I see RIM (Research In Motion) has announced a new video chat app for the its tablet..

Seeing as though they were HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL with BBM, I can see this being a hit with its users.

Here are some specs...


• One-Click Video and Voice over Wi-Fi Calls - with just one click users can make a call from their Video Chat contact list, log of recent calls or simply by entering the BBID email address of the person they want to call.
• Incoming Call Notifications - users will receive a notification pop-up when a new video call comes in, allowing them to accept the call as either a video or voice call, or decline the call. For those quiet moments - such as when while watching a movie or playing a game -users will also have the ability to simply set the "Do Not Disturb" option and the BlackBerry PlayBook will automatically ignore all incoming calls.
• Powerful In-Call Functions - by using the picture-in-picture function users can easily preview their own video image prior to placing the call in order to see what will be displayed on the other end. They can also easily switch cameras from front to rear so their friends can see what they are seeing, and for private moments users can mute/unmute audio or make or take calls using voice only.
• Friends List - BlackBerry PlayBook Video Chat comes complete with a Friends List for maintaining your favorite contacts. A picture can easily be added to a contact to personalize the entry and a Call Log makes it simple to keep track of received and missed calls.

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Oh...The Great Steve Jobs actually 'acknowledged' the Playbook??

I mean, I would think he wouldn't even speak on it.

Here is what he said...

• SJ: Other tables appear to be just a handful of credible entrants. Almost all use 7″ screens compared to iPad 10″. Would offer 70% of benefits. But only 45% as large because of diagonal measure. 7″ screens a bit smaller than bottom half of iPad screen. Not big enough to make great tablet apps.
• SJ: Apple has done extensive testing, really understand this stuff. Limits to how close you can place elements for usability. Why 10″ is minimum size for great tablet apps.
• SJ: Every tablet user is also smartphone user. No tablet can fit in your pocket. Giving up precious diplay area to fit tablets in pockets isn’t the way to go. Tweeners.
• SJ: Many use Android software, even Google, tells manufacturers not to use Froyo. What does it mean when your software supplier says not to use the software and you ignore it?
• SJ: iPad now has more than 35,000 apps. New tablets will have 0.
• SJ: Competitors have a tough time coming close to iPad pricing even with smaller screen. Apple creates own chip, battery chemistry, enclosure, everything. Incredible product, incredible price. Competitors will likely offer less for more.
• SJ: New crop of tablets will likely be DOA. Too small. Will increase size next year, abandon customers and developers who went 7-inch.
• SJ: Reason they wouldn’t make 7-inch tablet isn’t because of price point, it’s because they think it’s too small to express the right software. Apple is a software-first company. Developers aren’t going to deal really well with different screen sizes, when they can’t put enough elements on screen to build the apps they want to build. 7-inches isn’t about cost, it’s about value when you factor in software.
• SJ: Can’t assume software will take care of itself. Can’t just put in less memory, slower processor, assume software will come alive. It won’t. 

Jim Balsillie' response...

"For those of us who live outside of Apple's distortion field, we know that 7" tablets will actually be a big portion of the market and we know that Adobe Flash support actually matters to customers who want a real web experience. We also know that while Apple's attempt to control the ecosystem and maintain a closed platform may be good for Apple, developers want more options and customers want to fully access the overwhelming majority of web sites that use Flash. We think many customers are getting tired of being told what to think by Apple. And by the way, RIM has achieved record shipments for five consecutive quarters and recently shared guidance of 13.8 - 14.4 million BlackBerry smartphones for the current quarter. Apple's preference to compare its September-ending quarter with RIM's August-ending quarter doesn't tell the whole story because it doesn't take into account that industry demand in September is typically stronger than summer months, nor does it explain why Apple only shipped 8.4 million devices in its prior quarter and whether Apple's Q4 results were padded by unfulfilled Q3 customer demand and channel orders. As usual, whether the subject is antennas, Flash or shipments, there is more to the story and sooner or later, even people inside the distortion field will begin to resent being told half a story."
- Jim Balsillie, Co-CEO at Research In Motion (RIM)

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RIM to Steve Jobs- "Uh no. Leave us out of your mess..."..

Link.


"Apple’s attempt to draw RIM into Apple’s self-made debacle is unacceptable. Apple’s claims about RIM products appear to be deliberate attempts to distort the public’s understanding of an antenna design issue and to deflect attention from Apple’s difficult situation. RIM is a global leader in antenna design and has been successfully designing industry-leading wireless data products with efficient and effective radio performance for over 20 years. During that time, RIM has avoided designs like the one Apple used in the iPhone 4 and instead has used innovative designs which reduce the risk for dropped calls, especially in areas of lower coverage. One thing is for certain, RIM’s customers don’t need to use a case for their BlackBerry smartphone to maintain proper connectivity. Apple clearly made certain design decisions and it should take responsibility for these decisions rather than trying to draw RIM and others into a situation that relates specifically to Apple."

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