First Look: Facebook on BlackBerry PlayBook Web Browser - Allows Facebook Chat and Uploading of Photos from Camera App!

By Kevin Michaluk on 22 Mar 2011 11:51 pm

[ youtube video link for mobile viewing ]

I have had quite a few opportunities to go briefly hands-on with the BlackBerry PlayBook now, but for some reason always forget to login to Facebook and see what it loads like on the PlayBook's webkit browser. This time I remembered, and as you'll see in the video above recoreded at CTIA 2011 it really is the FULL Facebook.com that loads. We're talking Facebook Chat and everything.

I didn't have too much time to spend on the device, but I did want to test out one thing in particular to see how the PlayBook handled it and was pleasantly surprised. On the Facebook homepage (within the web browser), I was able to use the share photo functionality flawlessly... when choosing to upload a photo, the PlayBook pulls up a file browser (photos, movies, music) and allowed me to choose which photo I wanted to share. Nice!

I'll be curious to see what happens with Facebook on the BlackBerry PlayBook over time. The full experience is definitely a little tight on the 7" PlayBook, but I don't think there's any sort of application planned at this time as there is a Facebook app on BlackBerry Smartphones. On a device like the iPad you get a bit of a toned-down/optimized version of Facebook which reduces some of the clutter, but also lacks some of the features. The PlayBook's web browser is definitely powerful, but I'm sure there's a blurry line that in some cases it'll be better to use the web browser to serve up content, while in other cases an app could make for a better experience. Be sure to check out the video above!

Topics: Facebook Video BlackBerry Playbook Facebook Chat Cb Video CTIA 2011 News & Rumors BlackBerry Apps

Kevin Michaluk 3676 (articles) 3018 (forum posts)

19 comments

drakesaliasonline Mar 22, 2011 at 11:55 pm

Cool, I use Facebook alot! (am I first?)

PeeBrains Mar 23, 2011 at 12:01 am

Nice to see FB working on the browser so smoothly, but I have to agree you that an app might work quicker and more fluently on the PlayBook

I can definitely see RIM developing an App for that (no pun intended lol)

djdazm Mar 23, 2011 at 12:05 am

Browser is definitely looking full-featured.

(But in other, unrelated and utterly pointless news, who still gets 'poked' on Facebook? lolol. That is all.)

Can't wait for the reviews of the PlayBook to come out!

biggulpseh Mar 23, 2011 at 12:15 am

Kevin, thanks for being thorough with your reporting.

zensen Mar 23, 2011 at 12:27 am

I don't think a fb app is needed on a screen this size, esp when u can view it in all its stalking glory. Apps for web based viewing get less and less useful on bigger screens. I can't say I ever needed it one on my netbook. I can understand if one is needed to log into 2 accts at once.

Plazmic Flame Mar 23, 2011 at 8:33 am

Actually, don't underestimate the power of apps.

I would prefer an app over using the web just because on a site like facebook, there are always ads and flash garbage all over the place. Having an app would get rid of all that junk and give you direct access to all the core functions of Facebook that you would want.

It's good though that you can view the FULL Facebook website, if you want.

ippyg Mar 23, 2011 at 12:32 am

This is awesome! Already preordered my Playbook! :D

droidx1 Mar 23, 2011 at 1:13 am

NOTHING NEW! AND HAS A PROBLEM THAT APPLE FIXED ON THE NEW IPAD 2!

Bla1ze Mar 23, 2011 at 3:56 am

Too bad they never fixed your broken caps key.

drethos Mar 23, 2011 at 7:07 am

And the lack of flash.

the brother Mar 23, 2011 at 1:53 am

i like it. but what is facebook?

123berryaddicted Mar 23, 2011 at 2:30 am

Wow looks great. I am wondering Kevin - logmein.com has an app for iPad, this is needed because The ipad does not have full browser. I am wondering if iPad will be able to handle this type of thing?

BlogBerry.hk Mar 23, 2011 at 2:41 am

Any sign of Facebook App for PlayBook, Altho I know there isn't really a need for that, hehee

Auli Mar 23, 2011 at 2:44 am

Which comes to the question : does pb have its own file browser n can it transfer files easily between the pc and pb without bb desktop software ?