Feb 27
Ford has denied ditching Microsoft for BlackBerry’s QNX to power its new in-car infotainment systems, though pointing out that it is “not married” to Microsoft and suggesting that the field … Continue reading
Feb 23
BlackBerry may have a major contract coming its way if a new report turns out to be true. Bloomberg hears from people “briefed on the matter,” that the next generation Ford in-car Sync system will replace Microsoft’s Windows technology in favor of BlackBerry’s QNX. Apparently this is being done after persistent customer complaints of sub-standard voice recognition and malfunctioning touchscreens. QNX is already powering similar systems in vehicles by Audi and BMW, Ford has 7 million vehicles on the road with Sync powered by Microsoft, so this could really be a lucrative deal for BlackBerry.
Ford Sync System May Switch From Microsoft To BlackBerry original content from Ubergizmo. 
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Feb 23
Ford will ditch Microsoft in favor of BlackBerry to power its next-generation infotainment systems, inside sources claim, switching to QNX for increasingly complex car multimedia duties after ongoing criticisms of … Continue reading
Aug 13
A move has been made between Panasonic and QNX Software Systems Limited this week in which in-car infotainment systems will be launched throughout the world in coming years. Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America is letting it be known that the QNX CAR platform will be hitting North America, Europe, and Japan in a collaborative […]
Aug 13
QNX and Panasonic link up to bring fancy in-car infotainment systems to more showrooms
Posted in: Today's Chili
For those who can’t quite handle the down payment on a Bentley, there’s a Porsche. For those who can’t quite handle the down payment on a Porsche, there’s… well, about to be something else to covet. QNX — the same software outfit responsible for sprucing up the in-car infotainment systems in the aforesaid brands — has just inked a deal with Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America, which should deliver QNX CAR-based systems to vehicles sold in North America, Europe, and Japan. Sadly, neither company is coming clean on which automakers are lined up (if any) to swap their ho hum systems out for something a bit more modern, but we’re certainly hoping that it’s more than just a handful. Oh, and if any of the motorcar makers in attendance need any ideas for implementation….
Filed under: Transportation, Software, Blackberry
Via: TechCrunch
Source: QNX
May 17
BlackBerry software chief on updates and BB10 for healthcare and financial services
Posted in: Today's Chili
During BlackBerry Live this week we got to speak with Vivek Bhardwaj, BlackBerry’s Head of Software, about the future of BB10. In light of the the platform’s first major software update rolling out to its devices, we asked about the plans for future releases. Bhardwaj told us that the plan is for them to come at a regular cadence of one major code update per year, with other, incremental updates for specific devices sprinkled in as needed. A particular focus is to do so while delivering devs fully realized hardware and to avoid fragmentation in the code base — making it easier to create BB10 apps.
While he wouldn’t dish details about features coming to BB10 in those updates, Bhardwaj did explain that he’s working on making BB10 a platform particularly suited for use not only in cars, but also in the healthcare and financial services industries. That focus is a part of the mobile computing ethos espoused by CEO Thorsten Heins meant to have BB10 devices be users’ personal, portable computing terminal that is simply plugged into a screen — whether it’s a desktop monitor, a car or somewhere else — that delivers a uniform experience. When asked whether those screens would include TVs, Bhardwaj didn’t rule it out, but he did say that home experiences weren’t a priority because it’s a crowded space and BB10 “is all about getting things done.” As a result, the number one focus is building out a compelling automotive platform, with healthcare and financial services coming in a close second. So, folks thinking BB10 was BlackBerry betting on consumers instead of the enterprise, think again. The more things change, the more they seem to stay the same — at least when the folks in Waterloo are involved.
Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile
May 14
BlackBerry announces BBM channels, gives dedicated messaging streams to brands and users
Posted in: Today's Chili
BlackBerry Live 2013 isn’t just about new phones and OS versions. CEO Thorsten Heins just announced BBM channels, a way for people, companies and brands to provide streams of content in BBM. The new service allows users to search for and subscribe to preferred channels, comment and share posts with friends and also have one-to-one chats with channel administrators. Users can create and curate their own channels as well, with metrics to track the amount of traffic they’re receiving. So, it’s essentially Twitter, only with a decidedly BlackBerry flavor.
Following the initial announcement, Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton appeared onstage to chat a bit more about the new platform and explained that the service will provide his F1 team the ability to communicate more directly and easily with fans. Excited to join Mr. Hamilton on the BBM channel bandwagon? Well, the beta’s available for download now for BlackBerry devices running BB 5 and up, and the full release is slated to arrive later this summer.
Gallery: BBM Channels
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Blackberry
Apr 05
Phones4U taking BlackBerry Q10 pre-orders, giving away PlayBooks to first 300 customers (update)
Posted in: Today's Chili 
Know what’s better than a shiny new BlackBerry Q10? A BlackBerry Q10 with a 64GB PlayBook thrown in for free, and Phones4U is the place to get it. To be clear, the UK retailer has begun taking pre-orders for the BB10 handset with a hardware keyboard today, and the first 300 folks to pledge their money will get one of BlackBerry’s 7-inch slates for free along with it. As for the Q10’s cost, it’s £36 a month on contract or £549.95 SIM-free, with the black model expected to arrive by the end of April and the alabaster version coming in the weeks after.
Update: Should you miss out on the Phones4U deal (or just don’t want a PlayBook), you can head on over to the Carphone Warehouse to place your pre-order and get a free Bluetooth speaker to pair with your Q10 instead.
Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Mobile, Blackberry
Source: Phones4U, Carphone Warehouse
Jan 13
CES 2013: Auto roundup
Posted in: Today's Chili 
Every year at CES, the focus on autos and the tech they’re outfitted with grabs a fair share of the attention in Las Vegas. This installment was no different. While several companies trotted out their latest infotainment wares, the self-driving debate nabbed a prime spot as Toyota and Audi both offered show-and-tells on tech that looks to aid drivers rather than do all of the work for them. As we’ve come to expect, a wealth of infotainment systems were also on display with a couple in particular grabbing our attention. Not to be overlooked, devs received a number of notable invites to create system-specific offerings this time out. For a full rundown of the highlights, read on past the break for a brief synopsis.
Continue reading CES 2013: Auto roundup
Filed under: Transportation
Jan 11
QNX outfits a Bentley Continental GT with Car Platform 2.0, we go hands-on (video)
Posted in: Today's Chili 
Just a few short days ago, QNX announced its Car Platform 2.0 and plans for outfitting developers during the course of the year. Of course, the co-star of that announcement was the Bentley Continental GT concept vehicle that would show off the company’s wares. And that it most certainly did. We moseyed over to the booth and grabbed a few minutes in the driver’s seat to see just what the system could do. First, the visual part of the infotainment arsenal consists of a 17-inch center display and two (7- and 10-inch) MasterImage high pixel density (comparable to Retina) panels in the driver’s side dash. The high-res quality of said surface was immediately apparent and is one of the best in-car units we’ve seen. But, that’s not all. Head on past the break for some observations and a video walkthrough.
Gallery: QNX Car Platform 2.0 hands-on
Continue reading QNX outfits a Bentley Continental GT with Car Platform 2.0, we go hands-on (video)
Filed under: Transportation
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