Could the Blackberry London be the first device to run BBX?

Leeky

Posts: 3,357   +116

Details have begun to emerge of what could be Research in Motion's next generation Blackberry smartphone running the BBX operating system. According to an exclusive by The Verge, the reportedly named Blackberry London will be the first device to launch using the new OS.

Internals are said to include a TI OMAP 1.5GHz dual core processor, 1GB RAM, 16GB of on-board storage, a 2-megapixel front facing camera, and a 8-megapixel camera on its rear. Most of the front bears a reported 3.7" touchscreen display, with no traditional keyboard in sight.

Aesthetically the London is alleged to be thinner than the iPhone 4, with dimensions roughly similar to the Samsung Galaxy S2 Android smartphone. "The phone can be stood straight up on one of its sides (suggesting more boxiness than can be seen in the picture)," said Joshua Topolsky of The Verge. In many respects it actually looks a lot like the Nokia N8, with cues from the BlackBerry Porsche.

The report caused some confusion considering the first rumoured BBX device was said to be named the Blackberry Colt. Another story by BGR appears to have dispelled any uncertainty, however. They confirmed the device was in fact real, according to a trusted source. "Our source told us that the BlackBerry Colt, the first QNX-based handset RIM had been working on that looked just like a smaller PlayBook, was scrapped in favor of the BlackBerry London."

The new smartphone is pinned for a third quarter release in 2012, though that's far from solid given that two of RIM's most vital tools, BES and BBM, are reportedly non-functional with the new BBX software right now.

Research in Motion is clearly hoping this new smartphone and the subsequent BBX devices that follow will bring around a change of fortunes for its phone business. Recent failures of its core services and the huge public outcry that followed have done little to help the current financial concerns they are experiencing.

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I sort of like it..in the picture at least. Who knows what I'd think once i got it in my hand. My only gripe is too much wasted space. Look at all that space in between the aluminum and the screen. Why do manufacturers do that?
 
Princeton said:
They need a new designer. I think that design is friggin ugly.

Yeah because really, who cares how well the device works as long as it's not ugly..
 
butch said:
Princeton said:
They need a new designer. I think that design is friggin ugly.

Yeah because really, who cares how well the device works as long as it's not ugly..

We don't even know how well BBX works. If anything, given RIMs latest attempts at captivating the young adult market with their slide-keyboard phones, complete touchscreen phones, the release of their BB Music service, etc. If I had to guess, I'd say this BBX is going to be yet another failed attempt to look "hip" and appeal to the iPhone/Android crowd.

But then again, I can't because no one has seen this device in action. And that includes you. So we don't know how "well" this works yet.

Alternatively, design, capabilities and price are, arguably, the most important characteristics consumers look for on a device. To say design is irrelevant in consumers' decision-making is moronic at best.
 
butch said:
Princeton said:
They need a new designer. I think that design is friggin ugly.

Yeah because really, who cares how well the device works as long as it's not ugly..

Keep on strawmanning buddy. I never claimed that design was more important than function, you put those words in my mouth. I said the device was unappealing and that will prevent adoption from consumers who do actually care if their devices look good.

Ignoring the fact that your argument is fallacious, we still have logical errors in it relating to your claim about how the device works. If we have not seen RIM fully demonstrate BBX then it must be assumed that it is functionally equivalent to their previous OS, which is horrible, until shown otherwise.
 
Based on that picture alone, I think it's drop-dead gorgeous. Very industrial, and purposeful.

I'd expect a keyboard model will be out, and this is the consumer oriented device. I just hope RIM keeps things simple. Having the Bold, three Torch variants, and the Curve is silly. I think there should only be two product lines.

QNX is nice enough to use, but it still needs improvement to match iOS. Hopefully RIM is taking a lot of feedback to make BBX the game-changer it needs to be.
 
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