Smartphones
There's an obvious reason these gadgets got the name they did. They're absolutely brilliant. Yes, toting a cell phone can be an annoyance. Toting a cell phone, a PDA and an email device is sheer insanity. Smartphones  are the solution to that problem. It's a hybrid device that combines a mobile phone and a PDA into a feature-packed handheld device. The smartphone is giving the PDA a run for its money with phenomenal sales growth in the consumer devices market. If you would rather use one device for all your multi-tasking needs, a smartphone is for you. However if you often lose your phone, you should reconsider. Imagine losing your phone and with it, all your contact numbers, email addresses, and your planner in one shot. Smartphones come with a variety of features, which can be overwhelming, but this guide is here to help. |
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What's Hot Now
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16GB iPhone - The most advanced combination of a cell phone with an MP3 player from Apple and AT&T
- Has an internal antenna
- 8 GB or 16GB for video, music, email, etc.
- Breakthrough 3.5-inch widescreen Multi-Touch display
- Full featured web browser (not a slim mobile version)
- Visual voicemail
- View text messages in a chat-style view, like iChat on a Mac.
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Palm Treo 680 - A full-featured mobile phone that includes everything you'll need to keep organized and in touch (PDA, email, messaging, phone, contacts, calendar, photos, songs).
- Has an internal antenna and a slimmer build than past designs.
- A 320 X 320 color screen for viewing web pages, photos, media and more.
- 64 MB of storage (nearly 3X that of the original Treo).
- Ability to stream music, play MP3, share photos and edit and view Word and Excel documents.
- New feature: reply to calls with a preset text message.
- View text messages in a chat-style view.
- new models: Palm Centro, Palm 750, and Palm 755p
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BlackBerry Pearl
- Complete with phone, email, text messaging, browser, instant messaging and organizer applications.
- 1.3 megapixel camera with built-in flash and 5X digital zoom.
- Audio and video player.
- BlackBerry Maps (available through certain providers).
- Navigation system.
- SureType Keyboard system has a list of 35,000 words that it will recognize as you type. It will also extract words from your emails and add them to your list.
- High resolution LCD screen.
- 64 MB of memory.
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T-Mobile Dash
- Email, phone, calendar, contacts (with Microsoft Outlook Mobile) are part of the package.
- myFaves capable: a T-Mobile feature allowing unlimited any-network calling to any five people with a myFaves plan.
- Full QWERTY keyboard.
- Wi-Fi Web capabilities.
- 1.3 megapixel camera.
- Windows Media Player for audio and video files from the Internet.
- IM-ready (AOL Instant Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger, MSN Messenger).
- 2.4" TFT display.
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Helio - A mobile service exclusive to Samsung-designed Helio devices that insists, "Don't Call Us a Phone Company."
- Services include: Mobile MySpace, GPS-enabled Google Maps, Internet access, games, music, videos, text/picture/video/instant messaging, file transfers up to 1MB per message and a buddy-search function that allows you to track your friends' whereabouts.
- Three devices to choose from.
- Drift: 2.12" screen, 262K color, landscape mode. Bluetooth ready, 128MB internal memory, 2 megapixel camera, video camera, media player, MP3 and MPEG4 player. (3.8"H X 1.8"W X .7"D; 3.5oz.)
- Hero 2.2" screen, 260K color, 70MB internal memory, 2 megapixel camera, MPEG 4 video camera, built-in duplex stereo speakers, MP3, MPEG 4 players. (4.3"H X 1.9"W X 1"D; 4.73oz.)
- Kickflip: 2.2" screen, 262K color, 70MB internal memory, up to 1200 contacts, 2 megapixel camera, MPEG4 video camera. (3.88"H X 1.96"W X .98"D; 4.47oz.)
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Samsung Blackjack II - Currently available through AT&T.
- Slightly thicker than the Motorola Q, (13 mm vs. 11.5 mm for the Q).
- Has a 320 X 240 display, a full QWERTY keyboard, 1.3MP camera and a microSDspellerr slot.
- Mobile versions of Microsoft® Office(TM)
- Fast loading full HTML web browser with 3G
- Bluetooth
- Simultaneous voice and data capabilitites
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On the horizon
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Nokia N95 - An innovative two-way slider design.
- 5 megapixel camera, integrated GPS, Wi-Fi, 150 MB of memory and Micro SD slot.
- You can switch between modes easily thanks to the design.
- You can slide the dial pad down to use the phone function, or slide the media keys out in the opposite direction for landscape mode.
- 2.5" screen.
- Expected to be released in the middle of January.
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Video Reviews
The Nitty Gritty
The Network- Smartphones utilize the GSM (Global System for Mobile communication) network for voice communication and the GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) network for data transmission. The GSM network is a wireless digital mobile phone network and GPRS network is a wireless service that allows you to connect to the Internet.
- Most Smartphones are either tri-band (900/1800/1900 MHz) or quad-band (850/900/1800/1900 MHz). A multi-band smartphone ensures that it can function at a variety of frequencies and allows it to operate in more than one country.
- Advances in communication technology allows a number of smartphones to offer EDGE (Enhanced Data GSM Environment) connectivity which provides faster data transfer, particularly for Web and multimedia over the GSM network.
- With the addition of a Wi-Fi card, smartphones can surf the net at speeds faster than using GPRS, however speeds will vary depending on the network and handset. WAP-enabled smartphones use Wireless Application Protocol for accessing the Internet and email connectivity over the GSM network.
Email Connectivity- One of the key characteristics of a smartphone that made it popular and essential to businesses is email connectivity. They are able to deliver email wirelessly to the handset using an email client as well as operate with a variety of email applications including personal, business and IMAP Web mail. Smartphones will connect to the email server for the account to send and receive messages over the GPRS network.
- RIM initially launched the BlackBerry as an email-only device. BlackBerry devices download email from an email server, support up to 10 email accounts, and come with a range of email options, such as email downloads to a PC.
- The Palm Treo uses VersaMail and will connect with Microsoft Exchange as well as POP3/IMAP accounts.
Internet access- If you like surfing the Internet on the go at faster speeds then Smartphones with the new EV-DO (Evolution Data Optimized) is coming to your rescue. Compared with other cellular data services, like EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution, 100-kilobits-per-second real-world speeds) or GPRS (General Packet Radio Service, ten kilobits per second, up to 50 kilobits if you're lucky), Verizon's EV-DO network is very fast (around 400-kilobits-per-second).
- You can use a variety of browsers for the Internet, including the Explorer, Blazer 2.0 and Opera's mobile Web browser specially rendered for smartphones.
OS Platforms and Performance- Palm: The platform is slightly limited for multitasking on the devices, but it is easy to hook up with other Palm devices. The interface is designed for ease of use and is compatible with lots of third party applications. For information specifically on Palm Treo OS options, read our Palm Treo guide here.
- Symbian: The platform is supported by a large number of devices. It works especially well with Java, Bluetooth and IrDA technology. Limited software applications supported.
- Windows: Supports Bluetooth and Wi-Fi and is less user-friendly. Compatible with lots of different software.
Input system- QWERTY keyboard: If you plan on texting and emailing, look for Smartphones that have a slide out or front keyboard with separate alpha and numeric keys.
- Stylus handwriting recognition: Multilingual, handy writing tool that actually uses more than a keyboard. By writing with a small pen-like stick, your handwriting gets translated into Times New Roman (or whatever font you prefer) in a Word document.
- Stylus tapping/touch-screen keyboard: This is like having a standard touch-screen LCD screen. It takes two hands, but it's quicker and easier to use than a numeric keyboard.
Wireless Carrier Service- Don't forget that you not only pay for the initial cost of the phone, but also you commit to a yearly contract.
- Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile and smaller carriers all offer monthly plans that range from $50 to $100 per month depending on your usage.
- Are you moving around internationally? Think about getting an unlocked phone or a phone with a SIM chip that can be changed.
Top Picks
Compiled from Cnet.com , PC Magazine and L8shop.net
Extras- Cameras. Most models have a VGA camera for capturing stills and video with megapixel counts well past two.
- GPS receivers and Bluetooth modems for additional Web access have also appeared.
- Photo storage on expandable memory slots.
- Memory Chip (these usually cost extra and you should have one or two to back up your data).
- Video players.
- MP3 media players.
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Palm Treo 650
