RIM released a new beta version of the 2.x OS today, version 2.0.0.7111. Replacing 2.0.0.6149 that I first noticed on Jan 6th.
It seems to be difficult to easily discover what changes in one update to the next. Reports I read said that it adds predictive text and auto correct while typing, but I noticed this already in version 2.0.0.6149. So far I can’t see any noticeable new features. It may be a little snappier, but of course these thoughts are always speculative, and it’s not a laggy device now.
I can’t help to compare the Playbook to my new Asus Transformer Prime whenever I use either. There is no doubt in my mind, that in general the Playbook is a far superior muti-tasking OS, and more user friendly than Android 4.x. But the Play book feels noticeably heavier in a smaller form factor, and has poor battery life when compared to any device larger than a phone. And of course there is the apps issue on the Playbook. For me the Playbook was barely worthwhile till I was able to sideload Android apps on it to get the near comparable functionality from it that I get on an Android device.
As a software developer RIM sucks big-time, taking forever to come out with software updates and new software products. So it baffles me that according to industry know-it-alls, they are turning away offers to purchase and leaking rumours that they might convert to a licensing and software sales company. How could they possibly make it as a software licensing and development company, when it’s seems well known that they have ridiculously long development cycles and keep misinterpreting future trends. If that wasn’t true they would have put out all the software for the Playbook they promised well over 6 months ago, and they would still be the number one selling phone.
I do look forward to seeing the final OS 2.x and the email, contacts and calendar apps they claim to have ready to release in a few weeks. If I owned RIM shares I think I’d sell them now before they humiliate themselves again.