RIM has just announced their iPad tablet competitor, the BlackBerry PlayBook. They’re marketing it as the world’s first professional table and the specs look great, almost as though it was specifically designed to counter-program the iPad:

• 7-inch screen
• 1GHz dual-core processor (or is it 2GHz Cortex A9?)
• 1080p video with HDMI out
• Front and rear cameras
• HMTL5 and Flash 10.1
• BES support (of course)
• Up to 1GB of RAM (?)
• Built on QNX OS

Check out the video after the break and CrackBerry.com via the link below for ongoing coverage straight from Dev Con, and let us know what you think. Is Apple finally in trouble in the very space they created?

[CrackBerry]

BlackBerry announces 7-inch PlayBook tablet, iPad competition heats up is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

The Case-Mate Walkabout Case for iPad is a great case if you’re looking for something low profile.  It’s also slim enough to slip into virtually any bag or briefcase.  The outside has more of a suede feel to it (despite it being tan leather) and doesn’t seem to collect dirt like some other lighter colored cases might.  So if you’re in the market for a new iPad case that has no bulk but provides decent protection, click on through for a hands-on video, review, and pics!

The first thing you’ll notice about this case is the feel. It’s definitely genuine leather, but it’s got a bit of a suede feel to it. I personally like it. I don’t feel like it’ll slip out of my hand. The inside of the case is smooth and the fit is just right. When sliding the iPad in the case, you don’t feel like you have to force it or that it’ll scratch the sides of the device. The closure is lined with magnets as well. There’s no buttons or clasps to worry about. The case will simply shut and stay that way. I attempted to hold the case upside down and shake the iPad a bit but the clasp never came undone. So if you’re worried about the iPad falling out, you won’t have to with this particular case.

I’ve been using this case for about 2 weeks now and I’ve had it in bags and sitting on random countertops and tables in the house. It doesn’t seem to collect dust or dirt. The case still looks brand new. One of my concerns with lighter colored cases is always that they will get dirty or dingy over time. So far, it’s stayed perfectly clean.

On a protection level, the Walkabout will typically protect the iPad from normal wear and tear. It’ll prevent from things in your bookbag or briefcase hitting the iPad or scratching it, but I wouldn’t go as far to say it would protect you from a serious drop. I’d still be concerned that dropping the iPad on a hard enough surface would still cause some damage (denting, cracking, etc..). It should protect you against moderate to mild drops but I wouldn’t expect it to be the equivalent of an Otterbox type case. This case seems to be more geared towards being trendy and sleek than protective.

So if you’re looking for something super-trendy and sleek, you can find the Case-Mate Walkabout case for iPad at our TiPb iPad accessory store.

Pros

• Low profile
• Magnet enclosures are extremely secure and easier to use than clasps or buttons
• Stays clean despite the lighter color
• Perfect amount of give – not too tight or too loose

Cons

• Won’t provide protection against serious drops
• It’s a little pricey for not providing optimum protection

Case-Mate Walkabout Case for iPad – accessory review is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

TiPb’s next top blogger has being going like gangbusters here on the blog, and even more-so over on the forums. Last week was all about power news blogging. If that’s what interests you, we’re looking for several hardcore newsies who can get the facts and give them voice, so keep it up. If that’s not your thing, however, here’s round 2:

• Tips and tricks

We’d also like to start providing more short, concise tips and tricks for iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, Apple TV, iTunes, MobileMe, Ping, Game Center, and really popular third party apps and services. No long, drawn-out how-tos these, just brief ways to make your iOS life better. They can range in skill level from beginner 101 (tap space twice to insert a period — hey, everyone has to start somewhere!) to elite ninja (type in this number string to access field test mode — be careful if you make it permanent!), they’ve just got to be useful.

Want to work for TiPb and help out your fellow iPhone and iPad lovers? Start posting your tips and tricks now. We’ll choose one of our favorites each day and promote it to the front page, and anyone who shows consistency and panache, well, we’d love to bring you on board all official-like. So get to it!

TiPb’s next top blogger round 2: tips and tricks is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

I noticed Gourmet Live in the App Store for iPad and I thought I would give it a try. I have to admit, I have not been much of a foodie for most of my life. But, as I get older, it is just fun to create awesome meals for friends and family. Gourmet Live is different than other magazine-type apps on the App Store. For starters, the Magazine is online (only 1.9MB to download); you need an Internet connection to get to your content. The app seemed to download content in the background when you launch it, then makes all of it available for offline use. Slick, I like it.

The articles in Gourmet Live are well written and use excellent photography to bring the stories to life; they have really done a great job. You get your usual stories, etc. However at first I was stunned that there were no apparent recipes! How can this be, it’s Gourmet Magazine! Don’t worry, the recipes are there you just have to “earn” them by using Gourmet Live’s innovative rewards system. As you browse and share content via Twitter or Facebook, the app will occasionally give you a pop-up indicating you have unlocked a reward and it begins downloading that content. You can immediately view it or reference it later. As you read an article you can choose to change your font size (three sizes are available) and put an article into favorites for reference later. Overall, the app is responsive and fast, oh and did I mention it’s free? That’s right free. The funny thing is I have not seen a single ad so far.

Something else I have noticed that seems to be a trend that is about to happen on the iPad App scene. Gourmet Live is only viewable in portrait, no landscape here folks. I suppose this is not too much of an issue as there is a substantial amount of expense to reformat pages, etc for landscape as opposed to portrait. If this becomes the norm for this style of App I am ok with it as long as it is free, as in this case, or publishers begin to use a subscription option so I’m not paying $4.99 an issue WITH ads.

If this is the future of print magazines I for one, like it. Sure, you don’t have the high level of interaction as the Wired app for iPad, but what you do get is a straight forward viewing and content experience for those of us that like the simpler things and, oh yeah, good food.

[Free- iTunes Link]

Pros

• Free!
• Great content
• Innovative rewards system
• Small file size (this issue is 1.9MB)

Cons

• No landscape
• Content must download in background before viewing

Gourmet Live for iPad – app review is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

With the Launch of iAd by Apple many companies are choosing to advertise with them instead of Google or Microsoft. Businessweek.com reported that Apple may control as much as 21% of the market by the end of the year. Google will drop to 21% from last year's holding of 27% and Microsoft, who was only just getting into ads, will drop to just 7% from last year's 10%.

Not bad for Apple, who wasn’t even in the mobile advertising market until they bought Quattro Wireless and announced iAd back at WWDC 2010.

Unilever, whose first iAd made its debut in July, is “extremely happy” with the results of its ad campaigns, Rob Master, the company’s North American media director, says in an interview. More than 20 percent of people who click on Unilever iAds—which feature video and an interactive game—check out the ad a second time, he says.

Natalie Kerris, a spokesperson at Apple, reports that since June the number of brands that use Apple's iAd has doubled. This trend isn't just affecting Google and Microsoft either as both Nokia and Yahoo ad services are suffering as well.

Have you seen iAds in your apps? Are you any more likely to check out the products showcased in an iAd compared to a Google AdMob ad, or an ad from another network? Is Apple really offering a better experience for both advertisers and end users? Let us know your thoughts.

This is an official entry by Slyfi in TiPb's next top blogger contest. Think you have what it takes to join Team TiPb? Bring it!

[Business Week via Fortune]

Apple stealing ad revenue from Google and Microsoft is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

The new, 2010 Apple TV is starting to ship. TiPb readers, along with readers of other sites are all getting their notification emails from Apple. We’ve only seen “prepared to ship” notices, but *MacRumors” is starting to see actual shipment notifications as well.

That might be US-only for now, however, as mine and a few others internationally are still seeing “ships in September” on our orders with nary an email in site. Here’s hoping Apple’s production machine is in full swing and Apple TV makes its global debut this week.

If you’ve waiting on a new, AirPlay and Netflix-equipped Apple TV, let us know when you ordered, where you are located, and what your order status is.

UPDATE: Several Canadian readers, including yours truly just now, have received shipment notifications as well. Giddy up.

[MacRumors, thanks to Marc and everyone who sent this in!

Apple TV starting to ship is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

iPhone Dev Team has put @pod2g's SHAtter exploit into actual use with it’s first application as a jailbreak tool on the iPod touch 4 [Video Below]. Right after Apple released iOS 4.1, Former Chronic Dev Team member pod2g announced his development of a low level bootrom exploit that would be difficult to patch via a software release.

Since then, both Chronic Dev Team and iPhone Dev Team have been hard at work to implement that exploit into a usable jailbreak tool. The next domino has fallen as they have been able to use this exploit via a beta version of their PwnageTool on the iPod Touch 4G.

Although PwnageTool was a useful first test of a full iPod 4G jailbreak via SHAtter, it's really overkill compared to the faster tools being developed. Its main use in PwnageTool will be for those with iPhone4's, to allow updates while preserving the baseband and ultrasn0w carrier unlock. In any event, this is another exciting time for iPhone and iPod touch users…the cat and mouse game continues!

While many wait impatiently for the next jailbreak tool to be released, this news is reassuring and will give us something to look forward to in the weeks ahead. How long until the iPhone 4 falls to the likes of the Dev Teams? Tell us what you think below…

[Dev Team Blog]

This is an official entry by Farbod21 in TiPb's next top blogger contest. Think you have what it takes to join Team TiPb? Bring it!

SHAtter exploit well underway as iPod touch 4 first to fall [Jailbreak] is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

Best of Smartphone Experts, 26 Sept 2010 is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog