BlackBerry Playbook Review @ Exclusive Maxis Workshop

On 16th of July 2011, 40 Nuffnang bloggers were invited by Maxis to join this exclusive BlackBerry Playbook Workshop in KLCC. It was on the same day where you can get your brand new BlackBerry Playbook Tablet at the registration counter in KLCC too. All you need is to be the first 600 Maxis customers that owns the BlackBerry Playbook to enjoy free limited edition BlackBerry Playbook Accessory Kit worth RM288 and free Maxis Wifi services!

All the bloggers invited are BB users and it is good to see the BB family were all here to explore BlackBerry Playbook tablet together.

There were more than 10 BlackBerry Playbook ready for us to have the first hand experience. Don't you feel like want to bring it back?

Me, Daphne and Jackie is sharing the same BlackBerry Playbook =) Visit their blog for the review~!

Features of BlackBerry Playbook Tablet:

• 7″ 1024×600 WSVGA capacitive LCD touch screen
• Ultra-portable at less than a pound and less than one-half inch thick: 0.9 lbs (425g) and 5.1” x 7.6” x 0.4” (130mm x 194mm x 10mm)
• 1 GHz dual-core processor
• BlackBerry® Tablet OS with support for symmetric multiprocessing
• MP3, AAC and WMA audio playback
• Support for high resolution video playback (H.264, MPEG4, WMV) 1080p HDMI output
• Dual 1080p HD cameras for video conferencing and video capture (3MP front and 5MP rear)
• 1 GB RAM memory
• Up to 64 GB internal storage (16, 32 and 64 GB models)
• GPS, Orientation Sensor (Accelerometer), 6-Axis Motion Sensor (Gyroscope), Digital Compass (Magnetometer)
• Stereo speakers and stereo microphones
• Wi-Fi® (802.11 a/b/g/n) connectivity
• Bluetooth® 2.1+EDR support

Mevin from Maxis did the opening speech and welcomed us bloggers as he is glad to have us all BlackBerry Users to explore RIM's new awesome gadget.

Eric from Maxis told us and showed us the features of BlackBerry Playbook. Besides its large screen but small enough to keep in your pocket, one of the reason I like BlackBerry Playbook is because of its True Multitasking function! It is really good to have all your opened application still running at the background while you are switching between them. All thanks to its fast 1GHZ dual-core processor =)

We tried to open as much applications as possible and guess what? We manage to open up to 20++ applications. All thanks to Jackie Loi's suggestion haha! Although the applications manage to slow down the Playbook, it is good that the application are still running well without any of it getting crashed. I can play Need For Speed on the Playbook, pause and check my email, play the music at the background and continue to play my game. Everything can run concurrently!

Besides the True Multitasking function, the second thing I like would be the BlackBerry Bridge feature. BlackBerry is known best for businesses especially on their secure connection and data encryption (e.g. BBM that no one can see what's your conversation through hacking), but people like me always hope that BlackBerry can have a larger screen for better browsing experience and gaming too. That is why BlackBerry Bridge was born.

Now not only you don't need to strain your eyes reading your email message, but you can also watch video in HD and high resolution pictures too. The screen looked really clear for me =)

Internet Tethering is also available with BlackBerry Playbook. Therefore you don't need to worry about plugging the Playbook with an external USB Modem just to surf the net. You can also share your internet with your friends with this function too! Sharing is caring.

It is good that BlackBerry Playbook support HTML 5. It can play Adobe Flash and Javascript without fail. Just that sometimes I wonder why it cannot enlarge certain websites by using two finger pinching, which makes it a bit hard for big-thumbed people to click on the correct navigation button.

Sound Experience: Well there are two stereo speakers in front of the Playbook and it is always better than just one. In case one was covered you still can hear the voice from the other side right? It is nice to use it to watch Youtube Video and I can enjoy SNSD/2NE1 HD Music Video with good hearing experience together.

Camera/Video Experience: The 5MP camera is able to record clear 1080p HD video especially during the day time. Played video on the playbook and the images were crystal clear! Good to know that it also supports 1080p HDMI output.

However, something that I noticed is that you can't directly play Youtube video on the website, you will be redirected to use the built-in YouTube application. Maybe my Playbook have this bug?

As usual, the photo captured at low light condition and without a LED flash light have lots of noise. It is good enough to take photos and videos during daytime but it might not be suitable for night photography.

HuiMing from Maxis also show us exclusively designed apps by Maxis. They are all free to be downloaded to enhance your Playbook tablet experience. All the 6 Maxis applications are:

• Finder301: Location-based app that provide information on food, restaurants, banks and more around you.
  
• Formula 1:You can get detailed information for all the races with exclusive live commentary, top stories, results and many more.
  
• Maxis Movies: No more queues to buy movie tickets. You can just book your tickets right away with any GSC/TGV Cinemas!
  
• Currency Converter: To keep track on the latest currency rate straight from Playbook Tablet.
  
• Language Translator: A handy app that translates more than 70 languages into your preferred language with just a few taps
  
• Maxis Wifi: The most important part for the Playbook and people who own a Playbook Tablet. Subscribe to a Maxis WiFi account and take advantages of Maxis WiFi hotspots for all your Inter needs. This app allows you to locate the nearest Maxis Wifi point.
  

I find the Maxis Wifi Apps is prerequisite if you are always mobile and need the internet for internet surfing or Social using Facebook, Twitter +++. I will need the helpful Language Translator and Currency Converter when I am traveling to other country too! E.g. Korea/Japan [Wanna sponsor me to go?]

Good to know that BlackBerry Playbook Tablet is equipped with powerful hardware that can play high spec requirement 3D games like Need For Speed.

Here's the demo of NFS on BlackBerry Playbook
You can also see the True Multitasking feature through this video too!

During the workshop, Maxis crew did some Q&A and the fastest blogger who has the right answer will win an electrical device that is worth RM200++.

Jabra Wireless Bluetooth Headset that is worth up to RM200 and can be paired with your BlackBerry Playbook too. I also want!!

They were also having some gaming tournament among the bloggers and the winner will able to get the bluetooth headset too. So many RM200 to be given out!

So I tried my best to win the game and here's a sneak peak of the NFS on the Playbook =)

See my nervous + happy face when playing NeedForSpeed
*drifting*

Why so serious? Haha

In the end, we were all beaten by the Drift King! Congratz on the winning anyway!! =)

If only I was 4 seconds faster~

Second game that we were competing was the Tetris on Playbook tablet!

Other bloggers who were going for the second round tournament on Tetris. I'm in again~!

No I am not a gaming freak just that I like to play Tetris since young? Haha

Unfortunately I can't beat this game master's high score and Chearmster won~! Gotta learn from the expert instead of feeling jealous right? Congratz!!

Stephanie did a closing for the Maxis workshop and I do appreciate and wanna thanks Maxis for everything especially the opportunity to play with BB Playbook for all day long.

Last but not least, a group photos of all the bloggers who attended the BlackBerry Playbook Workshop that day!! You can read their blogs for the Playbook Review too.

Why do I want a BB Playbook? It is like why you want an iPad after you have iPod Touch. They belongs to one same family! I am one of them that would like to keep a series of gadget of same family and I will start with BlackBerry~! Everyone want a reliable gadget to accompany their life. So do I!

Overall I think that BlackBerry Playbook is very reliable for web-browsing and gaming experience =) It is small enough to bring around and put along with my camera bag. I can read other people's blog by using it at anywhere because wifi is available. When I am bored, I can play some 3D games and not to forget showing photos taken from my DLSR with this larger screen gadget. Ah~ I can't wait to have it!

Maxis is the first in Malaysia to launch BlackBerry Playbook tablet and now you can get one BB Playbook tablet from as low as RM990 when you top-up the following data plan to your existing BlackBerry Internet Service Plan.

You can also pair up with selected BlackBerry Devices to get an additional RM100 off!

The BlackBerry PlayBook is already available at all Maxis Centres and Maxis Exclusive Partners nationwide from 17 July 2011. For more info, visit Maxis BlackBerry Playbook Page.

PS: 0% Interest Easy Payment Plan provided by Maxis too =D



Here's the video recorded and compiled by NigelSia Visual Storytelling. Highly suggest you to watch it because you can see ME bloggers on the action playing with the BlackBerry Playbook tablet~

XinXian's BlackBerry Bold is same color with me that day. The Bumblebee color!
Somehow reminded me of the parady song haha
"Go TIGER! Hitam Kuning, Hitam Kuning"

Hmm... If only her BB can transform and become my Playbook Tablet... *Dreaming*

All right, it is time for me to get a buddy for my BlackBerry Bold. It will be none other than a BlackBerry Playbook where they can form a bridge and always have secure connection!


Been trying hard to learn this new magic and finally I manage to make my BlackBerry float. You can do a magic for me too! Press the Facebook "Like" button below & Tweet Share because I might able to make a BlackBerry Playbook appear too!!

Thanks for reading my review of BlackBerry Playbook Tablet!
*fingers crossed*

You can read other review of BB playbook at HERE too!

PS: Thanks Jackie Loi & JessYing helping me took my photos!