QNX is a leader when it comes to infotainment in vehicles. The RIM owned company is a driving force in-vehicle innovation and they don’t plan on stopping anytime soon. The latest push they are making is with the release of QNX CAR Platform 2.0. They are showing off the platform at CES 2013. Read all about QNX CAR 2.0 in the Press Release below.

Press Release

QNX Announces Release of QNX CAR Platform 2.0

Platform already being adopted by automotive community for next-generation infotainment systems

LAS VEGAS, 2013 International CES (North Hall, Booth 1837), January 8 — QNX Software Systems Limited, a global leader in software platforms for in-car electronics, today announced that a release of the QNX CAR™ application platform 2.0 and of its associated tooling environment, the QNX CAR™ development platform 2.0, is now available to the automotive community.

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While the BlackBerry L-series has seen it’s fair share of leaks onto the World Wide Web, the QWERTY BlackBerry 10 has been quite shy. Well, that is until now. Today Nerd Berry leaked the first images of the all new QWERTY BlackBerry 10 Device that is now going by the marketing name X10. The X10 features the new BlackBerry 10 OS, a touch screen, as well as BlackBerrys traditional physical keyboard. While there’s only one image now, we’re sure more are to follow.

Source : NerdBerry

RIM has said many times that porting an Android app over to the QNX BlackBerry environment is an easy task. They built it that way on purpose. Today, Pinelake Communications is reaffirming RIM’s claims that app porting is very easy for BlackBerry OS. In the latest BlackBerry Developer Success Story featured on the Inside BlackBerry Developer Blog, Pinelake discusses porting their successful Android app, Cubifice, over to the BlackBerry PlayBook and BlackBerry 10 OS. If you want to check out the full story on Pinelake’s app porting adventure, hit the link below to check it out.

• Read Pinelake Communications’ Developer Success Story

RIM has, as promised, just released the Beta version of OS 2.1 for the BlackBerry PlayBook. The Beta version brings tons of new features and improvements to the PlayBook and it promises more to come in the commercial release. The new features included with the beta are:

• Improved web browsing and HTML5 handling
• Each Android app will run in its own window
• Android apps can now access the cameras
• In-App payments are now supported for Android apps
• Portrait support for Email, Contacts, and Calendar apps
• Full device encryption
• Improved folder and IMAP folder support

That’s a pretty nice list. This Beta update really shows where RIM has its PlayBook focus right now, and that is performance. The browser performance is drastically improved, adding 18 points to the already stellar HTML5 test result. Android applications see lots of improvements for both developers and the end user. Portrait PIM support is another thing users have been begging for. All in all, this seems to be a great Beta, and with the promise of more features in the commercial release, the PlayBook OS looks to be headed in the right direction. Developers can download the simulators or register their PlayBook for the Beta at the links below.

• Download the PlayBook OS 2.1 Simulator for Windows
• Download the PlayBook OS 2.1 Simulator for Mac
• Register your PlayBook for the OS 2.1 Beta

A new photo collage has hit the internet today and it claims to show the packaging and design of the forst BlackBerry 10 device. As we know, the device is codenamed the “London” and we have seen this same device image leaked before. This image shows the box for the London from multiple angles. While this could be a legitimate box, I’m betting we don’t see the device ship in this come October-November of this year. Even more likely, this could be the BlackBerry 10 Dev Alpha device that RIM plans to hand out to developers at the BlackBerry 10 Jam. Only time will tell. Maybe we’ll know next week, or maybe not till late this year, who really knows with RIM these days?

Source : CrackBerry

If you’ve been checking your BlackBerry PlayBook every morning for a software update, then I have some great news for you! Be sure to check it today because an update is now available. The update brings the PlayBook to OS version 2.0.1.358 and it brings the following new features:

• Browser enhancements to address performance with some websites
• Improvements to support Android apps
• Optimizations to Video Chat, PIM and BlackBerry Bridge applications
• And much more!

In addition to the mentioned changes, RIM has also included the Zinio Magazine Reader application in this update. It’s a great way to subscribe and read magazines and I recommend checking it out. To get the update, tap into Settings ->Software Updates and hit “check for update.” The download is 354 MB, so there should be lots of goodies in this one for us to play around with.

Source : Inside BlackBerry

Today, RIM has rolled out the carpet for a full-scale launch of BlackBerry Mobile Fusion. They have published an official Press Release announcing it’s full availability, which you can view past the break. This full-scale launch builds on the limited launch of BlackBerry Mobile Fusion that came with the launch of PlayBook OS 2.0.

Now, support is not only available for BlackBerry-branded Smartphones and Tablets, but for iOS and Android devices as well. The latest version of BlackBerry Mobile Fusion includes Universal Device Service, the platform that will allow IT Administrators to manage all of these devices on one system. This is a big step for RIM and a great option for businesses looking to mix device brands. Read on for the Press Release.

• Check out BlackBerry Mobile Fusion Here

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Source : Inside BlackBerry

RIM’s CEO, Thorsten Heins, came onto today’s earnings call to discuss a few things with the BlackBerry Nation. One thing he touched on was the BlackBerry PlayBook adoption rate. RIM has shipped over 500,000 PlayBooks in this last quarter and that there are now over 1 Million BlackBerry PlayBooks users around the world. This is a good achievement for RIM and PlayBook adoption will help drive smartphone adoption when BlackBerry 10 hits.

Another topic Heins touched on was BlackBerry 10. He reassured investors that BlackBerry 10 device development is still going according to schedule. The development cycle is nearing completion and the devices will begin hitting carriers this summer for Carrier Acceptance Testing, a process that takes a few months. He also reiterated a point we have heard many times in recent months, BlackBerry 10 will be hitting store shelves and getting into consumer hands sometime late in calendar year 2012.

Since the DingleBerry Jailbreak, or Root as it’s technically called, hit the PlayBook, RIM has been playing cat and mouse with the jailbreakers. Each version of the jailbreak has been quickly addressed and patched by the team at RIM. We know that the Java-based BlackBerry OS was and is nearly impenetrable; however, with QNX on the PlayBook and BlackBerry 10, managing the jailbreak is a new task for RIM.

RIM has released an official post on the Inside BlackBerry Business Blog detailing a few important things about the jailbreak. First, RIM introduces us to the team that deals with patching jailbreaks, the BlackBerry Security Incident Response Team. This unit is set up to confirm and then patch any security-related issues that come up on BlackBerry Products. Then they describe exactly what jailbreaking is and how it’s done. Lastly, they hit us with the big news.

“RIM recommends against installing any jailbreaking tool. Customers who use a jailbreaking tool on BlackBerry products void the manufacturer warranty and also increase the long-term risk of negatively impacting the stability and user experience of their BlackBerry products”

So there you have it, straight from the BlackBerry vine. Jailbreaking is not only frowned upon by RIM, they have taken it so far as to void your warranty if you’re caught. RIM is pretty serious about keeping up their image of security and they plan to stop users from jailbreaking, even if we want to. What do you think, BerryFix Nation, about RIM’s new policy on the jailbreak?

Source : BlackBerry Business Blog

This morning at Mobile World Congress, Tim Neil, Director of Application, Platform, and Tools Product Management at RIM, went over the BlackBerry Platform Roadmap. The roadmap starts all the way back with BlackBerry OS 5, where HTML 5 integration first came to the BlackBerry Platform. Development for BlackBerry OS 5, 6, and 7 all use both Java and HTML 5 as the basis for development.

With the PlayBook; however, RIM changed up the available development platforms for BlackBerry. HTML 5 is still included, but Java is now a thing of the past. The other development platforms for the PlayBook and OS 2.o include QNX Native and Adobe AIR and Flash. When BlackBerry 10 launches for both Smartphones and the PlayBook, it will allow for development with all the current developer tools and it will add in the new, TAT-designed, Cascades UI Framework that we have seen RIM demo in the past.

Read on past the break for more information on what’s coming with BlackBerry 10.

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RIM promised to release an official version of BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 in February. Today is February 21st and RIM has made good on that promise. The official version of the QNX-based, BlackBerry PlayBook OS is now 2.0 and is available via software update on your PlayBook. This is the big update that we’ve all been waiting for and it includes the following:

• Redesigned UI
• Built-in Email
• Android Application Player
• Built-in Contacts and Calendar
• Unified Inbox with Social Feed Integration
• Updated Native PlayBook Applications
• Much, Much More

If you’re looking to upgrade your PlayBook to the official OS 2.0, you’ll just need to open the system menu on your PlayBook by tapping the gear in the upper right-hand corner, tap on “Software Updates,” and tap “Check for Updates.” Your PlayBook should find the OS 2.0 update and prompt you to install. Just let it download and enjoy your “brand new” PlayBook with OS 2.0. The full press release can be found after the break.

New OS delivers an enriched user experience for BlackBerry PlayBook tablet users

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As you may know, RIM kicked of the BlackBerry Devcon in the Europe this morning with the opening keynote. While they didn’t announce the launch date for the much anticipated update to the BlackBerry PlayBook, Alec Saunders did give us a glimpse on just how well RIM’s PlayBook update system was working.

RIM said that within a month of a newly released OS for the PlayBook, 90% of owners have upgraded the latest OS, a stat that definitely gives developers a confidence boost. By having such a large number of users updating so quickly, developers won’t have to worry about compatibly as much with older operating systems. Keep it locked to TheBerryFix.com to get all the info from BlackBerry Devcon Europe.

Yesterday, RIM announced that they would be giving a free PlayBook tablet to all Android developers who submit an app into App World before February 13th. Today, Alec Saunders, RIMs VP of Media Relations, has announced that ANY developer that submits a PlayBook app by that date is eligible for a free PlayBook. This offer is open to all developers in any country. Hit the link below for all the details and then get to coding!

• Learn more about the Free PlayBook offer

Looks as though RIM is pushing an updated version of the BlackBerry PlayBook developer preview through the BlackBerry Jam Zone. There isn’t much known about the update at this point but it is a fair increase from the last build. If you’re running OS 2.0 on your PlayBook you will have to re-register your device with RIM before the update will be made available. To do so just follow the link below and you’ll be directed to the right place. Let us know what you find in the comments below.

• Register your PlayBook with the 2.0 Developer preview program

Source : CrackBerry

Oh, the rumors keep circling RIM like sharks, and the latest rumor comes from BGR’s Jonathan Geller. In this latest rumor Geller goes on to say that his trusted sources have informed him that RIM is looking to sell off part, or all of their company to the best candidate. Apparently, according to the trusted sources, that is Samsung.

While RIM has firmly said that they are not looking to sell the company and believe that BlackBerry 10 and what they have in the pipes will “leap-frog the competition”, this isn’t the first time we’ve seen a few rumors from trusted sources that are familiar with the matter make comments. Now looking at the this one in particular, I’m going to have to say it’ll be a cold day in Canada when RIM sells to another company. It’s the Canadian passion, and you heard it from the rumors of the Amazon buyout, RIM isn’t looking to sell the company and I don’t think anything has changed. We’ve reached out to RIM for a comment on this, though they were not immediately available for a comment. Sound off in the comments with your thoughts, curious to read what the BlackBerry Nation has to say about this.

Source : BGR