Bloomberg: RIM's BlackPad tablet to run QNX developed OS

By on Aug 19, 2010 at 8:40 PM
Rumor August 19, 2010

Bloomberg is reporting that the rumored BlackBerry tablet, dubbed the BlackPad, will run an operating system designed by QNX Software; QNX is the software company RIM acquired back in April. Bloomberg quotes anonymous sources with knowledge of the matter, and speculates a November launch for the deivce. “QNX, with headquarters in Ottawa, has customers in the automotive, industrial, medical, and communications industries. Its software helps control the music, media and navigation systems in cars such as those from Bayerische Motoren Werke AG and Porsche SE,” writes the company’s website. The BlackPad is rumored to be a Wi-Fi tablet that will closely integrate with BlackBerry handsets, although it is not clear if a BlackBerry will be necessary for the device to function. What do you think? Is QNX software a relief, or would you prefer to see a customized version of BlackBerry 6 on the fabled device?

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  • blkrabb1t

    If this report is true, then it pretty much shows how much faith RIM has with BlackBerry 6 handling touch-based interfaces.

    Honestly the best thing that RIM can do is that they should have cleaned up Blackberry 6, and make it capable of handling stuff like Flash, Open GL and having a smoother touch operation.

  • edward

    Hahaahaa yeah put that awesome bb6 OS on the blackpad (sarcasm). I would consider only if I could take notes with some sort of digipen and it had a entirely different OS.

  • http://crichton007.blogspot.com crichton007

    If the first Google OS based tablet is Chrome OS and this tablet is not BB OS then is will be proof positive that people don’t seem to understand Apple’s success. It was shown when the iPod was released and everyone is still stumbling around trying to figure out shy people like the iPod over other items so much.

    The iPad succeeds because it is the same OS and interface as on the iPhone and iPod Touch. Unless other table manufacturers grasp this and follow suit then Apple is bound to own the tablet space as well.

    • WalterSobchak

      There have already been “google tablets”
      The may not be 10 inch, with capacative screens, but they are “tablets”(archos for over a year, augen) and they run android.
      There will also be lg, samsung, acer, motorola, stream, msi, yaddi yadda yadda.
      Chrome OS is cloud computing, totally different.
      Just because they haven’t been as good, or copies of the ipad, doesn’t mean there haven’t or wont be android tablets.
      http://www.androidtablets.net/

    • rederikus

      You are right. However the REAL key to the iHorrors sucess is the inteface plug on all their devices. It is the same on all their later devices.

      Unlike micro-USB connectors the i-Thing connector allows a heap more functions. This is how all the after market products all work so well. The common placement of the connector on the base of the device also allows a common connection with the device always oriented the same way up.

      The only physical exception is the iPad which is huge by comparison with an iPod nano and will probably not fit the same accessory.

      The connector is, imo, one of the key factors of the iHorrors rise and rise.

    • http://tablets-planet.com Scott

      But Apple doesn’t own the phone market….

      They probably will never own the tablet market either.

  • ExBBUser

    This is good news. I’d like to root for RIM, but until they move to a modern OS I won’t consider going back. Their OS shows its age, from way back in the wireless pager days.

    Although, I’d rather see them take Android and layer their enterprise/security features on top of that.

  • Jayrodathome

    You can’t say rim isn’t a fighter. There tablet will be popular in the corporate world. They seem to have that market surrounded.

  • JM

    Hmmm…I think…uhm…gosh. I don’t know. A BlackBerry tablet? I hope it is good…

  • John

    I just don’t care.

    • LOL

      So why did you read the article???

  • Talib

    Really? This makes sense? In what universe? Isn’t the key to success for mobile devices proving to be app stores? So, Blackberry is going to rely on the very popular QNX OS app store to allow people to add productivity apps to this business device?

    I suppose I should just wait and see, but as a Torch user I’m not all that confident in RIM’s ability to deliver a compelling user experience while adding a new OS to the mobile ecosystem. Feels like a remix of the Palm Foleo. What do I know, though? I’m just a cynical tech guy.

  • MikeyP

    Great.. QNX makes the software powering iDrive in bimmers.. here we go to get the most convuluted tablet on the market… Who’s with me for waiting on the Google tablet… Btw.. go a torch this week and it sux big time.

  • blkrabb1t

    So instead of polishing BlackBerry 6, they turn to the makes of iDrive, a universally panned touchscreen interface? I honestly can’t see this having a very happy ending…

  • Big Papi

    I don’t know much about this company so I will read up…however RIM just isn’t motivating me…I’m a crackberry herd (as well as a Nexus One Loyalist) but I just can’t get on board…I played with the Torch 9800 and it doesn’t feel new or improved…just refreshed but still retaining the same tired look. I’ll stick with my N1 and 9700 for now.

    On the subject matter…something tells me that I’ll be underwhelmed…but I will give it an honest look because I NEED a pad of this size…especially with USB support, lord knows thats the only reason I haven’t committed to the iPad.

    Also…”BlackPad”? really?

    BerryPad couldn’t be better?
    iBerry?
    BerryTab?

    Something else…*ugh*

  • Heathen

    I would have preferred to see a Chrome OS or Android tablet arrive with some custom enterprise apps.

    I am about to walk away from Blackberry to Android, simply because of the lack of functionality RIM is bringing to the table compared with Android etc…

    Besides they could have called this a GooBerry pad or Blackgoo pad if they had gone with Chrome…

    • JJ

      Why in all world would one of the most trustworthy and data security aware companies (RIM) join up with one of the most data snitching and datamining infested companies (GOOGLE)??

      This would be like UBS joins up with YELLOW PAGES!

  • eddie b

    what’s wrong with the name blackpad? Am I only one that likes the name?

    • stevesvagina

      i think its racist.

      i prefer africanamericanpad

    • Vitaly

      Yes

    • dellbx

      I personally prefer BlackBerry JamPad as the name

  • stevesvagina

    more like ‘teh ghey’ to me

  • SVELTE

    2 little 2 late

  • Jpwillis269

    The iPad does have some USB support, unfortunately it is in the form of a USB dongle that plugs into the 30 pin connector. IMHO it looks like everyone is trying to cash in on the iPad’s success more so than getting ready to compete with why it’s so successful

  • max

    This is going to be a colossal failure. Whoever thought of this one is going to be fired. Too late to the game with a shitty OS. Who. Gives. A. Shit.

  • drew

    This just reeks of Palm Foleo and look what happened to Palm. Or is RIM on its way to becoming the GM of smartphones?

  • Sugar Grove

    Interesting that BGR chose to display the article in B&W
    Is this a play on the Blackpad name ? or a subtle statement of their impression os a dated O/S ?

    • JJ

      Check out the photo more closely and you realize it’s an altered iPad. By reducing pixels and colours of the image it is just a bit less obvious.

  • Michael S.

    My problem with the world is that all you people are closed minded morans, I remember a day were the android OS wasn’t going to make it, But quess what shit changes!!! What if the Blackberry could do everything the droid could do? You don’t know, it could with QNX!!! So why be so quick to throw in your negativity… As far as I know blackberry could do everything the iphone and the android does as awesome as it does security and email!!!! Why wouldn’t you switch then???? A…. cause I’m a robot idiot made by google!!!

  • Jason

    We all have our day in the sun, BB’s was circa 2006.

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