tablets

Everything we know about the BlackBerry PlayBook

We were excited and a little bit relieved that RIM announced its widely rumored BlackBerry PlayBook (with video) yesterday at the BlackBerry Developer Conference in San Francisco.

Although we did learn some specs--like the tablet's dimensions--there's still much RIM isn't telling. We'll share what we know and will update our list as soon as we learn more.

What are the specifications?

7-inch screen (1,024x600 pixels) 5.1 inches tall 7.6 inches wide 0.4 inch (9.7mm) thick 0.9 pounds 3-megapixel front-facing HD camera 5-megapixel rear-facing HD camera 1GHz dual-core processor 1GB RAM 1080p high-definition video playback HTML5-capable browser 802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi Adobe Flash 10.1 support Adobe AIR support H.264, MPEG4, and WMV, HDMI video output Micro USB, Micro HDMI, and DLNA media streaming Enterprise-strength e-mail security

Get the full specs here.

Is the PlayBook a phone? No. RIM's new device will be an Internet-enabled tablet. However, RIM is emphasizing video calling over Wi-Fi, so you can expect to see video chatting software. … Read more

Leaked: Is this the HP Slate 500?

We've gotten our hands on a handful of leaked photos of what is purportedly the upcoming HP Slate 500 tablet. Following on the hands-on video found on YouTube last week, this is the second recent appearance of a Windows version of this much-delayed tablet.

These pics, courtesy of a tip provided to our pals at Buzz Out Loud, show a tablet running Windows 7, along with a docking stand (with USB and HDMI ports), and a leather-like case with a hole cut in it for the rear-facing camera.

If anything, these recent leaks of a Win 7 version of … Read more

Slimmer iPad on tap for second-quarter 2011?

Apple could release a more svelte iPad by the end of the second quarter of 2011, Goldman Sachs said in an investment report yesterday.

According to the analysts, Apple will keep the 9.7-inch display in the new iPad, but will attempt to make it easier on the grip by reducing its weight and thickness. The analysts also expect Apple to throw in a built-in camera and a mini USB drive for additional connectivity.

Goldman Sachs also touched on the possibility of Apple finally releasing the long-rumored 7-inch iPad, saying that plans for the smaller tablet have yet to be &… Read more

RIM BlackPad today?

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RIM makes a tablet play

SAN FRANCISCO--RIM put the rest of the world on notice that it's not just a boring, yet eminently reliable, buttoned-up smartphone maker anymore.

As was widely rumored, RIM did unveil its first non-smartphone device today at the opening keynote event at its DevCon developer conference here. The company is calling it the PlayBook.

The PlayBook is aimed at people who do more work than play--RIM's calling it "the first professional tablet"--but the company is certainly not ignoring the world outside of the office. In fact, even though RIM is playing very heavily to its reliable, … Read more

BlackBerry PlayBook, first impressions

Judging from the number of times the words "professional" and "uncompromising" came up during today's Research In Motion announcement, we think it's fair to say the PlayBook isn't positioned to take on Apple as a budget alternative to the iPad. Instead, RIM's BlackBerry PlayBook is poised to attack the iPad on the basis of specs, such a 1GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, micro-HDMI output, symmetrical dual-core processing, and support for 1080p HD video playback. It also features both rear-facing (5MP) and front-facing (3MP) cameras, capable of HD video recording and still photos.

The PlayBook also distinguishes itself from other tablets with its size, featuring a 7-inch screen (1,024x600) that falls right between the iPad's 9.7-inch screen and the 5-inch screen of the Dell Streak. In all, the PlayBook's dimensions measure 5.1 inches tall, 7.6 inches wide, and 0.4 inch thick, weighing just under a pound.

On the software end, the PlayBook runs an OS designed from the ground up by BlackBerry, which is compatible with a number of BlackBerry services and apps. The BlackBerry tablet OS also supports Adobe Flash 10.1, WebKit, Java, Open GL, and Adobe Air. Supported video formats include H.264, MPEG4, and WMV, up to 1080p HD resolution (scaled down to the screen's lower native resolution).

Though it seemingly isn't required for users to have a BlackBerry smartphone to use the PlayBook, it certainly doesn't hurt. Existing BlackBerry users can pair with the PlayBook over Bluetooth to provide them with a secure gateway to connect with their BlackBerry e-mail, contacts, calendar, and tasks. In theory, pairing with a BlackBerry phone also allows the PlayBook to take advantage of the phone's cellular data connection for surfing the Web or streaming media, though carriers have yet to weigh in on how far users can take this tethering capability. On its own, the PlayBook features an integrated 802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi connection.

With all of these specs, the PlayBook has rocketed to the top of our list of the iPad's most legitimate contenders. Of course, there are a number of details RIM neglected to mention that may make the tablet a nonstarter. … Read more

RIM unveils its tablet, the 'PlayBook'

Research in Motion today unveiled its first tablet offering called the "PlayBook."

The device is due early next year in the U.S., with international availability coming in the second quarter of 2011. RIM has not yet announced a price.

The 7-inch, 9.7mm-thick tablet, which was debuted by RIM's President and co-CEO Mike Lazaridis at the company's DevCon event in San Francisco, features an HTML5-capable browser, both front- and rear-facing HD cameras, and HDMI and USB ports.

On the inside, the PlayBook runs off of a 1GHz dual-core chip and has 1GB of built-in RAM. … Read more

RIM introduces BlackBerry PlayBook tablet (live blog)

Editor's note: We used Cover It Live for this event, so if you missed the live blog, you can still replay it in the embedded component below. Replaying the event will give you all the live updates along with commentary from our readers and CNET editors Donald Bell, Jessica Dolcourt, Nicole Lee, and Josh Lowensohn. For those of you who just want the updates, we've included them in regular text here. To get the key points from today's announcement, you can check out our summary of what got announced, in our story here. We've also embedded a short video clip of the PlayBook's introduction.

SAN FRANCISCO--A developer conference can be kind of a snooze for non-programmer folks, but Research In Motion had some rather interesting news to reveal today. After a smattering of reports of an impending BlackBerry tablet hit this spring and summer, RIM took the opportunity during its keynote address at RIM DevCon to show off the BlackBerry PlayBook, which it calls the first professional tablet.

Transcript of live blog starts here:… Read more

Kno hedging bets with single screen tablet

Kno, which showed off a fancy dual-screen tablet for education earlier this year, said today that it also has plans for a cheaper, single-screen option.

The company is aiming at the education market and had touted the two-screen option as a great way to read and take notes at the same time. However, in announcing the new model on Monday, the company acknowledged that the added glass also adds cost to a product aimed at a cost-sensitive market.

"Even though the Kno pays for itself in 13 months, the smaller up-front investment of the single screen version will allow … Read more