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BlackBerry 10 tablet rumour quashed, PlayBook users awaiting BB10 update

BlackBerry 10 tablet rumour quashed, PlayBook users awaiting BB10 update

By KS Sandhya Iyer | Updated: 1 March 2013 15:20 IST

BlackBerry is very focused on its recently launched Z10 smartphone that sports an overhauled BlackBerry 10 OS and is currently the only device with latest BlackBerry 10 OS. The Q10, a second BlackBerry 10 device is scheduled to launch later and should be available through some carriers around the world in April.

Amidst all the mobile hype, the tablet section from the company seemed to have been forgotten until now. Unwired View earlier reported via Know Your Mobile India that a BB10 tablet is in the works according to Sarim Aziz, the head of developer relations for Asia Pacific at BlackBerry.

However, it turns out that Aziz was misquoted as he later clarified the matter to Engadget saying that the company "has no immediate plans for a new tablet" and that the newly launched Z10 (Review I Pictures) and Q10 smartphones will be garnering all the attention they can get.

However, this is inline with what BlackBerry Head of Software, Vivek Bhardwaj had told NDTV Gadgets at the recent BlackBerry Z10 launch in Mumbai. Bhardwaj said BlackBerry is entirely focusing its energies on making a comeback in smartphone race, and dismissed tablets as a low-margin business "in which only one company was making money".

This seems contrarian to the view of most smartphone makers who acknowledge the opportunity that lies in the tablet market and are aggressively looking at grabbing maximum market share through their latest offering. Apart from BlackBerry, the only other smartphone maker that is not serious about the tablet market is HTC. Even HP seems to be dipping its feet back in this market with the Slate 7 launch.

Coming back to BlackBerry, a BlackBerry 10 OS (Review) update for the company's earlier launched PlayBook tablet seems to be on the cards, though it isn't clear when exactly this update will be rolled out. When quizzed about the same, Bhardwaj declined to provide any timeline.

The company has just announced a software update for its Blackberry 10 smartphones to version 10.0.10.85 based on user feedback that brings a host of improvements to their BB10 devices.

As far as the app ecosystem goes, the Canadian device manufacturer plans to bring 100,000 apps by July. BlackBerry initially had 70,000 apps when the store launched. But most of these apps were ported from other leading platforms and the percentage of native apps amongst these still are unknown.

What is known, though is that WhatsApp will definitely be making its debut on the platform this month. Even at the time of BlackBerry 10 launch, WhatsApp had indicated that they will be soon launching a native app for this brand new operating system.

Instagram however, will not make it to the BlackBerry 10 app ecosystem anytime soon according to a previous report. However, this is not a big deal breaker as a ported Android app of Instagram should be on its way to BlackBerry 10 smartphones soon.

Nevertheless, the company is making an effort to boost the apps collection for its latest OS. BlackBerry has rechristened the BlackBerry App World as simply BlackBerry World. Prior to the launch, it had organised the Port-A-Thons event to encourage developers to brace the new BB10 platform. And the encouragement met with a positive reception of 15,000 apps in under 40 hours, 37.5 hours to be exact.

It also isn't neglecting Indian users evident form the recently added Music content on its app and content store, BlackBerry World in the country. The store also offers a one minute preview of the songs, along with a QR code that can be scanned and directly downloaded to the BlackBerry device. Videos, however are still missing.

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