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BBX OS announced at DevCon 2011 today

by Ryan Blundell on 18 Oct 2011 11:22 AM
39
 
BBX

Sitting in on the General Session and BlackBerry DevCon 2011, you can't help but feel the excitement in this large room. The name has been used many, many time already but today, RIM Co-CEO Mike Lazaridis announced BBX at the Devcon 2011 keynote. He states that it brings together the best of BlackBerry and the best of QNX into one amazing OS. He goes on to explain that the QNX architecture is safe by design without compromising on real time, multi-core performance.

 

"With nearly 5 million BlackBerry apps downloaded daily, our customers have made BlackBerry one of the most profitable platforms for developers," said Mike Lazaridis, President and Co-CEO at RIM. "At DevCon today, we're giving developers the tools they need to build richer applications and we're providing direction on how to best develop their smartphone and tablet apps as the BlackBerry and QNX platforms converge into our next generation BBX platform."

I'd tell you more, but I want to listen and see what's new.

Developing...

Read the official press release

Filed Under: News & Rumors; Tags: BBX, DevCon11
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39 Comments

Posted by JeePak Tuesday, Oct 18, 2011 210 days ago

First? Nah, not as cool as I thought it would be..

Anywho, I can't wait for BBX phones to effin come out already!!

 
 
Posted by Joel_Zimmerman Tuesday, Oct 18, 2011 210 days ago

What does BBX actually stand for?

 
 
Posted by Xerxes10 Tuesday, Oct 18, 2011 210 days ago

Just a combination of "BB" as in "BBOS", their current OS, and QNX, the PlayBook OS and the OS of the future for their new phones. BBX merges the BlackBerry OS heritage with QNX, the platform of the future.

 
 
Posted by Joel_Zimmerman Tuesday, Oct 18, 2011 210 days ago

Fair enough. So, "BB" means BlackBerry and the "X" is from QUNIX. Bit of a weird abbreviation but I guess it sells. I hope to see full keyboard BBX devices on the market before July 2012.

 
 
Posted by bbpandy Tuesday, Oct 18, 2011 210 days ago

Well their other choice was BBQ lol

 
 
Posted by geek126 Tuesday, Oct 18, 2011 210 days ago

BlackBerry eXtreme

 
 
Posted by boxcar73 Tuesday, Oct 18, 2011 210 days ago

Now just need Netflix app for Playbook

 
 
Posted by Xerxes10 Tuesday, Oct 18, 2011 210 days ago

Absolutely need Netflix. On a side note, I watched a streaming movie from Amazon Prime and it worked great, great picture and no lag. And that was on hotel wi fi. So if you're a Prime member try it out. Not as good a selection as Netflix but worth trying.

 
 
Posted by buzzon Tuesday, Oct 18, 2011 210 days ago

They have a Netflix Queue Manager App

 
 
Posted by Dadymon Tuesday, Oct 18, 2011 210 days ago

Thats cool. But when will os 2 be released for the PB?

 
 
Posted by scalemaster34 Tuesday, Oct 18, 2011 210 days ago

Why make the change to the OS name now... guess they just want to forget the first six months of ONX on the PlayBook.

 
 
Posted by Arham95 Tuesday, Oct 18, 2011 210 days ago

will bbx be available for os7 devices like bold 9900 .??? i hope it runs on my bold 9900

 
 
Posted by Joel_Zimmerman Tuesday, Oct 18, 2011 210 days ago

BBX will apparently not be available for any devices out on sale at the moment, especially the 9900/9930. I would have liked it to be possible, but the hardware just isn't enough… apparently.

 
 
Posted by brucep1 Tuesday, Oct 18, 2011 210 days ago

No

 
 
Posted by boldkeyboardholic Tuesday, Oct 18, 2011 210 days ago

I'm not the first but no.

I read a few infos to this and the answer is no.

Sadly RIM isn't known for changing such a dicision :/

They are argueing with QNX/BBX needs a dual core - and we can not change the single core in the 99xx. I believe RIM will just see more sells for the newer devices.

Some BB-models had to less memory for a newer version of BB OS too in the past.

Similar to other platforms like Android. With dongled boot-loader phones especially from Motorolla (ok, more for Europeans than Americans (Droid aka Milestones...))

 
 
Posted by SBMobile3 Tuesday, Oct 18, 2011 210 days ago

RIM's strategy: Announce something that DOESN'T exist at the moment & then pray that their engineers can make it materialize + work! So far, they have a terrible track record for success, with this strategy. The last 4 years have been chalk full of failures for blackberry, while they insist on announcing then delaying, until they get it right! One company is clearly successful in almost every category in mobile & technology, yet RIM wants to follow this "recipe for disaster"! I don't get it! Ask Kevin or anyone involved with RIM/BB. They'll tell you. BBX is NOT compatible with BES/BIS. That's the deadline RIM has imposed on themselves for NO reason! They stay "shooting" themselves in the foot, without seeking medical attention. They're going to have to cut it off eventually! SMH

 
 
Posted by UKHack Tuesday, Oct 18, 2011 210 days ago

I've been using BlackBerry since January 2008, moving from the 8310, 8900, 9700, 9780, 9800 and now onto the 9900. At every point I've enjoyed the experience, but have looked on enviously at my friends who have embraced either iOS or Android.

The 9900 is the first device from RIM that I've genuinely felt could have made an impact had it been released earlier (i.e. late last year or earlier this year) rather than leaving it until late Summer.

Now BBX has been announced, but to no great fanfare - listening to the webcast what stuck me was the absolute silence from the audience as Mike read out from the auto cue. Apart from ripples of applause when introducing guests, and the demo of WebGL, it was silent.

What did we actually get? An introduction (or rather a relaunch) of QNX, repackaged as BBX and nothing else. No mention of when the next major update to the PlayBook would be revealed (BBX 1.0 perhaps?), and no idea when the native PIM features would be enabled on the PlayBook.

Heck, I was even hoping for a glimpse of a prototype handset running BBX, but even that didn't happen.

I don't know what to say - I'm extremely disappointed at RIM. Once again they've dropped the ball big time. It's time to move Mike back into the lab, and jettison Jim. Hire someone with some stage presence and the chutzpah to use big platforms like the one Mike had today, to actually launch something!

 
 
Posted by ghostnyc Tuesday, Oct 18, 2011 210 days ago

Lazaridis does a great job suppressing any possible excitement/energy around a new release. I agree with your commentary. I was hoping for a bit more from RIM today.

 
 
Posted by edlivian Tuesday, Oct 18, 2011 210 days ago

No BBX for 9900/9930?

Freaking greedy apple still gives ios5 software upgrade to Iphone 3GS users last week (three year old device 600mhz cpu/256mb ram)

And Rimm cannot give bbx to 9900/30 users?? which was just released two months ago that has a modern 1.2ghz cpu/768MB ram

SHAME ON YOU!!!

If you are going to try to explain to me that your new os does not scale well to single core, then there is something terribly inefficient about your new software platform.

 
 
Posted by Arnold1 Tuesday, Oct 18, 2011 210 days ago

Wel I can explain that to you ;) ios is stil the same they there are no big diffrents between ios5 and hum I don't know ios3 right and and the diffrents between os5 (os 7) devices and bbx devices wil be huge

 
 
Posted by bbpandy Tuesday, Oct 18, 2011 210 days ago

Have you tried putting iOS4 on an iPhone 3GS? The phone runs so slow that it's almost unusable....I can only imagine what it would do with iOS5.

Being able to put something on a device does not necessarily make it backward compatible.

 
 
Posted by edlivian Wednesday, Oct 19, 2011 209 days ago

go please read the ios5 review on anandtech, and they tested it on 3GS, and it runs beautifully, much better than ios4.

So please check your facts before you post things like this.

So if apple was able to put ios5 on the 3gs with its 600mhz processor, and it runs soo well, then why cant rimm put bbx on the 9900/30?

The only thing it points to is the fact that the bbx platform is just as sloppy as their j2me.

Hot damn, this company is confused, they do not know that their are alienating every customer they currently have.

Especially because none of our our current apps will work on bbx.

 
 
Posted by SBMobile3 Thursday, Oct 20, 2011 209 days ago

You obviously made that up! Best Buy Mobile, Future Shop & several other "mobile" retailers, around town sell 3GS' with the updated software. They actually run much smoother, due to iOS5! The new OS is sleek, smooth & actually faster, with the same NICE battery-life! Nice try!

 
 
Posted by MaxPayne79 Tuesday, Oct 18, 2011 210 days ago

aaaaand the phone(s) are where???

 
 
Posted by FOR_CE Tuesday, Oct 18, 2011 210 days ago

My thoughts exactly!!!

 
 
Posted by Roweazie Tuesday, Oct 18, 2011 210 days ago

By the time they release this OS, everyone will own Virtual Smart Phones

 
 
Posted by yvpan1 Tuesday, Oct 18, 2011 210 days ago

Go BBX!!

 
 
Posted by bbpandy Tuesday, Oct 18, 2011 210 days ago

"BBX" is RIM's "Highlander" Project. their Version of Android's "Ice Cream Sandwich OS 4"

 
 
Posted by Jet300 Tuesday, Oct 18, 2011 210 days ago

Except for the fact that Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich is ready to be released (tonight), a device is production ready for release (announcement tonight), and will run on capable previously released hardware. Other than that its just like Android ICS...

 
 
Posted by FOR_CE Tuesday, Oct 18, 2011 210 days ago

Am I the only one that feels like today's announcement was a big letdown. I mean one of the CEOs proclaimed that the new phones will "leapfrog" competition but yet they don't even put them on display or even announce them? Especially in light of the fact that Apple just released the iPhone 4s, Motorola had a big annoucement today and Google/Samsung's is tonight. RIM really missed an opportunity here. Especially for me because my contract is up at the end of the year and there's no sense in me getting bricked OS7 phones when they claim better is on the horizon. RIM really let me down today.

 
 
Posted by ghostnyc Tuesday, Oct 18, 2011 210 days ago

Yeah I feel let down. I've been saying since the 1st gen Torch launch- RIM's issues lay squarely on the shoulders of their executive management and the failure of that team to lead RIM into the future. They have created an environment where creativity & innovation are choked and neutralized.

If you want to see real comeback from RIM, start by firing those responsible at the TOP.

 
 
Posted by thegreatbooga Tuesday, Oct 18, 2011 210 days ago

Never thought I would EVER say this, but I am so close to giving up on RIM. The gimmicks are getting old.

 
 
Posted by mtva24 Tuesday, Oct 18, 2011 210 days ago

lol this is exactly why I jumped ship to Android this summer. All RIM gave was a promise, didn't have a prototype or anything...when is the release date??? Meanwhile in Androidville, we got to see Ice Cream Sandwich, and guess what? Its coming out next month!!!

 
 
Posted by lonestar281 Tuesday, Oct 18, 2011 210 days ago

Been There...Done That. Bought the HYPE, Bought the Playbook. This time I think I'll wait till the dust clears. #burned!

 
 
Posted by Liquid_Revolver Tuesday, Oct 18, 2011 210 days ago

Everyone has something to show...Moto Razar, Apple 4s...Nexus prime....so why no proof or something to acutally look forward too...

RIM blows

 
 
Posted by SBMobile3 Thursday, Oct 20, 2011 209 days ago

LMAO @ BB has one of most "profitable" platforms for developers!?! Who are these people & where can I find them?? You RIM-tards are ALWAYS buying this fools lies! Some facts: Total BB's sold = 165 million, over 12 years; Total BBM users = 70 million! Ahhh, RIM, I think you're missing over 80 million customers plans! Why doesn't every user have data? How is a BB useful if it's not using RIM's services?? 80 million people! Wow! Also, 70 million users, yet less than 700,000 tablets (PlayBook's) sold, worldwide! FAIL! One last thing, if QNX or BBX is so good, why isn't anyone buying it now?! You kool-aid lovers keep drinking up & believing the lies! Suckers!!!

 
 
Posted by wizmillso Sunday, Oct 23, 2011 205 days ago

I dont think you understand... I LOVE KOOL-AID!!!

 
 
Posted by Callforduty5 Thursday, Oct 27, 2011 202 days ago

I currently own a Samsung Galaxy S2 which is said to be the market leading smartphone, who knows if the iPhone 4S will topple it, thats probably a matter of opinion I guess.I think in certain areas the BB's still can't be beaten. If you're a socialite and do a heck of a lot of messaging, I don't think the BB can come close to being beaten. How much impact the new OS will make cannot be predicted yet. read this article to see what RIM needs to work on its BBX-based devices if it wants to retain its customers. http://radiomobiletech.com/blogposts/rim-announces-bbx-os-at-blackberry-...

 
 
Posted by shrirox1996 Friday, Oct 28, 2011 200 days ago

can anyone tell me what QNX is??