Thread: Discuss PlayBook OS 2.1 Beta Findings/Fixes

Discuss any findings/fixes with the PlayBook OS 2.1.0.560 Beta

What's New

• Improved HTML5 support (Browser HTML 5 Score 391+10 Bonus Points)
• Each Android app will now run in its own window. This greatly improves the user experience and consistency among the other application runtimes.
• Access to the Camera hardware is now supported for Android apps, allowing many more application types to work on the BlackBerry® PlayBook™ tablet.
• In-App Payment is now supported through the BlackBerry Payment SDK, so Android applications can include virtual items for sale in their applications.
• Portrait support for Email, Calendar and Contacts
• Improved folder support including IMAP folder support

Registration/sign up page here to get enrolled in order to download.

Be sure to let us know of any findings/fixes in the comments below!

So a couple things about this 2.1 beta update...

1. Will Skype video chat, ect, work now?
2. Will dev alpha users be able to update device with this beta?

I'm going to be trying both. Please let me know if you get to it before I do.

Update: Just installed and restarting my PlayBook now.

Ok, Android player is running much smoother now with apps that were a bit laggy.

Going to try Skype, Netflix, Instagram, ect, now...

Let me know if you want me to test a app or if you have already tested a app that does or doesn't work.

Skype is a no.
Netflix is a no.
Instagram v1.0 is a no. Haven't tried later versions.

Trying a BETA version of Skype now.

Skype Beta still works, but it's only chat. No video... Skype BETA for PlayBook v0.9.1.0 - Downloads - BlackBerryOS.com

Things I've noticed so far...

Pretty much all the apps I use on 2.0 work on 2.1 so there's no problems there.

The Messages app works a lot smoother in my opinion. Opening emails, DMs; etc is also a lot quicker and they get marked as read a lot faster. The orientation adjustment on the Messages app seems work fairly well too.

The browser seems A LOT faster. Obviously with the improvements to HTML5 support, those sites load up with ease.

Bezel sensitivity seems to have down a little which I'm still getting use to. Not sure if it's in my head or not but I find myself swiping twice to minimize or open a menu because the first time didn't register.

Camera, video recorder, pictures and video apps all work the same. No changes there.

It could be just me but Facebook contacts haven't synced with the Contacts app.

It could also be the fact that Facebook has been having issues this evening as well. Not sure. Hopefully disconnecting Facebook and reconnecting will help.

You can now encrypt any user data, the option is found under the settings in the security option.

Certain flash ads can be scrolled over without accidentally activating them.

Android apps do run quite a bit smoother, multitasking android apps and native apps together doesn't slow anything down.

There is better RAM optimization, I've noticed from boot I'm nearly at 700 MB of free RAM, it settles to around 570-600 MB with nothing open and with apps open it doesn't use as much RAM as in the previous OS (2.0.1.358).

So that's what I've got to add to what AgentBlackBerry has found

I'm having the same issue w/ Facebook which in my case I just noticed could be added w/ the 2.1. Maybe I just missed it in 2.0. Anyway. No sync either and I'm having the same issue w/ GIST for which they tell me there is a known FB connector issue due to some changes at FB and they are working to correct. Maybe the same her.

Hey Joe,

Skype actually uses part of the NDK for Android, and coincidentally enough for the video feature it used the NDK which is not supported in the BlackBerry PlayBook Android Runtime, although RIMs up to something with Skype integration so we've heard.

Originally Posted by Goku

Hey Joe,

Skype actually uses part of the NDK for Android, and coincidentally enough for the video feature it used the NDK which is not supported in the BlackBerry PlayBook Android Runtime, although RIMs up to something with Skype integration so we've heard.

Yea, heard something about this. Makes sense and all with the various different access for each platform.

It will be a day to remember when Skype finally rolls around to supporting BlackBerry devices other than Verizon Smartphones.

New App World feature, when you select an app, you can also select the Vendor to show all apps from that vendor, as well as it will let you sort from "All" "Free" or "Paid" as normal.

Originally Posted by Joe Jerde

Yea, heard something about this. Makes sense and all with the various different access for each platform.

It will be a day to remember when Skype finally rolls around to supporting BlackBerry devices other than Verizon Smartphones.

It will be a miracle when Skype does finally support all BlackBerry devices.

I sincerely wish for this to happen so bad, and can guarantee that BlackBerry owners would embrace Skype with open arms.

Originally Posted by Goku

New App World feature, when you select an app, you can also select the Vendor to show all apps from that vendor, as well as it will let you sort from "All" "Free" or "Paid" as normal.

Thank you for the OS2.1 beta (App World) finding Goku!

Originally Posted by grimreaper

Thank you for the OS2.1 beta (App World) finding Goku!

No problem Grimreaper

Also check the large titles which group apps together. You'll notice they display their group contents differently. Whether or not this is a Beta 2.1 change is still yet to be determined, but it seems like it is because I didn't see this in the official 2.0.1.358 OS revision.

Pretty important finding

Recently Google Images would load up a mobile site when you searched for an image, making it impossible to tap anything or scroll. Now Google Images works perfectly fine and better than ever before, I believe this probably does have something to do with the new browser updates within the Beta OS. So far this Beta OS is looking pretty good

Another quick little find

In the native calendar app, I noticed a 4th icon for the different views on the left hand side. In the screenshot I tapped it and that's what it looks like if you select a day with an event.

Grimreaper, can you kindly test the TDFX Trader if the chart works now

Thank you.

In addition to the calendar finding posted by grimreaper, when editing a Google calendar event the combo boxes for the dates look superimposed (landscape mode). Also, edited an event date and while the dates range was from June 14 to June 15, the events subtitle indicated June 14 to 16. It also marked those days in the monthly view. Ihad to go to Google Calendar in my notebook and make the change there, after sync, it showed correct date.

I have installed 2.1.0.560 beta and I like the way that mail attachments automatically download and save when they are opened. One annoying thing is that email previews disappear leading a blank space after one or two have been viewed necessitating rebooting the email application. Anyone else with this problem?

Hi guys: did any one noticed that no youtube videos can be seen. Any fix for it?