In this episode, we'll show you a few must-have

apps for the BlackBerry PlayBook

. While there are thousands of apps out there, we decided to show you just a handful, each from a different category. Some of these are

entertainment apps

, some of them are

apps for productivity

, but each app is great on its own merit.

The

BlackBerry PlayBook

is capable of

connecting to an external display

like an

HD television

using its

micro-HDMI port

. We'll show you how to get it connected in this episode using a micro HDMI to HDMI cable and

how to change your display settings

in this episode.

The

BlackBerry PlayBook

doesn't come with certain features like a

calendar or email application

by default.

Research in Motion

has instead made it necessary to

connect to a BlackBerry smartphone

using

BlackBerry Bridge

in order to access those features. We'll show you how to use Bridge in this episode.

Here, we'll show you

how to turn on Bluetooth

on your

BlackBerry PlayBook

and how to

connect to a BlackBerry smartphone through Bluetooth

. Once you do that, we'll also show you

how to enable Internet tethering

so that you won't need to connect to a Wi-Fi network to get online.

Without apps most

mobile devices

wouldn't be much fun. The same is true of the

BlackBerry PlayBook

, which is why in this episode we'll be focusing on

how to install apps on your PlayBook

using

BlackBerry App World

. We'll also show you

how to find the apps

you want and

how to organize your app library

.

The

BlackBerry PlayBook

comes equipped with two cameras, one front-facing 3MP camera primarily for

video calls and video conferencing

and another rear-facing 5MP camera for taking higher-quality

photos and video

. We'll show you

how to use the BlackBerry PlayBook's cameras

and change their settings in this episode.

In this episode, we show you

how to connect to a Wi-Fi network

while

using the BlackBerry PlayBook

. Unlike other BlackBerry devices, the PlayBook is unable to connect to

3G networks

and instead uses Wi-Fi as its main means of

connecting to the Internet

.

The

BlackBerry PlayBook by Research in Motion

has been a long time coming. Because of this, it's expected to stand apart from other

tablet computers

on the market and one of the ways that it does so is through

custom operating system by QNX

. We'll show you

how to interact with the BlackBerry PlayBook

and its unique interface in this episode.

In our first episode on

how to use the BlackBerry PlayBook

, we'll show you what kind of hardware you'll be working with when

using the PlayBook tablet

and explain some of the

differences between the PlayBook and other tablets

. We'll also show you what items ship with the PlayBook and tell you what

connection options

you have available.

In this series we'll show you

how to use the BlackBerry PlayBook

. The long-awaited

tablet from Research in Motion

is smaller and lighter than many other tablets on the market and its unique OS makes the interface different from other

tablets like the iPad

. We'll point out the differences, both positive and negative, over the next few episodes.

The BlackBerry PlayBook is RIM's answer to the tablet boom started by Apple. First unveiled on October 25, 2010, it appeared to be a real step forward for the smartphone maker. Running a 1 GHz dual-core processor, with 1 gig for ram and a high resolution 7" LCD display - it certainly looked to be giving Apple a run for its money. The company touts many features like true multitasking, 1080p video playback, 3D graphic acceleration and 2 video cameras. Likewise, RIM would be introducing a new operating system based on QNX which they recently acquired.

Matt hits the Lab Rats set to see what scoops he can find. He learns about upcoming Lab Rats episodes on the best e-reader device as well as an upcoming episode dedicated to the BlackBerry PlayBook. Also, he previews 60-Second App on butterscotch.com, the show that brings weekly reviews of the best Android, iPhone and iPad apps going. Finally, he hints at an upcoming episode of Android Weekly looking at the top five apps for Android tablets.

BlackBerry has been branded with the stigma of a business device maker whose smartphones aren't looking too smart since the advent of the iPhone and later, Android smartphones. The BlackBerry PlayBook, given a chance, could turn the tide of perception. It really is a well thought out device that looks spectacular, that performs well, whose size seems perfect most of the time, that multitasks like a boss and that is generally just a well made tablet.
What holds the PlayBook back from being a good device to a really great one is the same thing that has RIM trying to figure out its next move; complete reliance on a dated and increasingly irrelevant smartphone, the traditional BlackBerry. Without a BlackBerry and what's called Bridge, you won't get access to email, contact lists or a few other mainstays. It's a definite Achilles' heel, though one that to BlackBerry smartphone-sporting business types and corporate network admins, might be a virtue.

Matt invites Andrew back to On Deck to discuss their respective latest acquisitions. For Matt, it's a new pair of Boston Red Sox shoes and for Andrew it's the new BlackBerry PlayBook and a NOOK Color rooted to run Honeycomb, Android 3.0.

All the Android news that's fit to Google for the week. We look at how Android apps on the BlackBerry PlayBook will work... and how they won't. We bring news of an always up to date way to root your Android phone from Lifehacker, along with an easy method you should try first. We also take a look at Acer's Iconia A500 tablet that very nearly matches the overpriced Motorola Xoom and at $450, what it means for the Android tablet market as a whole. Also, Kate Abraham brings the Android app review of the day; the 8500+ Drink Recipes app that ensures no matter what's in the liquor cabinet, you can whip up a tasty libation.

Tablets are big big big! Andy and Sean take a look at the tablets that are on the market now, talk about the Android and Blackberry tablet coming later in 2011, and speculate a bit about what the next generation of Apple's iPad will look like.

In this series we'll show you how to use the BlackBerry PlayBook. The long-awaited tablet from Research in Motion is smaller and lighter than many other tablets on the market and its unique OS makes the interface different from other tablets like the iPad. We'll point out the differences, both positive and negative, over the next few episodes.