After a good 10 hours of work and a little help from some friends I have managed to ship up a PlayBook Tablet optimized version of the BerryReview website. The new PlayBook Edition has bigger buttons and simply works much better on the BlackBerry PlayBook than the desktop website. It is currently in a rolling beta with new features rolling out as we develop them. We have a few things on our roadmap but in short expect it to be really cool!
The new PlayBook edition of BerryReview works well in both portrait and landscape orientation. That way no matter how you hold your device you can still get the best experience. We could really use your help in ironing out the bugs or adding features to please feel free to suggest them in the comments, forums, or simply use our contact us page or tip line.
The best part is you simply head on over to www.berryreview.com from your PlayBook to get the optimized version. Enjoy!
The new PlayBook Edition of BerryReview is based on the open source Slablet project which has been abandoned. We hacked it up and made it work like a charm on the PlayBook along with implementing scrolling through another open source project called iScroll. Once we get things optimized I am hoping to release the project as a WordPress theme so anybody can enjoy. Currently the PlayBook Edition does not work on the Apple iPad or other tablets but if I get a chance to test one of the devices out I will consider turning it on.
SimonSage ( View Profile) - Posts: 12
Posted: May 13, 2011 at 3:28 PM EST
Nice!
mmcpher ( View Profile) - Posts: 18
Posted: May 13, 2011 at 3:34 PM EST from my BlackBerry PlayBook | OS 1.0.0
Well done BerryReview! I know Crackberry is working on some sort of PB launcher app, but you have beaten them to the punch. Now get yourselves a decent logo that we can use for the Homescreen shortcut!
BB Addict ( View Profile) - Posts: 1218
Posted: May 13, 2011 at 4:06 PM EST from my BlackBerry PlayBook | OS 1.0.0
haha i have also thought a new logo is in order. this site kicks the crap out of crackberry!
mtu_playbook Not Registered
Posted: May 13, 2011 at 3:47 PM EST
Very nice job. I can’t wait to try this out.
kiddo2050 ( View Profile) - Posts: 813
Posted: May 13, 2011 at 3:50 PM EST from my BlackBerry PlayBook | OS 1.0.0
woohoo! Using it now. Congrats!!
c0rinne ( View Profile) - Posts: 385
Posted: May 13, 2011 at 3:51 PM EST from my BlackBerry PlayBook | OS 1.0.0
Love it. It looks great. need to check it out more
Terrence T ( View Profile) - Posts: 1821
Posted: May 13, 2011 at 3:54 PM EST
Nice.. hopefully it wont resend notifications as with ur mobile version..
ealvnv Not Registered
Posted: May 13, 2011 at 3:56 PM EST from my BlackBerry 9780 | OS 6.0.0.546
Anyreasons to not implement it for BlackBerry® Devices? It works pretty nice on them too see here http://host.sonspring.com/slablet/light.html#
susanc Not Registered
Posted: May 13, 2011 at 4:01 PM EST from my BlackBerry PlayBook | OS 1.0.0
I saw the site this morn on my PB and loved it! I I had to tell Luis how good it looks. Great job Ronen and congrats on the layout!
BB Addict ( View Profile) - Posts: 1218
Posted: May 13, 2011 at 4:03 PM EST from my BlackBerry PlayBook | OS 1.0.0
holy shit this is nice. way to lead the pack berryreview!
scuebydue ( View Profile) - Posts: 1293
Posted: May 13, 2011 at 4:12 PM EST
Great job BR Team!
tfrankson ( View Profile) - Posts: 209
Posted: May 13, 2011 at 4:22 PM EST
Sweet, can’t wait to get on my PB later.
babisboi ( View Profile) - Posts: 416
Posted: May 13, 2011 at 4:22 PM EST
I don’t have a PlayBook yet, but please optimize it for other platforms. I have an Archos tablet and would love this version of the site. You guys rock!!!
rezn ( View Profile) - Posts: 67
Posted: May 13, 2011 at 4:24 PM EST from my BlackBerry PlayBook | OS 1.0.0
Looks great!
Scott Not Registered
Posted: May 13, 2011 at 4:37 PM EST
Great job Ronen! It looks and works great so far.
Marc Paradise ( View Profile) - Posts: 539
Posted: May 13, 2011 at 4:42 PM EST
Saw this when I first checked in today and it looks great, good job
Tangent: If only the bridge browser wasn’t such a piece of crap, I’d be able to use it for all of my browsing during the day when I’m away from WiFi. If I get prompted to “save as” one more time after clicking a link I may scream…
Luis Merlos ( View Profile) - Posts: 1312
Posted: May 13, 2011 at 4:53 PM EST
It actually worked really good on my Bridge browser, I couldn’t logging to BR before from it, and now it works. The weird thing is am using a 9800 Unlocked, on tmobile only EDGE, with BES.
Marc Paradise ( View Profile) - Posts: 539
Posted: May 14, 2011 at 11:18 AM EST from my BlackBerry PlayBook | OS 1.0.0
For me it’s a problem with almost any site that I open. I am thinking that the proxy running on the phone is somehow corrupting the mime type of the content causing the browser to not recognize it. I’ve been trying for weeks to find some consistency in urls, etc that cause it, but without any luck
dpr ( View Profile) - Posts: 766
Posted: May 13, 2011 at 4:53 PM EST from my BlackBerry 8530
Great job! Represent Ronen, represent!
doug1010 ( View Profile) - Posts: 36
Posted: May 13, 2011 at 6:35 PM EST
Just tried it on my playbook. Looks very nice.
Only thing I noticed: Scrolling in portrait mode is a bit choppy/laggy.
(The regular site doesn’t look right for me in firefox now when i view an article. Lots of empty space at the top. need to scroll down to reach the article. only side navigations appear at the top.)
Ronen Halevy ( View Profile) - Posts: 3305
Posted: May 13, 2011 at 7:08 PM EST
Thanks everybody. Stay tuned for lots of updates. Sorry about the jaggedness when scrolling through comments in portrait mode. Im working on it and it will be fixed soon. There should be total feature parity between the desktop and PlayBook versions soon. The main reason for the PlayBook version is to simply make everything more touch friendly (more surprises in store!!!) and let me do things I cannot do on the desktop site. WebKit is simply way more powerful on the PlayBook. I also wanted buttons that my fat/clumsy fingers can actually press.
What version of Firefox are you using Doug? I am using firefox to type this and I am not seeing any white space sticking out.
LaoWang ( View Profile) - Posts: 12
Posted: May 13, 2011 at 6:43 PM EST
Well, I am not so sure whether it’s a good idea to have a Playbook version. The desktop version looks just fine on Playbook.
louis Not Registered
Posted: May 13, 2011 at 7:17 PM EST from my BlackBerry PlayBook | OS 1.0.0
wow this is awesome! great job
blackberrycat ( View Profile) - Posts: 2
Posted: May 13, 2011 at 7:55 PM EST from my BlackBerry PlayBook | OS 1.0.0
Congratz on your maiden launch. Good job! You’ve beaten the others, including Crackberry & BGR, SO KEEP MOVING…..
DigitalHomeBoy ( View Profile) - Posts: 51
Posted: May 13, 2011 at 9:33 PM EST from my BlackBerry PlayBook | OS 1.0.0
Congrats the PlayBook layout is very well done…in horizontal mode! Vertical mode however still needs to be adjusted.
Ronen Halevy ( View Profile) - Posts: 3305
Posted: May 15, 2011 at 1:04 PM EST
Yeah I am working on tweaking the site as I type. Working on the scrolling speed but after that I want to add gestures. That way you will be able to swipe between articles.
I have made an offline version of BerryReview before but it did not run well on the BlackBerry Smartphones. I am going to try to use this new tablet model and see if that works in the future once RIM adds push notifications.
Daniel ( View Profile) - Posts: 577
Posted: May 13, 2011 at 10:45 PM EST from my BlackBerry PlayBook | OS 1.0.0
Yes, very nicely done. As usual, only the best from the BR!
mavricxx ( View Profile) - Posts: 54
Posted: May 13, 2011 at 11:53 PM EST
Great job guys! I’m actually disappointed in Crackberry because lately you’ve been on top of everything quicker than they have. Some of your news haven’t even made it to their site yet. Now make it an App and you’ll totally rock!
macallik ( View Profile) - Posts: 37
Posted: May 14, 2011 at 12:43 AM EST from my BlackBerry PlayBook | OS 1.0.0
I like the PB version. It looks nice so far..
Keeper ( View Profile) - Posts: 223
Posted: May 14, 2011 at 12:44 AM EST from my BlackBerry PlayBook | OS 1.0.0
Very nice and good job Ronen, i am on playbook now, great.
Keeper ( View Profile) - Posts: 223
Posted: May 14, 2011 at 3:06 AM EST
I’m gonna try to make a quick app for this tonight in case BR hasn’t had time for it yet.
Keeper ( View Profile) - Posts: 223
Posted: May 14, 2011 at 3:35 AM EST
Ok it’s nice to see BR like this:
http://d.f5.photo.zdn.vn/upload/original/2011/05/14/14/30/13053582581823094819_574_574.jpg
http://d.f5.photo.zdn.vn/upload/original/2011/05/14/14/31/1305358263334579026_574_574.jpg
http://d.f5.photo.zdn.vn/upload/original/2011/05/14/14/31/13053582661214988231_574_574.jpg
Fullscreen and App-like. It just needs toggled hidden status bar, menu bar and BR App Icon.
powrtryp Not Registered
Posted: May 14, 2011 at 8:20 AM EST from my BlackBerry PlayBook | OS 1.0.0
wonderful job on the playbook site – it was a nice and obvious surprise when i surfed over to berryreview on my playbook in portrait and could immediately see how well it worked. congrats on a job well done – keep at it!
JerryD ( View Profile) - Posts: 27
Posted: May 14, 2011 at 9:09 AM EST from my BlackBerry PlayBook | OS 1.0.0
Verry nice!
domi994 ( View Profile) - Posts: 231
Posted: May 14, 2011 at 10:29 AM EST from my BlackBerry PlayBook | OS 1.0.0
wow im impressed
you guys became my #1 web on BB news thanks guys keep the good work
Keeper ( View Profile) - Posts: 223
Posted: May 14, 2011 at 11:57 AM EST
Try this shortcut while waiting for official one:
http://www.mediafire.com/?5bv97vv6ti5xuvb
Sorry Ronen if the logo is not what you expect
Marc Paradise ( View Profile) - Posts: 539
Posted: May 14, 2011 at 11:59 AM EST from my BlackBerry PlayBook | OS 1.0.0
It’s cool that you did this, but with home screen bookmarks and a usable browser… isn’t it a bit redundant?
Keeper ( View Profile) - Posts: 223
Posted: May 14, 2011 at 12:16 PM EST
I don’t know how to change the icon for the bookmark which is added to home screen. It’s the site’s screen capture in a square form and I hate that
The shortcut I’ve made just invoke the default browser because otherwise I need to code a Back/Forward/Refresh buttons and Status/Loading bar… in the real app. And I love to do that if we all want it
jonp ( View Profile) - Posts: 67
Posted: May 14, 2011 at 12:48 PM EST
I like it!
…now I just need a playbook…
mmcpher ( View Profile) - Posts: 18
Posted: May 16, 2011 at 12:32 AM EST from my BlackBerry PlayBook | OS 1.0.0
Depending on which glasses or lenses I am using, the font on this page is a few sizes too fine. But overall very nice and much appreciated!