BlackBerry PlayBook | Release Info

A year in the field of consumer electronics is sometimes liken to a millennium in other markets. With Apple clearly dominating the "Post-PC Generation", plenty of its competitors would like to dethrone current king. Yet, most of the new entries coming into realm have been somewhat lackluster except for one late comer, the BlackBerry PlayBook.

At a dimension of 5.1" in width, 7.6" in length, and 0.4" in thickness, the BlackBerry PlayBook already address what many have clamor Apple for, a more portable version of the iPad. Other additions, of which Apple repeatedly refuse, are the inclusion of Micro USB and Micro HDMI ports, making connectivity between various peripherals much easier. BlackBerry leapfrogged the new Apple iPad 2 in several other areas aside from the physical form factors. Instead of a 3G wireless connection, BlackBerry will introduce 3 different models with the latest 4G protocols WiMax, LTE, and HSPA+, in addition to the base model with Wi-Fi connectivity only. Plus, one final jab at the Cupertino firm, the BlackBerry PlayBook is fully compatible with Adobe Flash-base media, making multimedia experience even richer. With prices start at $499, the BlackBerry PlayBook is set to launch on April 19th, but is currently available for Pre-Order at Best Buy.

Release Date: April 19th (Tuesday)

• 7" 1024x600 WSVGA capacitive LCD touch screen

• Ultra-portable at less than a pound and less than one-half inch thick: 0.9 lbs (425g) and 5.1" x 7.6" x 0.4" (130mm x 194mm x 10mm)

• 1 GHz dual-core processor

• BlackBerry® Tablet OS with support for symmetric multiprocessing

• MP3, AAC and WMA audio playback

• Support for high resolution video playback (H.264, MPEG4, WMV)

• 1080p HDMI output

• Dual 1080p HD cameras for video conferencing and video capture (3MP front and 5MP rear)

• 1 GB RAM memory

• Up to 64 GB internal storage (16, 32 and 64 GB models)

• GPS, Orientation Sensor (Accelerometer), 6-Axis Motion Sensor (Gyroscope), Digital Compass (Magnetometer)

• Stereo speakers and stereo microphones

• Wi-Fi® (802.11 a/b/g/n) connectivity

• 4G Wireless connectivity (WiMax, LTE, and HSPA+)

• Bluetooth® 2.1+EDR support

• $499 (16GB), $599 (32GB), or $699 (64GB)