BlackBerry CEO Says Despite a 'Fantastic Job' With iOS Design, Apple Now Lacks Innovation

[Renzatic]

Maybe that says more about your Grandma. My parents are in their mid 70s, and my dad especially is the most luddite, tech hating, non-handy, person I've ever known. But both took to iOS like a baby to a pacifier. My mom has both an iPhone 4S and iPad 3. My dad has an original iPad. Where I use to have to field Mac questions from them constantly, they never (hallelujah!) call me with iOS questions.

Yeah, probably. My granny had never touched a computer in her life, so she's bound to have trouble with some of the basics.

...like what the back button does.

On the other hand, my mom's at least semi computer literate, yet I had to walk her through using my iPad a couple of times before she started getting the hang of things.

I will say that iOS is simple enough that once someone gets the hang of it, they're pretty much set for life. But it's not pick up and play. Nowhere near. Even I've had to look up how to do a couple of things when I first got my iDevices.

 

[bretm]

Well, he's right.

Since Apple is trying so hard to eliminate the jailbreaking community, they're going to have to look outside for innovation. I expect to see them copy some of Android's ideas pretty soon. Jobs never had a problem with copying ideas that were good, does the current Apple executive team feel the same way?

What do you think notification center is? Android had that a year (or two) before Apple. It was a blatant copy. And an improvement.

Apple's integration of folders is much better than Android. It's implementation of Siri, is better. It's implementation of App switching is by far better.

I think all people are complaining about is that you can't have a bunch of tacky a$$ widgets on the home screen instead of the home screen being a much better designed app list view. Once you get behind the home screens on android, the whole thing is a mess. Their app list is a big unorganized scroll of apps. If you want them in folders you have to organize them on the unorganized home screens.

I think Apple's notifications across the board are better than what I've seen from Android as well. A flick of the power button and I know exactly what I've missed.

I'm not sure what everyone is clamoring for I guess. Facebook videos on the home screen? Our friends funny pics from Twitter? I guess that's all cool and nifty, and I'd like that option too. I'd also like some easily accessed setting panel to quickly turn on / off wifi, etc. But those are all seldom needed things. I like the whole package being more useable and functional.

 

[notjustjay]

iOS has gotten stale. A lot of us have been complaining prior to iOS 5. Yes it just works but a lot of it doesn't just work as well as it could.

1. Why is it always 73 and sunny?
2. Why is multitasking done so poorly?
3. Settings- should have items opened by 1 step not 3 or 4.
4. Remove worthless apple apps or at least apple should update them so that end users want to use them
5. System defaults-please let me choose which mapping system I want to use
6. Please stop the Facebook integration-what a waste of programming time and I use Facebook.
7. Why do I need to leave my current app (see a stupid switching animation) to reply to a text in 2013?

Those are just a few examples of things I'd like to see improved.

I agree with every one of your points.

However, I go back to the post I made a few pages ago -- if Apple were to release a software update tomorrow that fixed ALL of these things -- would we be praising Apple for being innovative and competitive? Or would we say "That's all? That should have been in there from Day One! That's not innovating, that's just catching up! etc, etc, etc...."

No, iOS is not perfect, and there is a long list of little things that could improve it, but by and large, it works and it works well. Definitely keep improving it, Apple, but don't fall into the trap of making radical changes "just because".

 

[AppleFan1984]

So it's only about higher ppi? So the company that has the highest ppi in their display automatically has the best display?

Of course not. But given that many phones have higher-res displays, a more honest wording might be:

"The iPhone has a display that's on par with the some of the best the rest of the world offers, but none of them are allowed to use our trademarked 'Retina' name for it."

 

[extradryny]

Blackberry never had innovation so they don't know what it means.

You mean other than inventing a portable email device that was adopted by nearly every powerful person in the western world? A device so addictive and ubiquitous the term "crackberry" came into widespread use?

Blackberry may be yesterday's news, but there is no doubt RIM paved the way for iOS and Android to a great extent.

 

[needfx]

...said the stale berry to the apple

 

[AZREOSpecialist]

Let's get something clear... iOS itself is not "stale" - in fact, it's leading edge because it's based on OSX. iOS can do a lot more than Apple allows, and when people say Apple is lacking innovation, I think they mean the look and feel of iOS. A while a go a jailbreak was released to allow separate, windowed applications on the iPad. If the jailbreak community can do it, why not Apple?

Apple has made a conscious decision to hold back some advanced functions, but why I don't exactly know. The little grid of apps on the iPhone is definitely getting stale, we need a more dynamic design and a better way to get at our information. However, as far as what's under the hood, iOS is leading edge.

 

[appleii.c]

These kinds of statements make me laugh. They are either from someone who is a casual user, or never used iOS, or from a competitor trying to bring negativity to Apple to gain market share, and hope the Apple products fail. It's been unsuccessfully tried with the whole "Walled Garden" comments, the "Outdated specs" argument and even recently "Their maps will drive you off a cliff" statements. How exactly should apple "change" their UI? The UI is simply an interface to assist you in getting done what the phone can actually do. And it HAS evolved over the years to make that experience better. They've added Siri, added a pulldown notification center, changed the way notifications appear, better airplay integration, they've added folders, photo albums among other changes. It works very well, there's no need to "revamp" it.

Sure, they can modernize the icons, but personally I use MANY apple products, and there is absolutely nothing missing from the UI that is so huge that would make me want to switch.

BTW, look how well that Windows 8 revamp has worked.

 

[quickmac]

I've been saying this for years. And those thinking otherwise aren't looking at the big picture. You have a company that practically launched the idea of the smartphone and propelled it into the mainstream only to lack innovation and nearly collapse. This company is now finally on an upswing and telling it like it is. Blackberry can see the writing on the wall for Apple, they've been to the bottom just like Apple in the 90s and they are now coming back up while Apple is slowly going back down.

As for the lack of innovation debate you have the iPhone 5 which is basically like the first iPhone except thinner, longer, and some updated features. Look at Blackberry who did the same "lack of innovation" thing with their phones then took a risk and completely ditched their old OS designs and phone designs to try again. Will Apple take the same risk as they watch the iPhone marketshare slowly slip away? Apple is lucky they have other product lines to keep them going if iPhone finally becomes obsolete but they still shouldn't just sit around pushing old tech and 5 year old designs as new if they want to stay competitive.

 

[andy9l]

S-beam? Seriously? Samsung is selling us decades old "beaming" technology and "bumping" our phones to share information while Apple is light years ahead doing the same thing transparently, wirelessly, and in the background.

How I can get information from one iPad to the other, without a computer, email, messaging, or third-party uploading? Genuinely interested in finding this one out.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

It is either the absence of Jobs or the lull in innovation coincided with the absence of Jobs. Both are equally bad.

Neither. Jobs takes some blame on this one. During his tenure Apple did nothing but make superficial changes and stop gaps to iOS. I don't know what Apple will announce at WWDC in regards to iOS7 but Jobs should have established an internal use iOS roadmap with a total over all right about now. Jobs hasn't been dead that long to not take some blame for what's happening with iPhone and iOS right now. Companies plan years in advance.

 

[SAD*FACED*CLOWN]

sigh....honestly I long for the days when Apple was less mainstream...it actually felt like an exclusive club to be in...being on top has done nothing but make Apple a proverbial tech pariah...it would be easier for Apple if they were not on top

 

[apple_iBoy]

I realize there are some new features that Apple could incorporate in iOS.

But how much of this perceived "staleness" is just because of the identically-shaped icons arranged in a regular grid pattern? Or animated background stuff behind the icons? Is this what we're fighting against?

 

[Renzatic]

sigh....honestly I long for the days when Apple was less mainstream...it actually felt like an exclusive club to be in...being on top has done nothing but make Apple a proverbial tech pariah...it would be easier for Apple if they were not on top

Yup. Apple really is the new Microsoft.

 

[petvas]

Please wake me up in a year and tell me if Blackberry still exists...

 

[Kwill]

I can remember Mr. Jobs saying the iphone was five years ahead of the next competitor five years ago....

Of course the latest iPhone UI lacks innovation. The primary innovator at Apple is dead. Apple has the talent to innovate but needs someone to adamantly and vocally reject mediocre -- throwing it against the wall in a tantrum while demanding better. He's gone. For the most part, those at the helm are just refining and polishing what they inherited while living off the "thinner" mantra.

Apple may get a "wake-up" call when its global market share drops to 25%. But I don't imagine the cannibalization will come from BB.

 

[daneoni]

Why is the pressure solely on Apple to innovate? What about the rest of the industry, why are they sitting on their asses waiting for something to copy and imitate.

Talk about a bunch of hypocrites. At least Apple have innovated on more than one occasion. What about you guys pointing the fingers.

 

[Nightarchaon]

Sorry perfection is boring.

Your right, when apple increase the battery life to last a full day without needing charging, increase the screen size (Or better yet, offer a selection of screen sizes), and a sort out the routing problems in Maps, update Siri to cope with things outside the USA properly and add NFC payments and wireless charging then it will indeed be a boring phone to own.

 

[Apple_Robert]

sigh....honestly I long for the days when Apple was less mainstream...it actually felt like an exclusive club to be in...being on top has done nothing but make Apple a proverbial tech pariah...it would be easier for Apple if they were not on top

The days of being a consumer elitist are over.

 

[smallnshort247]

Though the iPhone hardware isn't the best, I think that a software refresh would do great things for the iPhone.

 

[samcraig]

What lacks in innovation are these threads/responses. Can't we get some innovative responses and insights? The same boring stuff year after year

 

[KdParker]

The sooner Apple let's go of the past, and creates a fresh new iPhone the better.

Instead of using words in their counter attacks by the likes of Phil Schiller et al, why not take _Action_ and show the world just how great Apple can be.

A novel idea, I know, but one that has produced results far better than being complacent, while resting on their past laurels.

Oh sure, the arguments will focus on current profits off the sheer strength of the brand, but nothing lasts forever.

What are other OS's are delivering that would be concidered innovative?

 

[SAD*FACED*CLOWN]

I've been saying this for years. And those thinking otherwise aren't looking at the big picture. You have a company that practically launched the idea of the smartphone and propelled it into the mainstream only to lack innovation and nearly collapse. This company is now finally on an upswing and telling it like it is. Blackberry can see the writing on the wall for Apple, they've been to the bottom just like Apple in the 90s and they are now coming back up while Apple is slowly going back down.

As for the lack of innovation debate you have the iPhone 5 which is basically like the first iPhone except thinner, longer, and some updated features. Look at Blackberry who did the same "lack of innovation" thing with their phones then took a risk and completely ditched their old OS designs and phone designs to try again. Will Apple take the same risk as they watch the iPhone marketshare slowly slip away? Apple is lucky they have other product lines to keep them going if iPhone finally becomes obsolete but they still shouldn't just sit around pushing old tech and 5 year old designs as new if they want to stay competitive.

Apple will never suffer Blacberry's fate...Apple may not lead with regards to cellular devices forever, but they make more than mobile devices...Rim should keep quiet and focus on making themselves relevant...Apple will never sink as low as RIM did because of all the other fine products they make

 

[Jetson]

This is TOTAL BS.

Blackberry just thinks it smells blood in the water and is dogpiling on Apple with specious claims.

I LIKE the iOS. Apple will continue to improve as needed, and with prodding and ideas from customers.

If you think the iOS is "stale", what about the iMac OS-X? It's got essentially the SAME look as Macs did back in the 80s. Is it stale? Not at all and we like it. Sure Apple had continued to update it with features. But they got it right and that's why we like Macs.

It's the same with iOS. Don't listen to these idiots who think that by completely revamping the interface that that's "innovating"

TOTAL BS.

 

[quickmac]

These kinds of statements make me laugh. They are either from someone who is a casual user, or never used iOS, or from a competitor trying to bring negativity to Apple to gain market share, and hope the Apple products fail. It's been unsuccessfully tried with the whole "Walled Garden" comments, the "Outdated specs" argument and even recently "Their maps will drive you off a cliff" statements. How exactly should apple "change" their UI? The UI is simply an interface to assist you in getting done what the phone can actually do. And it HAS evolved over the years to make that experience better. They've added Siri, added a pulldown notification center, changed the way notifications appear, better airplay integration, they've added folders, photo albums among other changes. It works very well, there's no need to "revamp" it.

Sure, they can modernize the icons, but personally I use MANY apple products, and there is absolutely nothing missing from the UI that is so huge that would make me want to switch.

BTW, look how well that Windows 8 revamp has worked.

Blackberry (RIM) said the same thing a few years ago. We saw how well that worked out. Sure you're comfortable and familiar with iOS and that's fine. If it works for you it works for you. I mean there were around 80 million Blackberry users when the company was at it's lowest of lows a year or so ago, people obviously still liked the "old" Blackbery. The problem arises when the larger marketplace expects and looks for more. Whether it's gimmicky or functional, consumers will look for what appears better and newer and start buying it. If Apple is still using the iOS design a few years from now, users like you may still hang around but many others will see "greener pastures" and jump to other devices. And in many businesses the wider audience makes up more of the success/fail ratio than the core group of users.