New iPhone, BlackBerry job cuts and NHS computing: IT Pro web comments round-up

IT Pro readers are a vocal bunch, always willing to offer up an opinion on the latest technology news, product reviews and site features.

Unsurprisingly, given that Apple unleashed iOS 7 and its next generation iPhones on the world this week, a lot of the site comments have a mobile slant this week, with readers also passing judgement on the latest goings on at BlackBerry.

Away from the mobile world, they were also sharing their thoughts on the state of the National Health Service's IT systems.

Make way for iOS 7 and iPhone 5s/5c

There's nothing like the prospect of an iOS update to get Apple and Android fans squaring up to each other in the IT Pro comments section, with readers on both sides furiously typing messages along the lines of "my phone's better than your phone."

Thankfully, IT Pro reader Steven was on hand to diffuse the situation, when in the lead up to the release of Apple's iOS 7 update things started getting a little heated in the comments section.

Echoing the thoughts of many other readers, and IT Pro writers, Steven's call for calm was fair, balanced and well-intentioned. Here's hoping people heed his wise words.

"I don't understand the war between iPhone and Android users. Use what you like and what works for you. Just use the phone you like and stop carrying a flag for one or the other," he wrote.

"I [owned] an Android [in the past], and I currently own an iPhone 5. I like my phone but that's not to say I dislike the Android.

"Can't we find something better to argue about than what phone we carry?"

We don't know anything about Steven, other than his username, but we wouldn't be surprised to learn that, with diplomacy skills like that, he's a member of a UN peacekeeping squad.

BlackBerry crumbles

This week brought with it another downbeat twist in the BlackBerry story, with reports suggesting the fruity smartphone maker will be cutting 40 per cent of its workforce before the year is out.

Against this grim backdrop, the company also announced the imminent arrival of its new 5in Z30 device, much to the surprise of many IT Pro readers, and confirmed the release date of its forthcoming BBM Messenger for iPhone and Android offering.

One, UK Taxpayer, described the firm's smartphone ambitions as a waste of time, claiming CEO Thorsten Heins might be better off partnering with an OEM to make its phones in future.

This disgruntled commentator also hit out at the pointlessness of opening up BBM to iPhone and Android users.

"[The company] should fire-sale QNX to a more worthy owner, and return their cash pile to shareholders, before it is burned through completely," he fumed.

Other were a little more forgiving, expressing their delight at the freedom of being able to use BBM on any device will bring them.

"The only reason I stay with Blackberry is because of BBM. Now I don't have to," said Bob, before breaking out the bubbly shortly after, IT Pro assumes.

The bad health of NHS IT

There's nothing IT Pro readers hate more than money being wasted on public sector IT projects, so the publication of the Public Account Committee's autopsy of the long-dead NHS National Programme for IT was always bound to incur their wrath.

The report revealed that, despite being canned in 2011, taxpayers are still having to (collectively, we're happy to point out) cough up billions of pounds for the project.

Robert wasn't having any of that, and called for heads to roll at the Department of Health.

"If the cost is due to incompetence by the staff of the Department, then they should all be fired immediately, without pensions," he raged.

"What kind of idiot would sign up to these lopsided contracts, and then keep their job, and why should the public pick up the tab?"

Michael Bux, said the problem with NHS IT computer systems is that they're not fit for purpose and are rarely state of the art by the time they're deployed.

"How many staff have been involved in the design of these systems to ensure its usability in hospitals," he pondered.

Meanwhile, DraftCopy, who claims to have a background in public sector IT procurement, said the size and scope of the original project means it was always doomed to failure.

"In this case, however, I suspect that the size and scope of the project has been an aggravating factor and for that the politicians must take their share of the blame. The world has moved on whilst change control has kept the project to its original objectives. Hence it is no longer fit for purpose.

"Having spent 20-plus years working in internal audit in both the private and public sectors, it is no surprise to hear of the costs and failures in this case," DraftCopy added.