MacMall Accidentally Shows Honeycomb On BlackBerry PlayBook

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You may have heard that the BlackBerry PlayBook can run Android apps, as RIM has included some sort of Android emulator on the tablet that lets users run some Android applications. But, it’s not running Android, as it’s using a modified version of extremely stable QNX OS that’s been running in in-car entertainment systems for years. But, don’t tell Mac-retailer MacMall that, as they’re showing the “first professional-grade tablet” as running Android 3.0 Honeycomb. Wishful thinking?

Yep, in case you’re not familiar with them, MacMall got their start selling only Apple stuff, sure, but they’ve expanded and become sort of a general electronics retailer, sort of like an Apple-centric Newegg. Anyway, they’ve started carrying the BlackBerry PlayBook, but they’ve made a bit of a Photoshop Faux Pas by pasting a great shot of the Android 3.0 Honeycomb UI onto the PlayBook. As aforementioned, the PlayBook can run some Android apps, but it ain’t running Android 3.0

This was spotted by the tech blog circuit late Monday/early Tuesday, and as of press time, it’s still up on the webpage. Does it mean anything? No, not really, but it’s a bit humorous. The BlackBerry Tablet OS/QNX OS on the PlayBook is actually quite nice, and a big step forward for RIM. I’m sure it was an honest mistake for MacMall.

We’re reminded of such other famous Photoshop Faux Pas like when the iPhone Google Maps app was shown on the Droid X, or the time that the BlackBerry 9800 Torch was given Android. (Android on BlackBerrys seems to be a recurring theme here, maybe RIM should get the hint?)

For those interested, MacMall is selling WiFi versions of all memory sizes of the BlackBerry PlayBook at list (MSRP) pricing.