After seeing first legitimate signs and snapshots of the OS, I was a little disappointed (yup, I just said that). Now hold on a second, before you say anything rude, let’s look at it from a different perspective shall we?
I’ve been asked many times to share our take on the new OS v6.0. Its 1AM in the morning, I’m 30,000 feet up in the air and there’s a kid right behind me that desperately needs a happy meal! So in the given circumstances, I’ll do my best to get the point across.
In terms of Storm (which is the only device I’ll be referring to), there’s no question v6.0 is a huge step up from v5.0. I absolutely love some of the new features that were introduced with this update. Browser tabs, scrolling with rubberbanding, pop-up menus, event menu, customization of the home page, and freshened up inbox pages/media player. All of this is a big YES from Elecite!
I’d rather not go any further into details on what’s different. If you haven’t read it elsewhere by now, you probably aren’t as concerned anyway. So, as far as features and functionalities, RIM’s always been at the top of the game; however, when it comes to interface design…not so much.
My take on OS v6.0 – great usability improvements…thank you, yet still disappointing UI design. Maybe it’s just me…but it seems so outdated!
Bottom line, I want on-screen widget support and for crying out loud, some more drastic UI improvements. I understand the concern of keeping that balance between looks and usability but an impressive UI is no longer a “nice thing to have”; I believe it is an absolute necessity to survive this brutal competition.
If we’re targeting younger generation, a head-turning UI design is what’ll make a sale, what wins a new customer and great OS usability is what’ll keep them a loyal one. As far as design, v6.0 brings absolutely nothing worth drooling after; same old traditional layout, basic icon set, pure plain internal applications. I believe RIM’s biggest problem is that they underestimate the advantage and importance of the design aspect, therefore, are not prioritizing it right. You can also see that being reflected in AppWorld and throughout the majority of all 3rd party applications designed for BlackBerry. (Of course we’re still a bit pissed off with some of RIM’s latest devices but that’s a whole different argument.)
I don’t mean to tell RIM how to run their business, they’re definitely very strategic about their investments and I have no doubt they’re efforts are very rewarding, however, I think they’re missing out on some of the game changers among the audience that matters today.
We NEED a visually blowing OS and we NEED to see visually blowing core applications!
What do ya’ll think?
I agree with you. Only you make the coolest theme ever, the rest are just lazy even to tiny icon creations.
OS 6 or even 4.6 still looks good if made by elecite.
I agree with you and thanks for the quick rundown. I’ve had a BB Storm for one year now and I have been disappointed by the usability in general.
OS 5 was a lot better on my 9530 in terms of speed and preventing crashing but it still was not the visual upgrade I was expecting.
In order to compete in the smartphone category I agree that Blackberry needs to step up their game in the UI department, (usability issues aside). Also I would love to see the same quality of useful apps available for my device that are available for the iPhone. This also means visual quality, to make use of the graphics available on this particular device.
Thanks again for the article.
RIM is taking a different approach than Apple. Instead of focusing on 1000s of apps that for the most part are useless, they’re putting their focus on few that are can’t-live-without. Also what they call “Super Apps” and you’ll see that being pushed more and more…
RIM has no choice but to focus on “Super Apps”. Currently, there is no way for them to catch up with both Apple and/or Android.
While having “Super Apps” sounds great, how many of them can you have before thousand of “useless apps” start flooding the App World? Which by the way brings me to another point, are they planning on staying small in regards to app quantity?
Both Google and Apple have “Super Apps”, apps people cannot live without. It might be hard to find, but I am sure it will be improved.
@Admin, I like RIM… It was nice to see their friendliness at WES 2010, but as you said it yourself, they are missing out on UI design like not one else. Even Microsoft decided to dramaticly redesign their Windows 7 phone. RIM needs to wake up. Thats all.
Actually I’d have to disagree slightly, their not just going for looks and usability. They also have to consider their business user install base that has been there for rim from day one as well as the new consumers. Me as a consumer i would completely agree with you, but you can’t expect a business user to walk in the office and take care of and keep track of his business using completely overhauled UI that’s different from the original, best to stick with what works in some cases to avoid driving away your install base. I say rim should create a market directed to consumers and keep the other for hardcore business users, that way they could make the consumer side more user friendly and innovative, and the business side more strait forward and effective.
I absolutely agree! Notice, I was ONLY referring to Storm 1 and 2 devices since those are directly targeted at a younger audience.
I think they need to stop making 300 devices a year, and focus on a business-type OS which is what 6.0 is good for and another UI totally revamped for touch devices and younger audience.
I can see both sides to this debate cause Blackberry don’t want to be apple chasing and need to keep hold of the business segment of the market it owns but without that visual wow affect it will not be able to commender more of the younger market.
My take is this. RIM should hire some of the greatest theme builders (maybe elecite) and work on mixing it up to find that oh so elusive happy medium of visual stunning and efficient productivity.
I don’t know bout younger fun audience, Me and my business partners (although young at 20-26 of age) barely use our phones for entertainment with the exceptions of turning it into an mp 3 player and wishing there was a nuclear reactor pack for it.
Somehow in terms of meetings the storm does appeal more to clients. It catches their eyes… and of course your themes makes it even better. But back to topic the storm just like other blackberry out there is a business playbook.
Just my 2 cents
But yeah UI is fugly…….. perhaps adventurous is not really in their dictionary but interms of functionalities that’s been released into the wild, i give it a thumbs up
Agreed!. Even the API makes it hard to achieve wow-looking apps [sigh], but I’m still working on it.
jB