BlackBerry+Playbook

=BLACKBERRY PLAYBOOK =

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The **BlackBerry PlayBook** is a tablet computer made by Research In Motion. It was first released for sale on April 19, 2011 in toc Canada and the United States. The PlayBook is the first device to run BlackBerry Tablet OS, an operating system based on QNX Neutrino, and runs 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, BBX (later renamed BlackBerry 10) that would be used universally across RIM's product line. A second major revision to the BlackBerry PlayBook OS scheduled for a February 2012 release. RIM has also announced support for applications for Android OS, allowing them to be sold and installed through the BlackBerry App World store. Early reviews were mixed saying that although the hardware was good, several features were missing. Shipments totalled approximately 500,000 unit during the first quarter of sales and 200,000 in the following quarter. Much of the 700,000 units shipped to retailers remained on the shelves for months, prompting RIM to introduce dramatic price reductions in November 2011 to increase sales. Rumors about the forthcoming computer, nicknamed the //BlackPad// in the press because of its expected similarity to Apple's competing iPad, had circulated for several months before the announcement. Research In Motion co-CEO Mike Lazaridis and Adobe Systems CTO Kevin Lynch staged the first public demonstration of the PlayBook on October 25, 2010 onstage at the opening-day keynote of the Adobe MAX 2010 conference. Among the features demonstrated was its tight integration with and support for Adobe AIR applications and full Flash support. According to Lazaridis, "//We're not trying to dumb down the internet for a mobile device. What we've done is bring up mobile devices to the level of desktop computers//". Lazaridis then announced at the end of his presentation that developers who get Adobe AIR applications approved on the BlackBerry App World would be eligible for free BlackBerry PlayBook tablets. Since then, the free PlayBook offer has been extended to include WebWorks applications. (Source: [|Blackberry Playbook])

SPECIFICATIONS

 * Processor Speed: 1 GHz
 * Processor Type: Cortex
 * Screen Size: 17.8 cm (7")
 * Screen Resolution: 1024 x 600
 * Standard Memory: 1 GB
 * Weight: 408.0 g
 * Processor Core: Dual-core (2 core)
 * Touchscreen: Yes
 * Display Screen Type: Active Matrix Colour LCD
 * Wi-Fi Standard: IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n
 * Height: 130.0 mm
 * Width 193.0 mm
 * Depth: 10.2 mm
 * Screen Mode: WSVGA
 * Manufacturer: Research In Motion Limited (Source: [|BlackBerry Playbook])

RECEPTION
Various sources put the sales figure on launch day alone at approximately 50,000, exceeding expectations. RIM announced in its quarterly earnings that half a million PlayBook tablets were shipped in the first quarter. However, after lukewarm market reception, there were reports that the company revised its second-quarter estimates from 2.4 million down to 800,000 – 900,000 units. When RIM announced their second quarter financial results, they revealed that they shipped 200,000 units. The combined unit shipment of 700,000 units during the first two quarter of release was only a small fraction of the 2-3 million units per quarter many had anticipated before the device's introduction. Following several months of poor sales RIM started discounting the price of Playbook from its original $499 retail price to $300 at many outlets in late September 2011. The price was further reduced to $199 at various retail outlets in both Canada and US in November due to apparent low market demand. RIM reduced the price of Playbook by over 50 percent in India under a limited festive season offer till December 31, 2011. Buoyed by the huge response, the company had decided to extend the offer by a week. The 16 GB model of the PlayBook can be bought for 13,490 in the Indian market instead of its regular price of 27,990. While the 32 GB model is available for 15,990, the 64 GB model is being offered for 24,490 against their regular prices of 32,990 and 37,990 respectively. According to Strategy Analytics figures in the 2011 second quarter, the PlayBook's market share is 3.3 percent, compared to iOS (iPad, iPad 2) by Apple with 61.3 percent, Android by Google with 30.1 percent, and various Windows by Microsoft with 4.6 percent. In December 2011, RIM announced that it sold more than 150,000 PlayBooks in the third fiscal quarter, compare to 200,000 shipments in the second quarter and 500,000 shipments in the first quarter. In total, RIM shipped to reseller channels 800,000 PlayBook tablets in the first 9 months of fiscal year 2012 (ending Nov 2011). Due to low demand for the Playbook, RIM took a $485 million write-off to account for offering price discounts. (Source: [|Blackberry Playbook])

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