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(22-02-2014, 04:10 PM)orangetea Wrote: [ -> ]One cool thing about bbm is ...
I can access bbm via my iPad thru wifi only

Other social chats are tagged to mobile numbers

Because bbm is reliant to email, it can port easily to iPad.
I get to keep my contact which I added on my mobile and I can make calls to my contact (it works like Skype)
It's a bit buggy but I works.

For channels which I subscribed, I can comment much like Facebook

Thank you orangetea, i agree, cross platform (PC, tablet, smartphone) messaging might be an important feature
Ford seen ditching Microsoft for BlackBerry in future cars

Karl Henkel
The Detroit News

Ford Motor Co. plans to ditch Microsoft Corp. for BlackBerry Ltd. for future upgrades to its Sync voice-activated system, according to a source with knowledge of the plans.

The Dearborn automaker for years has been plagued with software problems on Sync and its MyFord Touch infotainment system that have stained the company’s vehicle quality ratings. Ford could make the switch from Microsoft to BlackBerry and its QNX operating system this year or next. QNX, acquired by BlackBerry in 2010, has quickly begun replacing the Windows operating system as a popular choice for in-car automobile software.

Ford has built more than 10 million vehicles worldwide that are equipped with Sync, which allows customers to make phone calls, change radio stations and find nearby destinations without taking their hands off the wheel. The automaker could easily update the software of those vehicles already equipped with Sync to the BlackBerry software, said the person.

Ford, when asked about the future shift from Microsoft to BlackBerry, did not deny the plans.

“Ford and Microsoft are longtime partners, and we continue working together for the future,” Ford spokeswoman Susannah Wesley said in an emailed statement to The Detroit News. “Ford works with a variety of partners and suppliers to develop and continuously improve our in-car connectivity systems for customers. We do not discuss details of our work with others for competitive reasons. We are absolutely committed to leading and innovating the smart technologies and in-vehicle connectivity that our customers want and value.”

A BlackBerry representative referred an inquiry to a QNX representative, who did not immediately respond to a request seeking comment.

The QNX operating system is already available in BMW and Audi vehicles and QNX software is used in car radios. Other automakers are pairing up with other tech companies, like Google Inc. and Apple Inc.

Thilo Koslowski, a vice president at technology research firm Gartner Inc., said in an email that QNX has “proven itself in the marketplace.” QNX is less risky for automakers because of its flexibility, particularly with HTML5, a browser-based standard that allows developers to create applications that can run on any modern web-enabled device.

Ford has struggled in recent Consumer Reports auto reliability studies, with the influential magazine citing problems with the automaker’s voice-activated and infotainment systems. J.D. Power & Associates’ annual Initial Quality Study has also hammered Ford for its technology software issues.

Ford is not alone in that regard, though its problems are magnified because it sells a higher percentage of vehicles equipped with Sync systems than its competitors. Twenty-two percent of problems in last year’s J.D. Power study dealt with audio, entertainment and navigation systems.

From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20140...z2uEYeCtIo

QNX and Qualcomm Snapdragon Automotive Solutions CAR Platform Demo at MWC 2014
VideoFeb 24, 2014

During the 2014 International CES event, Qualcomm and QNX Software Systems announced and demoed the world’s first in-car infotainment system powered by Snapdragon Automotive Solutions.

Now, at Mobile World Congress 2014, Qualcomm and QNX are bringing you the QNX CAR Platform Demo—this time in the form of a specially modified Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG—to showcase the latest features of Snapdragon Automotive Solutions.

You can catch an in-car demonstration of the QNX CAR Platform for Infotainment and HLOS (high-level operating system), running on Snapdragon Automotive Solutions and featuring a digital instrument cluster and multimedia head unit. Highlights will include:

3D navigation with points of interest and voice prompts
Advanced multimedia streaming
Flexible multi-modal user experience
HD video decoding capabilities
Smartphone-to-vehicle integration over USB and Wi-Fi
Automatic speech recognition for hands-free calls and navigation.
Over-the-air software updates over LTE
Reconfigurable digital instrument cluster and more

Don’t miss the Qualcomm booth at Mobile World Congress 2014. It will be located in Hall 3, Stand #3E10!

http://n4bb.com/qnx-qualcomm-snapdragon-...-mwc-2014/
http://onqpl.blogspot.ca/2014/02/qnx-at-...tinct.html

QNX at Embedded World: three distinct systems, one OS platform

Quick: what do washing machines, bulldozers, and pipeline inspection tools have in common? Simple: they all demonstrate the remarkable flexibility of the QNX OS.

Next week, at Embedded World, QNX will showcase three systems built by three different customers, for three different markets. Each system addresses different technical challenges and targets different end-users. And yet, in each case, the development team behind the system chose the same OS — a testament to the “bend it, shape it, any way you want it” quality of QNX technology.

Of course, not everyone can attend Embedded World. So for anyone who can’t go (or for anyone who plans to go and would like a taste of what they’ll see), here’s a sneak peek of the three systems. Mind you, this isn’t everything we will demonstrate next week — but that’s the subject of another post. :-)


Washing machine touchscreen from Dalian Eastern Display

Imagine a web-connected washing machine that can play your favorite music and videos, provide tips on removing stains, and let you choose laundry settings with the tap of a touchscreen. The system from Dalian Eastern Display lets you do all this and more, and it’s one of many solutions that Dalian is creating for IoT smart appliances.

For instance, this screen lets you quickly choose your fabrics, including cotton, wool, or polyester. It also provides a mixed setting — handy for people who aren’t sure of the difference. Me, for instance.

[Image: IMG_7545_flat.jpg]

Once you’ve chosen the right fabric, you can fine-tune the parameters of your wash cycle, including time, temperature, speed, and water level:

[Image: IMG_7547_flat.jpg]

Meanwhile, this menu lets you configure everything from your network connection to the system’s sound settings:

[Image: IMG_7552.jpg]

Murphy PowerView 780 display for heavy machinery
If you build equipment that has an engine and demands a rugged display, chances are its owners and operators will benefit from a Murphy PowerView 780. Designed for use with electronic or mechanical engines in everything from boats to bulldozers, the PowerView 780 integrates engine, transmission, and diagnostic information into an easy-to-read user interface. The PowerView 780 is built for extreme outdoor environments and features a 7-inch bonded LCD that is readable in direct sunlight. Better yet, it’s easily configurable to application needs. Using Murphy’s PowerVision Configuration Studio™, developers can customize the user interface with their own graphics or display parameters, track maintenance schedules, log operation data and faults, and add OEM branding.

[Image: fwmurphy_powerview_780.jpg]

Murphy, the company behind the PowerView 780, is a global supplier of controls and instrumentation for almost any application that involves engines or engine-driven equipment. The company is celebrating 75 years of serving the oil and gas production, engine OEM, construction, irrigation, agriculture, power generation, and work and pleasure boating markets.

LineExporer pipeline inspection system from NDT Global
When it comes to oil and gas pipelines, safety is job one. But to ensure safety, you need to keep pipelines properly maintained — and to maintain them, you need accurate and reliable inline inspection tools. That's where NDT Global comes in. NDT is a leading supplier of ultrasonic pipeline inspection and pipeline integrity management services worldwide, with operations in Germany, Russia, the US, Canada, Mexico, U.A.E., Malaysia and Singapore. At Embedded World, QNX Software Systems will showcase an NDT LineExplorer inline inspection tool for 10" pipelines that can detect and measure corrosion and cracks, depending on the sensor carrier.

[Image: ndt_pipeline_inspection_system.jpg]
Voice... Can look into Nuance Comms (ticker: nuan)

Their subscription model should profit more for the company later.

They were said to develop siri

Also there is an activist investor Carl Icahn who bought aapl and dell....and others

Bbry patents when monetarise are fantastic
Bbry trading range currently 9 - 10
Will it work? Indonesia is chosen as CEO Chen first targeted market...

BlackBerry announces new phones, services

BARCELONA – BlackBerry will release a low-cost phone in Indonesia in April and plans a broader release of a phone that restores a beloved row of control keys with a track pad.

The Indonesia phone, the Z3, will sell for less than US$200 (S$253) without subsidies, the company said today (Feb 25). It will later expand to other markets in South-east Asia. BlackBerry Chief Executive John Chen said a version with faster, 4G connectivity is planned for the rest of the world “sometime in the future before I die”.
...
http://www.todayonline.com/tech/blackber...s-services
http://recode.net/2014/02/24/blackberry-...ew-phones/

BlackBerry CEO John Chen Talks up Q20 and Z3 Phones Coming this Year
February 24, 2014, 11:27 PM PST
By Ina Fried

BlackBerry CEO John Chen on Tuesday announced plans for two new phones coming this year, the first results of a partnership with Taiwanese contract manufacturer Foxconn.

The first of the new devices, a 3G model code-named Jakarta, will cost less than $200 unsubsidized and go on sale in Indonesia in April. An LTE version will follow, CEO John Chen said at an event at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. That phone, to be sold as the Z3, is an all-touch device being made by Foxconn.

“We have 100 percent confidence in BlackBerry,” Foxconn Chairman Terry Gou said at the event.

A second phone, the BlackBerry Q20 (though Chen calls the BlackBerry Classic), will have a more traditional keyboard and trackpad and is due out before the end of the year. It will also be made by Foxconn “unless they price it too high,” Chen joked.

Chen also said there are some more premium products in the works. “We do have a few high-end devices that we are working on, but I am unable to show you and share with your right now,” Chen said.



Customers shouldn’t expect a watch from BlackBerry any time soon.

“I don’t have a plan for wearables, at least not yet,” Chen said.

Nor is the company looking to reach the lowest end of the market, such as phones costing $75.

‘That’s not our sweet spot,” he said.

On the server side, BlackBerry announced plans for a new product BES12 that will support BlackBerrys old and new, as well as Android, iPhones and Windows Phones. The company also said it is simplifying its pricing to two options–silver and gold, with the latter being its regulated and secure. Customers can also choose to opt for a subscription, starting at $19 per user per year for silver and $60 per user per year for the gold option, or buy a perpetual license. (Chen initially said those were the monthly, not yearly, prices.)

Aiming to get its older customers to upgrade, BlackBerry is launching an “Easy Pass” option allowing those using older versions of their software to upgrade for free. Those that have switched to a rival device management service can also trade in for BlackBerry’s latest server software. Both upgrade options require customers to sign up for a service contract with BlackBerry, though it is waiving the costs for this year.

Chen took some shots at rivals, particularly Good Technology.

“Good is not good enough,” Chen said, saying that BlackBerry’s security is more complete.

He also took a further shot at T-Mobile, noting that BlackBerry continues to see its relationship improve with the the top two U.S. carriers, AT&T and Verizon Wireless.

“The two major carriers and us, our relationships are getting better by the day,” he said. “That strategy will continue to work for us.”

As for his jabs at T-Mobile, he said he didn’t start the fight. “I just happened to continue on the conversation.”

BlackBerry also said it is developing a series of BBM messaging services for businesses, including BBM Protected, a subscription-based business instant messaging service due before the summer of this year. More products will come later in the year, BlackBerry said.

Chen said the company is still talking about ways to bring more of its enterprise services to other platforms, but Chen said that it would be going to far to say there is a plan for that.

He added that is not the highest-order priority and, later, said that many of BlackBerry’s problems in the past stemmed from spreading itself too thin.

In addition, the company had so much attention devoted to launching the first BB10 devices it devoted too little attention to business customers.

“That’s not going to be anymore,” Chen said.

Chen also reiterated his goal of becoming cash-flow positive by the end of the current fiscal year and then to be profitable in the following year.

“I am steadfastly going after that,” he said.

BlackBerry also says it wants to move beyond managing BlackBerry and other mobile devices into also helping those that create business applications for mobile devices. BlackBerry also sees writing business applications of its own, particularly in finance and other regulated industries where it is focused.

Chen outlined his strategy for BlackBerry in an interview at CES. It’s a strategy that includes focusing more on business customers, outsourcing much of the company’s handset manufacturing to Foxconn and getting BBM chat software onto a wide range of devices.

As for the device business, Chen noted that not all companies are letting workers choose their own devices, saying that 30 percent of businesses still dictate what devices workers can use.

“We want to focus on that 30 percent… but we do not want to lose the rest of that market,” he said, noting efforts to manage all manner of devices and serve up BBM on various products.

After Facebook’s $19 billion WhatsApp purchase, Chen quipped that perhaps BlackBerry should change its name to BBM.

“That might move the stock,” Chen said.
3:44 am BlackBerry introduces new products and services (BBRY) : Co announces new enterprise solutions, partnerships and smartphone models to enable enterprises and individuals to maximize their productivity, communication and collaboration. The launch of these solutions underscores BlackBerry's efforts to deliver technologies across the entire mobile spectrum - from the enterprise to the end user. Secure and Private Mobility Solutions for Enterprises

The next generation of BlackBerry Enterprise Service, BES12, will enable organizations to develop enterprise-grade applications that are quickly deployed to BlackBerry smartphones and other mobile devices.
A new EZ Pass program will enable a free migration path for customers to move from BES and other MDM platforms to BES10.
A new BES pricing and licensing structure will provide two simple tiers, Silver and Gold. Silver includes full device, application, email and security management for BlackBerry, iOS and Android devices, including the unique BlackBerry Balance technology, a containerization solution that separates personal and work data on BlackBerry 10 smartphones.
BlackBerry also revealed some of the latest companies to adopt BES10, including Daimler AG and Airbus Group. These distinguished corporations are part of an industry-leading 80,000 companies whose communications are secured by BlackBerry.
BlackBerry Z3 smartphone is an upcoming all-touch BlackBerry 10 smartphone designed for customers in Indonesia.
BlackBerry Q20 smartphone is an upcoming QWERTY smartphone that merges the power of BlackBerry 10 with the classic BlackBerry design and experience, realized with hard buttons as well as an integrated trackpad. With a new 3.5" touchscreen and keyboard with frets and sculpted keys, the device will feature the familiar workflow and efficiency that BlackBerry fans continue to value in a BlackBerry QWERTY smartphone.
Strategy is to average up on dips
(25-02-2014, 08:56 PM)CityFarmer Wrote: [ -> ]Will it work? Indonesia is chosen as CEO Chen first targeted market...

BlackBerry announces new phones, services

BARCELONA – BlackBerry will release a low-cost phone in Indonesia in April and plans a broader release of a phone that restores a beloved row of control keys with a track pad.

The Indonesia phone, the Z3, will sell for less than US$200 (S$253) without subsidies, the company said today (Feb 25). It will later expand to other markets in South-east Asia. BlackBerry Chief Executive John Chen said a version with faster, 4G connectivity is planned for the rest of the world “sometime in the future before I die”.
...
http://www.todayonline.com/tech/blackber...s-services

Make sense since Indonesia is their largest handset market now IIRC
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