I’ve removed the original video as it was only available in Flash - Really Engadget and Viddler? This replacement video is of the rendering speed of the Playbook browser. If you want to see the original video when you get back to your Mac, you can find it here

Preview of the new BlackBerry Playbook

Lots of talk on the web about the previously unseen BlackBerry Playbook from RIM. In the video above, they compare the rendering of the browser. In the link to the flash only video, the CEO demonstrates the current version of the prototype. 

Of course, the chatter is about the Playbook being the first credible iPad killer. 

Couple of things though….

  • The Playbook is still a prototype, so we don’t know how close to a production machine the demo is
  • Still no idea on the release date or price
  • Still no idea on the battery life of the device
  • It’s a 7” form factor - still not proven to be an optimised size for a true “tablet” device although that seems to be the form factor that every other manufacturer other than Apple are touting.

But it’s great that there’s credible competition to Apple and that can only be a good thing to keep Apple on their toes and pushing forward with iPad product development.

The only thing is, if Apple keeps true to their product cycle, the chances are that we’ll see iPad v2 in the first quarter of next year. The smart money is on:

  • It will be faster than the current iPad
  • It will have a higher resolution screen than the current iPad
  • It (most likely) will have a camera or two!
  • It will have iOS 4.3 or even iOS 5
  • It won’t have Flash support

That’s the device that the BlackBerry Playbook needs to be assessed against, not the current iPad.

I wonder if they’ll even ship the iPad v2 before the PlayBook even sees the light of day?

iPad
Playbook