BlackBerry pins hopes on Z30, Apple issues iOS largest software makeover

Both companies are entering in a very critical part of the year releasing new products which aim to boost hopes for reaching targets. For BlackBerry that would be re-gaining some market share and securing a place among worlds top phone manufacturers as the company once was.

BlackBerry launched its new Z30 flagship smartphone today, as it battles to win back market share despite uncertainty around its future. Once a pioneer in the smartphone arena, BlackBerry said last month it was weighing options that could include an outright sale, in the face of lackluster sales for its new devices that run on the BlackBerry 10 operating system.

The long-rumored Z30 device, which is first being unveiled at an event in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, will be BlackBerrys new top-of-the-line device, taking the crown from the smaller Z10 that was launched early this year.

The new touchscreen device, which boasts a five-inch display and a 1.7 gigahertz processor, will compete against the likes of Apples new iPhone 5S and Samsungs Galaxy S4, along with a list of other devices that are powered by Googles Android platform.

Although the new line of BlackBerry devices has been well received by reviewers, analysts say the company lacks the financial power to compete with industry giants like Apple, Google, Samsung, and Microsoft, which boast massive marketing and Research & Development budgets.

The new iPhone operating system is the most substantial update in the softwares history. Apple not only added new features and functionality, but the company radically reinvented the six-year old operating systems appearance.

The most noticeable difference in iOS 7 is the design. Gone are the core apps that look like real-life objects. In their place is a far more modern, streamlined, flatter digital aesthetic.
Perhaps the most useful addition to iOS 7, according to people who had the chance to use it, is Control Center. Its your drawer full of settings, media playback controls, and shortcuts to utility apps, like the clock, camera and calculator. You can now also toggle the LED on and off from control center, functioning as a de facto flashlight. And its easily accessible: just swipe up from the bottom of the screen.

Apple emphasized on multitasking in iOS 7, giving apps the ability to fully run in the background. That means apps like Twitter and Facebook will be able to automatically update their feeds without you having to open the app. Apple even promises that iOS 7 will learn which apps you use the most, when you use them, and will make sure theyre always updated at that time. But also it will be hard to tell how well this feature will work until app makers begin to support it.

According to critics iOS 7 isnt perfect, but its still as worthy a mobile OS as Googles Android. IOS 7 lays down the foundation for the next five or so years that will allow Apple to keep the iPhone feel modern and progressive.

Money CNN analysts suggest that BlackBerry stock had recently under performed as advising to hold the stock with a option to sell in near future. Though analyst recommendations for Apple stocks advise buying as according to the 80% of analysts stock price will rise.