What OS is in Apple's iPhone? RIM's BlackBerry?
IntroductionAre you considering getting a new phone? Purchasing a smartphone may have crossed your mind. A smartphone is a mobile phone device that allows you to perform similar tasks that your home computer would allow you to do.[1] One of the major differences between smartphones is the operating system they use. Two of the most popular and well-known smartphones today are Apple's iPhone and RIM's BlackBerry. When deciding between the two smartphones, it would be wise to investigate what operating systems are used, and what they offer. If you are not familiar with what operating systems (OS) are, reading the Operating Systems and Roles of the Operating System pages will help.
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...by studentsI don't actually own an iPhone or a BlackBerry. But I do know people who do. I have noticed that while the iPhone users I know love their iPhone, they do not seem to love it, or be addicted to it, like the friends with BlackBerry. The BlackBerry or "CrackBerry" users can never put it down. Try having a conversation with these people - almost impossible! That being said, both types of friends both love their smartphones dearly. So whatever your choice may be, just remember, don't ignore your friends! :) |
Operating System in Apple's iPhone
The iPhone is relatively new (released June 2007) compared to the BlackBerry (smartphone version released in 2002), but its popularity is ever increasing. What makes it so popular and unique is its operating system. The iPhone OS was developed by Apple Inc., and is a smaller version of Apple's Mac OS X, redesigned to accommodate smartphone features.[2]
User Interface
One aspect of the iPhone OS that is quite compelling is its user interface. Using multi-touch and direct manipulation, users can effortlessly navigate by making tapping, pinching, and swiping movements on the touch screen. This allows for the OS interaction to be mainly icon and graphic oriented as it is greatly easier for the user to navigate through icon objects than to use an interface relying more on textual components.[4]
Similar to Mac OS X, the interface utilizes a dock at the bottom of the screen that includes icons for the most frequently used applications. The remaining portion of the screen is either dedicated to other application icons in a grid-format display, or to the current running application.
There has been some negative feedback about the ability to ease through texting using the touch screen virtual keyboard. Some users complain that it is cumbersome, and hard to be accurate when typing.
Default Applications
The iPhone OS provides a few default applications. Some examples include:
- Safari web browser
- Calendar
- Photos
- Camera
- Stocks
- Maps
- iTunes
Additional applications created by authorized third-party developers can be purchased through Apple's App Store as the iPhone OS cannot support applications from Mac OS X.
Operating System in RIM's BlackBerry
The BlackBerry was originally released in 1999 as a two-way messenger, but was not released as a smartphone until 2002.[5] Notably nicknaming it the "CrackBerry", loyal users find the BlackBerry hard to put down. Contributing to the "addiction" is the BlackBerry OS, the current version of which is BlackBerry OS 4.5.0.108. Unlike the iPhone, the BlackBerry OS allows users to synchronize data with their PCs, and comes with default support for Microsoft Office's Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, which appeals to corporate users.
User Interface
With the classic BlackBerry, users find themselves navigating through the OS with one trackball. A trackball is a small ball in a socket with sensors that is used as a pointing device.[7] The trackball allows users to quickly move through the mostly textual based interface. Not only is it quick but has been known to be easy to learn, which attributes to its popularity. Though more dull looking than the iPhone's interface, the new version of BlackBerry called Bold, has incorporated more interesting fonts and icons.
BlackBerry has just recently released a response to the iPhone's touch screen interface. As of November 2008, users of BlackBerry Storm can actually click on the screen, which gives the user a feeling that they have pressed down a key, as opposed to the tapping motion of the iPhone.[8]This feature has significantly changed the way one would navigate through a BlackBerry. It appeals to many CrackBerry addicts, but some may find the physical keyboard more practical.
Unlike the iPhone, the BlackBerry OS incorporates the "Cut and Paste" feature, much like the cut and paste on a PC. This is an added bonus for users unhappy with the iPhone's missing feature.
Default Applications
The main application provided by the BlackBerry OS is e-mail. This has always been its focus and is what makes the BlackBerry a CrackBerry. The OS provides "push e-mail", a feature that pushes your new messages on the device as soon as they come, as opposed to manually retrieving them. Current BlackBerry OS versions also "push" new appointments, memos, and tasks from your PC to your BlackBerry by using wireless synchronization. [9]
Other default applications examples include:
- Contacts
- Calendar
- Calculator
- Memo pad
- Photo viewer
- Media player
- Password manager
References
- ↑ About.com What Makes a Smartphone Smart? Available from:[[1]] Accessed 29 November 2008
- ↑ PC World Smart Phone OS Smackdown Available from:[[2]] Accessed 29 November 2008
- ↑ Wikimedia Commons Image:IPhone at Macworld Available from:[[3]] Accessed 29 November 2008
- ↑ Wikipedia iPhone OS Available from:[[4]] Accessed 29 November 2008
- ↑ Wikipedia BlackBerry Available from:[[5]] Accessed 29 November 2008
- ↑ Wikimedia Commons Image:BlackBerry Curve Available from:[[6]] Accessed 29 November 2008
- ↑ WikipediaTrackball Available from:[[7]] Accessed 29 November 2008
- ↑ All Things Digital BlackBerry’s Storm Presses Into the Touch-Phone Fray Available from:[[8]] Accessed 29 November 2008
- ↑ CNET Quick Guide - BlackBerry Available from:[[9]] Accessed 29 November 2008
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![[10]](http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:IPhone_at_Macworld_(angled_view).jpg){kind=link}
![[11]](http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:BlackBerry_Curve.png){kind=link}