Affiliate Disclosure
If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Read our ethics policy.

RIM sees PlayBook OS as 10-year future for smartphones, tablets

Research in Motion co-CEO Mike Lazaridis revealed Tuesday that the QNX-based BlackBerry Tablet OS in the upcoming PlayBook tablet will eventually make its way onto multi-core BlackBerry smartphones and different-sized tablets over the next ten years.

Lazaridis discussed the BlackBerry maker's plans Tuesday with Walt Mossberg and Kara Swisher at the D: Dive Into Mobile conference in San Francisco, Calif., All Things Digital reports.

To kick off the onstage interview, Lazaridis showed off the upcoming PlayBook tablet, which he called "the perfect size." When questioned by Mossberg whether RIM is working on any other sizes, Lazaridis acknowledged the company's plans for different sizes.

Lazaridis emphasized that RIM is betting heavily on the PlayBook and its BlackBerry Tablet OS. "This is a complete mobile computing platform," said Lazaridis. "All of this is coming together to set up BlackBerry for the next decade."

According to Lazaridis, the 7-inch PlayBook, which RIM unveiled in September, is still "tracking" for a first quarter launch.

As RIM's smartphones begin to include multi-core processors, "they'll all be running the Playbook platform," said Lazaridis, who believes the PlayBook OS will help RIM "jump into the next decade of mobile computing."

When questioned whether RIM was leaving behind BlackBerry phones by moving ahead with next generation technology in tablets, Lazaridis emphasized RIM's global strategy. RIM won't abandon developing markets that have yet to reach 3G or 4G and can't afford high-end stuff, he explained.

Lazaridis also claimed during the interview that the BlackBerry began appealing to consumers by itself. "We didn't go out and try to make BlackBerry a consumer device. It crossed over on its own," he said.

RIM and Apple's strategies differ, according to Lazaridis. Apple is trying to upgrade a mobile phone OS for tablets, while RIM is starting with a "bona-fide mobile computing platform" for tablets, he asserted.

Referencing the iPad's lack of Adobe Flash compatibility, Lazaridis asked, "Why would you limit yourself?" In November, RIM posted a comparison video between the iPad and the PlayBook, touting the PlayBook's ability to run Flash.

The competition between Apple and RIM has increased as RIM prepares to enter the tablet market, in which Apple has taken a substantial early lead.

In October Apple CEO Steve Jobs asserted that many 7-inch tablets would be dead on arrival. RIM co-CEO Jim Balsillie responded, claiming that "many customers are getting tired of being told what to think by Apple."



133 Comments

tnsf 15 Years · 203 comments

I can't wait for Jobs to introduce iPad 2. He is going to get in so many digs about the competition... its going to be hilarious!!

drdoppio 15 Years · 1129 comments

Quote:
Originally Posted by AppleInsider

...RIM co-CEO Jim Balsillie responded, claiming that "many customers are getting tired of being told what to think by Apple."

Oh yeah? I don't think so, Jim Balsillie.

Quote:
Originally Posted by TNSF

I can't wait for Jobs to introduce iPad 2. He is going to get in so many digs about the competition... its going to be hilarious!!

solipsism 19 Years · 25701 comments

Quote:
Originally Posted by AppleInsider

RIM and Apple's strategies differ, according to Lazaridis. Apple is trying to upgrade a mobile phone OS for tablets, while RIM is starting with a "bona-fide mobile computing platform" for tablets, he asserted.

Except that iOS came from Mac OS X and that iOS for iPad uses a completely rethought UI that is idealized for the display I/O.

I think RiM?s plan with QNX and, to a degree, Adobe AIR are considerably more sound than using a desktop OS or using Android 2.x on a tablet, they are acting way to cocky for a product that hasn?t proven to be viable in the market. I?m rooting for them a little less than before these quotes from Lazaridis.

Quote:
Referencing the iPad's lack of Adobe Flash compatibility, Lazaridis asked, "Why would you limit yourself?" In November, RIM posted a comparison video between the iPad and the PlayBook, touting the PlayBook's ability to run Flash.

I don?t know about anyone else, but I don?t want to limit myself so I keep Adobe Flash disabled as much as possible so I can maximize the use of my battery, which I find is far more important than potentially trying to view a video from a site that is only in Flash.

I wonder how well the Blackberry phones are going to take being a digital hub streaming from carrier to WiFi for PlayBooks. That seems to eat through tiny cellphone batteries in no time.

wil maneker 19 Years · 47 comments

So RIM incorporates touch-based control with flash in addition to having a few, bland, "tricks" up their sleeve and thinks they have the next decade of 'mobile' computing figured out?

Awesome, I want a job there: " imagine a future where you have THREE hands!!!! I bet Apple hasnt thought of that yet"

CEO: "see that it is done! I want to one-up Jobs. And make certain that a flash-version of MahJong is seen operating as a background task!"

End product: the same blackberry that was available last year with new voice commands and a suede belt clip.

fuwafuwa 15 Years · 163 comments

I'm not sure RiM is still in business after 10 years.