RIM has announced that they have released PlayBook operating system 2.0. The problem is that this update is too little, too late. PlayBook OS 2.0 finally gives the tablet integrated e-mail, which RIM has already been criticized for not having in the original release of the tablet.

Research In Motion is currently running a sale that dropped the cost of the BlackBerry PlayBook to $300 on their own store. Currently every version of the tablet costs only $300 including the 64GB option. This promotion is going until February 4th. If you want the 16GB model, it sells for about $243 on Amazon.com right now. RIM has been cutting down the cost of the PlayBook since October due to weak sales. A new generation of PlayBook tablets are expected to arrive this February. [Electronista]

Research In Motion Limited (TSE:RIM) has announced their third quarter earnings earlier today. RIM reported $265 million in earnings, which is 51 cents per share for the quarter. This is down 71% from $911 million during the same quarter a year ago. The reason for the drop is because of the $485 million hit RIM took due to unsold PlayBook tablets.

Research In Motion (NASDAQ:RIMM) will be taking a $485 million noncash charge in the fiscal third quarter after making down the value of their large PlayBook tablet inventory. RIM also needed to lower their project for earnings and revenue for the rest of the year. BlackBerry shipments are expected to fall in this quarter.

I’m still shocked that Research In Motion (TSE:RIM) did not include a native e-mail, contact, calendar, GPS, and BBM client on their tablet. These are basic functions that are available on the tablets of all their competitors. However I knew that RIM would be developing software updates in the future for the PlayBook.

Research In Motion Limited (TSE:RIM) has dropped the price of the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet for $199. The PlayBook tablet price started at $499 and then dropped it to $299 through a combination of credits and rebates. Yesterday RIM announced on Twitter that the price of the PlayBook has been dropped to $199 for a limited time.

Time Inc. is planning to publish tablet versions of all 21 of its magazines by the end of the year. Mashable reports that the company says it will publish to “all leading tablet platforms” but that the Time is not actually planning to offer titles on BlackBerry PlayBook’s QNX software. Time currently publishes tablet editions of Sports Illustrated, Fortune, Time and People, but the only one of Time’s titles currently published for multiple tablets is Sports Illustrated.

Research In Motion Limited (TSE:RIM) has acquired JayCut. The company JayCut is best known for designing the online video editor software by the same name as the company. RIM plans on using JayCut’s technology to improve the video editing experience on the BlackBerry PlayBook tablet. [UberGizmo]