If 2010 was the year of the Android smartphone, 2011 is going to be the year of the tablet… but it’s not just about the iPad vs. Android when it comes to tablets. Some people may say they’re a little late to the party, but Research in Motion is finally ready to join the fight with its BlackBerry PlayBook.

After all sorts of vague mentions regarding pricing and availability, the Waterloo-based firm has finally come forth with something firm. First, they’re saying that the PlayBook will be available through Best Buy and Future Shop stores starting on April 19. That’s a little less than a month away and should be able to compete quite nicely against Honeycomb offerings.

Second, as expected, the Wi-Fi only PlayBook will ship in three different capacities. The 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB models will sell for $499, $599, and $699 respectively (at least in the United States). This puts it right on par with the iPad equivalents, as well as the recently announced pricing of the WiFi-only Motorola Xoom.

I think I like the new QNX-based operating system, but I’m not sure that I would choose it over iOS or Honeycomb just yet. It’s also a bit of a shame that the PlayBook doesn’t have its own cellular connection, relying instead on a tethered connection through a BlackBerry (or a Wi-Fi hotspot).

You can start placing your pre-orders right now through Best Buy and Future Shop, but in the meantime, you can check out the preview video posted by Miranda of Rogers RedBoard.

The post BlackBerry PlayBook to Ship April 19, Pre-Orders Now appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

The BlackBerry Torch, in many ways, is supposed to compete against the Apple iPhone 4. In much the same manner, the Apple iPad could be facing some competition from RIM’s upcoming tablet. And now, we’re hearing that the so-called BlackPad could launch this November.

We’re already reasonably confident that a Research in Motion Black Pad is in the works and it will be designed largely to work in tandem with a BlackBerry device. That’s partly why, according to Financial Post, that the BlackPad will not come with a 3G-equipped option. That’s good and bad, I suppose, because you can still latch onto the Internet via a Wi-Fi connection, possibly tethering with your chosen BlackBerry smartphone. The rumors also point toward dual cameras (front and rear) and Bluetooth.

Most people are assuming that the RIM BlackPad will run on some variant of BlackBerry OS 6, but Wireless Ground is reporting that it could be Android under the hood instead. That sounds pretty out there.

RIM Reported to Launch BlackPad in November [IT Business Edge]
Rumors Say BlackBerry BlackPad Might Run on Android [Wireless Ground]

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