What is the Difference Between BlackBerry 7 OS and BlackBerry 6 OS?

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The main differences between BlackBerry 7 OS and BlackBerry 6 OS are as follows:

  1. Appearance and Functionality: BlackBerry 7 OS is very similar to BlackBerry 6 OS in terms of appearance and functionality. However, some aesthetic tweaks have been made, such as more colorful icons, sharper fonts, and larger font sizes.
  2. Performance: The performance difference between BlackBerry 6 OS and 7 OS is noticeable, with the latter offering a smoother user experience.
  3. Web Browser: BlackBerry 7 OS features a faster and more modern web browser compared to its predecessor. Web pages open faster, and zooming in and out is quicker and smoother in BlackBerry 7 OS.
  4. Additional Features: BlackBerry 7 OS includes new features such as BlackBerry Balance, HTML 5 support, NFC support (limited to the Bold 9900 model), and an augmented reality app. These features are aimed at providing a more comprehensive and competitive user experience.
  5. No Legacy Support: BlackBerry 7 OS does not offer legacy support for older BlackBerry devices, meaning that even those running BlackBerry 6 OS cannot be upgraded to the new version.

Despite these differences, the overall user interface of BlackBerry 7 OS still feels outdated compared to other modern smartphone operating systems.

Comparative Table: BlackBerry 7 OS vs BlackBerry 6 OS

Here is a table comparing the differences between BlackBerry 7 OS and BlackBerry 6 OS:

Feature BlackBerry 7 OS BlackBerry 6 OS
Voice-Enabled Universal Search Yes No
Tabbed Browsing Yes Yes
Home Screen Customization Ability to change the number of icon rows without changing the profile -
Browser Improvements Yes Yes
Corporate vs. Consumer Focus Balanced approach, making it more consumer-friendly Primarily corporate-focused

BlackBerry 7 OS was officially released in May 2011 and brought several enhancements to the existing BlackBerry OS family, making it more consumer-friendly while maintaining its corporate-friendly approach. BlackBerry 6 OS, introduced in August 2010, focused primarily on corporate users and did not have voice-enabled universal search or the ability to customize the number of icon rows on the home screen.