Well, I have to admit I didn't see this one coming. Not too long ago, QNX Software Systems was acquired by Harman International (Harman/Kardon and JBL), and now, six years later, the embedded software specialist has been bought by BlackBerry maker Research In Motion. Interesting acquisition.
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Member since:
2008-09-11
Member since:2010-01-13
It will be nice to see QNX used in some other fields.
I am not a OS expert, but I thought real time operating systems and general purpose os are completely different beasts. something about trade offs between deterministic response time vs throughput?
Member since:2005-06-29
Ahh, but a phone OS is not exactly a "general purpose" OS. Phones and other portable devices can benefit greatly from features found in realtime OSes. From my own experience, BlackBerry phones in particular need some fresh blood. I played around with the QNX Neutrino desktop OS several years back and I was impressed; from what I've read of the QNX OS itself, it is highly adaptable and customizable enough to fit nearly any situation.
Member since:
2008-07-30
What to do with QNX
1) Replace current Blackberry OS with QNX (like the previous poster said).
2) Blackberry should integrate with the car system.
a) Automatic switch to hands free mode if in car.
b) Use car speakers for phone.
c) Use car microphone for phone.
d) Use steering wheel/dashboard controls to operate the phone.
e) Allow the phone to replace the key & remote control.
f) Allow syncing of music libraries between the phone and car.
g) Allow the car to use the phone as an access point to the internet (update navigation system, software updates, etc.)
Member since:
2005-11-02
OS Wars - The Next Generation
This is a shot accross the bow of Google and Apple. Consider the major mobile OS choices today:
1. iPhone OS
- one vendor who competes with RIM
2. Android
- multiple vendors, no proprietary control
3. MeeGe/Maemo/Minimo - non-Android Linux
- multiple vendors, no proprietary control
4. Windows Mobile
- either partner closely with MS and get screwed later or give up any kind of platform control
(PalmOS, Symbian, etc. are all on the way out, so forget them.)
You can now add one to that list: QNX. RIM is certainly looking for a way to escaping the aging blackberry OS with something that has a chance of competing with the heavy hitters AND controlling its own destiny.
Member since:2005-11-14
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Member since:2007-01-13
:-)
I can't comment on the 80's ... but the nineties were were the best times in pc's. But I don't think I wanna relive Mandrake's gcc compiler f-ups moving from 8 to 9.
Aah.. the sweet sounds of the analogue modem :-)
Member since:2005-07-15
i hope it's a joke?
symbian is number 1 in the world.... in the us market is not the same thing....
For USA
http://www.comscore.com/Press_Events/Press_Releases/2010/4/comScore...
Member since:2010-02-16
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2005-07-13
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2007-03-22
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In some projects I've been thrown shit legacy code. Redoing one part from spaghetti crap to clean code can have an amazing effect on the rest of the code. A start from scratch is not always a magic pill but is the thing funniest for the programmers so they always suggest that.
I don't want to imagine what horror MacOS 9 was but I can imagine how much easier it must have been to get out of the pit with a solid unix kernel in the bottom and some likeable Next libs.
This QNX thing must not necessarily go down the drain. It could be good.
Member since:2005-07-06
But the problem with the BeOS buy out there was a huge amount of work that needed to be done not only in the areas where it was week (networking stack etc) but also the fact it wasn't mature platform that supported other architectures besides x86 and PowerPC. QNX on the other had has over 20 years of legacy behind it, it is a mature multi-architecture operating system with a large and vibrant ecosystem ranging from software developers to hardware engineers. The two in other words are incomparable.
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2009-04-17
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2009-12-27
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As I've always said, Apple isn't the best, it is just that the competition sucks that makes Apple look good. The best example, how long did it take Microsoft to finally address the issue of Windows Mobile? how long did it take Palm to finally do something about their decrepit PalmOS? Apple is in the same situation that Microsoft found itself in a decade ago; a moderately good product that bet the alternatives because the alternatives were either so utterly horrible or incompetently managed by the parent company.
Member since:2005-08-18
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Member since:
2005-09-21
I've always thought that one of the best features of QNX was the network (semi-)transparency with QNet. This could potentially be a game changer when it comes to interacting with different QNX devices, for example your car, phone and gps navigation device. The possibilities are pretty awesome. Using it as an isolated desktop would not, I think, really give you a sense of the overall awesomeness of the technology.
http://www.qnx.com/developers/docs/6.3.0SP3/neutrino/sys_arch/qnet....
Member since:
2006-02-22
Member since:2005-07-14
And it is fault tolerant too. Not a small thing.
I have looks at it since years, it seems very nice and efficient work for programmers and very powerful and stable OS for users.
I'm reasonably certain the Canadarm robot arm is using QNX 2 to control it; medical machines are using QNX 4, and automotive systems are using QNX 6... these are all vastly different and complete rewrites of the QNX microkernel.
Member since:
2009-12-24
I've recently read a car magazine which has an article about an iPhone app and they were stating that the iPhone will replace car board computers in the future. Could be not to far from reality if you think about it.
This acquirement could be the perfect chance for both QNX holding it's current dominance in the car market and RIM getting a perfect operating system for their mobile devices.
Personally I hope QNX can finally live on to it's full potential.
Member since:
2009-03-11
It would be nice to see yet another microkernel OS. I hope that RIM will make own device like iPad.
btw QNX was perfect mobile OS http://stoplinux.org.ru/uploads/images/news_2010/eqip/About1.jpg
Member since:
2005-07-13
Call me cynical, but I think the true reason for the acquisition is this portion of the announcement:
...adding valuable intellectual property to RIM's portfolio...
QNX has some interesting patents and pending applications related to embedded systems, SMP/multi-core OS and voice processing, among others.
RIM, who admittedly has been on the losing end of more than one patent suit, has been trying to build up their patent pool for some time now. Their Nortel bid was rejected, for instance, since it was seen only as an attempt to grab their patents related to LTE (and the outstanding $2B in Canadian tax credits, of course).
RIM could really be interested in the potential QNX offers and is looking to invest in further R&D to bring the market new and marvelous things, but I have my doubts.
I wouldn't be surprised at all if Palm was on their target list, as well.
Member since:
2009-02-07
"If Apple or Nokia ever get trigger-happy towards RIM, I'm sure QNX can pull a sizeable number of patents out of its hat Nokia and/or Apple (potentially) infringe upon." Nokia and RIM has had license agreement for many years now, and it was last renew 2008. But maybe their new IP can bring down royalty expenses.