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

In an interview in The Australian Financial Review (via AllThingsD), Blackberry CEO Thorsten Heins describes iOS as an outdated user interface, claiming that the iPhone is at risk of being replaced in the popularity stakes due to a lack of innovation.

blackberry

"Apple did a fantastic job in bringing touch devices to market ... They did a fantastic job with the user interface, they are a design icon. There is a reason why they were so successful, and we actually have to admit this and respect that," Mr Heins said.

"History repeats itself again I guess ... the rate of innovation is so high in our industry that if you don't innovate at that speed you can be replaced pretty quickly. The user interface on the iPhone, with all due respect for what this invention was all about is now five years old." [...]

"The point is that you can never stand still."

Heins has firsthand experience of this phenomenon, as BlackBerry has received significant criticism over its lack of innovation as its worldwide smartphone market share has fallen from nearly 20% to just 3.5% over the past three years. The company is hoping for a revival of its fortunes with the Blackberry Z10, which is launching in Australia and the United States in the coming days following debuts in several other countries in recent weeks.

Apple design chief Jonathan Ive late last year took over responsibility for software as well as hardware design following the departure of former iOS head Scott Forstall, generating great interest in the extent to which Apple may update the user interface in iOS 7.

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Top Rated Comments

aaron.lee2006 Avatar
161 months ago
Surprisingly, I agree.
Score: 134 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MattJessop Avatar
161 months ago
I agree, but this is just the pot calling the kettle blackberry.
Score: 100 Votes (Like | Disagree)
applesith Avatar
161 months ago
Blackberry never had innovation so they don't know what it means.

Yes, Apple needs to step it up but BB should be the last one to throw a shot.
Score: 84 Votes (Like | Disagree)
viperGTS Avatar
161 months ago
Sorry perfection is boring. :rolleyes:
Score: 56 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ouimetnick Avatar
161 months ago
True very true. Apple is getting defensive because they know they are stale. Thats why they launched the 'Why You'll Love an iPhone' campaign, and Phil Schiller is getting super defensive on Twitter.


The Retina display on iPhone ushered in the era of super-high-resolution displays. Its pixel density is so high, your eye can’t distinguish individual pixels. The images and words are amazingly vivid and crisp. Everything just looks so real. In fact, once you see a Retina display, you’re never satisfied with anything less. Yet it remains a feature found only on iPhone and other Apple products.
Thats a lie. Other manufactures have higher ppi, and a larger screen. They know they don't have anything special, so they are trying to make the best with what they have. Although I think it is more iOS thats stale rather than the hardware. But twice a year hardware updates are necessary IMHO. Once a year updates are playing catch up, not catching up and going beyond.

Apple needs to stay above their competitors, not behind.
Score: 38 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Rogifan Avatar
161 months ago
True very true. Apple is getting defensive because they know they are stale. Thats why they launched the Love iPhone campaign, and Phil Schiller is getting pissed on Twitter.




Thats a lie. Other manufactures have higher ppi, and a larger screen. They know they don't have anything special, so they are trying to make the best with what they have. Although I think it is more iOS thats stale rather than the hardware. But twice a year hardware updates are necessary IMHO. Once a year updates are playing catch up, not catching up and going beyond.

Apple needs to stay above their competitors, not behind.
So it's only about higher ppi? So the company that has the highest ppi in their display automatically has the best display?
Score: 29 Votes (Like | Disagree)