While at the BlackBerry PlayBook launch event last week Mike Lazaridis let me know about two upcoming features that are coming to the BlackBerry PlayBook. First he told me that the BlackBerry PlayBook will be getting its DLNA certification very soon which will allow you to wirelessly stream video and music to devices that support it. In case you don’t know what DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) is here is a brief primer. DLNA is a standard that sets profiles for devices that stream or accept streams. You may remember its previous standard called UPnP. The best part about DLNA is that it is an open standard which means you will be able to tap into the almost 10,000 DLNA certified devices out there.
The second thing Mike Lazaridis let me know about was that the PlayBook already has content protection certificates (DRM) preloaded. They are just waiting for certification and then either RIM or third parties will be able to rent or sell protected content like videos, tv shows, music, etc. I am not a big fan of DRM but it makes services like Netflix and Hulu available. As long as its not intrusive its nice to see that RIM is trying to get content partners to embrace the platform.
I really wish I had read up on DLNA when Mike mentioned the feature to me. DLNA is a pretty wide standard that can do anything from streaming video from your PlayBook to a TV or better yet streaming video from your PC to your PlayBook. It breaks down into a DMS (Digital Media Server) which has the video content and the DMP (Digital Media Player) which plays the content. From what Mike told me the PlayBook will be able to act as a DMS but I am hoping it will be able to also double duty as a DMP or simply be able to play video off a remote file share.
Even cooler is the DMC profile of DLNA if RIM implements it. That would allow the PlayBook to control media being streamed from your PC to your TV. In other words it would be a really high tech remote. 🙂
Amir Saad ( View Profile) - Posts: