 13:02:17 Permalink
Genesis Posts: 130777 Incept: 2007-06-26	Nope... just looked. There's an internal video-calling app but it's blackberry-specific (only calls other Blackberries.) ---------- I don't care* if it makes sense -- only if it makes money. -- Me* Bank (n): See scam, fraud and theft. *Eat a bankster -- they're low-carb.* *What part of "shall not be infringed" was unclear?* Last modified: 2012-02-23 13:15:52 by genesis 2012-02-23 13:15:21 Permalink
Blutach Posts: 21 Incept: 2011-12-29 Oak Brook, IL	was the playbook made in China? ---------- Bill Still 2012! 2012-02-23 13:16:30 Permalink
Genesis Posts: 130777 Incept: 2007-06-26	Taiwan, and you're gone. ---------- I don't care* if it makes sense -- only if it makes money. -- Me* Bank (n): See scam, fraud and theft. *Eat a bankster -- they're low-carb.* *What part of "shall not be infringed" was unclear?* 2012-02-23 13:16:51 Permalink
Badameli Posts: 8 Incept: 2010-09-02	Well tell me if you are able to get the kindle android app working on the playbook - because I am stymied. 300 books in on my kindle account, and I'm loathe to switch to a different medium. 2012-02-23 13:27:41 Permalink
Genesis Posts: 130777 Incept: 2007-06-26	Yeah, that's one of my gating things too. Right now the answer is no as the load that came on it is too new and I can't downgrade it to root it. I'll fix that, but it may take a while. Once I do the fun begins. ---------- I don't care* if it makes sense -- only if it makes money. -- Me* Bank (n): See scam, fraud and theft. *Eat a bankster -- they're low-carb.* *What part of "shall not be infringed" was unclear?* 2012-02-23 13:28:23 Permalink