Close
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Cybersecurity
    • Cybersecurity
    • IT Management
    • Mobile
    • PC Hardware

    RIM PlayBook Gets Video Chat, Facebook Apps

    By
    Clint Boulton
    -
    May 2, 2011
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      ORLANDO, Fla.-Research In Motion May 2 rolled out native video chat and Facebook applications for its BlackBerry PlayBook tablet at the BlackBerry World developer’s conference here.

      RIM’s new PlayBook launched April 19 to tepid reviews from mobile device experts, but sales of the 7-inch tablet are reportedly solid, if unspectacular, out of the gate.

      While Apple’s iPad set the bar high for tablet debuts, selling millions of units in its opening day, analysts believe the PlayBook sold 50,000 units its first day. The new PlayBook apps are intended to appeal to consumers and enterprise workers alike.

      The BlackBerry PlayBook Video Chat application lets users make and receive video calls between PlayBook tablets over a WiFi connection, while the Facebook app is optimized for the PlayBook’s 7-inch high-resolution and LCD display.

      Both apps are available as part of the PlayBook’s new 1.0.3 version of its QNX operating system, which will be available as an over-the-air upgrade May 3, said Alan Panezic, vice president of software for RIM.

      Panezic said the apps join the more than 3,000 apps developed exclusively for the PlayBook in the BlackBerry App World store, which has faced criticism from developers, who find it difficult to work with RIM’s market.

      The PlayBook Video Chat app offers users one-click video calls from their Video Chat contact list or their log of recent calls, or by entering the BlackBerry ID email address of the person they want to call.

      Like Skype, Google Talk and other video chat apps, users will receive a notification pop-up when a new video call comes in, and may also set the “Do Not Disturb” option to let the PlayBook ignore incoming calls.

      Users may also preview their own video image before placing a call so they have an idea how they will be viewed by the person they call, and switch cameras from front to rear so their friends can see what they are seeing.

      The Video Chat app will be sent over-the-air to existing BlackBerry PlayBook customers May 3, and will also be available for download on BlackBerry App World.

      The PlayBook Facebook app lets PlayBook users view and add friends from a grid view of profile pictures and pages; comment and “like” pictures on those profile pages; access and update their News Feed; and use Facebook Chat with notifications appearing in the notifications bar of the slate.

      Users may also upload photos from the BlackBerry PlayBook Picture Library, tag friends in photos, and connect to an HD TV to display Facebook photos and videos in full 1080p HD.

      While the Facebook for BlackBerry PlayBook application will be showcased this week at the show here, it won’t be available on BlackBerry App World until later this month.

      The PlayBook apps were introduced an hour after RIM officials revealed the BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930 smartphones, the first smartphones running the company’s new BlackBerry 7 OS.

      Clint Boulton

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Big Data and Analytics

      Alteryx’s Suresh Vittal on the Democratization of...

      James Maguire - May 31, 2022 0
      I spoke with Suresh Vittal, Chief Product Officer at Alteryx, about the industry mega-shift toward making data analytics tools accessible to a company’s complete...
      Read more
      Cybersecurity

      Visa’s Michael Jabbara on Cybersecurity and Digital...

      James Maguire - May 17, 2022 0
      I spoke with Michael Jabbara, VP and Global Head of Fraud Services at Visa, about the cybersecurity technology used to ensure the safe transfer...
      Read more
      Applications

      Cisco’s Thimaya Subaiya on Customer Experience in...

      James Maguire - May 10, 2022 0
      I spoke with Thimaya Subaiya, SVP and GM of Global Customer Experience at Cisco, about the factors that create good customer experience – and...
      Read more
      Cloud

      IGEL CEO Jed Ayres on Edge and...

      James Maguire - June 14, 2022 0
      I spoke with Jed Ayres, CEO of IGEL, about the endpoint sector, and an open source OS for the cloud; we also spoke about...
      Read more
      Cloud

      Yotascale CEO Asim Razzaq on Controlling Multicloud...

      James Maguire - May 5, 2022 0
      Asim Razzaq, CEO of Yotascale, provides guidance on understanding—and containing—the complex cost structure of multicloud computing. Among the topics we covered:  As you survey the...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2022 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×