RIM: We're Replacing Our OS with One from QNX

[JMcEntegart]

So long, BlackBerry 6! We hardly knew ye.

RIM: We're Replacing Our OS with One from QNX : Read more

 

[Shadow703793]

Seriously, why not just put Android on it and be done?

 

[lejay]

[citation][nom]Shadow703793[/nom]Seriously, why not just put Android on it and be done?[/citation]
Yeah, that's what the world need. More of the same. Down with diversity!

 

[bhaberle]

[citation][nom]Shadow703793[/nom]Seriously, why not just put Android on it and be done?[/citation]
Exactly what I was thinking.

 

[bhaberle]

[citation][nom]lejay[/nom]Yeah, that's what the world need. More of the same. Down with diversity![/citation]
Well I see what you mean... but if they are already throwing in the towel....

 

[NeeKo]

Android is already popular and with a market that is growing exponentially, the smarter choice would be to go that way!

 

[coldmast]

between Motorola and HTC, Android has enough going for it.

Blackberry made a move that will either make or break them, hopefully they have made the right move. One thing is for sure, Blackberry OS needed more then just an upgrade.

I also applaud Blackberry for befriending Adobe, a company that apple has positioned themselves against. Adobe has vast experience in web development and R&D.

 

[slipdisc]

I imagine I'm a few years older than most here but, I remember in the days of Win95, a QNX OS that you could download and install and run from a single 1.44 floppy. And it was a full point and click GUI. Which was pretty incredible then for those of us using dialup PPP internet connections.

I think most will be surprised with the BB tablet. But a game-changer? Not so much. Time will tell but, I think this is just a flotation device for Research in (Slow) Motion as a company competing in the smartphone space today.

 

[TheKurrgan]

I start by saying: Rumors of RIM's demise have been greatly exadurated. That said, if RIM pulls a rabbit out of its hat that will appeal to home consumers, that 33% share could quickly turn to 50%. Android is just out of infancy, and starting to gain on Apple which is getting a little stale at this point, but RIM brining an entirely new OS / device to the market, it could shake things up a bit, recapture some of the waning 33% they have right now, and entice some of the android / apple abandoners / potential buyers away from them.
RIM's far from dead at this point. As to how well the brand new device with an OS will work compared to the pre-existing long standing tried and true BB system, time will tell.

 

[Guest]

QNX is an elegant OS very fast and reliable. Drivers and I/O doesn't have direct access to the kernel (unlike Unix/Linux/Windows/other OSes), hence the highly reliable system, and fast is because processes get passes on to the application that wait for it instead of idle in the kernel and the next process can move through with out waiting for the first process to complete.

Back in the day of 16bit OS was king, 1 floppy would be sufficient at loading and running QNX 32bit and add another floppy for the full blown GUI.

And, did I say Neutrino fast & reliable?

Eat that Apple/Unix/Google/Linux/Windows.

 

[ericburnby]

I'll tell you why they don't put Android on it.

Because Android is a POS OS when compared to QNX. I've developed for QNX for many years. It is extermely robust & reliable, very small and very fast/efficient. The reliability and multitasking are overkill for a phone/tablet, but the small size and high performance are perfect.

There's a reason why QNX is used in so many mission critical applications.

 

[Guest]

Seems like a smart move, BlackBerry 6 is kind of meh. It is good that they would quickly move to a more competitive OS.

 

[Guest]

QNX is the future. Bold move by RIM.

 

[g00fysmiley]

while i like android stuff well enough its enver excited me enough to buy anythign just play with them and say ... maybe when its ready for use, but its just not there yet. WebOS rocks but my pre is getting old and hp hasn't hinted or shown anythign about a new phoen anytime soon... qnx looks interesting a RIM usually makes quality hardware hope the os makes it to phones to might influence me over to em

 

[joebob2000]

There is something to be said for keeping your OS development in-house. RIM certainly admires Apple more than they do Google, since the former makes money on selling apps and handsets and a little ad space, while the latter only makes money on the ads. I would prefer the vendor that lets me pay for my device and doesn't rely on shoving ads down my throat. Give Android about two more years, and the difference will become clear; it will be fragmented to the point of loss of app portability, and half of the versions will be ad-driven, bloatware loaded nightmares.

 

[extremepcs]

Does this mean we won't have to spend thousands of dollars to get Exchange email on blackberry devices now?

 

[back_by_demand]

[citation][nom]Shadow703793[/nom]Seriously, why not just put Android on it and be done?[/citation]
[citation][nom]NeeKo[/nom]Android is already popular and with a market that is growing exponentially, the smarter choice would be to go that way![/citation]
Well for a start, Android may be popular but Blackberry users already way exceed the user base for Android. Just because Android has a fast uptake, does not mean it is more popular.

Secondly, and this is most important, no-one has even used this new QNX OS yet and for all we know it may prove to be more useful to the market segment it is aimed at, ie, existing Blackberry users and new smartphone users.

Android may be good, but it is only as good as the next big thing - nobody knows what that is going to be and it seems Blackberry is betting the house on this, no-one gambles that deep unless they have a winning hand.

Lastly, I think Android is good, but I am not a blindly fanatical follower ignoring upcoming new tech that is better - if I was I would have an iPhone...

 

[waethorn]

STORM BUYERS BE HATIN!

 

[Trizomik]

If its for the better... I'm in!

As long it stays for business people, its the reason why its still alive today, I think.

 

[dfusco]

After dealing with my piece of Drahk BB flip phone I will never purchase another BB product.