We’ll use your existing Microsoft account or connect Outlook with your BlackBerry Z10 using the new Outlook.com service from Microsoft. The reason for doing this is simple as well; these accounts support wireless synchronization with your BlackBerry Z10. Since Outlook makes it easy to manage multiple accounts, you can enjoy the benefits of wireless synchronization with your email provider as well as wireless synchronization of your contacts and calendar.

Read more at the Inside BlackBerry Help Blog »

Calendar with social integration

Like the new Messages app that includes a universal Inbox, so you can conveniently manage all your email in one place, the new Calendar app in PlayBook OS 2.0 allows you to manage all your appointments and events in one place – including the ability to manage both work and personal (Gmail®, Hotmail®, Yahoo!®) appointments and Facebook® events (never miss a birthday again!). Of course, the Calendar app offers the common features that you’ve come to know and love, but it now also includes some compelling new features to help you organize your day:

• People View: In addition to the traditional Day, Agenda, Week, Month views, you can now view your day based on the people you’re meeting with. This view provides additional information on your contacts pulled from LinkedIn®, including where you’ve met in the past.

• Visual Cues: You’ll be able to more quickly scan and manage your calendar at a glance. For example, the Calendar app provides visual cues that identify days that have more appointments than those that are relatively light. For example, when you view your calendar at a glance, dates with many appointments will show up in a larger font while the dates in smaller fonts have fewer appointments. If you have a lot of appointment conflicts, a red highlight identifies the conflict so you can’t miss them!

• Zoom in to a detailed view: From the “Week” view, you can go directly to a day’s calendar with ease. Simply tap any day to zoom into the details of that day, including the meetings you have scheduled and the people you will be meeting with.

Contacts: Your social hub

Your contacts are more than just an address and phone number, so why treat it like a rolodex? The new Contacts app acts as a social hub that helps you maintain a complete and current view of your contact’s social status.

• Contact Linking: The majority of people use more than email and phone to stay in touch with their personal and professional contacts — Facebook, Twitter®, and LinkedIn are growing exponentially in their popularity and usability. The Contacts app allows you to automatically bring all these distinct social profiles into a single people-centric view in your address book – meaning you can set up one contact name and integrate all of their contact and social profile information into one profile. You also have the option to reduce duplicate entries, and manually link or de-couple your contacts from social profiles. Watch this demo to learn more.

• Status Updates and People Views: Using information gathered from Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, the Contacts app lets you see your contact’s recent social status updates and common friends.

• Meetings, Places, and News: Be prepared before walking into that meeting. For each of your contacts, you can view past (and future) meetings with that person, see the places you’ve met previously, and read news about their company.

• Favorites and Video Chat: Mark your top contacts as a “favorite” for quicker access, and sort your address book by those contacts who also use BlackBerry PlayBook Video Chat.

	Explore tablet hardware Using the tablet interface BlackBerry Bridge Personalization Docs To Go Print To Go Calendar Contacts Video Player Messages Video Chat Browsing the web

We built the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet OS 2.0 email, calendar and contacts experience with the goal of providing the best tools for managing your busy life across all of your networks. I’m so proud of the team for pulling it off, and we’re just getting started! We have a ton of ideas, and look forward to getting your feedback.

Email and the Universal Inbox

The new Messages apps gives a nod to the past by continuing to build on proven experiences. The iconic BlackBerry splat noting the arrival of new messages in the universal inbox remains part of the core messaging experience. But the BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 messaging experience goes a step further; it has been extended to include ‘social messaging’, allowing you to directly integrate messages from some of the most common social networks: Facebook®, LinkedIn®, and Twitter®.

And to take it one step beyond just integrated social messaging, you can now see a contact’s social details right from the Messages application.

Once you have an inbox full of messages, the new Messages app delivers a suite of features that help make managing your inbox really easy:

• Tabbed email: You can reference one email while you compose another, or put an email you’re in the middle of composing on hold, while you type out a quick response to another message.

• Rich text editing: You can write and edit email like you would on a computer – including support for fonts, attributes and sizes, as well as formatting. You can even edit or insert your “in-line” comments in an email thread.

• Message Threading and Quick response: Let’s face it – in an era of ubiquitous mobile devices, email is more chat-like than formal. You can choose to view your messages as threaded conversations rather than single messages. Thread messages reduce a conversation to one inbox entry, thus reducing the signal-to-noise ratio in your inbox.

• BlackBerry Keyboard: Longtime users know the keyboard input on BlackBerry smartphones is clever, including auto-entry of periods at the end of sentences and “@” symbols for email addresses. The new PlayBook OS 2.0 keyboard also introduces next word prediction, which helps makes hammering out emails on a virtual keyboard so much easier.

• Search: Sometimes you’re not exactly sure what you’re looking for. The search feature allows you to type out a partial string and constrain the search to specific recipient fields or subject, sent, received, and filter by when it was received (today, yesterday, even last week) – all in real time.

As you can see, there are some very cool things in the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet messaging experience. Hold tight for my next post on the Calendar and Contacts experience!

	Explore tablet hardware Using the tablet interface BlackBerry Bridge Personalization Docs To Go Print To Go Calendar Contacts Video Player Messages Video Chat Browsing the web

Guest blogger and RIM Product Manager Vivek Gupta couldn’t wait to tell everyone about the new Video Chat features in the BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 upgrade. Take it away, Vivek!

Now that the upgrade to the BlackBerry® PlayBook™ tablet – BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 – is here, I wanted to give you a sneak preview of some of the great new features that are available in the updated Video Chat! We think you’ll agree, whether for work or play, it’s an easy and fun way to connect with people.

Simply put, Video Chat on the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet allows you to make and take video calls with your friends, family, and colleagues who also have a BlackBerry PlayBook tablet. (Note: Both users of the Video Chat feature must be connected to the Internet for a chat to be enabled.) With just one click, you’ll be able to have virtual face-to-face conversations using the HD video cameras and stunning high-resolution screen on the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet.

Let’s look at the top new features and improvements in the Video Chat upgrade:

Visually Appealing and Organized

The Video Chat user interface takes a cue from the new email, calendar and contact apps. I’m really excited to have you try the updated version of Video Chat, because I think it’s a compelling user experience and is designed to improve visual interaction between contacts using the app on the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet.

Experience Video Chat on the Large Screen

I love the new Presenter Mode because it is designed to take advantage of the multitasking capabilities made possible by this new powerful OS. For example, while you’re busy using the upgraded Video Chat, you could simultaneously click over and view your pictures, write notes, browse the web or play a game on the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet. Presenter Mode is also a big convenience for business users. For example, let’s say you’re in a meeting room with a few people and you’re running a BlackBerry PlayBook tablet video chat with a colleague in a remote location. With Presenter Mode, you can project this video chat onto a big screen for better viewing, and then message or share slides and spreadsheets with the people in your conference room without disrupting the video chat.

	Explore tablet hardware Using the tablet interface BlackBerry Bridge Personalization Docs To Go Print To Go Calendar Contacts Video Player Messages Video Chat Browsing the web

Contact Integration

One of the key differentiating features of the new Video Chat for the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet is that it now automatically discovers which of your contacts are Video Chat “capable” and displays their “availability” to Video Chat – no guesses and disappointments! You can view, edit, and create new contacts for Video Chat directly in the Contacts application or in Video Chat application itself. Plus, with the new capabilities in BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0, you can conveniently initiate a Video Chat directly from the Contacts application, while viewing the contact’s information details.

As mentioned, these new features for Video Chat are available now in the BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 software update! Please comment and let us know who’ll be the first person you call using the new Video Chat for the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet.

More about BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0

1. BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 is here!
2. Help Blog: How to download and update to BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 and manage the new home screen
3. Help Blog: Getting Started with Email, Contacts and Calendar in BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0
4. Help Blog: Getting Started with Video Chat in BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0
5. BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 Reviews from CES
6. CES 2012: BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 Communicates [Video]

I’m excited to announce that the BlackBerry® PlayBook™ OS 2.0 software update officially launched worldwide today. In October, I spoke to you about some of the key features you could expect with the release of BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0. Today, I’m proud to tell you – we’ve delivered them.

As you will see, we’ve made updates and enhancements to some of the things you’ve told us you like the most. We’ve also brought you some new, highly anticipated features that you’ll find only on BlackBerry PlayBook tablet. Let me tell you about my favorite BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 features:

All-New Built-In Functionality

I have to say, the features I’m most excited about with this launch are built-in email, calendar and contacts. Unique to BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0, you can now quickly manage all of your email accounts with a unified inbox, manage your schedule with new features like a People View of your day (which lets you quickly see everyone who is on your agenda for that day), and view your contacts as a social hub that contains information from popular social networks including Facebook®, Twitter®, and LinkedIn®.

Social Integration in Calendar & Contacts

The built in calendar is designed to pull in the information that matters to you from your social networks and make it available where and when you need it. Contact cards are dynamically populated with the latest real-time information from your Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn accounts to create a consolidated view of your contacts most recent updates.

BlackBerry Bridge

Another feature I’m excited for you to try is the new BlackBerry Bridge functionality that allows you to use your BlackBerry smartphone as a remote control for your PlayBook. I’ve used this feature both for presentations in the office, and at home with my PlayBook tablet connected to my television.

	Explore tablet hardware Using the tablet interface BlackBerry Bridge Personalization Docs To Go Print To Go Calendar Contacts Video Player Messages Video Chat Browsing the web

Open On

Although it’s hard to choose only four, I will say that Open On definitely makes my list of favorite BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 features. This convenient functionality allows you to open your documents, photos and links from your BlackBerry smartphone onto your BlackBerry PlayBook tablet with one click. I often use Open On to review documents (PowerPoint, Word, and PDF) that people send me on my BlackBerry smartphone. It’s a great way to combine the convenience of my BlackBerry® Bold™ 9900 and the big screen on my PlayBook tablet.

These are just a few of the reasons I’m excited about today’s launch, and they’re just some of the great features that PlayBook OS 2.0 has to offer. Following the 2012 Consumer Electronics show, we heard a lot of great feedback on PlayBook OS 2.0 with reviews from Team BlackBerry. I’d love to hear what you think now that the software update has officially launched.

This post on the BlackBerry Help blog will provide more information about how to get started with your new PlayBook OS 2.0 update.

- David J. Smith, SVP, Mobile Computing, Research In Motion

More about BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0

1. New Video Chat features with BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0
2. Help Blog: How to download and update to BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 and manage the new home screen
3. Help Blog: Getting Started with Email, Contacts and Calendar in BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0
4. Help Blog: Getting Started with Video Chat in BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0
5. BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 Reviews from CES
6. CES 2012: BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 Communicates [Video]

[ YouTube link for mobile viewing ]

One of best features available in BlackBerry® Messenger (BBM™) is Groups, as it’s a great way to stay organized and in touch. Using Groups, you can chat, share pictures and lists, create appointments and much more with family, friends, or co-workers. (Also, to get an idea of how you can use Groups, check out Alex’s post on Starting a BlackBerry Messenger Group to see how he uses it stay on top of everything!)

Let’s take a look at how to set up and manage a BlackBerry Messenger Group. To learn additional important things such as how to administer your group, check out the BlackBerry Messenger 6.0 User Guide.

Read more at the Inside BlackBerry Help Blog »

Happy Friday #TeamBlackBerry! Since the new BlackBerry® 7 smartphones based on the BlackBerry® 7 OS are now available, here are five tips that every BlackBerry 7 smartphone user should know!

1. Add Music, Pictures and Videos to the Home Screen

On top of being able to add a shortcut on your home screen to get quick access to websites, contacts and files, you also have the ability to add shortcuts to music, pictures and videos. For example, you can create a new folder on your home screen and add some of your favorite albums or playlists. Before we start, add a new folder – while on the home screen, press the Menu key and select Add Folder.

1. Browse to a website, or highlight the item (i.e. Playlist) that you want to create a shortcut for.
2. Press the Menu key and select Add to Home Screen.

• To change the name of the shortcut, type a new name.
• To change the location where the shortcut appears, change the Location field.
• To add the shortcut to your Favorites panel, select the Mark as Favorite checkbox.

3. Click Add.

Read more at the Inside BlackBerry Help Blog »

BlackBerry® Bridge™ – which allows you to access some of the information on your BlackBerry® smartphone (including email, contacts, calendar, memos, tasks and BlackBerry® Messenger (BBM™)) while using your BlackBerry® PlayBook™ tablet – is one of my favourite BlackBerry PlayBook tablet features. If you need a quick tutorial, learn how to set up BlackBerry Bridge right now!

If you’re new to BlackBerry Bridge, I’d like to share some tips with you so you can take advantage of some of these features.

Read more at the Inside BlackBerry Help Blog »

(YouTube link for easy mobile viewing)

In one of the most anticipated demos of BlackBerry World™ 2011, keynote attendees got a sneak peek of the upcoming Native email and PIM (Personal Information Management) for the BlackBerry® PlayBook™ tablet. These PIM applications (including Calendar, Contacts, Tasks, MemoPad and, of course, Email) will come to BlackBerry PlayBook tablets via an update to the BlackBerry Tablet OS later this summer.

Yesterday, at BlackBerry World 2011, I had the chance to catch up with Andrew Bocking, VP Handheld Software Product Management, after the General Session for a Q&A. And Andrew was kind enough to give us a video demo of the Email and Contacts applications to share here. Be sure to take a look and post a comment and let us know what you think!

Today we are pleased to announce that Gist has joined Research In Motion® (RIM®). We’re excited that the Gist team is joining RIM and bringing their expertise in providing customers with a contextualized, streamlined, and consolidated view of information about their contacts to the BlackBerry platform.

Gist helps users to automatically create and maintain a rich contact profile for everyone in their network. Find out more about Gist on the Gist Blog!

– Alan Brenner, SVP, BlackBerry Platform at RIM