Playbook OS 2.0 Released

[wraggster]

On February 21st, The Blackberry Playbook finally received its long-promised overhaul (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/technology/research-in-motion/research-in-motion-releases-vital-playbook-software-upgrade/article2344526/). Called Playbook OS 2.0, this major upgrade provides native email and calendaring apps, limited support for Android applications (the developer has to repackage the app for the Playbook), and a bunch of other features. There are some fairly positive initial reviews (http://www.thestar.com/business/article/1134572--playbook-2-0-upgrade-gives-rim-back-its-swagger), although one can no doubt expect a lot of too-little-too-late naysaying from various quarters (http://www.infoworld.com/d/mobile-technology/blackberry-playbook-20-os-closer-still-no-cigar-186953) as well. The Globe and Mail article also contains this somewhat interesting note: '...until RIM began deep discounting ... the device languished way behind rivals such as the iPad in terms of market share. One recent report by Toronto-based Solutions Research Group, however, pegs RIM's share of the tablet market at around 15 per cent, a big jump after discounting over the holiday buying season.'"ZDNet has some screenshots (http://www.zdnet.co.uk/reviews/mobile-os/2012/02/22/screenshots-blackberry-playbook-os-20-40095101/) of the new features, and El Reg has a piece on an interesting bit (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/02/22/blackberry_remote_control/) of the new software.

http://mobile.slashdot.org/story/12/02/22/1455225/playbook-os-20-released