QNX Acquired by Harman

QNX Acquired by Harman

OTTAWA & WASHINGTON, October 27, 2004 - QNX Software Systems
today announced it has accepted an offer of purchase from
Harman International Industries, Incorporated (NYSE: HAR).
As the newest subsidiary in Harman International�s family of
premium brands, including Harman Kardon, JBL, and Becker,
QNX will now be well-positioned to accelerate its growth
toward becoming the preferred operating system for advanced
embedded applications.

Of key value to Harman International is the QNX Neutrino
realtime operating system (RTOS), the company�s flagship
product. QNX Neutrino is widely held as the world�s most
advanced operating system and is ideally suited for the next
generation of complex computing devices in many markets.
Both QNX and Harman see an expanding role for the RTOS and,
within the automotive market in particular, share a vision
for establishing QNX Neutrino as the de facto standard for
the industry. By bringing QNX under the Harman umbrella,
both companies will be able to contribute to this process,
speeding the pace of innovation in the industry.

The agreement comes at a time when sophisticated software
systems are becoming the cornerstone of a steadily
increasing number of integrated devices, ranging from
infotainment systems to smart phones to networking gear.
Maintaining leadership in operating system technology
requires a continued commitment to innovation, strategic
partnerships, industry standards, and intensive customer
support. With Harman as a parent company, QNX will continue
its leadership in all of these critical areas, pushing the
industry forward as a whole and ensuring that its entire
customer base benefits from its new resources and influence.

Under the terms of the agreement, QNX will operate as a
separate division led by its existing management team,
including co-founder and CEO Dan Dodge. All of QNX�s offices
and operations will stay in place and continue to be
dedicated to serving and growing QNX�s target markets,
including automotive, networking, medical instrumentation,
and industrial control. As is the established practice in
other Harman International subsidiaries, QNX will continue
to provide advanced software and engineering services to all
of its existing customers, including Harman�s competitors.

"My vision for QNX remains steadfast. We will remain the top
brand for OS reliability, the proving ground for innovation,
and a fiercely customer-centric organization," said Dan
Dodge, CEO of QNX. "Together with Harman, we will continue
our leadership, setting new standards for performance and
reliability that will benefit embedded developers, OEMs, and
consumers across all industries."

"With its deep experience in the automotive, networking,
medical, and general embedded markets, QNX brings a rich
portfolio of technology and expertise to the Harman family,
creating new synergies and market opportunities," said
Bernard Girod, CEO of Harman International Inc. "We are
excited to contribute to QNX�s ongoing growth and success,
at a time when the need - and demand - for its operating
system technology is accelerating worldwide, from North
America to Europe to the Pacific Rim."

About QNX Software Systems
With millions of installations worldwide, QNX Software
Systems is the global leader in realtime, microkernel
operating system technology. Companies like Cisco,
DaimlerChrysler, Harris, Panasonic, Siemens, and General
Electric rely on QNX technology to build ultra-reliable
systems for the networking, automotive, medical, military,
and industrial automation markets. Founded in 1980, QNX
Software Systems maintains offices throughout North America,
Europe, and Asia. Visit http://www.qnx.com.

About Harman International
Harman International Industries, Incorporated
(www.harman.com) is a leading manufacturer of high-quality,
high fidelity audio products and electronic systems for the
consumer and professional markets. The company�s stock is
traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol: HAR.

Editorial Contact
Paul Leroux
QNX Software Systems
+1 613 591-0931
paull@qnx.com

QNX and Neutrino are registered trademarks of QNX Software
Systems Ltd. in certain jurisdictions. All other trademarks
and trade names belong to their respective owners.

Source: [ http://www.openqnx.com/Article337.html ]

-- 
Guy Macon <http://www.guymacon.com>

Guy Macon wrote:
> QNX Acquired by Harman
> 
> OTTAWA & WASHINGTON, October 27, 2004 - QNX Software Systems
> today announced it has accepted an offer of purchase from
> Harman International Industries, Incorporated (NYSE: HAR).
> As the newest subsidiary in Harman International�s family of
> premium brands, including Harman Kardon, JBL, and Becker,
> QNX will now be well-positioned to accelerate its growth
> toward becoming the preferred operating system for advanced
> embedded applications.
> 
> Of key value to Harman International is the QNX Neutrino
> realtime operating system (RTOS), the company�s flagship
> product. QNX Neutrino is widely held as the world�s most
> advanced operating system and is ideally suited for the next

What puffery! Inside the walls at QNX, maybe. It might even
be best by many objective measures, but "widely held", I
don't think so.

> generation of complex computing devices in many markets.
> Both QNX and Harman see an expanding role for the RTOS and,
> within the automotive market in particular, share a vision
> for establishing QNX Neutrino as the de facto standard for
> the industry. By bringing QNX under the Harman umbrella,

Too late. It's called Linux, and it got there neither by
being the best nor smallest nor fastest, nor anything else-est.
Can you figgur out why?

Nothing against QNX except their puffery. I used to use it
before I found Linux.

> both companies will be able to contribute to this process,
> speeding the pace of innovation in the industry.
> 
> The agreement comes at a time when sophisticated software
> systems are becoming the cornerstone of a steadily
> increasing number of integrated devices, ranging from
> infotainment systems to smart phones to networking gear.
> Maintaining leadership in operating system technology
> requires a continued commitment to innovation, strategic
> partnerships, industry standards, and intensive customer
> support. With Harman as a parent company, QNX will continue
> its leadership in all of these critical areas, pushing the
> industry forward as a whole and ensuring that its entire
> customer base benefits from its new resources and influence.
> 
> Under the terms of the agreement, QNX will operate as a
> separate division led by its existing management team,
> including co-founder and CEO Dan Dodge. All of QNX�s offices
> and operations will stay in place and continue to be
> dedicated to serving and growing QNX�s target markets,
> including automotive, networking, medical instrumentation,
> and industrial control. As is the established practice in
> other Harman International subsidiaries, QNX will continue
> to provide advanced software and engineering services to all
> of its existing customers, including Harman�s competitors.
> 
> "My vision for QNX remains steadfast. We will remain the top
> brand for OS reliability, the proving ground for innovation,
> and a fiercely customer-centric organization," said Dan
> Dodge, CEO of QNX. "Together with Harman, we will continue
> our leadership, setting new standards for performance and
> reliability that will benefit embedded developers, OEMs, and
> consumers across all industries."
> 
> "With its deep experience in the automotive, networking,
> medical, and general embedded markets, QNX brings a rich
> portfolio of technology and expertise to the Harman family,
> creating new synergies and market opportunities," said
> Bernard Girod, CEO of Harman International Inc. "We are
> excited to contribute to QNX�s ongoing growth and success,
> at a time when the need - and demand - for its operating
> system technology is accelerating worldwide, from North
> America to Europe to the Pacific Rim."
> 
> About QNX Software Systems
> With millions of installations worldwide, QNX Software
> Systems is the global leader in realtime, microkernel
> operating system technology. Companies like Cisco,
> DaimlerChrysler, Harris, Panasonic, Siemens, and General
> Electric rely on QNX technology to build ultra-reliable
> systems for the networking, automotive, medical, military,
> and industrial automation markets. Founded in 1980, QNX
> Software Systems maintains offices throughout North America,
> Europe, and Asia. Visit http://www.qnx.com.
> 
> About Harman International
> Harman International Industries, Incorporated
> (www.harman.com) is a leading manufacturer of high-quality,
> high fidelity audio products and electronic systems for the
> consumer and professional markets. The company�s stock is
> traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol: HAR.
> 
> Editorial Contact
> Paul Leroux
> QNX Software Systems
> +1 613 591-0931
> paull@qnx.com
> 
> QNX and Neutrino are registered trademarks of QNX Software
> Systems Ltd. in certain jurisdictions. All other trademarks
> and trade names belong to their respective owners.
> 
> Source: [ http://www.openqnx.com/Article337.html ]
> 

Bryan Hackney wrote:

>> QNX Neutrino is widely held as the world�s most
>> advanced operating system

>What puffery!

Of course it's puffery.  That's what press releases are.
Don't expect datasheet-style accuracy written by engineers
in something intended for investors and written by marketing.

I don't know about "widely held", but QNX Neutrino is arguably
the world�s most advanced operating system.  Alas, it isn't
a *general purpose* operating system.

>Nothing against QNX except their puffery. I used to use it

QNX or QNX Neutrino?

>before I found Linux.

You used it for what?  As a general-purpose operating system or
as a real-time operating system?  If the latter. which flavor of
Embedded Linux did you use?

BTW, you shouldn't quote the entire post you are replying to.

-- 
Guy Macon <http://www.guymacon.com>

Bryan Hackney <bh.remove@bhconsult.com> wrote in
news:Gs9gd.10748$EI6.3467@fe2.texas.rr.com: 

>> generation of complex computing devices in many markets.
>> Both QNX and Harman see an expanding role for the RTOS and,
>> within the automotive market in particular, share a vision
>> for establishing QNX Neutrino as the de facto standard for
>> the industry. By bringing QNX under the Harman umbrella,
> 
> Too late. It's called Linux, and it got there neither by
> being the best nor smallest nor fastest, nor anything else-est.
> Can you figgur out why?

You want Linux to deploy your airbag or control your steer-by-wire
steering? Good luck, I'll take QNX. For word processing, compiling, or web
hosting, Linux is fine. 

Bryan Hackney wrote:
> Guy Macon wrote:
> 
>> QNX Acquired by Harman
>>
>> OTTAWA & WASHINGTON, October 27, 2004 - QNX Software Systems
>> today announced it has accepted an offer of purchase from
>> Harman International Industries, Incorporated (NYSE: HAR).
>> As the newest subsidiary in Harman International�s family of
>> premium brands, including Harman Kardon, JBL, and Becker,
>> QNX will now be well-positioned to accelerate its growth
>> toward becoming the preferred operating system for advanced
>> embedded applications.
>>
>> Of key value to Harman International is the QNX Neutrino
>> realtime operating system (RTOS), the company�s flagship
>> product. QNX Neutrino is widely held as the world�s most
>> advanced operating system and is ideally suited for the next
> 
> What puffery! Inside the walls at QNX, maybe. It might even
> be best by many objective measures, but "widely held", I
> don't think so.
> 
>> generation of complex computing devices in many markets.
>> Both QNX and Harman see an expanding role for the RTOS and,
>> within the automotive market in particular, share a vision
>> for establishing QNX Neutrino as the de facto standard for
>> the industry. By bringing QNX under the Harman umbrella,
> 
> Too late. It's called Linux, and it got there neither by
> being the best nor smallest nor fastest, nor anything else-est.
> Can you figgur out why?
> 
> Nothing against QNX except their puffery. I used to use it
> before I found Linux.

I am not familiar with QNX, but Linux is by no stretch of the
imagination an RTOS.  There have been moves to run Linux under an
elementary RTOS, or to give it a measure of the capabilities of an
RTOS.  

The requirements of an RTOS and a general purpose OS are not really
compatible.  For example, the GPOS need not succeed in avoiding
indefinite postponement under all circumstances, but the RTOS must
absolutely guarantee process service in a specified time quantum. 
This also means a difference in the means of dealing with deadlock
(deadly embrace).  A GPOS can afford to let an operator resolve it,
the RTOS cannot.

-- 
Chuck F (cbfalconer@yahoo.com) (cbfalconer@worldnet.att.net)
   Available for consulting/temporary embedded and systems.
   <http://cbfalconer.home.att.net>  USE worldnet address!

> This also means a difference in the means of dealing with deadlock
> (deadly embrace).  A GPOS can afford to let an operator resolve it,
> the RTOS cannot.

Can you give several examples of how QNX 6 handles deadlocks (different
kinds of)?

Let's leave aside POSIX EDEADLK return code when someone tries to lock the
mutext twice.

Thank you,
Roman

Roman Pavlyuk wrote:
>
>> This also means a difference in the means of dealing with deadlock
>> (deadly embrace).  A GPOS can afford to let an operator resolve it,
>> the RTOS cannot.
>
>Can you give several examples of how QNX 6 handles deadlocks (different
>kinds of)?

http://www.qnx.com/developers/docs/momentics621_docs/neutrino/sys_arch/kernel.html#SCHEDULING
http://www.qnx.com/download/download/8123/QNX_Neutrino_620_Evaluation_Report.pdf

>Let's leave aside POSIX EDEADLK return code when someone tries to lock the
>mutext twice.

Let's not. :)

http://www.qnx.com/download/download/9870/posix_for_embedded_systems.pdf
http://www.qnx.com/developers/docs/momentics621_docs/neutrino/sys_arch/kernel.html#SYNCHRO

Also see:

http://www.qnx.com/download/download/8085/Realtime_or_Real_Linux_A_Realistic_Atlernative.pdf
http://www.qnx.com/download/download/8122/QNX_Neutrino_62_vs_RedHat_Embedded_Linux.pdf
http://www.qnx.com/download/download/8124/QNX_Neutrino_v61_vs_VXAE_and_WinCE.pdf
http://www.qnx.com/download/download/8090/What_is_Realtime_and_Why_Do_I_Need_It.pdf
http://www.qnx.com/developers/docs/momentics621_docs/neutrino/sys_arch/kernel.html

Note: I have no connection to QNX other than having managed a project that used it.

-- 
Guy Macon <http://www.guymacon.com>

Hi CBFalconer,

>...  For example, the GPOS need not succeed in avoiding indefinite postponement under all circumstances, but the RTOS must absolutely guarantee process service in a specified time quantum.
>
That's exactly the point. If an interrupt latency cannot be 
hard-specified to xx microseconds or even milliseconds it is not an RTOS 
I would use. With QNX I was quite impressed when it came to this  issue, 
also with the knowledgeable staff up there. I am pretty good in crashing 
applications under all kinds of OS flavors. I tried my best with our QNX 
app but it was like kicking an oak tree, it didn't budge a bit and just 
kept running.

> This also means a difference in the means of dealing with deadlock (deadly embrace).  A GPOS can afford to let an operator resolve it, the RTOS cannot.
>  
>
Well, an RTOS can. Once. From then on the victim's lawyers might take 
the lead.

Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com

Mark A. Odell wrote:
> Bryan Hackney <bh.remove@bhconsult.com> wrote in
> news:Gs9gd.10748$EI6.3467@fe2.texas.rr.com: 
> 
> 
>>>generation of complex computing devices in many markets.
>>>Both QNX and Harman see an expanding role for the RTOS and,
>>>within the automotive market in particular, share a vision
>>>for establishing QNX Neutrino as the de facto standard for
>>>the industry. By bringing QNX under the Harman umbrella,
>>
>>Too late. It's called Linux, and it got there neither by
>>being the best nor smallest nor fastest, nor anything else-est.
>>Can you figgur out why?
> 
> 
> You want Linux to deploy your airbag or control your steer-by-wire
> steering? Good luck, I'll take QNX. For word processing, compiling, or web
> hosting, Linux is fine. 

Actually, I'll take hardwired logic for airbag control, and raw code on
silicon for super real-time problems.

Guy Macon wrote:
> Bryan Hackney wrote:
> 
> 
>>>QNX Neutrino is widely held as the world�s most
>>>advanced operating system
> 
> 
>>What puffery!
> 
> 
> Of course it's puffery.  That's what press releases are.
> Don't expect datasheet-style accuracy written by engineers
> in something intended for investors and written by marketing.
> 
> I don't know about "widely held", but QNX Neutrino is arguably
> the world�s most advanced operating system.  Alas, it isn't
> a *general purpose* operating system.
> 

I was a little quick on the post. I see that their PR was limited
to the RTOS domain. QNX (not Neutrino) used to be POSIX+microkernel+
almost real time. It tried very hard to be POSIX and to support boatloads
of hardware, most of which it did OK. Linux has always done much better,
minus the real-time component.

> 
>>Nothing against QNX except their puffery. I used to use it
> 
> 
> QNX or QNX Neutrino?
> 
> 
>>before I found Linux.
> 
> 
> You used it for what?  As a general-purpose operating system or
> as a real-time operating system?  If the latter. which flavor of
> Embedded Linux did you use?
> 

Our designs prefer logic machines to accomplish the hard-time stuff,
and non-real-time OS to support the higher level functions,
and to keep the hardware fed. And of course, where logic is insufficient,
we program sans OS, as God intended.