Is the iPhone UI becoming too Blackberry-like?

I know it can get heated about the iPhone \ BlackBerry debate. So, I'll only say it once, keep this thread clean, and play nice in order for it to stay open...

*he walks away to prepare his hammer, just in case*

(Duvi said); I was confused about the multi-home screens, so if you could explain to me exactly what you were talking about and I can then address that point.
(with a current iPhone) while arranging icons on the home screen, drag an icon to the right edge of the screen until a new screen appears. You can flick to return to the original screen and drag more icons to the new screen.
Anyway, unlike other BB users, I'm NOT blasting the iPhone, I LIKE where the iPhone is going, I LIKE having another phone available for business. I will even admit some things are can be done better on an iPhone, but is Apple leaving some customers in the dust that want a no frills phone? Do these users still feel the current OS/UI works for them?

Originally Posted by berryaddictnoza

(Duvi said); I was confused about the multi-home screens, so if you could explain to me exactly what you were talking about and I can then address that point.
(with a current iPhone) while arranging icons on the home screen, drag an icon to the right edge of the screen until a new screen appears. You can flick to return to the original screen and drag more icons to the new screen.
Anyway, unlike other BB users, I'm NOT blasting the iPhone, I LIKE where the iPhone is going, I LIKE having another phone available for business. I will even admit some things are can be done better on an iPhone, but is Apple leaving some customers in the dust that want a no frills phone? Do these users still feel the current OS/UI works for them?

Yeah but the multiple home screens have alway been there. It's not like it's just was added yesterday. In my opinion that's a lot simplier to manage apps than on other OS systems. If I want to delete an app I just press and close and hit the "x" box. I don't have to scroll through a series up menus to have the app uninstalled.

But here's my question to you...... what exactly is Apple doing that has made the phone even the slightest bit more complicated? I mean just about everything they have added, you can choose to use it or not or is doesn't both you. So what is making it a "no frills phone" now?

If anything, people are realizng some of the shortcomings of it and welcome the changes. For instance, my wife isn't a tech person at all. She could care less about mobile OS and all that stuff. She likes it simple and that's it. She loves her iPhone and according to her, it's the only phone she'll ever use. But even she recognized the fact that she can't stream her fav radio stations and be on facebook at the same time. When I told her that she'll be able to do that on 4.0 she was estatic.

Apple is doing a good job adding features without making them complicated to use and keep the good user experience and personally, I don't see anything they have done that makes anything more difficult that a "normal" user wouldn't like.

Until we see Apple start having a bunch of menus to go through to get stuff done then I don't see the point and the OP has really made a reach. I think Apple realizes that in order to have a great touchscreen device you can't have all the extra steps in the OS and as far as I'm concerned there's no other OS out easier to use.

Even with the addition of folders... i still think has a better UI than a BB, even tho the icons are tiny in the folders, you can still make out almost what's actually in there for one.... and second, there is something about the UI of the iPhone that makes it easier and/or better IMO...

And there is nothing even similar to the two... even with the addition of folders with new 4.0 OS and mulitasking, all apple is really doing is elimating most of the things we jailbreak for, sooner or later, there probably won't be a need to

Originally Posted by LazyStarGazer

And a flashing LED. :)


One thing I miss about the BB os is the menus. They gave me lots of choices.
However, I also like the simplicity of the iPhone. You just use it.

So, here's a far out thought.

The Iphone master controller:
User selectable, from 1 - 10.
1 = technologically clueless, 10 = Geo Hotz/Dev Team hackers.
The user can increase the complexity of their device
(menu and customization options) by selecting a higher number.
Or keep it simple if that works for them.

Of course, you know how that would go for many.
People who had previously only ever used a dumb phone would open the box, set it to 10, then find an iPhone forum and say
"My phone doesn't work." :p :p :p

I like your line of thinking!

Originally Posted by berryaddictnoza

(Duvi said); I was confused about the multi-home screens, so if you could explain to me exactly what you were talking about and I can then address that point.
(with a current iPhone) while arranging icons on the home screen, drag an icon to the right edge of the screen until a new screen appears. You can flick to return to the original screen and drag more icons to the new screen.
Anyway, unlike other BB users, I'm NOT blasting the iPhone, I LIKE where the iPhone is going, I LIKE having another phone available for business. I will even admit some things are can be done better on an iPhone, but is Apple leaving some customers in the dust that want a no frills phone? Do these users still feel the current OS/UI works for them?

I was really confused because of this statement:

Originally Posted by berryaddictnoza

....to a more multi-layered Blackberry-like experence (multi home screens, cut and paste, multi tasking, ect). While I like where it's evolving to, many people here regularly blast RIM for the Blackberry OS/UI being too complex, too many menus, ect.

It's been this way since day one -- no real change. So I'm not sure how it's changing and becoming more like BlackBerry.

Even then, BlackBerry is has a lot of menus and folders. On the iPhone, with 4.0, it'll be a choice if you want folders. You won't have to create folders. You can keep as is.

And I didn't think you were bashing the iPhone at all. Don't worry ;)

Originally Posted by scorpiodsu

So what is making it a "no frills phone" now

When I made the "no frills phone" statement, I was referring to the need of a simple phone for some people. The iPhone is getting MORE functionality, not less, this was the basis for starting this thread.
Multi Home Screens; whoops! I found that going over the 3GS last fall, and hadn't noticed it previously.
Blackberry Menus; You really don't need to deal with them using the basic function of whatever app your using, they only come into play when you need to edit or change something. The plus with them is you know what functions are available, like the whole multi home screen thing, I didn't know the iPhone did that until I stumbled upon it.

Originally Posted by berryaddictnoza

When I made the "no frills phone" statement, I was referring to the need of a simple phone for some people. The iPhone is getting MORE functionality, not less, this was the basis for starting this thread.
Multi Home Screens; whoops! I found that going over the 3GS last fall, and hadn't noticed it previously.
Blackberry Menus; You really don't need to deal with them using the basic function of whatever app your using, they only come into play when you need to edit or change something. The plus with them is you know what functions are available, like the whole multi home screen thing, I didn't know the iPhone did that until I stumbled upon it.

So once again, what has Apple done to the iPhone to make it more complicated? What inconvenient features will Apple add that is forcing people to use them? What do blackberry menus have to do with anything?I'm still not understanding the whole point. Once again, what did Apple do to make the device more "berry-like"? You still haven't mentioned anything.

scordiodsu;So once again, what has Apple done to the iPhone to make it more complicated?
-My take is the only thing Apple has done to make it more complicated is to make some of the features not up front obvious, you either have to stumble on them, or find them under Help or How To.
scorpiodsu;What inconvenient features will Apple add that is forcing people to use them?
-Of course Apple isn't forcing anyone to use features, other than the UI/OS as it is (which seems outstanding)
scorpiodsu;What do blackberry menus have to do with anything?
-You're right, BB menus don't have anything to do with this thread. I posted that late night semi-defending BB's, it was a brain fart. I even told myself I wouldn't sink down to a BB vs iPhone mud sling on this thread.
scorpiodsu;I'm still not understanding the whole point. Once again, what did Apple do to make the device more "berry-like"? You still haven't mentioned anything.
They have added functionality by by expanding their UI/OS from the original iPhone concept of see and select. The point is I wanted to see how iPhone users feel about this evolution, do they stumble on functions accidentally, and not know what happened? Are they having trouble using the new functions? Or, are they PO'd, fine or thrilled with the latest OS? I didn't want to spell this out, but let the users voice their opinions.

Originally Posted by berryaddictnoza

scordiodsu;So once again, what has Apple done to the iPhone to make it more complicated?
-My take is the only thing Apple has done to make it more complicated is to make some of the features not up front obvious, you either have to stumble on them, or find them under Help or How To.
scorpiodsu;What inconvenient features will Apple add that is forcing people to use them?
-Of course Apple isn't forcing anyone to use features, other than the UI/OS as it is (which seems outstanding)
scorpiodsu;What do blackberry menus have to do with anything?
-You're right, BB menus don't have anything to do with this thread. I posted that late night semi-defending BB's, it was a brain fart. I even told myself I wouldn't sink down to a BB vs iPhone mud sling on this thread.
scorpiodsu;I'm still not understanding the whole point. Once again, what did Apple do to make the device more "berry-like"? You still haven't mentioned anything.
They have added functionality by by expanding their UI/OS from the original iPhone concept of see and select. The point is I wanted to see how iPhone users feel about this evolution, do they stumble on functions accidentally, and not know what happened? Are they having trouble using the new functions? Or, are they PO'd, fine or thrilled with the latest OS? I didn't want to spell this out, but let the users voice their opinions.

I got you. IMO, they have done nothing to make the iPhone any more complicated or anything like that. Apple has been able to add funtionality without making the device less usable.

As for your first statement which features did Apple not make obvious that people had to stumble upon that didn't exist from the beginning? I'm just trying to figure out which one. I know for me, I stumbled upon the taking a screen shot but that was back in 2008 when I discovered that. What other though?

I just still don't see how anyone could be pissed about getting multitasking, MMS, copy and paste etc. All of these things added functionality, but at the same time no one has to use them if they feel it makes stuff too complicated now. There is not one feature Apple is adding that forces someone to use and if it does, the user doesn't have to do anything to manage it (i.e. multitasking). And anything that Apple did add is easier to use than any touch screen phones out there and most phones with a QWERTY if a person does choose to use them.