14 DAY TRIAL // Canadian mobile phone maker Research In Motion has just announced the release of a new flavor of the BlackBerry Tablet OS for their BlackBerry PlayBook, namely version 1.0.5, with a wide range of new features and enhancements when compared to the previously available 1.0.3 iteration of the platform.
Among the most important enhancements the new OS flavor comes with, we can count an updated Facebook for BlackBerry PlayBook, in-app payments support, battery indicator, additional language support, or video chat, among others.
The new Facebook for BlackBerry PlayBook that comes loaded on the new BlackBerry Tablet OS v1.0.5 was announced as coming to the BlackBerry App World storefront as well, with a great deal of improvements included into the mix.
BlackBerry PlayBook owners will also have the possibility to enjoy in-app payment support with the software available through the BlackBerry App World.
“Whether it’s buying another level in a game, or a new edition of a magazine, in-app payment support means dynamic possibilities for BlackBerry PlayBook applications and better apps for users,” RIM notes in a blog post.
Developers who would like to take advantage of the new feature should head to the company's website here to learn more on the matter.
Some of the other enhancements the new flavor of the BlackBerry Tablet OS comes with would include a battery charger indicator. Some of the changes are:
- The BlackBerry PlayBook tablet can now be charged even when fully powered down.
- BlackBerry Tablet OS v1.0.5 now alerts you if you are using an incorrect charger with your BlackBerry PlayBook tablet. For example, if you accidentally plug a BlackBerry smartphone charger into the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet you will now receive an alert on the screen to let you know that this charger will not charge your tablet.
- After touching the battery indicator on the top right corner of the home screen, a pop-up will appear and you can now choose to restart the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet, turn it off, or put it into standby mode. You can also adjust the screen brightness from this same pop-up.
BlackBerry Tablet OS v1.0.5 also comes with support for more languages, including French, Italian, Dutch, German, Spanish, and UK English.
Moreover, users would benefit from included support for the TURN (Traversal Using Relay NAT) protocol, meant to enhance the Video Chat capabilities of the PlayBook when calls are made between a public network and an enterprise network.
The new OS flavor also adds automatic Wi-Fi hotspot detection, so that users would find it easier to connect to a Wi-Fi hotspot.
The PlayBook also gets an extra level of volume with the new software update, which should improve the audio experience with the headset when in noisy areas.
BlackBerry PlayBook users will be notified on the availability of the new OS version, and they can also check for the software through going to the Settings Menu under Software Updates.
Starting today, June 7th, 2011, new PlayBook owners will be prompted to update to the new BlackBerry Tablet OS 1.0.5 as part of the BlackBerry PlayBook setup process.