I read it. I understand. BB10 is likely to disappear, but I'm ok with that as long as the company doesn't. I have a priv and a passport (z30 is retired). I'm happy with both.
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I read it. I understand. BB10 is likely to disappear, but I'm ok with that as long as the company doesn't. I have a priv and a passport (z30 is retired). I'm happy with both.
When BlackBerry starts hiring programmers for BB10 instead of laying them off, then i'll believe that BB10 has a future. Until then, keep that ventilator running!
BlackBerry Classic non-camera, Cricket Wireless
So, did RIM fire all of their Java coders, only to hire an entirely new group to work with C/C++ since BB10 no longer supported Java? And did they again hire an entirely new group to once again work in Java when they decided to go Android on BlackBerry?
They no doubt laid off programmers, but seriously, the core of their programmers are likely to be a group that worked on BBOS and BB10 as well.
Consumer BB10 has been dead for a while but like any business they will continue to sell it to whomever wants to buy it. I see BB10 existing only in high security communication in government and military until such time as BlackBerry security in Android is comparable to BB10 then it's gone forever. Too bad because the software is excellent there was just not enough uptake.
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Don't take it personally. I meant with the OP and the rest of the commentary.
Posted via my BlackBerry Passport
Are you a programmer? No all programming languages can carry forward when changing from a programming language like Java to C/C++ and back. I know many a good Java programmer who gets lost in C/C++ code especially when it comes to pointers. Their code is always buggy and crashed as they don't understand the finer points of C/C++. But all you do is to track the following page.
https://bb.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/BlackBerry/jobs
I have been following the page and you can see the direction of the company. You saw a lot of postings for C/C++ developers when they were moving to BB10 at the same time they were laying off programmers so you know that they were most likely Java programmers. Then you saw them lay off a lot of developers about a year ago and hiring iOS and Android programmers. That told you where they are headed. Just follow the layoffs and job postings at a company to see where management is heading.
I actually go back and forth between Java and C/C++ all the time. Actually you can throw a double handful of other languages in there as well. A good Java programmer who can't be a good C/C++ programmer because they can't learn how to use pointers correctly probably needs some intensive training.
I agree. Sometimes companies don't have time to intensively train programmers so they lay them off and get people who are comfortable. I disagree with that, but it happens. But programmers who are "old school" and began with pointers can more easily move from language to language vs those who have no clue to what pointers are and how to work with them safely.
Yes pretty much. They would keep a sustaining team for the legacy OS and hire a new team for BB10. A small number would make the transition but not the majority and it would have little to do with technical ability.
Yes pretty much.
The workhorse core programmers won't be on the sustaining team.
The system guys would be mostly gone the application guys not so much.
You might keep a tiny number of system guys with golden handcuffs but most of them would be off to new challenges PDQ.
No, I am not a programmer. If you are going to use that information to discount my post keep these in mind:
1. I am also not a physicist but I can grasp the basic principles of flight/aerodynamics. While I might not be able to help design a new type of wing I can surely follow along, more or less, in a conversation on such a topic. At the very least, I know where (for the most part) to look for information and when to do so as needed. That does not make me expert by any stretch of the imagination, and my postings here are opinions, yes, but my opinions are backed up by facts.
2. My post was in part sarcasm (BlackBerry having to re/hire those originally let go), in part making the statement, and in part asking the question. Has not Michael Clewley been at RIM/BlackBerry for quite some time? Surely he is not the only one.
As for hiring iOS and Android devs; if they are wanting to go cross platform with their apps then who better to bring on board?
I see just as many "old school" programmers who can't handle new languages as visa versa. Simply evidence that programmers are a subset of humanity and not some offshoot endowed with super powers.
This does lead to a national churn, but is scant evidence a company that is hiring and firing has let their core people go to the point that they only have mediocre devs who can't pick up a new code base and work with it. Just since the Priv was announced I've taken on more than a half dozen new projects using C/C++, Java, JavaScript, Perl (which has some wicked new features), Python, PHP, SQL and of course Unix shell. Being a programmer is like being a linguist. Only knowing a couple languages is ok when you are in school. If you aren't learning a new language each year and exploring a ne paradigm every few years you will quickly become unemployable. Or only employable for short term help. If you are waiting for your employer to decide what skills they need tomorrow, you are going to be too late.
LeapSTR100-2/10.3.2.2639
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHxAuCjiDlA
You had to be there... ;)
Well, there is more than bug fixes in latest 10.3.2 leak. Foursquare app has been updated with buttons that have a different look-and-feel. So who knows what 10.3.3 might bring. No major features but maybe some updated design stuff, like they did the Foursquare app in the current leak.
Posted via CB10 using BlackBerry Passport (OG Red)
Should os10 be killed, (and I doubt it will be any time soon) could a group of elite programmers be formed to keep it alive and eventually release os 11 and so on?
Posted via my BlackBerry Passport
Not unless BlackBerry open sources BB10.
Edit: but even then it wouldn't be of much use for the true BlackBerry phones as you wouldn't be able to flash your BlackBerry phone with something that's not signed by BlackBerry themselves.
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Yes, its embarrassing as heck, but any of us who have bought a BB10 device in the past year have to admit that we have been "PlayBooked." :D
I bought mine knowing that there would be limited support for the os. In fact, I chose the passport over the priv.
Posted via my BlackBerry Passport
Me too, but I am a confirmed BBM (BlackBerry Masochist). :D
How large?
That's the problem, isn't it? If BB10 were really used by a very large group of anybody, we wouldn't be having this discussion. It would be profitable and BlackBerry wouldn't be making Android phones. The more accurate statement is, "10.3 is used by a very small group of professionals", and others. Yes, it's used in some government settings, but unless those governments are willing to subsidize the production of new BB10 devices, their "need" for BB10 isn't enough to make BB10 profitable. If it were, again, we wouldn't be having this discussion.
There is some definite end to functionality at some point because every operating system has components that it licenses from other software companies, for example, audio and video encoding algorithms. That prevents the complete OS from being open-sourced and also means that the licenses will eventually expire unless renewed.
This is a good and solid argument... and yes I also have been reading a lot of stuff from BlackBerry people regarding pushing whoever they can into Priv / Android. Not sure what is going to happen. Personally, I believe that they could keep moving with a dual OS strategy as Priv / Android sales will help them a lot to finance this. Remember, there is no need to develop Android, so they just need to fund QNX based BB10 and BlackBerry Apps and technologies into Android, besides, of course, all the main corporate systems and solutions they have.
We will see......I am not moving to Android. My eco system is based on a dual phone strategy.. BB10 and iPhone. I don't have or suffer any "app gap"
Best regards!
Leo
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BB10 is looking more and more like OS/2 did in the mid 1990s.
- Near 0% consumer marketshare
- Technically very strong
- Long slow phase out in the corporate/government space where it was mission critical for some enterprises.
Posted via CB10
If you're happy now with BB10 and existing devices, and not dependent on Android apps, you should be good for at least a year, and maybe as many as 3-5 years.
I am actually buying a Z30 today over The Priv. A friend is selling me one of the two he had bought from BlackBerry a few months back. BB10 over any other Smartphones out there.
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Just reading this thread makes me sick. It may phase out. But i seriously don't want to hear about it.
Coming from an android because i wanted a physical keyboard, I usually like when my operating system is well supported and in good shape, But looking at all those threads and answers makes me super sick and wanting to go back.
So please, Have hope. Lets keep our hopes and end of story. Got a friend who works at blackberry? Tell Em to keep OS10 alive (even though it may not matter). End of rant.
Chen has been pretty straight forward about the handset business. It is very low margin and the space in the other OSs is crowded. The PRIV is the last chance for BlackBerry to remain in the handset business.
Chen already thinks there are now sufficient alternative secure handsets from other suppliers out there that he would not be reluctant to drop handsets altogether (and thus BB10) and finish the conversion to a software only business model. What kept the handset business going this long was the cash it would bring in. Market share is now so small that the cash infusion is no longer worthwhile unless the PRIV can make a significant dent in the high-end category.
Blackberry is releasing its third quarter results tomorrow (Friday December 18th, 2015) along with PRIV sales figures. Chen has already stated that if the PRIV is not the success he needs, then he will be exiting the handset business altogether. We should know the future of this category and probably BB10 OS tomorrow morning.
I don't blame Chen for the tough decisions he has to make. He wants Blackberry to succeed and has the credentials and track record to do so. He can't do this by hanging on to money-losing divisions. Blackberry is but a shadow of its former self and must find its niche in order to remain viable. Chen has identified the software side as the solution but revenues, though positive, have been relatively modest and slow to grow. Perhaps Blackberry will become great again but the odds are really stacked against that outcome.