PlayBook

The tablet market is exploding since the huge success of Apple's iPad, with Samsung, HP, and even Dell creating tablets (or tablet-like devices) of their own. Now RIM is releasing more details about its seven-inch PlayBook tablet, specifically pricing and release date.

A WiFi-only version is expected to hit the market first with a sub-$500 price tag in March 2011. This should place the PlayBook squarely in the running to compete with the Galaxy Tab in terms of price and size. Since the PlayBook will be running the latest BlackBerry OS 6, it's sure to be a big draw for BlackBerry lovers everywhere.

Sketchy details first emerged about iPad competitor over the Summer, and now RIM has released official details. The tablet, dubbed the PlayBook — not the Blackpad — features a seven-inch screen (smaller than the previously reported 9.7-inch) with a 1024 x 600 pixel display. It will also feature a GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, dual HD cameras, and support for HTML 5 and Flash.

It's 9.7 mm thick, with HDMI and USB ports. The PlayBook will run the newest BlackBerry OS, and only work over a WiFi connection or tethered connection from another BlackBerry device, though a 3G version is expected in a later iteration.

While pricing details weren't announced, the PlayBook is expected to hit stores in early 2011. Check out a video of the new device's functionality after the break.