Rim Pushing Into Touchscreens Again With Blackpad Tablet?

[::Hitesh:: 1,763]

Rumors have it that Research in Motion will release a BlackBerry tablet that will be competitive with the Apple iPad The device, rumored as the BlackPad or Cobalt, will sport a 8.9-inch screen to make it slightly smaller and thinner than the Apple device.

After the iPhone was launched, RIM was caught off-guard by the touchscreen market, which hadn't done as well prior due to a lack of a compelling UI with resistive screen technologies. RIM eventually released the BlackBerry Storm to some mixed reviews and addressed many of the shortcomings of the original Storm with a subsequent Storm2 release. Those devices utilize a moveable click screen to mimic pressing on a real key and have attracted polarizing audiences who either love the technology or hate it. It will be interesting to see if RIM will still utilize its SurePress click screen technology in the BlackPad.

For now, the BlackPad is just a rumored device that has been talked about by a “a connect." As smartphone and computer makers chase after the emerging and elusive tablet market, we'll have to wait and see how RIM reacts. Other device makers are already working on Android tablets and HP, after its acquisition of Palm, had announced that it is looking into how webOS may influence its own tablet market. HP also killed off its Windows-based Slate tablet. Reportedly, if a BlackPad does materialize, it won't be before 2011.

[Greatest 55]

Bhai, do you think this will ever go into production?? Also, if the source of this news is reliable, we shall have another contender in the 'pad' space...

[Harshal 11]

Companies are going for an overkill with all guns blazing in the pad market. I doubt it will be as lucrative as the high end smart phone market.

[::Hitesh:: 1,763]

Bhai, do you think this will ever go into production?? Also, if the source of this news is reliable, we shall have another contender in the 'pad' space...

Yes, source is reliable.

Yep looking fwd 2 have a PAD space in forum, but again how many will come to India plus how many will be sold ?

Edited May 5, 2010 by ::Hitesh::

[csmart 472]

Rumor: BlackBerry Tablet Coming This Year?

Source

The news is buzzing as a leak from Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. Ltd. (via IntoMobile) states that it has received an order from Research in Motion for an 8.9-inch tablet. Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. Ltd, an Asian component supply company, is the same company that produces the Kindle for Amazon.

The sources state that the device will be able to sync with your other BlackBerry devices, making it a “companion device” similar to the canceled Palm Foleo.

According to Boy Genius Report, the tablet will not have any cellular networking built in and will therefore rely on the Bluetooth or the built in Wi-Fi to tether to your Blackberry Smartphone. The device is designed for multimedia like emailing and web browsing and may even include GPS.

The BlackBerry tablet, codenamed “Cobalt,” will be challenged coming into the market so late with the Apple iPad already on the market and with other tablets from Asus, Android, HTC and other companies already on their way. It is expected to be released late this year, possibly in December, but rumors are that the team is attempting to release it earlier if possible.

Edited May 15, 2010 by Arun
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[faizone 15]

Wat no cellular networking capability and its called a BB Tablet.. LOL..

Logically its not at all acceptable.. i carry around a hefty tablet and for connectivity i should have a BB on me as well..

Wat good is a "BB" tablet without direct cellular connectivity and the addictive pushmail..

RIM guys are just trying to get a slice of the tablet cake.. thats all..

[csmart 472]

its just rumoured. no idea what it will be..

http://www.intomobile.com/2010/04/09/blackberry-tablet-ordered-by-rim-8-9-handset-companion-analyst.html

[faizone 15]

if its rumoured and if its true.. they better work on the connectivity part else it may never come out of their r&d stages for sure