As jaw-dropping as the iPhone was upon its original release, the competition quickly caught up, exploiting things like Apple’s rigid no flash media policies. In all the commotion, Android quietly crept up as the leading antiPhone, capitalizing on features such as open software, multi-tasking and customization down to the core. I, myself, am included in crowd that jumped ship.
But with the latest keynote, the largest, most profitable tech company in the world has effectively delivered its deathblow to any and all opposition.
The longstanding complaint of iPhone users is that the pop-up style notifications were too intrusive and interrupted just about every other task. And you had no choice but to deal with it before resuming South Park. Well, no more. Now, like Android, but more streamlined, every notification is placed neatly at a bar in the top, available to be seen at your convenience without closing the app, reading the notification, re-opening the app, and resuming where you left off.
RIM
Already lightyears behind in the mobile race, the BlackBerry’s last claim to fame was BlackBerry Messenger, the exclusive messaging service that allowed users to communicate without taking up those precious text messages. Well, exclusive is now in the past tense. And just to stick it to RIM, you can can send a message from your phone, receive it on the iPad and reply on your iPod Touch. And everything syncs automatically. In short, BlackBerry’s time on this planet can likely be counted with two hands.
There are also many other new features most notably wireless syncing and downloading. The device is completely self-sufficient now and there is no need for a computer.
As of today, the pressure is on Google and especially RIM to find new ways to convince consumers not to pack their bags take their business to Apple.
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When anybody and everybody had an iPhone or wanted an iPhone, I went with T-Mobile’s G1. In retrospect, Apple’s iPhone was superior in some ways. Right now, even considering news about iOS 5, I don’t see why I would jump ship. Why is there pressure on Google to convince consumers not to pack their bags?
People brag about BBM and now Apple’s version of BBM…Man, Google (Voice), gave me a new phone number gratis!
@thatdude
Because the iPhone has always been and will always be the more streamlined device. It runs alot smoother than any Android device. The reason I switched was b/c Android did those things that iPhone wasn’t capable of. It was worth sacrificing overall performance for things like better notifications, multi-tasking etc… But if the Apple’s phone can do all those things and do them better/faster at the same price, what’s stopping ppl from flocking to the iPhone
I still gotta roll with the Android. Even tho it seems like my Epic 4G is already about to be obsolete
Just finished watching the new features and it’s pretty gangsta. Automatic iTunes sync from the charger? The notification center? And a few other features that even my Mac is envious of… I’ll be looking to upgrade to the new iOS stat.
“effectively delivered its deathblow to any and all opposition.”
Apple playing catch up by adding features other companies have already had is certainly not a deathblow. Blackberry will most likely continue to lose marketshare in the near future, but if one pays attention to current marketshare trends- Android will stand to gain the most from that.
#teamandroid
All they did was copy every single phone OS out there (BlackBerry, Android, WP7, and WebOS. And Apple is suing companies for copying them.
And no this doesn’t mean “RIP BlackBerry.” Blackberry users, like myself, are loyal to BB. Really, we don’t need useless apps or gimmicky features. Plus a physical keyboard >>>>>.
That is all. Ha.
Feel the fanboi in this article? I sure do.
Apple has done nothing original. Everything announced today is either stealing a feature from RIM or Android or a 3rd party/jailbroken app.
With these announcements, Apple has basically acknowledged that they are now playing catchup. “Hey everyone, you know all those new and cool features that everyone else with a non-Crapple product already has? Now you can have them too!”
Oh what will gotty do with no blackberry lo
It’s not a death blow to RIM, but certainly a nail in the coffin. A lot of shops are on Lotus Notes and all the iPhone has for mail is iNotes. Once RIM’s acquisition of Ubitexx Technology pays off and iPhones & Android phones can run with BES, then RIM is in real trouble. Or maybe they have a secret pill.
Yea but let’s be serious… your favorite Android is a iphone copy. The only reason they call it an “iphone killer” is b/c the copied and added some features that it didn’t have. I don’t do the whole ‘my phone/technology is better than yours’ bit that has been popular for so long… I mean if you like, cop it, if you don’t- cop a squat but cmon every company has fashioned their phone after Apples. Even BB took their turn. Is this the end of Android? Of course not, they’ll be back to appease their niche market and Apple will return to take their swipe. But in the meantime this is great for iPhone users.
I hope it doesn’t, I just recently saved enough for a BB
^^^You’re saying Android has a “niche” market?
iPhone all day ….can’t wait
^^^You’re saying Android has a “niche” market?
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don’t all companies?
I agree, every phone maker out there copied Apple. So it’s only fair that Apple serves them some of their own medicine. Now there really isn’t any reason to buy any other phone.
As for Android, Remember thats a platform, not a single phone. So no matter how big it gets, it’s money pie is shared by many many companies (moto, HTC, etc)
“Everything announced today is either stealing a feature from RIM or Android or a 3rd party/jailbroken app.”
*takes deep breath*
BWAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!
Yeah, ’cause the first Android phone released – the HTC dream, which was released over a year after the first iphone – had NONE of the features of the iphone. It looked completely different, and didn’t “borrow” anything from Apple whatsoever.
*rolls eyes theatrically*
Cell is nuts on – whatever smartphone you happen to be toting around right now is a pretty blatant iphone copy.
Sent from mt
You know you are a fanboi when you think Android came of with OTA Updates. Hello Symbian! These dumb fanboi’s think Android came up with this stuff. LOL!
These fan boi’s are bringing down the curve for the rest of us.
I am sticking with my BlackBerry until the end. I may (read – probably will) cop a Droid™ – but that will strictly be a phone for friends. Almost everyone in the industry uses a BB. If you want to play around on a phone, iPhone and Droid™ are the ones for you. If you want to conduct business… BlackBerry still is the best option.
I have used every phone and my BB is perfect for me. I do not download apps… I do not play WWF or AB (like so many of my friends do). In fact, I never play any games on my phone at all. All I need is my calender, email, and text. Those are crucial to me and BB provides instant sync to my phone (without the use of a 3rd party app to do it). I will not knock another phone or OS. Use what works for you and that is the end of it.
“Apple playing catch up by adding features other companies have already had is certainly not a deathblow.”
THIS
Oh what will gotty do with no blackberry lol
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I switched to a Droid Pro a few months ago actually. My BB simply wasn’t cutting it.
TRA, you know I used to be the same way but I can honestly say I get more functionality from my Droid than my BB. It was a bitch to learn to type on and I still make a lot of typos. But for usage b/w my phone and cpu, it does a lot that my BB was missing. Google Docs, a very close gmail interface, all of the social networks moving much cleaner. many positives.
All iMessage it does is convince people that Apple can copy too.
Nevertheless, I am sure the media will make great hay over it – though I must say I find it odd that people would text on their iPod – anyone over the age 11 uses an iPhone IMHO.
BBerry will be introducing QNX-powered devices over the next 10-12 months. They will have multi-tasking galore and will have TAT design team creating a more solid interface.
Most notably, Apple’s OS is now getting hacked a lot – and their responses to this are feeble. RIM has the best security, bar none, and the importance of security (regardless of how consumers may forget) is not lost on businesses. RIM will be around a long while/
even if apple has copied these features..i dont think anything is wrong with it..after all it was apple which started this revolution..and now its a complete package.
@Gotty™
My thing is, do Droids™ not “fetch” email – meaning it has to be forwarded via app? Or am I completely wrong about this? Is it instant? I have heard it is not. That is unacceptable for me. I know that you must have a Gmail account to use the phone (no problem there – have been using it since it was invite only). The virtual keyboard I have had major problems with in the past, however, I never gave it sufficient time to get used to so that is on me.
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“Most notably, Apple’s OS is now getting hacked a lot – and their responses to this are feeble. RIM has the best security, bar none, and the importance of security (regardless of how consumers may forget) is not lost on businesses.”
This. I know all phones are susceptible to hacking; however, the way that RIM works is that it is the equivalent of using a Mac or Linux (as opposed to Windows). iPhones and Droids are too vulnerable for someone like me. I do not want to add anti-virus and worry about all of that on my phone.
It’s not a problem of Apple copying everyone else, companies do that all the time. It’s the fact that the are suing other companies for copying them, then they turn around and do the exact same thing.
I spent the last two years talking shit about the iphone because we didnt sell it at my job, so we had to talk people out of those. Im about to get one though. On Verizon. AT&T is an organization of terrible people
Apple created the whole touchscreen market and forced all the other companies to innovate or get left behind. Apple did it first and they still do it best. Everyone compares any new phone to the iPhone not a blackberry or android now that’s what I call a revolution! Androids are like Lady Gaga trying to copy Madonna but no matter how hard they try there’s only one Original.
Comparing an iPhone to a BB is night and day. Other than BBm surfing on your BB is terrible along with any other app that BB has. RIM has been losing for a while now and BBM was the only thing holding it up. I’ve been hearing BB users say hey I have a physical keyboard..blah blah blah…. really?!! Talk to me when your scraping crap out that shit along with broken scroll balls. Please! I’ve learned that physical buttons can be issues, hell my iPhone 3G’s home button did fuck up a bit as well.
And rumor is BB is going to port over BBM to the iPhone and this was prior to the announcement of iMessage. iMessage isn’t the BBM killer but it’s definitely a step forward on apples part to ‘catchup’ towards the instant messaging game. There have been third party apps (whatsapp and the like) for a while now. It’s just nice to finally have a native service and hopefully a lot more stable than these other applications.
But in the end everyone is trying to sell something. It’s up to you to buy into what you feel is most applicable to your needs. Some people have built caches of BBM contacts which no one can match. At the same time the iPhone has changed the mobile game. But at this point we should be a little worried about Apple taking a monopoly on shit. I love their products don’t get me wrong but really all Apple has to do is bust into the business market on POS terminals and the like and it’ll be over!
It’s the fact that the are suing other companies for copying them, then they turn around and do the exact same thing.
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I understand but you’re equated morals with legalities which is a big difference. When the iPhone came out I remember them saying they had something like 1200 patents made for the phones. If the rival companies created technology that they didn’t protect then everybody is probably gonna go for it. And they should.
RIP Blackberry….LMFAO!!! iPhone is KING, people just don’t want to admit it. Who revolutionized the touchscreen? Who made the app template more accessible & presentable? Who made the convergence of media device & phone seamless and fun? APPLE that’s who! Fuck outta here with that droid crap; tried it and was not impressed not one bit. All of these phone companies are just manufacturing iPhone rip-offs with features that the iphone “lacks”. “Our device supports Adobe Flash” WHOA! Major selling point…yeah right.
@TRA android and google go hand in hand, it’s instant service, there’s no lag or wait time for emails same with gchat its all good.
Iphone is what it is. if you want simple yet very streamline then get the iphone. If you want to attempt to takeover the world and everything in it…then get android.
“Apple created the whole touchscreen market and forced all the other companies to innovate or get left behind.”
Apple did not create the touch screen market. Are we totally forgetting that Apple copied Palm?
@Mostincredible
“android and google go hand in hand, it’s instant service, there’s no lag or wait time for emails same with gchat its all good.”
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Thank you for the info.
Im an android and iOS(ipod touch) user. Its unlike Apple to copy features from other devices operating systems. EVERY SINGLE FEATURE that has been released for iOS 5 was on another device first.(exept the Reader feature in Safari) Apple started iOS with a ‘do it our way’ mentality , now it seems like they are straying away. The notification pane is EXACTLY like Android. Android is no iOS clone, just to be clear. widgets and homescreen customizations makes everyones experience unique with their device. Every ios device has the same dock/grid of icons. not that thats a problem, but i see that as a negative for my personal use experience. Google’s services are ALL cloud based. So iCloud really is playing catchup in that respect. Its good to see that Android and other OSs are making Apple give customers more features. Apple fans just have to be honest about that. If android didnt exist, iOS wouldnt have seen half of these changes.
It’s not really about legality vs. morality either. Apple is suing Samsung for copying their “grid-like” home screen. That’s not an innovative nor technological advancement. Yet Apple copied Android’s exact same notification system in this release.
Dah well, In the end you buy whatever makes you happy so to each his/her own.
@500k
Actually the primary reason I switched to android was cuz of flash capabilities. And then I discovered features like downloads, notifications and other random goodnes lol Droids generally have a bit of a learning curve but once you get thru it, it’s just a matter of preference really
The business world is still ran by RIM. You want to know why? Because its still a a PC world out here. Until Apple can find a way make their keynote Microsoft compatible, they will play second fiddle with the bosses. If you want to sit around all day playing Angry Birds and Words With Friends…That’s cool. If I want to communicate with the VP of my company I’m using my Playbook and my Bold.
@ Raj: Adobe Flash won’t be a factor once HTML 5 is released.
@500k
Lol its been released for awhile, but until it becomes the norm flash will always be a factor. And there’s a long time before that happens. Hell, even on this site most of the media is flash
“If you want to sit around all day playing Angry Birds and Words With Friends…That’s cool. If I want to communicate with the VP of my company I’m using my Playbook and my Bold.”
Exactly.
*daps* TRA & G Cornelius
I’m on the Blackberry train too. As an entertainment device iPhones and Droids own the market, but as a communication device my Blackberry stunts. There will always be a lane for people who use their phone for communication. I have an iPod to listen to music, I have a laptop to surf the web, I’m off facebook and don’t have a twitter to update. I call, e-mail, text, BBM all day everyday (on a company blackberry) and it has proved to be the most efficient way to conduct business.
Besides if one device can do it all, that means I can only buy one thing instead of 10.
At work and iPhones have completely taken over Blackberrys. Each attorney and each paralegal has an iPad. Eventually they’ll fall, but for right now…Apple is killing it and Android is splitting the pie a few ways while RIM slowly sinks.