BlackBerry roundup

The word on everyone’s lips for the past week has been ‘BlackBerry’, for good reason(s).

Firstly, rumours of the development of a BlackBerry tablet, dubbed the BlackPad, began circulating last week.

This was then followed by the debut of the BlackBerry for Business blog and the release of the developer tools for BlackBerry mobile applications.

Now, less than a week later, Research in Motion (RIM), the Canadian company behind the BlackBerry, has made headlines again with the launch of the touchscreen BlackBerry PlayBook tablet.

Here's Computerworld's wrap of all you need to know on the latest from BlackBerry and the new BlackBerry PlayBook.

BlackBerry PlayBook: No Australian details
Local pricing and availabilty for new RIM tablet remain unclear

RIM shows off Web-based BlackBerry development platform
At DevCon 2010, the company also rolls out middleware and social networking capabilities for developers

New BlackBerry developer tools, ad services for 'Super Apps'
Developing applications for BlackBerry smartphones is about to get easier and more enticing, for both consumer application developers and enterprise app makers.

RIM launches 7-in. 'PlayBook' tablet
The device, unveiled at DevCon 2010, features a new OS from QNX

BlackBerry for Business blog debuts
New blog targeted at RIM's coveted business base

RIM 'BlackPad' could be the tablet businesses need
RIM doesn't have the consumer clout of Apple, but it has credibility in business -- giving its tablet a possible advantage

RIM jumps into tablet game
The BlackBerry PlayBook, which RIM says is enterprise-ready, takes aim at Apple's iPad with full support of Flash as well as Java

BlackBerry brand hurt by corporate mandate to use them
Workers forced to certain phones are less likely to be satisfied with them than phones they choose themselves