The iPhone has been pitted against the Blackberry since its release. Which phone really is the better phone? In the beginning, productivity and security were major concerns with the iPhone.
Productivity
For starters, the Blackberry’s qwerty keyboard makes it extremely user-friendly. The iPhone touch screen is more attractive but it can be quite a chore to maneuver. When you want to send an e-mail or text message, the keyboard on the iPhone appears only on landscape view. This poses typing problems. If you have a deadline to meet the touch screen might slow you down. With the Blackberry you can type with just your thumb and if you do this regularly enough, you can actually type without looking at the screen. Since you don’t have to worry about damaging the screen, keying in work is much faster.
The IPhone has a spell check feature that corrects misspelled words automatically. But if you don’t want words to be corrected, like names, it can be tedious to keep re-typing everything that the phone has corrected. The Blackberry on the other hand has an auto text feature where you get to create your own shorthand. You can program in words or names that you frequently use and whenever you type say, the first two letters of a word plus another key, the device automatically spells out the whole word.
Push email. The Blackberry instantly alerts you of incoming mail but with the IPhone, you have to go to the inbox to check for new messages.
Security
Reportedly, hackers could easily tap into the IPhone. You could, for example install software even if it isn’t an approved program or isn’t supported by IPhone applications.
Enter IPhone SDK and its enterprise features. The SDK or software developer kit allows other developers to create programs that can run in the IPhone. This is a great update to the IPhone because it eliminates guesswork as to all the possible applications that people might want to have on the IPhone in the future.
And what of its enterprise features? With these new features, users can now have push email, calendar, contacts and global address lists, addressing one of the major complaints consumers have about the IPhone. Another significant feature included is enforced security policies. With Microsoft’s ActiveSync and Cisco IPsec VPN, the IPhone has a more stable security system in terms of high level security measures such as encryption, remote wipe, certificates, identities and password policies.
Some analysts say these new additions have leveled the playing field, others disagree saying the IPhone still has a long way to go. The Blackberry’s security measures aren’t something to scoff at. Some analysts say that even with improved IPhone security, the Blackberry still has more policies in place that enable companies, say, to remotely disable digital cameras or set limitations as to which applications can access GPS. Using an intermediary to transmit data to users also works to the Blackberry’s advantage. The IPhone routes it data direct to users. Apple contends this is a more secure system.
So who shall dominate the smartphone market? The battle rages on and only time will tell which company will emerge the victor. GP
7. The Definitive Guide to Apple iPhone
When Apple released the iPhone it was evident it was to be the century’s uber-gadget. It seemed to contain all the features that you could possibly want in one lifetime. For those wanting to buy an IPhone, here’s what’s in store for you.
Touch Screen Interface. The IPhone boasts of a widescreen display with multi-touch user interface. This multitouch technology allows you to maneuver the device in different ways. For zoom in function you can pinch your fingers apart on a section of the screen. For zooming out you pinch your fingers together. You can magnify sections of a message by pressing down on that area and holding it. The magnifier stays on as long as you keep your finger pressed down.
The IPhone also has an accelerometer that automatically adjusts the screen to landscape view if you tip it over to its side, say when you are surfing the Net or playing music. During calls, the sensor automatically shuts off the screen and adjusts display brightness according to available ambient light.
Visual Voicemail. This is another genius feature of the IPhone. Visual voicemail allows you to listen to any of your voicemail messages in any order. This enables you to listen to the most important message without having to go through every single one that comes before that.
Safari Browser. The iPhone’s browser is another much-touted feature allowing you to view web pages in their entirety instead of being shown limited text and graphics. Surfing the net is easy and fun as you can execute functions with just a swipe, tap or flick of a finger! The phone has both Google and Yahoo search. If you want to save your favorite web pages, the IPhone lets you bookmark simply by tapping the bookmark and adding it to home screen options.
Text Messaging and Email. The IPhone is truly a multi-tasking tool. The IPhone lets you access email while reading a webpage, you can also download web pages in mid-call. You can also send text messages from your IPhone to multiple recipients.
IPod. The IPhone is also an IPod boasting of excellent video and audio quality. The most notable feature of the iPhone’s iPod is that it enables you to flip through songs through the album artwork. This is a first for an iPod. You can browse for songs in Cover Flow mode and this is a remarkable feature because it gives you the feeling similar to physically digging through your music collection. Another plus is that when you board an airplane, the call transmitter automatically switches off but the music player keeps functioning.
Watching video remains a pleasurable experience because of the phone’s widescreen. On this iPod you can go through movies by chapter and the device has an option for displaying subtitles.
Camera. The IPhone has a 2 megapixel camera that can be accessed by tapping the camera icon on the home screen. An interesting feature is that the phone imitates the actions of a camera shutter as you take pictures.
Other note-worthy features of the IPhone are:
Integrated YouTube player.
Widgets
Bluetooth and wireless connectivity
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Eugene
