Tips on choosing a smartphone

With the vast number of smartphones available in the market, choosing a smartphone has increasingly becoming a difficult task for the ordinary folks!

Whilst the internet, in particular the all powerful Google search engine, sourcing information on smartphones have never been easier..and confusing to those not familiar with IT jargon or technical terms.

In this article, I hope to share some tips on choosing a smartphone in a non technical manner. I’ll make references to the iPhone 3G as this is by far the most popular smartphone on the market and some of you may want to know my thoughts on it being an iPhone user.

So, in layman terms, what is a smartphone?

A smartphone is similar to a PC in that it runs an operating system software and provides an interface that allows its owner to modify smartphone settings and run software programs.

It also presents a platform that allows developers to create programs too. A good example would be the extremely popular iPhone 3G with its intuitive, easy to use touchscreen interface that is attracting many software developers to create, sell and publish iPhone applications exclusively through iTunes Application Store.

The smartphone also provides PC like functions such as e-mail, Internet and e-book reader capabilities, and/or a built-in full keyboard or external attachable USB keyboard.

Smartphone: Needs

While choosing a smartphone, don’t get pressured into buying one just because your friend and family tells you to “go get the latest and greatest smartphone dude!”.

First things first; you should make a list of features you plan to have or need in a smartphone. Consider how much you are willing to spend on phone and more importantly, the phone plan!. For example, do you use the smartphone more so as a phone for calling or texting messages or as a mobile PC, allowing you to send surf the internet, pay bills online, read news?

Key features that you may want to consider in a smartphone may be:

Input

Most smartphones come with touchscreens which are increasingly popular and  replacing physical keyboards. If you consider your top criteria for the smartphone to be a mobile phone, I strongly recommend you get one with a physical keyboard, not a touchscreen keyboard (Insert pic right below: HTC S730 has a normal phone keypad as well as a slider thumb keyboard for input.

Some smartphones also come with a stylus which are really good if you like to scribble/write on your smartphone. Beware that if the smartphone’s screen is smaller than 2.5″ , this virtual writing experience may not be very productive or efficient.

Just so you’re aware, the iPhone 3G does not have a stylus. There are iPhone programs that allow you to write/scribble with your fingers.

Personal Information Management tools

All smartphones will come with PIM tools such as calendar, contacts, task list and notes. If you wish to synchronise your smartphone PIM with your PC’s (assuming you use the popular Microsoft Outlook), make sure this smartphone comes with the appropriate data synchronisation software that is compatible with Outlook. It’s almost certain that all smartphones will support synchronising (or “synching”) with Microsoft Outlook.

Screen Size and Resolution

All about screen “real estate” – if you like to watch videos or surf the internet on your smartphone, a larger screen (albeit the smartphone will have to be larger in dimensions!) may be a requirement. From personal experience, anything less than a 2.5″ smartphone screen may be pushing it!

Oh, and pixels? That describes the screen resolution – that is, how clear/sharp your screen looks.

Smartphone resolutions will generally be 320 x 240 pixels and this will be sufficient for most users.

I had a HTC Touch Pro with a 2.5″ screen with a screen resolution of up to 640 x 480 pixels. I found watching a video on it to be less comfortable than an iPhone 3G with a larger screen but less pixels (480 x 320).

Storage

The smartphones usually allow you to store data. Some have slots that support mini storage cards such as SD, miniSD, microSD, MMC type cards. You can find these cards going up to 1 to 16G in storage sizes.

Some smartphones have built in storage and does not have slots.

Multimedia

Smartphones always have a built in music player, video player, image viewers and support for different audio and video codecs that allows you to listen and play a broad range of music and video file formats.

Cameras are almost a standard feature for most smartphones. Check that it has a front camera if you intend to do video calling

Communication

Almost all smartphones come with a data cable that allows you to connect to your PC and sync files or personal informations such as contacts, calendars and/or tasks.

Other connectivity options are wireless and bluetooth which allows you to use a vast array or bluetooth accessories such as handsfree headsets, wireless stereo headsets, wireless keyboards and mice.

Some phones like the HTC Touch range comes bundled with satellite navigation system for GPS navigation purposes.

Performance

Do you see yourself using multiple applications on your smartphone? If not, most smartphones usually won’t have any issues performance if you use it for general purposes.

What Next?

Create a shortlist of smartphones that best meet your criteria list and then reduce this shortlist further by comparing reliability (any widespread negative reviews and feedback on this smartphone?), supportability (is there local support in your area for this brand of smartphone?) and warranty (is there local warranty for this brand of smartphone?)

Once you have thought of the above, you should compare the different options which match your criteria, read user reviews, feedback and compare pricings.

Wrapping Up

What’s left should hopefully be your ideal choice. If more than 1 exists, then it’ll be down to personal preference..which one appeals to you asthetically

Need More Help or Info?

This is where our website should hopefully help out with the information!

We will also reference other websites as well so you can pretty much use www.goodsmartphone.com as your single search portal to save on preciousy time in searching multiple authoratative smartphone websites or having to read through lengthy, IT jargon filled review. We’ll collect, summarise, categorise and simplify the latest, meaningfuls smartphone news and information for you.

Ask us any questions and we’ll endeavour to provide useful feedback.

Best of luck in your search of YOUR ideal smartphone and if you end up purchasing it, we’ll be interested to know so drop us a note!

Thanks for you time.

Preview – Nokia N97 coming soon..

We are all eagerly hanging onto any news of a release date for the long awaited Nokia N97.

The N97 is touted to be designed to meet the “needs of Internet-savvy consumer by providing access to a number of social-networking sites, facebook and twitter being the most popular ones.

The N97 also introduces an interesting concept called “social location,” utilising the onboard integrated A-GPS sensors and electronic compass to automatically update the owner;s social networks, or let them share their location via photos or videos with friends. In my opinion, a double edged sword in a way…letting everyone know exactly where you are when sometimes, all you really want to do is “disappear” and not be contactable!

The Home screen can be personalized with widgets of favorite Web and social-networking sites and is highly customisable. How useful is this feature remains to be seen.

Some other notable key features of the N97 are a Web browser that allows Flash video to play within it (note that the iPhone’s Safari browser currently doesn’t support this feature), a music and video player, a 5-megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics, and a whopping 32GB of onboard memory that can be expanded with a 16GB microSD card. Yep, that’s 48GB or storage in total folks..more than most netbook PCs provide these days.

It has the usual Wireless and Bluetooth offerings, meaning that you can connect to your home wireless network and also use your wireless stereo headphones or your bluetooth headsets.

The N97 also has quad-band (GSM 850/900/1800/1900) meaning tgat this phone can be used in most parts of the world. It is also a 3G/HSDPA phone, meaning that it will work with most US based 3G providers f high speed wireless broadband such as like AT&T.

Rumors are that it’ll be released in Q1, 2009 for a price of around USD700.

Technical Specifications if you’re interested are as follows:

System

• WCDMA 900/1900/2100 (HSDPA)
• EGSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz

User Interface

• S60 5th Edition

Dimensions

• 117.2 mm Length
• 55.3 mm Width
• 15.9 mm Height
• 18.25 mm at camera

Weight

• 150g

Display

• 3.5-inch TFT
• 16 Million Colors
• mHD 16:9 Widescreen
• 640×360 pixels

Battery

• Nokia Batter BP-4L
• 1500 mAh

Memory

• Up to 48GB
• 32GB Internal Memory
• 16GB MicroSD Expansion Slot

Video Playback

• MP4 SP
• MP4 AVC/H.264
• 30 fps
• VGA Resolution
• Real Video up to QSIF at 30 fps
• WMV9 up to CIF at 30fps
• Flash Lite 3.0 / Flash in Browser

Music Playback

• MP3
• AAC
• eAAC
• eAAC+
• WMA

Main Camera

• Carl Zeiss Tessar Lens
• 5MP (2584 x 1938)
• JPEG/EXIF (16.7 Million / 24-bit color)
• Video Capture MPEG-4 VGA, 640×480 at 30fps
• Aperture: F2.8
• Focal Length: 5.4mm
• Flash: Dual LED Camera

Operating Times (3G/GSM)

• Talk Time – up to 320/400 minutes
• Standby Time – up to 400/430 minutes
• Video Playback – 4.5 hours (offline mode)
• Music Playback – 37 hours (offline mode)

Connectivity and Data Service

• WLAN IEEE 802.11 b/g with UPnP support
• MicroUSB Connector
• 3.5 mm stereo headphone plug
• TV-Out Support
• Bluetooth 2.0
• A-GPS

Sony Xperia X1 reviewed

Sony Xperia X1 is one of the most awaited touch screen smartphones of 2008 and runs Windows Mobile 6.5. This is a departure from the Symbian Operating system that most Sony Ericsson PDAs use.

The XPERIA™ X1 combines a 3-inch clear wide VGA display 800×480 pixels and a full QWERTY keyboard within a brush metal-finish body. It has a built in stylus which allows you to poke and scribble.

The X1 supports the standard mobile networks such as GSM850, GSM900, GSM1800, GSM1900, HSDPA 850/1900/2100. An interesting fact is that the X1 actually manufactured by HTC and not Sony Ericsson, which explains it has a MicroSD slot instead of a MemoryStick slot. This allows you to use an additional microSD card which will give you more storage space up to 16G.

The Sony Xperia is packed with the latest must have smartphone features including 3G , a 3.2MP camera with autofocus and flash, inbuilt GPS which allows you to install turn by turn Navigation software such as TomTom.

The Xperia X1′s unique panel user interface is at the heart of the device’s ability to create and adapt consumers’ personal choices. Some panels include Today screens and Facebook. More development is anticipated in the Panels arena.

Now for cons this writer has experienced with the X1.

Despite it’s rich Panels interface, touch navigation is still very “hit and miss”. The touch screen isn’t as thumb friendly as the the iPhone and one can get frustrated not being able to accurately execute programs.

Although the X1 has a decent CPU, it feels very sluggish and tends to pause a lot in between navigations. The camera is slow to respond and thus not very useable for quick snaps.

The phone functionality is quite frustrating. The ringer is very low in volume is bare audible when the X1 in the pocket and starts ringing in a moderately noisy environment.

The vibrate function again is not ideal…it buzzes too softly and hardly noticeable when the X1 is in a loose pocket.

Recommended for: Smartphone users who aren’t easily frustrated with a “fiddly” phone and know their way around the Windows Mobile operating system.

Blackberry App World Opened

The BlackBerry App World (BAW) is the BlackBerry version of iPhone App Store, and what a wonderful welcome for BlackBerry users. BAW is Research in Motion’s (RIM) effort to keep BlackBerry a worthy contender in the battle for the top Smartphone. You can personalize your BlackBerry Smartphone with games, social networks, personal productivity applications and much more.

To start using BAW, go to BlackBerry App World to download the software. You will need a PayPay account to purchase the applications. If you do not have one, you can sign up at paypal.com. Also, take note of the followings:

• BlackBerry Device Software of 4.2 or higher (latest as of April 09 is version 4.5) is required.
• Only BlackBerry Smartphone with a touch screen or trackball is supported.
• BAW is only available to users in US, Canada and UK. Not all networks are supported.

Connect your BlackBerry to your computer via USB to download and install on your Smartphone. You will have to use Microsoft Internet Explorer as RIM uses ActiveX controls. Once BAW is running on your BlackBerry, you will see several featured apps on the home screen; similar to App Store on iPhone. BAW supports both free and for purchase applications (as low as US$2). There are a couple of hundred of apps to choose from in the store. The interface is very easy to use, although you have to go thru some menus. For the apps, you can see the publisher’s description and read user reviews. Just click on the link
and it will download directly to your BlackBerry. Downloading of the app is easy and hassle-free. The app will download into your phone Download folder.

BAW is not as flashy as iPhone App Store but it works pretty well. The problem it not faces is the low number of app, but I have no doubt that in the next few months it will definitely grow. The collection of app is already very good. Seem that the App Stores path is the trend for the Smartphone’s war. Now where is the Symbian App Store?

Windows Mobile 6.5 announced

Microsoft officially unveiled the latest version of its mobile operating system at GSMA Mobile World Congress 2009.
The next generation of Windows® phones will be based on Windows Mobile 6.5 and feature a new user interface and a richer browsing experience. There is a web-based service My Phone for people to back up personal infromation and a Windows® Maretplace for mobile similar to iPhone App Store and Blackberry App World.

The most obivious of the new version is the new user interface, which has Zune-like Home screen. It provide a dashboard-like screen displaying important information such as new e-mails, texts, missed calls and calendar appointments (See picture). It also includes an improved touch-screen interface, which is more “finger-friendly” and touchable style type navigation.

My Phone service is quite similar to Nokia Ovi, where people and access and backup information on the phone to Web-based service. If you are to lose your phone you can easily restore the information such as contacts, calendar and photos, etc. It is currently a invite-only beta.

Together with the new version is the Windows® Marketplace for Mobile, where you can search, browse and purchase mobile applications for your smartphone. This seem to be the way to go in the smartphone wars by creating app store.

The bad news is that you will not see this version any time soon. Most likely in the later part of 2009. So watch this space.