[Dubdub]

From Phonescoop.com

According to sources cited by the Wall Street Journal, Research In Motion is prepared to announce as early as next week a new tablet-style computing device. The Journal says that rather than RIM's new BlackBerry 6 operating system, the tablet will run a brand new operating system developed by QNX Software, which RIM acquired earlier this year. RIM will eventually transition its BlackBerry smartphones from the existing operating system to this new OS from QNX at some point in the future. Of the tablet, the Journal reports that it will have a seven-inch screen and Wi-Fi, but will only be able access cellular data via a tethered BlackBerry device. Sources familiar with QNX's software called it "a worthy competitor" to Apple's iOS and Google's Android platforms. RIM has scheduled a developer conference in San Francisco for the week of September 26.

RIM Prepping New OS for BlackBerries and Tablet (Phone Scoop)

[bostonnerd]

Wow, forgot about that acquisition. QNX is one of the "gold standards" in the RTOS embedded systems space. Bullet proof real time OS that's heavy on kernel security. Mature multitasking, multithreaded OS environment. Used in everything from BMWs to Nuclear power plants. Built from the ground up for embedded processor applications.

Forget the tablet, I wonder how quickly they can port it to a Smartphone!!

[akosnitzky]

Interesting. I am not sure the timing is right for this. I think they are a year late

[bostonnerd]

Originally Posted by akosnitzky

Interesting. I am not sure the timing is right for this. I think they are a year late

Agreed on that point. The tablet will be nothing more than an expensive proof of concept for the OS.

[ArgonNJ]

It's about time. Hopefully it won't be too little, too late.

[jimfraser]

The front page of this morning's business section of the Globe & Mail also reported on the tablet and new operating sustem. I found the note on the new operating system more noteworthy. It looks like OS 6 may be obsolete before it has been out there for long. (In fact only a few devices, those 9800s from AT&T have it. The 9800, as far as I am aware are not available from any other carrier. Bell and Telus, and possibly Rogers in Canada, have postponed there previously announced Sept 24 launch of the 9800.)
Hope that recent Blackberrys such as the 9700 and 9800 will be able to run the new OS from QNX.
Glad to hear that QNX writes "gold standard" software. I was worried that RIM in a bid to compete against Apple in the consumer market, abandoned the business and government market, which currently relys on the security offered by the current RIM OS, that Apple and Android cannot touch.

[knottyrope]

They will have at least one sale from me.

[Dubdub]

Make it 2 for the Black/SurfPad.

[lacroixn]

Make it 3
Posted via BlackBerryForums.com Mobile

[JSanders]

Do i hear four?
I do!

[NJBlackBerry]

Already getting calls/e-mails from customers asking when they can order this...

And it is about 3 months late. Of course the Cisco Cius (their slate/pad) won't be available until March.

[alphabetagamma]

Here is another article:

RIM's launch of the tablet will usher in a new OS in the tablet segment adding to the Android and iOS platforms already in use. It is touted that RIM is experimenting with QNX OS on a tablet before migrating its other devices from the BlackBerry 6 OS.

RIM bought QNX Software Systems, a maker of real-time operating system, in April 2010. BlackBerry has been looking to move away from its BlackBerry OS which has not been a favored platform for developers due to the presence of legacy codes.

BlackBerry is a closed platform integrated around BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES) and it also uses a proprietary web browser which slows down adoption of other web technologies. However, when this architecture is stretched to the new smartphone market, it poses lack of flexibility as revealed by the limitations of its BlackBerry Torch.

Thus instead of building an OS ground-up it has ushered in QNX OS which is a robust system used in army tanks and medical equipment. It also gives RIM an opportunity to create an ecosystem of developers to create apps for BlackBerry phones and tablets. It recently bought DataViz, developers of Documents To Go app, underscoring RIM's focus on developing a strong app portfolio.

I can't post the link yet. This is my first post.

[jnyost]

I'll buy it and sell my iPad.