Leaked pictures of BlackBerry PlayBook running OS 2.0.0.2992 at Sun Yat-sen University BlackBerry lab in Guangzhou China unveil some interesting facts. The first is the inclusion of native apps for contacts, email, messages, and calendar. Then there’s also the little green man on the home screen indicating that the delayed Android app layer will make its way on this version.
The Settings menu includes an Account setup screen where you can log into Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and email/calendar accounts on Exchange/ActiveSync, IMAP, POP, CalDAV and CardDAV. What’s noticeably missing is the option to sync with BlackBerry Enterprise Server or Internet Service. This could mean nothing at all; maybe the option has been relocated or perhaps will come in the final version. However, there have been rumors that RIM’s BES may not be compatible with QNX. And since QNX is also expected to shift on to smartphones, this change will apply to BlackBerry phones too. Better to wait for more news on this before getting too excited.
While we’re happy to see the Android app player coming along, what we’d really like is for it to be quality software that does not diminish the experience of Android apps in any way. If BlackBerry PlayBook manages to do that, there will be a return of consumer interest for sure. Hopefully, with the NDK reaching more developers, we will see PlayBook delivering rich 3D games we have seen before.
Now if only RIM pulls this off in a decent timeframe, we’ll be happy.
[via engadget, CB]
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yey! a bit excited ..is this downloadable now? i mean at this hour? please lemme know ..thanks.