True multi-tasking using SMP for the dual-core processor.
Aziz showed how the Playbook was able to mult-itask various memory/CPU intensive applications simultaneously without missing a beat.
He explained that the both of the processors in the dual-core Playbook were allowed to work simultaneously to enable true multi-tasking using Symmetric Multi-Processing – apps continue to run at full tilt even in the background without being paused.
I had the chance to play with the 0.9 lbs (425g) Playbook and here are some snapshots. Check out the details at the Playbook’s website. Essentially, it is about 9mm thick, sports front/rear cameras (3 and 5 megapixels respectively, both capable of HD video), a 1 GHz dual-core processor with 1 GB RAM.
The operating system is from QNX, which RIM acquired in Apr 2010. Both Flash and HTML5 are supported.
BlackBerry Playbook from RIM - shown for the first time in Singapore.
In terms of interface, something interesting is that the 1” black border around the 7” 1024×600 pixel screen is also touch-capable. Swipe down from the top border brings in the operating system’s menu, like the Start button in Windows – not sure if this will stay in the final product.
Tapping the lower left corner activates the soft keyboard onscreen, and swiping upwards from the bottom border displays the thumbnails of apps currently running so that you can switch to another app.
Even with 8-10 apps running, Quake was going at 60 fps without dropping frames. Apparently, should the RAM maxed out, the operating system will quietly shut down the least used App to free up memory space. Quietly – as in it won’t even ask the user.
Price-wise, we’re probably looking in the region of US$500 with launch in late March to early April for N America followed by the rest of the world.
