RIM boss slams Apple for 'useless' iPad apps

RIM's co-chief executive has slammed Apple's lockdown on software, and accused the company of using applications to hide poor iPad performance.

Jim Balsillie said during a session at the Web 2.0 conference in San Francisco that there is no need to have every application downloaded in advance. By contrast, users would get more choice and variety by accessing applications on the web.

Apple's focus on downloading applications is designed to mask the iPad's poor performance, he said, claiming that RIM's BlackBerry PlayBook tablet is three to four times faster than the iPad.

RIM is making it easy for developers to prepare on-machine and cloud applications for the device, according to Balsillie, who criticised Apple for taking a restrictive line on applications control.

"We believe that you can bring the mobile to the web, but you don't need to go through some kind of control point of an SDK, and that's the core part of our message," he said.

"It's really not about a set of proprietary tools. We disagree with that point of view. You don't need an app for the web."

This is not the first time that Balsillie and Apple chief executive Steve Jobs have engaged in a war of words. Last months Jobs was disparaging about RIM's prospects in the smartphone and tablet markets, leading Balsillie to hit back.

"We think many customers are getting tired of being told what to think by Apple. Those of us who live outside Apple's distortion field know that Flash support actually matters to customers who want a real web experience," he wrote in a blog post.

"We also know that, while Apple's attempt to control the ecosystem and maintain a closed platform may be good for Apple, developers want more options and customers want to fully access the overwhelming majority of sites that use Flash."