Major feature update coming to BlackBerry PlayBook soon

Let’s face it, the biggest issue everyone has with the BlackBerry PlayBook (even BlackBerry fans), is that there is not native email or messaging client on the device. The only way to get email on the PlayBook is by tethering it with a BlackBerry phone. Even for someone with a BlackBerry phone, this is a hassle. Also, tethering your phone is always going to bring down battery life and that’s not a good thing either.

PlayBook owners can rejoice because this is all going to change, for the good.

While announcing RIM’s Q2 Fiscal 2012 Results Announcement, Jim Balsille, co-CEO of the Canadian tech firm has confirmed that a “major feature update” is coming soon to the BlackBerry PlayBook.

The update will be shown off at BlackBerry DevCon next month and will be made available “shortly after”. Version 2.0 of the PlayBook software will bring the much needed native email, contacts and calendar to the device.

In addition, the update will also bring The BlackBerry Video to the PlayBook and along with it access to over 10,000 movies and TV shows and ability to stream these content via HDMI on your TV. We don’t think BlackBerry Video will be of any use here in Malaysia because we lack of required content.

What is of a lot of use will be the Android App Player that is coming with the PlayBook OS update which will allow the PlayBook to run Android apps. We can’t wait to see how that’s going to work.

[via]