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BlackBerry has officially launched its next-generation BB10 mobile operating system, revealing the software at a global launch event designed to drum up hype for the devices that will hopefully save the ailing company. Based around the real-time QNX operating system, first adopted by RIM for the company’s BlackBerry PlayBook business tablet, BlackBerry 10 is designed to bring the company’s brand into the 21st century as it sees increasing numbers of consumers abandoning their BlackBerry handsets for devices from Google, Apple and Microsoft. BB10 ditches physical buttons for a touch-screen interface, with a grid-based system of icons that should be immediately familiar to any iPhone 5 owner. There’s no home button – apps are opened, switched and closed using swipes in a design BlackBerry is calling Flow.
BB10 is a major departure from previous BlackBerry operating systems, and has some vast differences to Android and iOS, so we won’t know how well it will be received with customers until BB10 devices go on sale. We’ll have to wait until later this week when the Z10 launches in the UK and we get our hands on one to bring you our in-depth impressions.
