BlackBerry PlayBook
The BlackBerry PlayBook is a mini tablet computer that was developed by BlackBerry. It was manufactured by Quanta Computer, an original design manufacturer (ODM). It was first released for sale on April 19, 2011, in Canada and the United States.
| Developer | BlackBerry Ltd |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Quanta Computer (contract manufacturer) |
| Type | Mini-tablet computer, media player |
| Release date | April 19, 2011 |
| Operating system | BlackBerry Tablet OS (QNX) |
| CPU | 1 GHz Texas Instruments OMAP 4430 (Cortex-A9 dual-core) |
| Memory | 1 GB RAM |
| Storage | 16, 32, 64 GB Flash |
| Display | 7 in (180 mm) LCD display 1024×600 px (WSVGA) 16:9 aspect ratio (1080p HDMI output) |
| Graphics | PowerVR SGX540 |
| Sound | Stereo microphones, loudspeakers |
| Input | Capacitive 4-point multi-touch touchscreen GPS 3-axis accelerometer-gyroscope Magnetometer |
| Camera | 1080p HD video: 5 MP rear, 3 MP front |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g/n) Bluetooth 3.1 Micro-USB Micro-HDMI |
| Power | 20 Wh (5.4 Ah, 3.7 V) |
| Online services | 7digital, BlackBerry App World, Rovi Video Store |
| Dimensions | 194 mm (7.6 in) H 130 mm (5.1 in) W 9.7 mm (0.38 in) D |
| Mass | 425 grams (0.937 lb) |
| Website | ca |
| Developer | BlackBerry |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Quanta Computer (on contract) |
| Type | Tablet, media player |
| Release date | August 9, 2012 |
| Operating system | BlackBerry Tablet OS (QNX) |
| CPU | 1.5 GHz Texas Instruments OMAP 4460 (Cortex-A9 dual-core) |
| Memory | 1 GB RAM |
| Storage | 32 GB Flash |
| Display | 7 in (180 mm) LCD display 1024×600 px (WSVGA) 16:9 aspect ratio (1080p HDMI output) |
| Graphics | PowerVR SGX540 |
| Sound | Stereo microphones, loudspeakers |
| Input | Capacitive 4-point multi-touch touchscreen GPS 3-axis accelerometer-gyroscope Magnetometer |
| Camera | 1080p HD video: 5 MP rear, 3 MP front |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g/n) 4G LTE (700, 1700 MHz) UMTS/HSPA+ (800, 900, 1700, 1900, 2100 MHz) Bluetooth 3.1 Micro-USB Micro-HDMI (NFC installed but deactivated) |
| Power | 17.76 Wh (4.8 Ah, 3.7 V) |
| Online services | 7digital, BlackBerry App World, Rovi Video Store |
| Dimensions | 194 mm (7.6 in) H 130 mm (5.1 in) W 9.7 mm (0.38 in) D |
| Mass | 405 grams (0.893 lb) |
| Website | blackberry |
The PlayBook was the first device to run BlackBerry Tablet OS, based on QNX Neutrino, and run apps developed using Adobe AIR. It was later announced that the BlackBerry Tablet OS would be merged with the existing BlackBerry OS to produce a new operating system, BlackBerry 10, that would be used universally across BlackBerry's product line. A second major revision to the BlackBerry PlayBook OS was released in February 2012. The PlayBook also supported Android OS applications, allowing them to be sold and installed through the BlackBerry App World store.
Early reviews were mixed, saying that the hardware was good, but several features were missing. Shipments totaled about 500,000 units in the first quarter of sales, and 200,000 the following quarter. Many of the 700,000 units shipped to retailers allegedly remained on the shelves for months, prompting BlackBerry to introduce dramatic price reductions in November 2011 to increase sales. Sales rebounded following the price cuts, with BlackBerry shipping about 2.5 million BlackBerry PlayBooks by June 1, 2013. At the end of that month, the CEO announced the platform would not be further developed.