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After one week the BlackBerry PlayBook has over 1,700 apps, what apps are you looking for?

Summary: It has now been one week since the PlayBook launched and we have over 1,700 apps in the BlackBerry App World with more coming out every day.

Matthew Miller

By for The Mobile Gadgeteer |

It's been a week since the RIM BlackBerry PlayBook became available in retail locations and most articles I have read the reviewers are pleased with the hardware and slick user interface. The lack of big name applications seems to be the primary concern so I decided to go through the BlackBerry App World and count up the available apps and see what kind of apps are available. You can check out screenshots of my top 10 apps and compare it to your list.

I am not pleased with the BlackBerry App World interface where you can only scroll through the top 25 apps in the Newest, Top Free, Top Purchased, and Recently Updated categories because then you have to browse through the various categories and sub-categories to find apps. You can use the search to find specific apps, but I would like to see the ability to see more of the top apps in 25 app blocks or something.

Image Gallery: Check out screenshots of my top 10 PlayBook apps after one week with the tablet. Image Gallery: Home screen with apps Image Gallery: Glimpse
It isn't always about the number of applications that make a successful platform, but having key apps is important and the PlayBook still lacks many of the big names like Facebook and Twitter. However, it is important to remember that the web browser on the PlayBook is one of the best available with full Flash support so you can access your Amazon Cloud Player, Amazon Video On Demand video, and many other sites rather than worrying too much about dedicated applications.

Looking at the PlayBook's App World last night I found the following:

  • 19 categories with 63 sub-categories
  • 875 paid applications
  • 855 free applications
  • Most expensive app was $599.99 for ATS v1.0 Terminal

As I was browsing around I found a few more good apps to download and install on my PlayBook and at this time these are my top 10 favorite apps:

  1. Web browser: Best application on the device IMHO
  2. Kobo Books: Wish it was faster, but does a good job with ebooks
  3. Need For Speed Undercover: Enjoyable racing game
  4. Slacker Radio: One of my favorite streaming radio apps
  5. Music player: Love the super loud speakers and basic player
  6. Glimpse: Slick RSS reader that reminds me of Pulse on Android devices
  7. Reader's Digest: The PlayBook is perfect for reading this classic magazine
  8. Poynt: Great for finding movies and checking weather
  9. Rocket Storm: Beautiful Missile Command-type space game
  10. DoodleBlast: Fun, puzzle game with retro sketch interface

I would love to see RIM update their Podcasts application, like they have for their smartphones, so that I could add my own podcast feeds or import an OPML file because right now you are just limited to what they have in their catalog. I am hoping to see some great Bible apps (OliveTree would be perfect), Twitter apps, Facebook, Evernote, USAA banking application, SlingPlayer, and better games come to the platform.

As I mentioned, it is not that easy to discover new apps without some serious effort so I may have missed lots of other good apps in the App World. What kind of apps are you looking for on the PlayBook?

Topics: Mobility, Apps, Hardware, Mobile OS, BlackBerry

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28 comments
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  • chrispycrunch

    the free games are quite good. the free apps are very basic but functional. Slacker radio is my favorite.

    As for higher quality apps I think RIM should acquire a music app and photo manager app company, or pay and resell for its development. That's all that's really missing.

    The web browser is by far very solid and few, if any, sites had any issues. For full-sized web pages being 16x10, I wonder if a column view is possible...scrolling and resizing is easy but still extra work.
    cgl88
    Reply Vote

    • Apps

      Hi @cgl88,

      Alex from RIM here. It?s great to see you?re enjoying Slacker Radio (me, too!). Another favorite of mine is the PlayBook Music Store by 7digital. It comes preloaded on the PlayBook, offers a selection of more than 13 million songs and has a really cool recommendation engine that features content based on recent browsing and purchases. Its 60-second previews and one-click buying make it easy to discover and start enjoying your music anytime, anywhere.

      Check out this video with more about 7digital, as well as other PlayBook media, gaming and productivity apps (http://bbry.lv/hoJYzo).

      Cheers,
      Alex, RIM Social Media Team
      alexkinsella
      Reply Vote

      • Thanks 7digital looks great, Podcasts needs some work

        @alexkinsella I plan to test out the 7digital store much more and the prices do look quite reasonable.

        I am a huge podcast fan, but unfortunately you cannot subscribe to podcasts that are not in the RIM library by importing an OPML file or entering in a podcast URL. For example, my own podcast (Mobile Tech Roundup) is not in there and I cannot add it in :)
        palmsolo (aka Matthew Miller)
        Reply Vote

    • RE: After one week the BlackBerry PlayBook has over 1,700 apps, what apps are you looking for?

      @cgl88
      I like that you have a real web browser that supports Flash. The Flash performance is very good. My kid has been playing games from PBS Kids and Disney on the playbook and they all work very well with the touch screen.
      sharkboyjohn
      Reply Vote

  • Apps needed

    The primary apps that I am looking for are an SSH client to remote control and support my UNIX servers from anywhere. I also need a basic ebook reader for .prc files etc, llike Mobipocket. I have a library of Mobi format books I would like to load and read on this device.
    yorkero
    Reply Vote

    • RE: After one week the BlackBerry PlayBook has over 1,700 apps, what apps are you looking for?

      @yorkero if you have a BlackBerry - I've started development of a bluetooth bridge to my free BB app BBSSH. Once the native SDK is available, I'll update the PlayBook app to offer a choice of using a bridged BB connection, or using a PlayBook-only connection.

      I don't know yet if this will be free or not, but if not I'll keep it priced low.
      marc.paradise@...
      Reply Vote

  • RE: After one week the BlackBerry PlayBook has over 1,700 apps, what apps are you looking for?

    Once it get the kindle app I'll buy
    invictaman
    Reply Vote

    • RE: After one week the BlackBerry PlayBook has over 1,700 apps, what apps are you looking for?

      Same for me. I have many Kindle books. What's taking so long?
      ryork272
      Reply Vote

  • RE: After one week the BlackBerry PlayBook has over 1,700 apps, what apps are you looking for?

    I love the golf game, Sling golf. Kids love it too.

    Be happy when BBM and Skype arrive.
    JoeNYC
    Reply Vote

    • BBM

      @JoeNYC Yes, I am also eagerly awaiting BBM!
      justmeredith
      Reply Vote

  • RE: After one week the BlackBerry PlayBook has over 1,700 apps, what apps are you looking for?

    Bought it with the assumption that there would be a Kindle app (tons of headlines in September 2010 said there would be) and am waiting for that to show up. BestBuy's return window ends 5/2 for those of us who preordered - I wonder if there will be a landslide of returns if Kindle and other apps don't appear...
    Travels4food
    Reply Vote

    • RE: After one week the BlackBerry PlayBook has over 1,700 apps, what apps are you looking for?

      I cancelled my pre-order for that reason. They provided no ETA for Kindle. Show stopper.
      ryork272
      Reply Vote

  • My top 5!

    My top 5 that I use:

    Word to Go
    Sheet to Go
    Globe News
    Facebook
    Kobo Books
    justmeredith
    Reply Vote

  • cocktales: another nice drink app too

    If you have mini bar at home then check this nice app "Cocktales" out. <br>IMHO its the best drink app out there.<br>I m also waiting for kindle and android support. Playbook is really gud not as bad as were initial reviews.
    mo_hit4u
    Reply Vote

  • RE: After one week the BlackBerry PlayBook has over 1,700 apps, what apps are you looking for?

    Praise GOD!!!! I do hope you find your bible app soon. Until then, there's plenty of OTHER great and better fiction titles from which to select...
    toneybarber@...
    Reply Vote

    • RE: After one week the BlackBerry PlayBook has over 1,700 apps, what apps are you looking for?

      @toneybarber@... Agreed, like the Obama Guide to Deficit Reduction.

      Matthew, keep up your great articles. I enjoy reading your perspective.
      zdnetreader123
      Reply Vote

  • RE: After one week the BlackBerry PlayBook has over 1,700 apps, what apps are you looking for?

    If you are a Rogers phone subscriber you will not be able to bridge your BB phone to the Playbook. Rogers doesn't support teh version of BB OS needed for the Blackberry Bridge.
    vaderdad
    Reply Vote

    • RE: After one week the BlackBerry PlayBook has over 1,700 apps, what apps are you looking for?

      Hi @vaderdad
      I am Elise with Rogers. I hope you are enjoying your PlayBook!
      Actually, you can bridge your BlackBerry device to your PlayBook, see steps below:
      1) Take out battery of device and reset
      2) When you get to BBAppWorld hold ALT and type RST.
      Full details are below.
      http://www.blackberry.com/btsc/search.do?cmd=displayKC&docType=kc&externalId=KB24714

      I hope this is helpful and if you have any other questions, don't hesitate to contact me via Twitter, where I am @RogersElise :)
      RogersElise
      Reply Vote

  • The photocopiers are hard at work!

    Apple & droid apps, will soon be ported over, it only a matter of time. So in about a years or so, the PB maybe able to have a top 10 list. The PB is a good looking unit, and will one day be a major player in the Tab world. But for now most new users will just have to be patient and hope for the best. I have to go now, I got to have a look for a new Apps for my iP2 , at 6500 apps for the ipad to look at it may take me some time. And if I look at the iPhone apps as well, there is 306,554 apps available so far. This may take longer then I thought. (I'm keeping tougue firmly planted in left cheek) RIM has done a good job getting this unit out, but a less then 2K of apps at that time of release, now thats just not cutting it with a lot of new users.
    MacNewton
    Reply Vote

    • MacFan or Snob?

      @MacNewton

      Wow, really? Is it MacFan nature to always act elitist? Did you BUILD your iPad? Did you help create the iOS? or are you just a snob based on things you own? I bet you lease your car and pretend you're rich... "I have to go now..." then go... oh wait, you had to add some more garbage before you left... shocker...
      gtan05
      Reply Vote
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