Just Bought a playbook..

By firey
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Grand Master

firey

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It's a solid tablet, especially for the price (249$ for 32GB). Are the app store apps region specific? There are like next to none when I browse. I know that 2.0 is coming out with full android support, is there a way to download like non-market apps? Or like another app store of some sort? I mean, it's got a lot of power (dual core, 1gb of ram), im surprised at how little there is that use it.

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Grand Master

Original Poster

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Im some one who does not want many apps, I have had an ipod touch for years and a black berry bold for a year and in total have 7 apps ... silly lil games annoy me, I only use security apps and maybe some learning tools like Japanese flip

Grand Master

Charisma Veteran

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It's a solid tablet, especially for the price (249$ for 32GB). Are the app store apps region specific? There are like next to none when I browse. I know that 2.0 is coming out with full android support, is there a way to download like non-market apps? Or like another app store of some sort? I mean, it's got a lot of power (dual core, 1gb of ram), im surprised at how little there is that use it.

It is a really good tablet, and it's going to be AWESOME when Android support comes out. I bought a Galaxy Tab a few months ago and am madly in love with it, but if I had waited and known about the upcoming Android support, I may have got a PlayBook instead. More RAM and storage, lower price, and integrates better with my phone (Bold 9780).

Grand Master

Jason S. Global Moderator

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Im some one who does not want many apps, I have had an ipod touch for years and a black berry bold for a year and in total have 7 apps ... silly lil games annoy me, I only use security apps and maybe some learning tools like Japanese flip

perhaps you just havent found all the good apps that actually improve functionality or your day-to-day business? Apps for banks, flights, Google's products, maps...

Grand Master

firey

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The problem is more the lack of basic apps. There is no MSN (WLM) Client, there are really no alternative browsers (none free), very few non-arcade style games. It really is a great tablet, in the sense that it packs a lot of horse power, the screen is amazing, very responsive and very crisp. It's built very solid, and doesn't feel like it is just going to snap in my hands.

With OS2.0 coming within the next week (most sources point to the 21st) , and android application wrapping the PB will really take off as the lack of applications really won't exist. Plus the PB is getting some more native apps (Such as Email, Contacts, etc) so those will fix most of the problems I have. With the "In Dvelopment" dingleberry update coming out, there will be a whole new world coming.

4.0.0 Development

  • Improved USB Host script to cater for when USB folder is already created.
  • Improved unified login to cope with when BDM has spammed.
  • Allows root on any future firmware including 2.0.0.7111 and 2.0.0.7629.
  • Allows loading of custom firmware and true permanent modification of /base.

Grand Master

firey

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I was thinking of picking one up when they were $149 for the 16GB but I did a bit of research on the apps available and decided it wasn't worth it. Yes I know Android apps are supposed to come to BBOS soon but that wasn't enough to get me to buy one

That's fair, as I say, the apps are the only issue I really had, but that's being fixed as we..type. For me it was the cheapest tablet, and it works perfectly for what I needed, a small tablet with a lot of oomph which this definitely meets.

Grand Master

Rudy

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That's fair, as I say, the apps are the only issue I really had, but that's being fixed as we..type. For me it was the cheapest tablet, and it works perfectly for what I needed, a small tablet with a lot of oomph which this definitely meets.

Hardware wise it's a great tablet, depending on your use it could be the best tablet available for you (considering all factors including price etc)
Grand Master

Scorbing

Posted
Posted

It's a solid tablet, especially for the price (249$ for 32GB). Are the app store apps region specific? There are like next to none when I browse. I know that 2.0 is coming out with full android support, is there a way to download like non-market apps? Or like another app store of some sort? I mean, it's got a lot of power (dual core, 1gb of ram), im surprised at how little there is that use it.

Congratulations. You have a great little tablet. I got my 16GB model for $140.00 after various Rewards discounts I had so it was not a bad deal. If you are going to use to for business, its great. Also a tip for you. Go to the apps store and grab the app called BOX, they will you 50GB of free cloud space. It is a limited time offer so hurry up and get it.

I agree with most here, the only thing lacking is the apps but who cares. For $140.00 (my case), you just can't beat it. The hardware is great and it works smoothly. Better than any Android tablet I have tried.

Enjoy it!

Grand Master

firey

Posted
  • Author
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Congratulations. You have a great little tablet. I got my 16GB model for $140.00 after various Rewards discounts I had so it was not a bad deal. If you are going to use to for business, its great. Also a tip for you. Go to the apps store and grab the app called BOX, they will you 50GB of free cloud space. It is a limited time offer so hurry up and get it.

I agree with most here, the only thing lacking is the apps but who cares. For $140.00 (my case), you just can't beat it. The hardware is great and it works smoothly. Better than any Android tablet I have tried.

Enjoy it!

It's more for personal/pleasure however I am going to be looking into APP Development, I've always wanted to develop for android, and now that I can kill two birds with 1 stone so to speak, it makes things a little easier.

I have converted most of the android apps I use regularily from APK to BAR files, most of the games don't work, however quite a few actual apps do. I found a great concept for streaming video/music/documents with PHP and HTML5, so I may look into that as well. But yea, I paid 250$ (+ taxes, so about 280$) for my 32GB as I didn't have any coupons or anything. It's a great tablet for the money that's for sure.

Grand Master

Scorbing

Posted
Posted

It's more for personal/pleasure however I am going to be looking into APP Development, I've always wanted to develop for android, and now that I can kill two birds with 1 stone so to speak, it makes things a little easier.

I have converted most of the android apps I use regularily from APK to BAR files, most of the games don't work, however quite a few actual apps do. I found a great concept for streaming video/music/documents with PHP and HTML5, so I may look into that as well. But yea, I paid 250$ (+ taxes, so about 280$) for my 32GB as I didn't have any coupons or anything. It's a great tablet for the money that's for sure.

I use mine to access my work exchange email, work website tools and that's it. Music? I have an iPod for that. Video? Not really going to use it. Photos? Maybe if I encounter something out of place at a customer's house and I need to take a picture and email it but other than that, I won't really use it either. Games? That's what I have my PC for and since all I play is BF3, I don't think I will use my Playbook for games either.

But you are right, some people will use it for games, music, etc. In my case the 16GB was enough and with the free 50GB Cloud storage from Box I am all set. For $140.00 I think I got a pretty good deal.

Has anyone tried to connect a USB external drive to it through the mini USB port to see if it will read it?

Grand Master

firey

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I use mine to access my work exchange email, work website tools and that's it. Music? I have an iPod for that. Video? Not really going to use it. Photos? Maybe if I encounter something out of place at a customer's house and I need to take a picture and email it but other than that, I won't really use it either. Games? That's what I have my PC for and since all I play is BF3, I don't think I will use my Playbook for games either.

But you are right, some people will use it for games, music, etc. In my case the 16GB was enough and with the free 50GB Cloud storage from Box I am all set. For $140.00 I think I got a pretty good deal.

Has anyone tried to connect a USB external drive to it through the mini USB port to see if it will read it?

I dunno, the playbook will be nice for Video on the Go for me, even without wireless, if I decide to travel. I have an iPod for music, and an Atrix Phone so I have the cellular connection if I do wish to bridge.

As for making the playbook into a USB Host (aka connecting something via usb to the playbook, as opposed to the playbook being connected to the computer), it was only possible if you were jailbroken, which obviously with 2.0 is patched. I've read that it still exists in 2.0 but not sure if it can be enabled or not.

  • 2 weeks later...
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Sacha

Posted
Posted

Hey guys,

I believe it supported the Dalvik VM and therefore it had every Android app available to be used on the tablet from launch.

Android support wasn't there from launch. It was secretly added in 1.07, disabled in 1.08 and then officially added in 2.0.

Very annoyed that RIM killed downgrading. If they had mentioned this in advance, I could have custom ROMs in preparation.

P.S. I'm the Dingleberry developer.

Veteran

migo

Posted
Posted

Hey guys,

Android support wasn't there from launch. It was secretly added in 1.07, disabled in 1.08 and then officially added in 2.0.

Very annoyed that RIM killed downgrading. If they had mentioned this in advance, I could have custom ROMs in preparation.

P.S. I'm the Dingleberry developer.

That is a bummer. What are the odds you can get another exploit going?

Grand Master

firey

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I've actually seen Sacha on Crackberry, if I recall correctly, where it stands now is...

The QNX File System (Aside from the /tmp folder) is all mounted without the SetUID and SetGUID flag, which basically forces us to be stuck with the file permissions that are set for the user we are given with no way to elevate as another user for different access. Along with that, the Share Service (Samba) and the SSH Server (To communicate with the OS) are no longer run as root.

Because neither is run as root we cannot elevate either to root, or use the root user. I haven't checked, but I believe root is also disabled configuration wise from logging into SSH. So as it stands, it's like using a Windows Standard user without the option to login as admin, or run a program as admin.

Also, because we can't elevate our user, or run apps with root permissions enabled, even if we could launch programs in the linux environment, they would all be run as the standard account.

Veteran

CrisCr0ss

Posted
Posted

I love my playbook use it for everything, the apps are slowly coming. gestures are flawless. browser 10x improved since 2.0 Obivously few minor things missing but overall experience has been great. Few apps I would love to see come native but I'm sure in due time.

  • migo and Charisma
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Grand Master

firey

Posted
  • Author
Posted

I love my playbook use it for everything, the apps are slowly coming. gestures are flawless. browser 10x improved since 2.0 Obivously few minor things missing but overall experience has been great. Few apps I would love to see come native but I'm sure in due time.

I couldn't agree more. I really don't feel there is anything lacking, or that I want to do with my playbook I can't (except for 1 thing). I would like a working VOIP or Google Voice/Talk app. Currently I can send SMS texts from my playbook but I can't make or receive calls. If I could do that, I'd be set, granted I do have a cell-phone and an iPod that can make calls if need be.

However, with more and more apps becoming available, and android apps being updated to support the playbook it's really coming together to make for a great tablet.

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