[yaytoast]

As for Skype and Netflix.....there just bugs on the windshield

And the car is careening towards a cliff.

Skype is the de-facto standard for VOIP amongst consumers. It's a communication tool for business, education and leisure. It's rich when RIM fans call Apple products 'toys,' yet the iPad is far more capable at being an actual tool than the Playbook.

The future of RIM, in general, is not driven only by having access to "those applications", but by implementing newest technologies and winning younger generation. Just having Skype/Netflix will not sell the product.

But they're both major bullet-points that are checked by iOS and Android. So why would Joe Average at Best Buy be compelled to buy a Playbook when a dozen other tablets do more?

[Griffin2012]

The Playbook has a future without these apps. I use my Playbook everyday in class and at home without any need for these apps. I watch Netflix on a TV and I don't need Skype.

[Tre Lawrence]

The Playbook has a future without these apps. I use my Playbook everyday in class and at home without any need for these apps. I watch Netflix on a TV and I don't need Skype.

I still use my Tungsten T5.

[kemj]

I read somewhere, I believe it was in a post BerryReview did, that RIM was working on the update of the Android player to make it able to open different Android apps in multiple windows for easier multitasking, just like any other BB app. Also that the update would include a "camera API on the Android player" or something like that. I'm no techy expert, but is that the reason of why any android app in the playbook can't access the camera? Because of the lack of that API in the Android player? If so, 2.1 update will add those things and then the PlayBook would finally have Skype or Tango or something like that.

[addicted44]

Playbook doesn't have a future. The quicker RIM abandons it, and focuses on their strengths, and only money-winner (phones, and associated service revenue) the better their chances. Having released the Playbook, instead of focussing completely on BB10 handsets in the first place was their biggest mistake.

[addicted44]

There are others better than Skype. ooVoo and Tango are much better. And Skype is owned by Microsoft so it is ridiculous it hasn't been ported to everything except Windows Phone.

Netflix is waiting for Cascades and BB10 before issuing an app...my prediction from the well-known thread about app frustration.

It doesn't matter if you are "better", if everyone is using the competition. That is what made BBM great. Network effects. Not the quality of the service, per se.

[kennyliu]

If you were Microsoft you would look at RIM as your threat and no one else. Windows phone is not gonna bump android and certainly not apple so it has to settle for third.

One problem with that though. RIM has a good looking os in blackberry10 and it's just going to continue to make waves as we learn more about it. So if your were Microsoft would you do what you can to guarantee yourself that 3rd spot? You certainly wouldn't want to help a company that plans on taking your spot would you?

With that said we probably won't see a native skype app for playbook ever.

Oh. Another "Everybody's so scared BB10 is coming, because it's the most serious threat and the soon-to-be mobile OS leader" post.

If MS (or Google and Apple for that matter) were so afraid of BB10 and perceived it as a real threat, I imagine that they'd buy RIM (market cap of 6.2B) within a week.

[Toodeurep]

Oh. Another "Everybody's so scared BB10 is coming, because it's the most serious threat and the soon-to-be mobile OS leader" post.

If MS (or Google and Apple for that matter) were so afraid of BB10 and perceived it as a real threat, I imagine that they'd buy RIM (market cap of 6.2B) within a week.

Funny, I didn't read any of that in the post you quoted Lots of talk about maybe third but not your blah blah. I thought you were in favor of letting people just enjoy what they have.

Last word.

[GeneralTech]

Netflix isn't a deal breaker for consumers but it will be a big negative point for those comparing platforms and reviewing future incarnations of the playbook. Skype will be a crucial point for a lot of consumers. A lot of people buy tablets for one main purpose amongst other smaller purposes. A lot of people have bought playbooks as a e-book reader so if your not satisfied with the apps available that may make you want to sell it. The fact is that most blackberry users don't have a mobile means to video chat and it was a selling point of the playbook. The fact that the video chat is so limited has made a lotta folks feel like they got hoodwinked ive personally heard of a couple people who have sold their playbook to purchase another device for just that reason.

[nik316]

Netflix... really??? With the playbook's flash support it can play embedded video. Go to watchseries.eu

There, you will find a repository of tons of shows and movies you can stream... for free

There are 1000s of shows and movies located there... enjoy, because I am

[torndownunit]

Will Playbook have a future without Skype?
IMO Probably. Just maybe not a particularly bright one without the current industry standard.
Netflix? Again probably. The fact is the lack of these apps when every single competitor has them is just one more reason to consider and go for the competition instead of the Playbook.

People can live without them as they can any app.They just don't see why they should have to.

One should be able to point out this simple fact on this forum without it people perceived as bashing the Playbook. Yes it's repetitive to constantly hear about it, but this is the perspective the average consumer will have I think. If one tablet can't run 2 basic apps that a lot of people consider important, they will bypass it for one that does. Especially when more tablet options are becoming available, Android is improving, Windows tablets are coming, and prices are dropping.

[world saviour]

I personally think it will have a future, although some will always find something wrong or incomplete with the PlayBook. It's a good thing we have the freedom to make choices.

[EricB1968]

Of course RIM has a future without them. A business go getter with drive will still succeed without those apps. If the end user is a cry baby who needs toys then BlackBerry isn't for he or she.

[Tre Lawrence]

One should be able to point out this simple fact on this forum without it people perceived as bashing the Playbook. Yes it's repetitive to constantly hear about it, but this is the perspective the average consumer will have I think. If one tablet can't run 2 basic apps that a lot of people consider important, they will bypass it for one that does. Especially when more tablet options are becoming available, Android is improving, Windows tablets are coming, and prices are dropping.

Refreshing. A non-confrontational voice of reason. Then, of course, there is this:

Of course RIM has a future without them. A business go getter with drive will still succeed without those apps. If the end user is a cry baby who needs toys then BlackBerry isn't for he or she.

[Fmar]

Of course RIM has a future without them. A business go getter with drive will still succeed without those apps. If the end user is a cry baby who needs toys then BlackBerry isn't for he or she.

So the PB gets games released by App devs that you all seem to be over the moon about... yet folk ask for productivity tools like Skype we are 'Cry Babies who needs toys'.

I'm yet to see a single decent productivity tool/app released on the PB.

[Mr.Willie]

Kindle does fine without Skype or a Camera.

Not any more. After the initial rush, sales have fallen.

Remember the playbook is getting blackberry10 so the question is will all blackberry devices have a future without these two apps?

Imo Netflix can never come and BlackBerry would be fine.
A cross platform video messaging service is crucial though.

BlackBerry10 needs this to survive and Imo it don't have to be skype but they do need to figure out something. I hope Rim realizes this.
<Snip>
RIM should supercharge BBM and make it cross platform...problem solved.

PB and phone type devices are two different animals. Phone devices will survive without Netflix or Skype, but the tablet... Let's just say people will buy it, but it will be an also ran. Supercharging BBM would be great, but you have to get other people to use it. BBM is the "MySpace" of social networking.

I ask you, would you really care that people compairing to the ios ecosystem taunted you as not having an ecosystem? Are you really concerned about alittle piece of voip code? The device is wifi only. You get around wifi pretty much some sort of phone is avaible. Not everybody is sold on voip. I think its horrible. Come on netflix. You gonna go to a cafe and watch movies? At the house you have a tv, or console.
The 4g PB well now we're talking. I kinda wonder what's going to be on the agenda for that little gem. That's when voip starts making a little bit of sense.

What about from a hotel room, or living quarters provided for you at a job site ? What about military members ? Someone in a hospital ? What if you don't have a TV or someone else is watching it ? (Yes I am the minority, I only have one TV in my home. If it wasn't for the wife, I would have zero.) Then again, sometimes I like to put on the headphones and isolate myself for a while.

The Playbook has a future without these apps. I use my Playbook everyday in class and at home without any need for these apps. I watch Netflix on a TV and I don't need Skype.

That's you. What happens when you enter the real world ? (See above)

Oh. Another "Everybody's so scared BB10 is coming, because it's the most serious threat and the soon-to-be mobile OS leader" post.

If MS (or Google and Apple for that matter) were so afraid of BB10 and perceived it as a real threat, I imagine that they'd buy RIM (market cap of 6.2B) within a week.

6.2B. What's that, less than a week of Apple revenue ? With 100 billion laying around, they would snatch them up faster than you could say Ticonderoga, if you can say Ticonderoga.

[EricB1968]

Refreshing. A non-confrontational voice of reason. Then, of course, there is this:

I guess some people just can't handle straight shooters.

[EricB1968]

So the PB gets games released by App devs that you all seem to be over the moon about... yet folk ask for productivity tools like Skype we are 'Cry Babies who needs toys'.

Personally if the PlayBook didn't have any games at all it wouldn't bother me. While I would like Skype to be on all of my devices for just in case I need it for whatever may come up. If it doesn't have skype then it doesn't have skype. I understand its popularity but it's not a deal breaker for everyone in the world.

[BB_Bmore]

Who here bought the playbook just because they were sure it was getting. Skype??

Yes me either..My playbook is doing fine without skype and so am I.
I believe a cross platform video calling service will make its way sooner or later and when it does my tablet will be a little better.

As for sales, yes I think skype would have made a difference for Rim had it been available.

[Tre Lawrence]

Who here bought the playbook just because they were sure it was getting. Skype??

Yes me either..My playbook is doing fine without skype and so am I.
I believe a cross platform video calling service will make its way sooner or later and when it does my tablet will be a little better.

As for sales, yes I think skype would have made a difference for Rim had it been available.

Can't argue with your points. Without Skype, the PB is still a great tool; I also agree that the acquisition of any major cross-platform videochat application would have helped sales and ensured the device's future in the short term.

[belfastdispatcher]

Netflix has some 20 odd million subscribers, RIM has 77 million subscribers none of which can watch Netflix right now.

I rest my case.

[Tre Lawrence]

Netflix has some 20 odd million subscribers, RIM has 77 million subscribers none of which can watch Netflix right now.

I rest my case.

But, if we are being specific to the Playbook, wouldn't say that having Netflix would, at the very least, help RIM gain some market share? I know Netflix isn't what they once were but seem to still be popular enough to be somewhat of a draw.

[belfastdispatcher]

But, if we are being specific to the Playbook, wouldn't say that having Netflix would, at the very least, help RIM gain some market share? I know Netflix isn't what they once were but seem to still be popular enough to be somewhat of a draw.

They only just became available in UK, and I doubt they'll get many users here, not with out lower than average internet speeds. Most TV stations here have free iplayers where you can watch older programs and live TV, in browser.

[Fmar]

Who here bought the playbook just because they were sure it was getting. Skype?

Me, for the most part based on the first run of official marketing by BB.

[DearGod]

I have no interest in Netflix whatsoever, and although Skype would be useful, I rarely ever use it. So no, they aren't really missed by me.