RIM Unveils Tethered Tablet, the BlackBerry PlayBook
SAN FRANCISCO – BlackBerry maker Research In Motion is jumping into the tablet arena with the PlayBook. It will have a 7-inch screen and is designed for both personal and business users. "This is an ultramobile, always on, ultrathin device," Mike Lazaridis, co-CEO of Research In Motion told attendees at the ongoing BlackBerry developer conference. "The first time you hold it, it just feels right and you want to take it everywhere you go." The BlackBerry PlayBook is 0.4 inches (9.7 mm) thick, making it thinner than the iPad's 0.5 inches. It will include Wi-Fi but no 3G connectivity, making it a tablet that will have to be paired with BlackBerry phones for 3G internet access. RIM did not comment on whether the wireless tethering option will be available with other smartphones, too. But it is promising 3G and 4G models in the future. The device will have a high-resolution 1024 x 600 pixels widescreen display and will be lightweight at just 0.9 lbs,...