RIM cuts all PlayBooks to $300, gets ad hoc Android Market
updated 07:20 pm EST, Mon January 2, 2012
BlackBerry PlayBook drops to 300 on company store
RIM has started running a new sale for the BlackBerry PlayBook on its own store. Every version of the tablet costs the same $300, making the 64GB version the best option until stock runs out. All three were in stock as of Monday night.
The promo lasts until February 4.
At $300, it's not as inexpensive as the 16GB model, which can cost $199. RIM's deal still shows a willingness to keep slashing prices into the new year and may make the price cut effectively permanent until a replacement is available. RIM hasn't had the PlayBook at regular pricing in some areas since October.
The discounting mostly helps buy time until PlayBook 2.0 arrives in February and gives the native e-mail that RIM had promised nearly a year ago.
Separately, CrackBerry has posted a tutorial to get Android Market running in Android Player. The trick requires the DingleBerry root and tools both on the PlayBook and in Windows to remotely control and load content. CyanogenMod rounds out the tricks and lets the Android shell run more than the barebones content RIM normally has.
While it works, the hack doesn't guarantee that some, if not most, apps will work on the PlayBook. Apart from the uncommon 1024x600 resolution, many either won't expect the app environment or would want controls that the PlayBook doesn't have. It still promises more expansion than what RIM can offer, which requires that apps be repackaged and posted in BlackBerry App World.
