Archive for July 22nd, 2011

BlackBerry PlayBook heading to the U.S. government

The BlackBerry PlayBook is now the first tablet now certified for deployment with the U.S. federal government. RIM have announced that the PlayBook has received FIPS 140-2 certification, whatever that is. No other tablet on the market has gained FIPS (Federal Information Processing Standard) certification from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), which is required under the Federal Information Security Management Act of 2002 (FISMA)

“RIM is pleased to announce that the BlackBerry PlayBook is the first tablet approved under FIPS for use within the U.S. federal government,” said Scott Totzke, Senior Vice President, BlackBerry Security at Research In Motion. “This certification demonstrates our continued commitment to meeting the needs of security-conscious organisations and enables the U.S. federal government to buy with confidence knowing that the PlayBook meets their computing policy requirements for protecting sensitive information.”

BlackBerry PlayBook is a powerful, ultra-portable tablet that fits comfortably in one hand. It has a stunning 7-inch high resolution display, offers true multi-tasking capabilities and a high-fidelity web experience. It also allows for secure pairing with BlackBerry smartphones via the BlackBerry Bridge app, which enables users to access their BlackBerry smartphone’s email, calendar, address book, memo pad, task list, BBM (BlackBerry Messenger) and browsing functionality using the larger display on the tablet.
The FIPS-certified BlackBerry PlayBook tablet is being showcased this week in Washington DC at FOSE – the largest Federal government information technology conference in the U.S. – where BlackBerry PlayBook has just been awarded Best in Show, and also Best of FOSE in the Handheld Devices category.
More information about the BlackBerry PlayBook is available at www.blackberry.com/playbook

Posted by: James

Android Tablets gain ground on Apple

Sales of Apple’s iPad have increased three-fold in the past year and there is certainly no denying the iPad’s position as tablet champion. Think tablet, think Apple, the iPad is the benchmark by which all other tablets are measured at the moment.

I realise that Apple and the iPad are not to everyone’s taste and there are now more choices that ever when it comes to tablets, almost every hardware manufacturer out there is releasing their own tablet and almost all run Android OS.

This time last year Apple had almost 95% of the tablet market. However, just a year later and Apple see that market share fall to just 61.3%

So it the tide turning against Apple in favour of Android? Probably not. Let’s not forget that this time last year there was far less choice when it came to buying a tablet and Apple have basically created the tablet market. Whilst the news it great for Google and Android integrators I don’t think Apple will to too worried, sales are still growing and the market, just like the tablets themselves, is still evolving.

Posted by: Matt