An argument against the "superphone"

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An argument against the "superphone"

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Started 9 months ago by Marc Paradise
Latest reply from certifiedRHCE

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Marc Paradise

Enthusiast
Joined: Mar '10
Posts: 499

I'm probably alone here, but based on how RIM has handled the PlayBook ... I am not particularly eager to see them move to QNX.

1. Apps: All of the QNX apps are written for a tablet - which means a 1024x600 resolution. A subset of those will work on a smaller resolution as well - but because most developers have proven themselves lazy, we'll find that the majority of apps will have been developed and tested specifically at one resolution and will look like crap/be impossible to use on a phone's form factor.

2. Ecosystem: criticize it if you must, but RIM has an extensive and powerful ecosystem in place for "legacy" BlackBerry phones. So far, I am not seeing signs that this is improving - the tools they're providing us simply do not approach the same level of system integration that's provided by the smartphone APIs and tools. That is to say: the integration is completely absent under AIR and WebWorks so far.

If they provide a seamless legacy app player experience; and give those legacy apps the same level of integration they have today, then maybe it can work out in the short term. But I begin to have my doubts, based on what has been delivered so far.

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Posted 9 months ago #Post-Permalink
babisboi

Guru
Joined: Dec '10
Posts: 2,775

I hope and I think that RIM is aware of the issues you pointed out. I think they are hard at work trying to give us the best experience possible. A QNX phone cannot be incomplete like the PlayBook. RIM knows that. The OS7 phones are nice, but RIM understands that their future is not on these phones. They understand that those phones are only coming out to tide us die hards and stop the bleeding a little bit. Everyone knows that QNX is the future and I think that RIM is doing to be late in delivering those phones and make sure that they provide a completely new BlackBerry experience.

I see your concerns and they are very real. History repeats itself, unless someone decides to do something different. Under the circumstances in the American market for RIM they can't afford to not make those changes. I think that us die hards are going to be pleasantly surprised and the doubters will be shocked and amazed.

Posted 9 months ago #Post-Permalink
BarracudaBob

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Joined: Jan '10
Posts: 1,018

I'm hoping that QNX makes it easier for developers to create apps that scale properly. It would great if they could develop an app for one device and it would just resize for each of the other resolutions on other QNX devices. I have heard many times that developers need to create separate versions of their apps for each of the various resolutions of the current crop of Blackberries. That's a pain that can persuade some to avoid the platform. If QNX can simplify this, developers would be much more likely to work on Blackberry apps.

The QNX NDK should make it a lot easier for developers in general. This should allow for better apps to be created easier. That should improve the ecosystem.

All of this is contingent on RIM implementing things properly. That is where the danger lies. QNX has great potential if they can leverage it properly.

Posted 9 months ago #Post-Permalink
babisboi

Guru
Joined: Dec '10
Posts: 2,775

Proper execution is the key to the whole thing. It doesn't matter how flexible or powerful QNX is, if its not done properly it will fall flat on its face. RIM is very aware of this. The aren't oblivious to everything that's being said. I honestly hope that they have employees who are on the forums, reading what we write, taking our opinions into consideration.

Posted 9 months ago #Post-Permalink
Marc Paradise

Enthusiast
Joined: Mar '10
Posts: 499

I'm hoping that QNX makes it easier for developers to create apps that scale properly. It would great if they could develop an app for one device and it would just resize for each of the other resolutions on other QNX devices. I have heard many times that developers need to create separate versions of their apps for each of the various resolutions of the current crop of Blackberrie

The most frustrating thing abotu this belief is that so many people hold it (including developers) yet it is completely untrue. This is also why it becomes extremely irritating to see "big names" like seesmic complain about the extra "work" required to develop for BlackBerry.

If you require different builds for each different devices, you are 100% unequivocally Doing it Wrong (tm).

The absolute *worst* case has you doing separate builds for each major OS version - but if you've done it correctly, you're only maintaining one source version; and your development only includes what's necessary to incorporate new features not available in older versions.

You can even include different sized graphics for different versions if you wish (bad idea, but a lot of devs keep doing it)... and *still* only develop as if for a single resolution.

BBSSH has a separate build for each major OS - 4.5 -> 7.0. However, I have ONE source base. The total lines of code dedicated to different versions? Maybe 2000 and that is *only* to incorporate new OS features in different OS versions. Creating those builds is as simple as running a script; and testing it is also relatively simple - though I do perform minimal testing on many different simulator models, I have literally had zero bugs specific to one BB device; and maybe ten total that are specific to one BB OS.

Erm... sorry for the rant -- hearing this myth propagated is one of my pet peeves ;)

Posted 9 months ago #Post-Permalink
PB Forever

Master
Joined: May '11
Posts: 1,334

Not being a developer, I'm kinda puzzle by the claim that QNX is completely scalable to any processing size... would that not in turn making app development for the QNX somewhat easier???

Sorry if I sound like a dumbass...

Posted 9 months ago #Post-Permalink
certifiedRHCE

Master
Joined: Jun '11
Posts: 860

yes it does make it easier with EB, Freescale ,encoding and more

Posted 9 months ago #Post-Permalink

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