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Most of the apps you listed are already availableThat long video was really informative, highly appreciate that! Other CES videos didn't show that much!
From what I have seen and noticed in the video I suggest there are ton of top apps that will be coming in OS 2.0/February, like Box.net (shame still no Dropbox), Evernote, Zinio, a fully updated and redesign DocToGo?, BCC News and a lot of "native" games that I actually don't really care (but it is a good sign that EA and GameLoft show their love for the PlayBook!).
I believe this is a good sign that those "top" apps are finally coming to App World! Let's pray the price will be right to go!
I have been also playing with the settings on my router (dual band one), have been notice a more stable connection since I changed the 5GHZ signal to N only instead of N/A mixed.
Thanks all for the inputs and will see you Part 2 dude!
01-15-12 06:46 PM - Why I feel you should keep the Playbook. (long post ahead)
Sorry for the delay, but I made a stupid move after nearly completing my response. I was almost finished and just needed to paste a link. Instead of opening a new tab, i went directly to the link to verify and lost all that I had entered. Dumb move. I should have known better.
In this part I will give a list of the functions I use my Playbook for which will describe why I feel the Playbook is the best tablet for me. Hopefully, though you won't necessarily need it to perform the same functions, it will give you an idea of what the Playbook even in its current form can accomplish.
1. First off I already own a BB Torch 9800 soon to be upgraded to a Bold 9900 in anticipation of the upcoming Bridge enhancements. The Playbook and a BB phone are a match made in heaven...well maybe not that good, but it don't get much better.
2. Via the built-in Bridge application I can access my Email, Contacts, and Calendars and make changes in real time to any of them.
3. Through the Bridge Browser I have access to the internet anywhere from my PB as long as my phone is with me, which it always is.
4. I can access BBM through Bridge on my PB.
5. I can access files, music, and photos stored on my phone via bridge.
6. Tethering via Bridge or Bluetooth is seamless once setup and I don't even think about it when I am not within wifi access. I just launch the browser or any other internet app and away I go.
7. I access all of my email accounts either via the web (Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo, Outlook Live. work email via OWA) or as mentioned via the Bridge apps.
8. When I receive a phone call while working on my PB, and on screen message pops up telling me I have a call and who its from. Useful in meetings when the phone is on silent.
9. I use Evernote to take note at meeting and webinars, conferences and they are then available to me anywhere on any platform.
10. I keep up with local news using the Vancouver Sun and Province apps. For Tech news I use eWeek HD, Channel Insider, Blackberry News. For keeping up with my sports teams I use Score Mobile. (note: Zinio is coming in OS 2)
11. For reference I use the Wikipedia Launcher and in Church I use the excellent e-Mmanuel+ Bible Program.
12. For books I have been a long time Kobo user but no longer use my Kobo eReader as the PB is an excellent eBook reader and comes with the Kobo app.
13. The PB takes excellent photos (no flash mean you just need good light). Samples of just a few of the photos I have taken can be found at Zenfolio | Richard and Debbie's Gallery | Playbook Photos.
14. Using My Friend Flickr available in App World I can upload my photos to my Flickr account. There are several photo sync and streaming apps for accessing a Flickr or PicasaWeb feeds. I believe there is also a SmugMug app if you have an account with them.
14. I use the built in GPS with Magellan Compass which also has the capability of recording trips and saving as a gpx file. I plan on using this to record some of my longer bike rides as soon as I get my bike mount. A sample of a test I did using this feature while heading to a Starbucks in the car on the way home from work can be viewed at Trip to Starbucks - Langley, British Columbia. I did run into a PB limitation here whereby the file being a gpx file is not recognized by the PB file manager when I attempted to upload via the BB Browser or SimpleBrowser+ (my preferred web browser). My work around to this was to use the app Files & Folders (another excellent app) to select the file and send it to myself via email then upload it from my Mac to RideWithGPS.com.
15. I sync my Mac iTunes library via wifi using the excellent iTunes Sync app in App World for both mine and my wife's Playbook.
15. Using Telnet/SSH I can access my Mac at home, my Mac work station and Linux servers via built in VPN.
16. I can remote control either my Mac at home or at work from anywhere with internet access via Splashtop.
17. I copy/move files or access the PB file system via wifi from my Mac, or Windows computers.
18. I run presentations using a simple micro HDMI cable connected to any monitor, project with an HDMI input.
19. I view 1080p movies and videos on my PB using the built in app.
20. I access music streaming through the Slacker Radio app or from with a must have app for all PB users, Today's Alarm Clock which has many features and is available in App World for free.
21. Though I am not a gamer, there are more than enough games than I will ever need. The games I have installed are Bejewelled 2, PopcornRush (addictive), Santas Lines (addictive), Pinball Deluxe, Sudoku, Hangman, Paper Plane, NFS Undercover (buiit in), Tetris, Solitaire, Cut the Rope, Alpha Wave and of course Angry Birds.
22. For local entertainment, eating out, local business and events etc I use Poynt which also uses GPS to find such establishments near your current location.
23. To check out the local movies I use PMDB and for watching free music videos I use VEVO.
This may be a long list to some but it is not an exhaustive list of what I use my Playbook for and I am finding new uses for it all the time. When PB OS 2 comes out the list will explode...well I maybe exaggerating a bit there, but it will be really, really HUGE.
As my wife would say, "I'm all a quiver" waiting for the new version.
Last edited by rjedge54; 01-15-12 at 08:34 PM. Reason: second try to fix a smiley
01-15-12 08:29 PM - I also love my Playbook, but not because I think iOS is for simple minded people (you just offended a few of my cousins). I just don't believe we should stereotype here. OSs are like cars. Some like small cars, some pickups, some truck, vans, etc. It's a matter of preference.
As for the size, well, the 7" factor is becoming quite popular with at least a handful of 7" tablets currently selling and many more coming in very near future (possibly including an iPad).
I also personally find QNX to be just awesome. If someone has chosen something different, well, that's their choice.01-16-12 01:10 AM - I believe that people will always find what they are looking for.
If you're looking for reasons to retain your playbook, you will surely find them.
If you're looking for reasons to return your playbook, you'll surely find them too.
Frankly, nobody in here can tell you what to do with your playbook. And we shouldn't, really.
That decision is yours and yours alone to make, in the same way that you decided to purchase it in the first place.
I wish you well with whatever decision you will choose to make.
Note: In case your decision is to give it away and buy something else...let me know. I wouldn't mind taking the load off from you. Let me adopt your playbook. Cheers! 01-16-12 01:26 AM - Simply put this is something that we cant help you with. You can get all the supporting posts you need, but the fact that you are asking people for help to convince you to keep the PB pretty much means that you are set on giving it back already.
In the end the decision is down to you and whether you feel that the long term benefits of having a PB are better than having for example an iPad or Android Pad.
All I can do is merely let you know why I personally stayed with the PB when I was in a similar position 2 weeks ago.
Firstly, let me state that I was quite heavily into apple a year ago. I had an iPhone 3GS and an iPad and was a daily iTunes user. However it was apples limited support for older products and their simple chokehold ont he industry that drove me away from them. They release new products which contain certain software improvements which are only available on their latest products and they charge obscene prices for these products. Furthermore their quest to lockdown users that spend this amount of money on their products in order to control them is also a crime in itself. If someone spends over �499 on a product they should have some right to open software and music. True there are work arounds, but you shouldnt have to implement them for that kind of money.
Bearing that in mind I got an Android phone and sold the iPad and to be honest I couldnt be happier with that decision. Android is completely open and presents limited problems, no lockdown on software and fine with modding. With the money I made on the iPad i waited and in the end saw the price drop of the PB. Seeing what kind of specs it had (better or on par with iPad 2) I went for it. Putting aside the crisis I had with the initial one I bought I must say Im lovin it. No its not a 10 inch screen...but it is 7 inch and fantastic in quality, fits in a large coat pocket without a hitch, good build quality, and most important of all...BB and RIM are not giving up on it. No it doesnt have as rich an app store...yet, No it isnt used to its full potential...yet, no it isnt as popular as the iPad. BUT, it is progressing, RIM seem to be listening to the community, it is being improved, it is far cheaper than an iPad (I payed �229 for a 64GB tablet!), it works great with a BB phone, the app world is getting daily app updates, the list goes on....oh and dont forget android app support coming in, which I think will give it a big boost.
Dunno if that helps, but hope you're happy with the choice you make
.01-16-12 05:07 AM - Here's what I say you do...I'm going to convince you otherwise.
Return the Playbook now ASAP! Buy yourself an iPad or an Android Tablet, and when you're done coming to the realization that the Playbook is better, sell the dumb iPad or Android tablet, and buy your Playbook back - and most importantly, don't mention it on this thread, because that would be embarassing for you01-16-12 05:35 AM - On a quick follow up to my earlier "essay"
, just wanted to raise a flag regarding the last 2 things you said. You actually might have to return your PB because you shouldnt be having WiFi problems full stop. On the day I bought mine I tested my PB WiFi versus my old mans iPad 2. Low and behold the iPad 2 cut out every minute when streaming a youtube video, while the PB smiled, waved and streamed with no trouble at all. Basicaly I can get quite far without cutting out and we're using a mixed G/N router, so it may be your WiFi receiver on the PB is broke??
As for youtube....who the uses the app apart from apple users?? The only reason they need to is because of apples silly kitty fight with Adobe over Flash support. Wouldnt you prefer to use the full on youtube experience website on the PB over the Ipad app....or any youtube app in that matter?? Another instance where the PB has certain advantages01-16-12 05:50 AM
