[xXxKratosxXx]

My roomate works for RIM, and he said tommorow they will get to see the rumoured BB10 devices. However, they aren't allowed to take any pictures. But I will try to give a summary of everything he sees tommorow!

Maybe some RIM employees can spill some info tommorow? This is in Ottawa, Ontario btw.

EDIT: UPDATE !


Here is the update I promised, I hope you like it

The meeting was basically a new way to improve employee relations in RIM. RIM has realized that too much of its employee has not been kept in touch with what’s truly going on, so expect more meeting and employee showcases.
There were about 200 people, and many of RIM’s executives were there (not the CEO though). There was only ONE device, and an executive had it. It was not for demo, in the sense you could go up close and play with it. (Sorry, I don’t know who it was). The device from far was a full screen black touch device.

Here is the interesting stuff. So the person who had the device, apologies once again for not knowing the name, connected it to a projector. It is TOTALLY DIFFERENT from the Playbook and current OS7, in terms of UI. In fact, it’s actually more similar to Windows Phone 7. There were 4 panels, which contained stuff like email. You can swipe on the panel and it will take you to the respective screen. Not much else detail was gone into this. The inbox is very similar to what is shown in the upcoming Playbook messages. It can be integrated with Facebook, Twitter and such.

The speaker said the new devices will have a much better camera, and it will come with image editing software preloaded on the phone. The phones will all have the same aspect ratio. He addressed the fact that the current phones have different resolutions which are providing problems to developers. These phones will run Playbook apps, and Playbook will run these apps without a problem. No talk about Android though.

The device is still nowhere close to being released, and everything shown today was basically a demo. However, my roommate said it looked incredibly promising and the UI simply looked amazing and productive. RIM wants to get one phone by the end of this year, and more phones next year (but we already knew that). No mention of a keyboard phone.
RIM is working very hard on getting more apps. They said already a great number of Android apps have been registered, and RIM wants to emphasize quality over quantity.

A playbook release date was not given, nor any mention of OS2.

One last thing I should mention. Expect RIM to be VERY tight-lipped about everything to come. They acknowledged the fact they made mistakes by annoucing dates too soon and not delivering. According to them, not giving any premature information will save them a lot of hassle down the road.

Once again, the device is still in development. Things will change. But so far, things are sexy.

[Korepab]

Keep us updated Kratos!!!!

[buckwylder]

Nice work kratos

[shn'g]

oh nice so that means at least we should see these fairly soon right?

[mithrazor]

oh nice so that means at least we should see these fairly soon right?

Mobile World Congress. If not then, I'd say BBWorld. I say it would be better if they show it off to the public during BBWorld. It would be closer to its release.

I wouldn't like it if they showed it at MWC then the buzz dies down. Then they have to do the marketing over again. From BBWorld to release should be the perfect window to have buzz and not have it die down.

[world traveler and former ceo]

they should show it in a formal public setting when it is close to production release .. not 6 months ahead of it ...

[BEARD GANG]

Devices ??? Isn't it only the London... Come on get him to sneak in a pic or something lol

[greatwiseone]

Probably BB World. Don't think they'll be able to show phones off at MWC. Pretty exciting if it's true!

[fernandez21]

Be sure ask him if they will use bezel gestures like on the PlayBook, or a gesture area like webos. And how large a screen they"ll have, specifically on the slider if they show him that.

[Rootbrian]

Excited to hear the results! Keep it to this thread, i'll be waiting excitedly...

[byul]

ohh that secret woaah it's soo exciting hope to see/hear more sneak previews.

[Sith_Apprentice]

Devices ??? Isn't it only the London... Come on get him to sneak in a pic or something lol

RIM is very serious about their employees not showing pictures or being able to take them. If it is in the NPI room at the Waterloo plant there are no electronics allowed inside, no cameras, nada. They will have to wear lab coats and anti-static straps on shows and gloves if they touch it.

[sam_b77]

RIM is very serious about their employees not showing pictures or being able to take them. If it is in the NPI room at the Waterloo plant there are no electronics allowed inside, no cameras, nada. They will have to wear lab coats and anti-static straps on shows and gloves if they touch it.

I love all this James Bond stuff. British accent ON " I'm Heins, Thorsten Heins"

[drjay868]

RIM is very serious about their employees not showing pictures or being able to take them. If it is in the NPI room at the Waterloo plant there are no electronics allowed inside, no cameras, nada. They will have to wear lab coats and anti-static straps on shows and gloves if they touch it.

I get the special room, electronics ban, and even lab coats (easy to see if someone tries to sneak a pic from a camera half out of a pocket), but why the static straps? If the device is finished enough to hold it and play with software, shouldn't it be able to handle static? Would they bother passing around the hardware without a case (just the board, chips, and screen)?

[Sith_Apprentice]

I get the special room, electronics ban, and even lab coats (easy to see if someone tries to sneak a pic from a camera half out of a pocket), but why the static straps? If the device is finished enough to hold it and play with software, shouldn't it be able to handle static? Would they bother passing around the hardware without a case (just the board, chips, and screen)?

To get to the NPI room you go into the production area haha. There are also security "gates" getting into the area as well.

[emirozmen]

Dont expect too much info, guys.

[OMGitworks]

If this is true, and I hope it is, why didn't they show them off at the European Dev Con??? If so, RIMM missed another chance to get some "free" marketing and build a little excitement.

[anthogag]

I hear people going into the room are blind-folded, so they don't actually see it...and they play really loud music and constantly spin you around

[xXxKratosxXx]

Alright, it's at 9:30am guys. I promise to give you as much as information he gives me once I see him after work. Maybe I'll email him, but I don't want to get him into any trouble so no pictures.

Is there anyone who knows more people who work at the Kanata office?

[leafs123]

Guess you're right. Alec's twitter.

Alec Saunders @asaunders Reply Retweet Favorite · Open
Big day at the HQ! (@ QNX World Headquarters) 4sq.com/AuXiRh

[kraski]

I get the special room, electronics ban, and even lab coats (easy to see if someone tries to sneak a pic from a camera half out of a pocket), but why the static straps? If the device is finished enough to hold it and play with software, shouldn't it be able to handle static? Would they bother passing around the hardware without a case (just the board, chips, and screen)?

If production really is delayed because of LTE chips, they don't want the prototypes getting zapped by static. That's pretty common with both prototype rooms and production areas.

[BEARD GANG]

Never have I been more excited about blackberry

[manofice1]

just have employee's go through medal detectors also to ensure no cameras get through

[BEARD GANG]

I love all this James Bond stuff. British accent ON " I'm Heins, Thorsten Heins"

Lol yh I'm getting these same thoughts

[bbqkid8]

Shoot your friend an email... you know how impatient Crackberry nation can be :P