When the average mobile-device user thinks of applications, they think of iOS and Android—not BlackBerry, Windows Phone or any other mobile platforms. Entertainment Weekly's new awesome apps of summer 2012 list is an effective representation of the challenge RIM and Microsoft face in the coming years. I’m a big fan of Entertainment Weekly magazine—yes, I read the paper magazine, not the EW.com website, GASP!—and one of my favorite issues every year is the Summer Must List edition. EW used to feature mostly summer movies, TV shows, books and fashion, but during the past few years it started including sections on technology, gadgets and even mobile applications. EW‘s summer 2012 app recommendations aren’t particularly insightful, at least if you’re trying to find great apps. Most of them are games, and all are aimed at consumers, as you might expect from a mag like EW. What’s more telling is the fact that every one of the recommended downloads is for iOS, Android or both. No BlackBerry apps. No Windows Phone apps. Etc. The one-page article nicely sums up the challenge RIM and BlackBerry, Microsoft and Windows Phone, face in the modern mobile market: Nobody thinks of apps when they think of BlackBerry or Windows Phone. And that does not bode well for iOS and Android competitors. James A. Martin, CIO.com’s mobile apps blogger, covers iOS and Android apps almost exclusively in his Martin on Mobile Apps blog. That’s partially because he doesn’t use a BlackBerry or a Windows Phone and partially because we know that iOS and Android have more “app-eal” right now. SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe Earlier this month, I interviewed four RIM executives at BlackBerry World, and I asked them specifically about this app issue. I got a relatively generic response about how the company is working closely with developers to make the app creation process easier and how it’s implementing new quality assurance programs in BlackBerry App World, its software shop. (Listen to or download my BlackBerry World Q&A for more specifics.) I got the feeling that RIM is very aware of the problem, but it doesn’t really know what to do at this point. If you’re interested in EW‘s app recommendations beyond what you can see in the (blurry) image above you can pick up a copy of the June 01 issue, which is on store shelves now—I don’t think the summer apps list is available online. AS Cover image via EW.com Related content opinion The changing face of cybersecurity threats in 2023 Cybersecurity has always been a cat-and-mouse game, but the mice keep getting bigger and are becoming increasingly harder to hunt. By Dipti Parmar Sep 29, 2023 8 mins Cybercrime Security brandpost Should finance organizations bank on Generative AI? Finance and banking organizations are looking at generative AI to support employees and customers across a range of text and numerically-based use cases. By Jay Limbasiya, Global AI, Analytics, & Data Management Business Development, Unstructured Data Solutions, Dell Technologies Sep 29, 2023 5 mins Artificial Intelligence brandpost Embrace the Generative AI revolution: a guide to integrating Generative AI into your operations The CTO of SAP shares his experiences and learnings to provide actionable insights on navigating the GenAI revolution. By Juergen Mueller Sep 29, 2023 4 mins Artificial Intelligence feature 10 most in-demand generative AI skills Gen AI is booming, and companies are scrambling to fill skills gaps by hiring freelancers to make the most of the technology. These are the 10 most sought-after generative AI skills on the market right now. By Sarah K. White Sep 29, 2023 8 mins Hiring Generative AI IT Skills Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe