Windows takes on Android and Palm for the smartphone top spot

Author: Matt Sharp

When it comes to smartphones, which is the best OS? Is it the open source Android? Is it the newcomer WebOS? Or is it the old stalwart Windows Mobile? Let's take a look.

HTC HD2

At a huge 4.3 inches, the screen on the HTC HD2 truly is immense, and the high, 800x480 resolution makes it genuinely easy to use things like scrollbars in menus. However, the HTC HD2 actually does a very good job of making it so you don't have to go into standard Windows menus that often, as on top of the operating system, the interface is HTC's patented TouchFLO 3D setup, where everything is achieved through various finger swipes and sweeping gestures. It is truly intuitive, and it (along with the truly awesome 1GHz Snapdragon processor) is the reason why the HTC HD2 is such an unmitigated joy to use. Of course, it's not all about being pretty, a phone needs to have decent features and the HTC HD2 has them in spades, from the 5 megapixel camera, through GPS, to incredibly fast HSDPA internet access (not to mention the superb Opera Mobile web browser).

HTC Hero

The HTC Hero is comparable to the HD2, sharing a similar keyboard-less design. Again, it's with the software that the HTC Hero shines, with Android living up to the title some have given it, that of 'game changer'. Its completely open source nature makes adapting the OS very easy, and the interface itself is once again a finger-friendly, sleek, and polished affair, with gesture controls the order of the day. The tight integration of the full Google suite (including Apps and Gmail), makes it a real force to be reckoned with, and it has to be said that the HTC Hero is a truly stunning phone.

Palm Pre

So, there's the HTC Touch Diamond2, which takes Windows Mobile to new heights. And then, there's the HTC Hero, which gives Android a new interface. What does the Palm Pre offer that's different? Well, one could talk about the WebOS interface it uses, as it's unique in the annals of phone history. And indeed, there's one feature of WebOS, directly related to the keyboard, that makes the Palm Pre so cool. Universal search. Now, many phones do that, but the Palm Pre does it so much more cleverly. Just start typing what you want to know about, from the front screen, and the Palm Pre will search your contacts, apps, music, pictures, and even the internet, to interpret and find what you're looking for. That really is a cool feature, and it may well make the Palm Pre the coolest QWERTY phone out there. If you value the interface above all else, the Palm Pre is the phone for you.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/cell-phones-articles/windows-takes-on-android-and-palm-for-the-smartphone-top-spot-1510774.html

About the Author:

Expert on mobile phones, having worked in the industry for over 7 years.

Brand new smartphone interfaces for 2009

Author: Matt Sharp

2009 has seen the introduction of THREE new phone operating systems (well, ok, two brand new ones, and a brand new update of Windows Mobile). Let's take a look at them.

Nokia N900

Nokia's latest smartphone if the first in a new breed; it's the first phone ever to use the new Maemo interface (previously seen in Nokia's internet tablet range). Say hello to the Nokia N900. That Maemo OS gives the Nokia N900 a finger friendly interface, and on top of that, the phone has a built in QWERTY keyboard, so it has more ways to access the phone than ever before. It's not just about the interface, though, as the Nokia N900 is packed with high-end features. A 5 megapixel camera makes for superb photos, the multimedia playback is stunning, and with HSDPA and GPS, the Nokia N900 certainly isn't short of connectivity options.

Palm Pre

There's a new kind on the block, that aims to take the smartphone crown all for itself. The Nokia N97 goes for raw power, but what the new Palm Pre goes for is sheer elegance. Using the brand new, never-before-seen WebOS at its core, the Palm Pre takes touch-friendly interfaces and innovative design to an entirely new level. Take, for example, the new Fandango app that should be available when the Palm Pre is launched. It's an online cinema booking service, that lets you buy tickets and watch trailers on the phone. The Palm Pre will also put an automatic reminder in your calendar, and contact people who are going with you, to organise getting there. That's what makes the Palm Pre great.

HTC HD2

So, we have the Nokia N900 with the Maemo interface, and then there's the Palm Pre, which sports WebOS. And then there's the HTC HD2; it holds the record for the biggest screen seen on a mobile phone. At a huge 4.3 inches, it is truly vast, and the high, 800x480 resolution makes it genuinely easy to use things like scrollbars in menus. However, the HTC HD2 actually does a very good job of making it so you don't have to go into standard Windows menus that often, as on top of the operating system, the interface is HTC's patented Sense UI, where everything is achieved through various finger swipes and sweeping gestures. It is truly intuitive, and it (along with the truly awesome 1GHz Snapdragon processor) is the reason why the HTC HD2 is such an unmitigated joy to use. Of course, it's not all about being pretty, a phone needs to have decent features and the HTC HD2 has them in spades, from the 5 megapixel camera, through GPS, to incredibly fast HSDPA internet access (not to mention the superb Opera Mobile web browser). And why is it on this list? Because although it's Windows Mobile, it's the NEW version of Windows Mobile, that's why.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/cell-phones-articles/brand-new-smartphone-interfaces-for-2009-1496296.html

About the Author:

Expert on mobile phones, having worked in the industry for over 7 years.

The Big Three - mobile phone interfaces go to war

Author: Matt Sharp

They're the big three operating systems in the mobile phone world, but which one is housed in the best phone? Let's check out, as we take a look at Android, Windows Mobile and Symbian.

HTC HD2

If you're talking big screens, there's no way you can avoid the HTC HD2, because it holds the record for the biggest screen seen on a mobile phone. At a huge 4.3 inches, it is truly vast, and the high, 800x480 resolution makes it genuinely easy to use things like scrollbars in menus. It is made so much easier by the huge screen (and the Sense interface), and it (along with the truly awesome 1GHz Snapdragon processor) is the reason why the HTC HD2 is such an unmitigated joy to use. Of course, it's not all about being pretty, a phone needs to have decent features and the HTC HD2 has them in spades, from the 5 megapixel camera, through GPS, to incredibly fast HSDPA internet access (not to mention the superb Opera Mobile web browser). Quite simply, the HTC HD2 is the best Windows Mobile ever made...

Motorola DEXT

Android is trying to take over the world, and its new home is the beautiful Motorola DEXT. Part of the huge appeal of the Motorola DEXT is its brilliant new interface, which Motorola are calling MOTOBLUR. It's designed to put all your social networking tools right on the front page of your Motorola DEXT, so staying connected with the world is easier than ever. You also get the Android Marketplace, which lets you download and install third party apps to your Motorola DEXT, and it ends up creating a smartphone that really can morph into whatever you want it to be.

Nokia N97 Mini

So, there's the HTC HD2, with that enormous screen. And there's the Motorola DEXT, with incredible social features. And now, they have a new rival, the Nokia N97 Mini. One of the big reasons why the Nokia N97 Mini is so anticipated, and why it'll no doubt sell like hotcakes, is that it really IS the N97, but in a more pocket-friendly size. The exact same operating system, Symbian S60 Touch, gives the Nokia N97 Mini a finger friendly interface, and on top of that, the phone has a built in QWERTY keyboard, so it has more ways to access the phone than ever before. It's not just about the interface, though, as the Nokia N97 Mini is packed with high-end features. A 5 megapixel camera makes for superb photos, the multimedia playback is stunning, and with HSDPA and GPS, it's not short of connectivity options. But is it the best phone money can buy? Well, no. It's nice, but it's just that the other two phones on this list are so much nicer.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/cell-phones-articles/the-big-three-mobile-phone-interfaces-go-to-war-1496286.html

About the Author:

Expert on mobile phones, having worked in the industry for over 7 years.

What's hot in the world of Symbian phones?

Author: Matt Sharp

Symbian is one of the stalwart operating systems of the mobile world, and now, it's to be found in three of the coolest smartphones on the market. Let's take a look at them.

Sony Ericsson Satio

It's fair to say that the Sony Ericsson Satio is easily one of the most hotly anticipated phones of the year. On the face of it, the big reason for the excitement is its 12 megapixel camera, and whilst that is a force to be reckoned with, there's so much more to the Sony Ericsson Satio. It's the first 'Entertainment Unlimited' phone, and that doesn't just mean it combines Cyber-Shot and Walkman technology. On top of that, the Sony Ericsson Satio is also going to pull in social networking, high quality games and incredible video services to become a one-stop mobile entertainment hub. It promises far more than that, however, as the Sony Ericsson Satio is also powered by Symbian, giving it true smartphone capabilities, which will no doubt include its very own app store.

Samsung i8910 HD

The Samsung i8910 HD has one big advantage over Satio (despite having a less impressive stills camera). Whilst it has an 8 megapixel camera, the Samsung i8910 HD is also the first phone to record true 720p HD video. Never before has a phone been able to capture video at that massive high resolution, and coincidentally (or is it coincidence? Maybe not...), the Samsung i8910 HD captures high-def video at the exact quality that Youtube display high-def videos at. It's very possible that the Samsung i8910 HD was designed with its main feature being the ability to get yourself on Youtube, in high-definition. Combine that with the sumptuous 3.7 inch screen, and a huge 8Gb of internal memory, and it's very clear that the Samsung i8910 HD deserves its place as one of the phones of the year, mainly because it's as close to being flawless as any recent phone has come.

Nokia N97 Mini

So, there's the Sony Ericsson Satio, with that enormous camera. And there's the Samsung i8910 HD, with true HD video. And now, they have a new rival, the Nokia N97 Mini. One of the big reasons why the Nokia N97 Mini is so anticipated, and why it'll no doubt sell like hotcakes, is that it really IS the N97, but in a more pocket-friendly size. The exact same operating system, Symbian S60 Touch, gives the Nokia N97 Mini a finger friendly interface, and on top of that, the phone has a built in QWERTY keyboard, so it has more ways to access the phone than ever before. It's not just about the interface, though, as the Nokia N97 Mini is packed with high-end features. A 5 megapixel camera makes for superb photos, the multimedia playback is stunning, and with HSDPA and GPS, it's not short of connectivity options. But is it the best phone money can buy? Well, no. It's nice, but it's just that the other two phones on this list are so much nicer.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/cell-phones-articles/whats-hot-in-the-world-of-symbian-phones-1480774.html

About the Author:

Expert on mobile phones, having worked in the industry for over 7 years.

The Nokia N97 Mini - is it good enough to beat its rivals?

Author: Matt Sharp

The Nokia N97 Mini is now available, but it has some real touch competition for the title of best smartphone. Can it beat its rivals? Let's find out.

HTC HD2

Quite apart from it being hyper-fast (with a 1GHz processor), with an incredibly fluid interface, the HTC HD2 also has the biggest screen on the market, coming in at an unbelievable 4.3 inches. That's a lot of real estate on screen, and it means that even previously fiddly menu bars are now finger-friendly, given the massive screen size. And as for the virtual keyboard on the HTC HD2, the extra size makes it little different from typing on a physical keyboard. Add in the rage of impressive features, including a 5 megapixel camera, broadband-fast internet access, a superb music player and GPS, and it adds up to a simple fact: The HTC HD2 is quite simply the best Windows Mobile phone, and maybe even the best PHONE, ever made, and it utterly canes the other two on this list.

Motorola DEXT

When it comes to social networking the best phone has to be the Motorola DEXT. Part of the huge appeal of the Motorola DEXT is its brilliant new interface, which Motorola are calling MOTOBLUR. It's designed to put all your social networking tools right on the front page of your Motorola DEXT, so staying connected with the world is easier than ever. You also get the Android Marketplace, which lets you download and install third party apps to your Motorola DEXT, and it ends up creating a smartphone that really can morph into whatever you want it to be.

Nokia N97 Mini

So, there's the HTC HD2, with that enormous screen. And there's the Motorola DEXT, with impeccable social features. And now, they have a new rival, the Nokia N97 Mini. One of the big reasons why the Nokia N97 Mini is so anticipated, and why it'll no doubt sell like hotcakes, is that it really IS the N97, but in a more pocket-friendly size. The exact same operating system, Symbian S60 Touch, gives the Nokia N97 Mini a finger friendly interface, and on top of that, the phone has a built in QWERTY keyboard, so it has more ways to access the phone than ever before. It's not just about the interface, though, as the Nokia N97 Mini is packed with high-end features. A 5 megapixel camera makes for superb photos, the multimedia playback is stunning, and with HSDPA and GPS, it's not short of connectivity options. But is it the best phone money can buy? Well, no. It's nice, but it's just that the other two phones on this list are so much nicer.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/cell-phones-articles/the-nokia-n97-mini-is-it-good-enough-to-beat-its-rivals-1476111.html

About the Author:

Expert on mobile phones, having worked in the industry for over 7 years.