But with Apple’s iPad dominating the tablet market unopposed, and Samsung’s Galaxy Tab threatening to be the first true rival, RIM’s tablet can’t just be a pale imitation of its competitors. (Image to the left is a mock-up from the Website IntoMobile). Here are four ways ways the BlackPad, if it really exists, could excel:
Blackberry Messenger
One feature that both the iPad and the Galaxy Tab lack is a quick and simple way to communicate with others. Messenger could be a cornerstone of the BlackPad, allowing people to stay in touch with Blackberry phone users. Businesses who use Blackberry would love it.
Cool Software
If RIM is really using a new operating system, QNX, instead of the Blackberry OS, it won’t have much app support, if any, out of the gate. So RIM should use this as an opportunity to bundle some really great software with the device, and not just the standard e-book reader, calendar and maps that the iPad and Galaxy Tab include. I’d really like to see an advanced notetaking app that brings together text, images, video and audio and syncs them to the cloud.
Cheapness
Pardon the obvious point, but all signs point to an expensive Galaxy Tab. And while the iPad seems reasonable at $500, the price hits $700 if you want the most possible storage, and $829 if you want 3G coverage. Research in Motion needs to amaze people with affordability, or otherwise think about package deals with Blackberry phones to encourage early growth and interest in the platform.
A Kickstand — No, Seriously
Is it really too much to ask that tablet makers include a built-in, simple way to prop the device upright? Sure, you can buy external stands for the iPad, but then you’ve got to carry them around, marring the device’s portability. Apple also sells the iPad sleeve that becomes a stand, but it’s a floppy, sloppy mess. If HTC could build a kickstand into its EVO 4G phone, the idea can’t be much harder to implement in a 7-inch tablet. Come on, RIM, stand up for yourself.