Comments on: Is The BlackBerry Due For A Major OS Overhaul?

By: Ajay Kulkarni

Ajay Kulkarni — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 15:07:50 +0000

@Omar: I love the debate, but you’re actually confusing the issue here. RIM only lets you *store* apps in App memory. On the iPhone, you can store apps anywhere on the device. The 8900 has the most app memory (256MB) than any other BB, but even then, the RIM OS, etc., also sit in app memory, which leaves a small fraction for any apps you’d like to download. E.g., on my Bold I theoretically have 128MB, but only have about 50MB or so to install apps.

This is a problem that Mike Kirkup at RIM has also acknowledged. You can read about it at CIO Magazine (“RIM Developer Exec Mike Kirkup on BlackBerry App Memory Problem, Storefront”, FRI, FEB 13, 2009 11:10 EST).

http://advice.cio.com/al_sacco/rim_developer_exec_mike_kirkup_on_blackberry_app_memory_problem_storefront

P.S. @Robb: Nice work provoking this discussion!

By: The Rock

The Rock — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 02:55:59 +0000

Deathmatch rematch: BlackBerry versus iPhone 3.0
http://www.infoworld.com/d/mobilize/deathmatch-rematch-blackberry-versus-iphone-30-843

By: Steve

Steve — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 08:50:26 +0000

The BlackBerry is definitely in need of a major upgrade. As others have pointed out, it is nearly criminal at this stage that we are limited so much by third party app memory when memory is so cheap. At the very least we need the ability to run apps directly from the SD card. Making it so that apps save their databases to the SD card would be a step forward.

This limitation is really stalling the current development of apps for the BlackBerry.

By: Robb Dunewood

Robb Dunewood — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:08:53 +0000

I believe that entire quote was

I personally think that the BlackBerry OS has these other mobile operating systems on usability, however, even being the big BlackBerry fan that I am, believe the iPhone wins on the coolness factor hands down.

I clearly am a fan of the BlackBerry and feel no need to apologize for being a fan, however, when, you visit a BlackBerry blog, soundbite a quote that clearly says, being the big BlackBerry fan that I am, to try to make a point that I am biased because my opinion of usability differs from yours, I think you clearly demonstrate that you, are in fact, the fanboy. As I have said many times before, RIMarkable is an editorial. It is my opinion about BlackBerry devices and the smartphone industry as it relates to the BlackBerry.

By: gquaglia

gquaglia — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 07:45:56 +0000

I personally think that the BlackBerry OS has these other mobile operating systems on usability

Standard fan boy statement. Read the same topic on the Boy Genius report for a more un biased assessment of the BB OS.

By: Brandon

Brandon — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:31:37 +0000

Personally, I agree that the 5.0 OS needs to be a big step up otherwise why do it at all? But I have read everyone’s comments and they all seem to think Apple is this big caring god like figure willing to change everything for their customers. But this certainly isn’t true. You can look at numerous iPhone websites and forums alike and find that many users are very disappointed by the iPhone’s lack of customization and control. iPhone users would LOVE the ability to customize the way it looks without having to jailbreak their phone; something us BB users take for granted. Also, the iPhone lacks a solid menu, that can pop up with options. This I feel keeps MANY business professionals with BB because it is truly necessary. Also, many apps/programs on the iPhone do not possess a “back” button as all BB’s do and this has been a complaint that really upsets iPhone users. My girlfriend has an iPhone and she cannot stand how you have to exit out of the app with the home button just to go back sometimes. She also hates how the OS is just plain kiddish. It caters to the majority of America because the majority of America is imbeciles. I personally hate people talking down to me and further more would hate if my phone talked down to me.

This being said, the iPhone has it’s place in the universe as a driver. It is the stimulus and BlackBerry(RIM) is the response. RIM would not survive without Apple and Apple would not survive without RIM. The world needs difference and that is what Apple brings to the table. I just don’t think you guys should be so quick to love Apple for the “great customer service and response it has” It took them a year to come out with a video camera. My four year old samsung phone had a video camera. Seriously? Apple is a corporation out to make money. They should never be confused with a customer friendly entity.

By: Omar

Omar — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 02:15:47 +0000

[quote="Ajay Kulkarni "]
On your BlackBerry today you can only save/run applications out of the at most 50MB or so (usually less than 10MB) of free application memory, even if you have a 4GB SD card sitting in the back.

So now, even with my BlackBerry Bold, I’m hesitant to install any more than the 12 apps I already have because I’m already running out of application memory. And most people out there have a Curve or Pearl, which give you even less space.

Here’s a request to RIM: allow your users to install and run apps off of our SD cards! Or at least launch new models with at least 1GB of application memory.[/quote]

It is your device’s [i]application memory[/i] (RAM), which dictates the number of applications you can run as well as how efficiently said applications will run. The 9000 comes with 1GB of internal storage, however it only has 128MB of application memory.

To put this into perspective the iPhone 3G has 128MB of app memory, the iPhone 3GS has double the amount with 256MB and the Blackberry 8900 also has double the amount with 256MB. The BB 9630 Tour, Onyx/Driftwood will also come with 256MB.

A smartphone is no different than a computer in that whether you have 1TB of storage, it’s purpose isn’t to run applications and thus it is considered [i]secondary storage[/i], while application/device/RAM is considered [i]primary storage[/i]. This is the sole function of your [i]internal memory[/i]. No matter the device the rules remain the same.

By: crazylegs

crazylegs — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:48:15 +0000

YES but a more modern UI might be all they need. At least give us some eye candy and spruce things up a bit at a minimum. Ask yourself the question: Does the iPhone functionally do anything dramatically different than the Blackberry? The answer is really no. You have a home screen with icons on it that you select on either. Hmmm, sounds very similar. I think RIM could be a better job of at least pretending that they are pushing the OS ahead with UI tweaks even if they don’t fundamentally change what’s under the hood. I think it’s somewhat of a myth to think RIM needs to revamp the whole enchilada, but they sure could present better ways of accessing menus and making the menus more attractive, etc. This will at least make it appear like it’s a more modern OS and it will codify the masses.

By: Ajay Kulkarni

Ajay Kulkarni — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:29:36 +0000

(Looks like my post was truncated b/c of a couple greater-than/less-than signs. Posting again…)

Robb,

This is a great article that I’m sure will provoke a lot of discussion. Keep up the good work.

I agree that the BlackBerry OS needs a major overhaul, and I’d start with the amount of memory available for 3rd party apps. On your BlackBerry today you can only save/run applications out of the at most 50MB or so (usually less than 10MB) of free application memory, even if you have a 4GB SD card sitting in the back.

Here’s a request to RIM: allow your users to install and run apps off of our SD cards! Or at least launch new models with at least 1GB of application memory.