Here is a bit of good news for those of you wondering what RIM has planned for the rest of this year. N4BB has posted some screenshots that has a potential roll out date and end of life for some apps. One of the most intriguing news to take away from here is that RIM has a potential integration date for OS 7. Back at DEVCON we learned that RIM was planning on porting the QNX Operating systems to the BlackBerry smartphones. This leaked screenshot of the 2011 roadmap hints at OS 7.0 roll out late this year around the end of November.
OS 7 (possibly QNX based OS)
Most likely the devices that will first see a QNX based OS will have to be devices with dual core processors from what RIM CEO has stated. Devices that Roll out with 6.1 in the next few months may see a QNX software update later but that is a maybe. This makes us believe that we will also see some nice new BlackBerry devices towards the end of the year possibly some that we have not learned about at this time.
BIS 4.0
The update to BIS 4.0 should roll around April or May and later in August to 4.1
BlackBerry Protect
Earlier today RIM launched BB protect for Latin and North America but it looks like we should see BlackBerry protect 1.1 for OS 6.1 around May of this year possible launch at BlackBerry World Congress which makes us think RIM will announce the new line of devices with 6.1 at the same time.
BlackBerry protect 1.2 Beta is scheduled around this same time.
App World For PlayBook
The road map hints at a march release so hopefully that means we will see the PlayBook release date announced sometime in the next two weeks. (Hopping to be right)
BlackBerry News Feeds and End of life for VIIGO
Personally I have not been impressed with the BB news feeds it has ways to go I only installed and deleted it this right away since there are better ones out there. An update for this application to 1.1 should be released in May. End of life for VIIGO is set for August.
Social Feeds May 2.0 OS 6.1
Social feeds is schedule to receive an update to 2.0 that includes 6.1 support with better inbox integration.
- Additional content and Favorites view
- support for notifications on specific views, notifying users when people/content is posted that they are specifically interested in.
- Read/unread status indicators
- Community specific funtionality through Timeline (e.g comments, Re-Tweet)
- BB News integration for RSS content
BB News RSS v1.1
- integration with Social Feeds
- Preloaded on 6.1
- Ad Support
- Weather
- Sports
- Push Notifications
Facebook 2.0 May 2011
We saw a preview of what Facebook 2.0 is going to look like a while back and this update should bring a new UI and with chat support.
Other applications that will see updates for 6.1 support include Twitter 1.1, Facebook 1.9.1 and Ticket Master update to v2.0
Note that this are potential release dates and that can change at any time.
Source: N4BB
jamaicanbb ( View Profile) - Posts: 16
Posted: March 5, 2011 at 5:31 PM EST
i swear every time i come onto this website, i leave with a smile. RIM really showing they’re still in the game. os7 is going to be sick
dpr ( View Profile) - Posts: 758
Posted: March 5, 2011 at 6:14 PM EST from my BlackBerry 8530
Oh, this is great news! I wonder what are these new devices are coming out with OS 7 (probably the Bold). Glad to see that Viggo will live on BB News and Social Feeds and I hope they integrate this into the PlayBook – who needs The Daily newspaper app for IPad (which costs $.99 a week), when you can have push notification news for free. Looks like a great year for BlackBerry has just gotten better!
Jay ( View Profile) - Posts: 1362
Posted: March 5, 2011 at 7:18 PM EST from my BlackBerry 8900
Wow, lots of info here! I’m am seriously ecstatic about the future of RIM. The BB loyal are about to be rewarded with solid software, solid hardware and competitive devices. Thanks for posting this Luis!
Luis Merlos ( View Profile) - Posts: 1312
Posted: March 5, 2011 at 7:37 PM EST
Yeah good to see, am more excited bout OS 7 :p
BarracudaBob ( View Profile) - Posts: 1020
Posted: March 5, 2011 at 7:49 PM EST
It would be great to see QNX hit the phones before the end of the year.
Joe257 ( View Profile) - Posts: 628
Posted: March 5, 2011 at 9:58 PM EST
Way to dig the dirt, Luis! Fabulous info here!!! I can’t wait to see how well RIM manages to keep the heat on the competition.
But, I must be trained to wait
Take a lesson, complementary from Hotels.com:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=741sTZgGInM.
I just love this commercial
Joe257 ( View Profile) - Posts: 628
Posted: March 5, 2011 at 9:58 PM EST
Unfortunately, I don’t think we’ll see new BlackBerry phones running BB OS 7 this year. The core OS will be finalized but there is much to do getting the OS running on smartphone hardware. RIM will be able to leverage much of the work done on the PlayBook with the new OS 7 but it is a different OS, not the same as the PlayBook’s.
I do think we’ll be seeing some OS 7 devices as early as Spring 2012. With a Storm 3, Torch 2, and Bold Touch just released six months earlier, it would make sense that these devices would be OS 7 ready.
altaera ( View Profile) - Posts: 154
Posted: March 5, 2011 at 10:12 PM EST from my BlackBerry 9800 | OS 6.0.0.448
This a very exciting news! Hope it will turn out true and perhaps, even better!
javieraua ( View Profile) - Posts: 2
Posted: March 5, 2011 at 10:43 PM EST
Where’s BB travel ? and why is bb os 7 at consumer applications ?
Joe257 ( View Profile) - Posts: 628
Posted: March 5, 2011 at 11:05 PM EST
Actually, after reading over the roadmap again, I see that the OS 7 Social Networking (SN) core will be completed in November. That does imply that they may be closer than we think. However, if you remember, we were talking about a Curve Touch in early 2012. That device messes up my theory a bit since it is so late. Nevertheless, these devices could still be OS 7 ready.
It is difficult to understand how RIM will release some outstanding devices, though very much overdue (i.e., cannot be delayed any longer!), but put them all on OS 6.1 when OS 7 is already in the wings. What device would they be releasing OS 7 on in early 2012? They have to make an upgrade available for the Bold Touch, Storm 3, and Torch 2.
So the question is, will they release OS 7 on a non-dual core device? I don’t see they have much of a choice, unless those devices have 1.2 GHz dual-core CPUs
DavidB ( View Profile) - Posts: 1791
Posted: March 6, 2011 at 8:09 AM EST
Since the QNX core OS is written to an entirely different CPU architecture, I’m about 99.999% positive we will never see a QNX-based OS on the 2011 launched smartphones. I base this on the CPU’s leaked to be in these upcoming phones. I just don’t see RIM supporting two totally different core kernels with different code requirements and such, and as a user I’m about positive I don’t want to see them try. I want to see RIM make 6.1 the best it can be with a bit of TAT awesomeness thrown in. Let’s let the PlayBook carry the flag for the QNX-based OS, I honestly don’t think we NEED it on a smartphone right away.
Joe257 ( View Profile) - Posts: 628
Posted: March 5, 2011 at 11:16 PM EST
Actually, I think we’ll see the Curve Touch at Christmas. RIM won’t miss this opportunity for such a device at Christmastime. The roadmap points to a December device anyway
Terrence T ( View Profile) - Posts: 1820
Posted: March 6, 2011 at 12:54 AM EST
umm… wait till os 6.1 comes first..
JohnnyB ( View Profile) - Posts: 173
Posted: March 6, 2011 at 6:03 AM EST
Lets still keep in mind not to set ourselves up and get hung up on far in the future OS’s and Changes. When RIM don’t release at the time we now believe is going to happen, we will end up slandering RIM for non-release, late release, etc. Carriers are the biggest culprits here, they drag there feet in OS approval’s.
I have seem roadmap’s change from RIM, so it will come when it comes but good to see where RIM is going. No doubt in 2012 or short after we will be seeing OS 8 or close to it or QNX based Handhelds.
Lets focus on the short term with what we know is coming, Protect and BIS Upgrades with the Playbook (with this comes improved BIS Admin support to carriers), and SP 3 for BES for the corporate.
The next couple months will be subtle but critical changes for RIM that will turn them around for the better especially for the consumer market.
babisboi ( View Profile) - Posts: 416
Posted: March 6, 2011 at 8:57 AM EST
2011 is going to be a great year for RIM. I like the direction they are going and can’t wait to see what they do. Its exciting, but I don’t want to get ahead of myself. Being patient with RIM is a must.
dpr ( View Profile) - Posts: 758
Posted: March 6, 2011 at 10:33 AM EST from my BlackBerry 8530
This falls in line with last year. The Bold 9650 came out with OS 5, but was upgradable to OS 6. Then came devices like the Torch and Style that already had OS 6 built-in. In one of the PlayBook videos, Mike Lazaridis explained that it really doesn’t take that much power to run QNX, because it uses the power efficiently. Therefore, I believe that OS 7 will be QNX based and OS 6.1 will be upgradeable to OS 7.
BarracudaBob ( View Profile) - Posts: 1020
Posted: March 6, 2011 at 11:39 AM EST
The only bad news seems to be Viigo. News Feeds just isn’t as good. Hopefully they will continue to improve it.
chestr ( View Profile) - Posts: 340
Posted: March 6, 2011 at 11:53 AM EST from my BlackBerry 9800 | OS 6.0.0.450
News feeds is such a horrible replacement for viigo. Viiigo was my fav app on my phone. Hopefully they 1.1 will bring news feeds close to what viigo was
babisboi ( View Profile) - Posts: 416
Posted: March 6, 2011 at 3:51 PM EST
I was just looking at this roadmap again, and I am wondering why OS 6.1 is not there. They make it a point to mention OS 7, but not 6.1. That’s got me very curious.
dpr ( View Profile) - Posts: 758
Posted: March 6, 2011 at 7:59 PM EST from my BlackBerry 8530
Yes it does, look at the lower Collaboration, Social networking/ Consumer applications section. In the month of May, it mentions Facebook, Twitter, Social feeds 2.0 (6.1 OS).
babisboi ( View Profile) - Posts: 416
Posted: March 6, 2011 at 11:00 PM EST
What I meant was that OS7 has a slotted month of release. BB6.1 is mentioned along some of the upcoming apps, but not a specific release date separate from the other apps.
fubaz ( View Profile) - Posts: 842
Posted: March 7, 2011 at 8:04 AM EST from my BlackBerry 9700 | OS 6.0.0.461
RIP Viigo, and ill be holding on to my 9700 for a bit longer after seeing this, maybe get myself a new device for christmas.