iPhone 4 Review: Slick Design, So-So Call Quality
By Liane Cassavoy, About.com Guide
The iPhone 4 is, without a doubt, one of the best smartphones on the market today. It's speedy, svelte, and certainly slick. But the iPhone 4 didn't impress me quite as much as I expected, and this phone is more of an incremental upgrade from the iPhone 3GS rather than a must-have device.
Price and Availability
The iPhone 4 is available from AT&T, which sells the 16GB iPhone 4 for $199 and the 32GB iPhone 4 for $299 when you sign a two-year service contract with a compatible voice and data plan. (For more information, see .) You can buy the phone from AT&T, Apple, Best Buy, Radio Shack, and Walmart.
For more specifics on pricing, see How Much Does an iPhone 4 Cost? and AT&T Offers Early Upgrades on the iPhone 4.
Design
One of the most obvious differences between the iPhone 4 and past models is the new look of the phone. For one, it's noticeably thinner: the iPhone 4 measures just 9.3 millimeters thick -- 24 percent thinner than the already-svelte iPhone 3GS. Apple says it is "the thinnest smartphone on the planet," and it certainly does look tiny.
The iPhone 4 measures 4.5 inches tall by 2.31 inches wide by .37 inches thick. The iPhone 3GS, meanwhile, measures 4.5 inches tall by 2.4 inches wide by .48 inches thick. Put the two phones side by side, and the iPhone is noticeably smaller, all around.
But the iPhone 4 feels heftier than the iPhone 3GS. Both weigh 4.8 ounces, but that weight is rounded up; the iPhone 3GS actually weighs 135 grams while the iPhone 4 weighs 137 grams. It's not a huge difference, but the iPhone 4 does feel heavier in your hand than the 3GS.
The iPhone 4 also is more squared-off in shape, with a thicker metallic border running around the phone's edges. The new phone doesn't feature the plastic backing found on the iPhone 3GS and the iPhone 3G. Instead, the front and the back of the iPhone 4 are covered in aluminosilicate glass, which Apple says is found on helicopter and high-speed train windshields. It's designed to be significantly stiffer (20 times) and harder (30 times) than plastic, with a fingerprint-resistant finish. So far, the iPhone 4's case does seem to be resisting some smudges and smears, but I'll have to see how it holds up over time.
Display
One of the iPhone 4's most-hyped features is its display, which features an astounding resolution of 960 by 640. It measures the same size as the screen on the iPhone 3GS (3.5-inches diagonally), but packs in four times as many pixels. Apple calls it a "Retina display," and says it offers more pixels than the human eye can see. Experts have debated that claim, but the iPhone 4's screen does look remarkably crisp and clear.
Text looks sharp enough to jump off the screen. Colors look deeper and richer than they do on the iPhone 3GS, and images have a crispness that I haven't seen on another smartphone. The only complaint I have with the display is its size; after spending so much time testing out the 4.3-inch screen on the HTC EVO 4G, the iPhone 4's 3.5-inch display feels small.
Making Calls
Apple's iPhone is known for many things, but excellent call quality is not one of them. I was hoping that the iPhone 4's new design -- with the antenna built in to the steel frame that rings the phone -- would improve matters. But my test calls sounded just like calls made over my iPhone 3GS: loud enough and mostly clear, but with a bit of a background echo.
Many iPhone 4 users have complained of dropped calls and interference with their cellular service when they hold their phone near the bottom left corner of the device. I tried to test this out, and the first call I made with the iPhone 4 promptly dropped. I was unable to repeat this experience though, and have had no more dropped calls. I also have not seen any reduction in signal strength by holding the iPhone 4 in this area.
Software
The iPhone 4 runs version 4 of Apple's iOS. As always, Apple's mobile operating system is intuitive and easy to use; it works as you expect it to.
iOS 4 adds several new features, including a long-desired multitasking capability, which allows you to run more than one third-party app at a time. Multitasking works as advertised; to switch between apps, you minimize the one you're using to a tray, which you can access to go back to another application. It's not multitasking in the way that your computer can multitask; you can't always start a time-consuming process, like a download, and then go back to it when it's complete. That's because, most of the time, iPhone apps will suspend or go to sleep when you minimize them, and will only resume operation when you go back to them. And not all apps support multitasking, as developers have to add the capability on their own, which more should do over time.
Other new features in iOS 4 include folders for organizing all of your apps, a new Mail client, and a Game Center. For more information, see iPhone OS 4 Gets Multitasking and More.
Browsing the Web
Despite the "4" in its name, the iPhone 4 does not support 4G wireless networks. Still, you do have plenty of options for speedy Web browsing. The iPhone 4 now supports speedy 802.11n wireless networks, and you still get support for AT&T's high-speed 3G network.
The iPhone's Safari browser remains the best mobile browser I've used, without exception. You can see mobile or desktop versions of Web pages, can open multiple pages, and can zoom in and out with ease.
The iPhone's new iOS 4 also adds tethering capabilities, which allows you to use your iPhone as a modem to connect other devices to the Internet. Tethering requires the purchase of an additional $20-per-month tethering plan, though.
Camera
The iPhone 4 features a 5-megapixel shooter, which is a decent step up from the 3.2-megapixel camera found on the iPhone 3GS. It adds an LED flash and a 5x digital zoom. In my tests, images looked sharper and colors definitely popped, especially when viewed on the iPhone 4's gorgeous screen. But the LED flash wasn't terribly powerful.
In addition to snapping photos, the camera can record HD video clips at a resolution of up to 720p. Video clips captured with the iPhone 4 did look markedly better than those recorded with the iPhone 3GS.
The iPhone also features a front-facing camera for video chat through a feature called FaceTime. While FaceTime sounds impressive, it comes with some serious limitations: it works from iPhone 4 to iPhone 4 only, and video calls can only be conducted over Wi-Fi networks. I was unable to test it.
Bottom Line
If you already own an iPhone 3GS, the iPhone 4 is not necessarily a must-have upgrade, especially when you consider that many of its cool features are available for free with the iOS 4 software upgrade. But if you're craving that slick, svelte design, or if you've been using an older iPhone or smartphone, the iPhone 4 will amaze you with its speed and plentiful features. As long as you can live with its middling call quality, that is.
MY THOUGHTS
this is a good review, isn't it? take note that if you already have the 3G, the iPhone 4 is "not a necessary upgrade". unless you want to keep up with the fad. then you're in for some surprises in your life that you don't want to have.
Showing posts with label smartphone. Show all posts
Showing posts with label smartphone. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Sunday, November 14, 2010
The Best Budget Smartphones
The Best Budget Smartphones
You can get a full-featured smartphone for $100 or less.
By Liane Cassavoy, About.com Guide
You don't have to break the bank to get a smartphone. You don't even have to break the bank to get an iPhone -- not anymore, anyway. Here's a list of smartphones that are all available for $100 or less. You'll find some of the most popular handsets available today on our list of the best budget smartphones.
Prices typically are set by the service providers, who offer discounts in order to get you to sign a service contract. It's usually worth it to sign the contract, as you'll need a voice and data plan to use the phone, anyway. Just make sure you read the fine print.
1. Apple iPhone 3GS: $99
No, the iPhone 3GS is not the latest and greatest iPhone. But, while it may not have all the features found on the Apple iPhone 4, the iPhone 3GS remains one of the best smartphones on the market, hands down. Plus, it doesn't come with those pesky antenna problems that have plagued the iPhone 4 since its launch. And, with its price lowered to $99, the iPhone 3GS is one of the more affordable smartphones, too.
2. HTC Droid Incredible: $100
With a name like the Incredible, this smartphone has a lot to live up to. But the HTC Droid Incredible manages. Like the EVO 4G, it runs the latest version of the Android OS, and also offers a 3.7-inch display and an 8-megapixel camera. The Droid Incredible is available from Verizon Wireless.
3. BlackBerry Style: $100
The BlackBerry Style is not as high-style as its name would imply; it's actually more of an old-fashioned-looking phone. But that's not a bad thing. Even though it lacks a cutting-edge touch screen and a big, giant display, the Style's style makes it an eminently usable phone.
4. BlackBerry Curve 3G: $50 and up
RIM's BlackBerry Curve smartphones have long been among my favorite devices. They offer the excellent e-mail handling that BlackBerry phones are known for, but in a sleek, curved device that's appealing to consumers. And the BlackBerry Curve 3G offers all of that, plus 3G connectivity and an affordable price.
5. BlackBerry Tour 9630: Free - $49
There's a lot to like about the BlackBerry Tour 9630 smartphone. It has a gorgeous display, a sleek design, excellent e-mail handling, and offers voice and data service both inside the U.S. and outside the country. In fact, the BlackBerry Tour really has just one major flaw: a lack of Wi-Fi support.
6. Samsung Intercept: Free - $99
Most of today's new Android smartphones are all about being bigger and better than past models. That's fine, if you want a smartphone with all the bells and whistles -- and don't mind paying for it. But you do have another option in the Samsung Intercept. This full-featured Android smartphone may lack the flash found on some of its higher-profile rivals, but it's still a very capable device -- and one that comes at a very affordable price.
7. BlackBerry Bold 9650: $100
The original BlackBerry Bold impressed me when it debuted on AT&T's network a few years back. But not everyone likes AT&T's network. Not to worry: you can get the Bold 9650, a handsome, business-friendly
8. Palm Pre Plus: Free - $99
The Palm Pre Plus boast something that only one other phone on this list can offer: Palm's excellent webOS platform. The webOS software, also found on the Palm Pixi Plus, is fun to use (I love tossing apps off the screen to close them) and offers some impressive features, like true multi-tasking, so you can get more done.
9. T-Mobile myTouch 3G Slide: $50
The T-Mobile myTouch 3G Slide is an excellent update to its older sibling, the myTouch 3G. It features a similar attractive design, but adds a full QWERTY keyboard for easier typing and sports a bigger display; its screen measures 3.4 inches, while the original myTouch 3G features a 3.2-inch screen.
10. BlackBerry Curve 8500 Series: Free - $50
The BlackBerry Curve 8500 series of phones is available from all four of the big cellular carriers: Verizon and Sprint offer the Curve 8530, while T-Mobile and AT&T offer the Curve 8520. Both devicesa top-notch BlackBerry smartphones that won't break the bank. And you still get top-notch messaging and access to BlackBerry App World, where you can find plenty of apps to download.
11. LG Ally: Free - $49
LG's first Android-based phone for the U.S. market succeeds on many levels: it ships with the latest version of Android, it features a nice slide-out keyboard, and it sports an attractive price. Android purists also will like the fact that LG does not add its own user interface or overlay on top of the mobile operating system.
12. Nokia E73 Mode: Free - $49
The Nokia E73 Mode is a slim, sleek, messaging-friendly phone from T-Mobile. It offers a comfortable QWERTY keyboard for typing, plus a decently-sized 2.4-inch screen for composing and viewing messages. The Symbian-based phone lets you switch between two home screens, one for work and one for home. And it comes with free access to Nokia's Ovi Maps app for turn-by-turn navigation.
MY THOUGHTS
have you taken your pick? a $49 smartphone!!!unfortunately, even if you ask someone to buy the cell phone for you, probably will not work here. not sure though. better check. someone sent me a motorolla cellphone years ago. i had to send it back. something about compatibility. but who knows? that was years ago. it might work now.
You can get a full-featured smartphone for $100 or less.
By Liane Cassavoy, About.com Guide
You don't have to break the bank to get a smartphone. You don't even have to break the bank to get an iPhone -- not anymore, anyway. Here's a list of smartphones that are all available for $100 or less. You'll find some of the most popular handsets available today on our list of the best budget smartphones.
Prices typically are set by the service providers, who offer discounts in order to get you to sign a service contract. It's usually worth it to sign the contract, as you'll need a voice and data plan to use the phone, anyway. Just make sure you read the fine print.
1. Apple iPhone 3GS: $99
No, the iPhone 3GS is not the latest and greatest iPhone. But, while it may not have all the features found on the Apple iPhone 4, the iPhone 3GS remains one of the best smartphones on the market, hands down. Plus, it doesn't come with those pesky antenna problems that have plagued the iPhone 4 since its launch. And, with its price lowered to $99, the iPhone 3GS is one of the more affordable smartphones, too.
2. HTC Droid Incredible: $100
With a name like the Incredible, this smartphone has a lot to live up to. But the HTC Droid Incredible manages. Like the EVO 4G, it runs the latest version of the Android OS, and also offers a 3.7-inch display and an 8-megapixel camera. The Droid Incredible is available from Verizon Wireless.
3. BlackBerry Style: $100
The BlackBerry Style is not as high-style as its name would imply; it's actually more of an old-fashioned-looking phone. But that's not a bad thing. Even though it lacks a cutting-edge touch screen and a big, giant display, the Style's style makes it an eminently usable phone.
4. BlackBerry Curve 3G: $50 and up
RIM's BlackBerry Curve smartphones have long been among my favorite devices. They offer the excellent e-mail handling that BlackBerry phones are known for, but in a sleek, curved device that's appealing to consumers. And the BlackBerry Curve 3G offers all of that, plus 3G connectivity and an affordable price.
5. BlackBerry Tour 9630: Free - $49
There's a lot to like about the BlackBerry Tour 9630 smartphone. It has a gorgeous display, a sleek design, excellent e-mail handling, and offers voice and data service both inside the U.S. and outside the country. In fact, the BlackBerry Tour really has just one major flaw: a lack of Wi-Fi support.
6. Samsung Intercept: Free - $99
Most of today's new Android smartphones are all about being bigger and better than past models. That's fine, if you want a smartphone with all the bells and whistles -- and don't mind paying for it. But you do have another option in the Samsung Intercept. This full-featured Android smartphone may lack the flash found on some of its higher-profile rivals, but it's still a very capable device -- and one that comes at a very affordable price.
7. BlackBerry Bold 9650: $100
The original BlackBerry Bold impressed me when it debuted on AT&T's network a few years back. But not everyone likes AT&T's network. Not to worry: you can get the Bold 9650, a handsome, business-friendly
8. Palm Pre Plus: Free - $99
The Palm Pre Plus boast something that only one other phone on this list can offer: Palm's excellent webOS platform. The webOS software, also found on the Palm Pixi Plus, is fun to use (I love tossing apps off the screen to close them) and offers some impressive features, like true multi-tasking, so you can get more done.
9. T-Mobile myTouch 3G Slide: $50
The T-Mobile myTouch 3G Slide is an excellent update to its older sibling, the myTouch 3G. It features a similar attractive design, but adds a full QWERTY keyboard for easier typing and sports a bigger display; its screen measures 3.4 inches, while the original myTouch 3G features a 3.2-inch screen.
10. BlackBerry Curve 8500 Series: Free - $50
The BlackBerry Curve 8500 series of phones is available from all four of the big cellular carriers: Verizon and Sprint offer the Curve 8530, while T-Mobile and AT&T offer the Curve 8520. Both devicesa top-notch BlackBerry smartphones that won't break the bank. And you still get top-notch messaging and access to BlackBerry App World, where you can find plenty of apps to download.
11. LG Ally: Free - $49
LG's first Android-based phone for the U.S. market succeeds on many levels: it ships with the latest version of Android, it features a nice slide-out keyboard, and it sports an attractive price. Android purists also will like the fact that LG does not add its own user interface or overlay on top of the mobile operating system.
12. Nokia E73 Mode: Free - $49
The Nokia E73 Mode is a slim, sleek, messaging-friendly phone from T-Mobile. It offers a comfortable QWERTY keyboard for typing, plus a decently-sized 2.4-inch screen for composing and viewing messages. The Symbian-based phone lets you switch between two home screens, one for work and one for home. And it comes with free access to Nokia's Ovi Maps app for turn-by-turn navigation.
MY THOUGHTS
have you taken your pick? a $49 smartphone!!!unfortunately, even if you ask someone to buy the cell phone for you, probably will not work here. not sure though. better check. someone sent me a motorolla cellphone years ago. i had to send it back. something about compatibility. but who knows? that was years ago. it might work now.
Friday, November 5, 2010
Are Smartphones Cell Phones? What makes these cell phones smart?
,What Makes a Smartphone Smart?
We tackle the question: Just what is a smartphone, and why is it so smart?
By Liane Cassavoy, About.com Guide
You probably hear the term "smartphone" tossed around a lot. But if you've ever wondered exactly what a smartphone is, well, you're not alone. How is a smartphone different than a cell phone, and what makes it so smart?
In a nutshell, a smartphone is a device that lets you make telephone calls, but also adds in features that you might find on a personal digital assistant or a computer--such as the ability to send and receive e-mail and edit Office documents, for example.
But, to really understand what a smartphone is (and is not), we should start with a history lesson. In the beginning, there were cell phones and personal digital assistants (or PDAs). Cell phones were used for making calls--and not much else--while PDAs, like the Palm Pilot, were used as personal, portable organizers. A PDA could store your contact info and a to-do list, and could sync with your computer.
Eventually, PDAs gained wireless connectivity and were able to send and receive e-mail. Cell phones, meanwhile, gained messaging capabilities, too. PDAs then added cellular phone features, while cell phones added more PDA-like (and even computer-like) features. The result was the smartphone.
Key Smartphone Features
While there is no standard definition of the term "smartphone" across the industry, we thought it would be helpful to point out what we here at About.com define as a smartphone, and what we consider a cell phone. Here are the features we look at:
Operating System: In general, a smartphone will be based on an operating system that allows it to run productivity applications. BlackBerry smartphones run the BlackBerry OS, while other devices run the Palm OS or Windows Mobile. There are smartphone OSes that are pared-down versions of desktop Linux, too.
Software: While almost all cell phones include some sort of software (even the most basic models these days include an address book or some sort of contact manager, for example), a smartphone will have the ability to do more. It may allow you to create and edit Microsoft Office documents--or at least view the files. It may allow you to download applications, such as personal and business finance managers. Or it may allow you to edit photos, get ]driving directions via GPS, and create a playlist of digital tunes.
Web Access: More smartphones can access the Web at higher speeds, thanks to the growth of 3G data networks and the addition of Wi-Fi support to many handsets. Still, while not all smartphones offer high-speed Web access, they all offer some sort of access. You can use your smartphone to browse your favorite sites.
QWERTY Keyboard: By our definition, a smartphone includes a QWERTY keyboard. This means that the keys are laid out in the same manner they would be on your computer keyboard--not in alphabetical order on top of a numeric keypad, where you have to tap the number 1 to enter an A, B, or C. The keyboard can be hardware (physical keys that you type on) or software (on a touch screen, like you'll find on the iPhone).
Messaging: All cell phones can send and receive text messages, but what sets a smartphone apart is its handling of e-mail. A smartphone can sync with your personal--and, sometimes, your professional--e-mail account. Some smartphones can support multiple e-mail accounts. Others include access to the popular instant messaging services, like AOL's AIM and Yahoo! Messenger.
These are just some of the features that make a smartphone smart. But right now, they're the features we use when deciding whether a phone is a smartphone or a cell phone. The technology surrounding smartphones and cell phones is constantly changing, though. What constitutes a smartphone today may change by next week, next month, or next year. Stay tuned!
MY THOUGHTS
sometimes the cell phones get so smart i feel"unsmart". how many cell phones have i given up because i can't seem to make it work. i didn't even know that some cell phones have Qwerty keyboards. or at least i didn'tknow that's what they call those computer-like keyboards.
We tackle the question: Just what is a smartphone, and why is it so smart?
By Liane Cassavoy, About.com Guide
You probably hear the term "smartphone" tossed around a lot. But if you've ever wondered exactly what a smartphone is, well, you're not alone. How is a smartphone different than a cell phone, and what makes it so smart?
In a nutshell, a smartphone is a device that lets you make telephone calls, but also adds in features that you might find on a personal digital assistant or a computer--such as the ability to send and receive e-mail and edit Office documents, for example.
But, to really understand what a smartphone is (and is not), we should start with a history lesson. In the beginning, there were cell phones and personal digital assistants (or PDAs). Cell phones were used for making calls--and not much else--while PDAs, like the Palm Pilot, were used as personal, portable organizers. A PDA could store your contact info and a to-do list, and could sync with your computer.
Eventually, PDAs gained wireless connectivity and were able to send and receive e-mail. Cell phones, meanwhile, gained messaging capabilities, too. PDAs then added cellular phone features, while cell phones added more PDA-like (and even computer-like) features. The result was the smartphone.
Key Smartphone Features
While there is no standard definition of the term "smartphone" across the industry, we thought it would be helpful to point out what we here at About.com define as a smartphone, and what we consider a cell phone. Here are the features we look at:
Operating System: In general, a smartphone will be based on an operating system that allows it to run productivity applications. BlackBerry smartphones run the BlackBerry OS, while other devices run the Palm OS or Windows Mobile. There are smartphone OSes that are pared-down versions of desktop Linux, too.
Software: While almost all cell phones include some sort of software (even the most basic models these days include an address book or some sort of contact manager, for example), a smartphone will have the ability to do more. It may allow you to create and edit Microsoft Office documents--or at least view the files. It may allow you to download applications, such as personal and business finance managers. Or it may allow you to edit photos, get ]driving directions via GPS, and create a playlist of digital tunes.
Web Access: More smartphones can access the Web at higher speeds, thanks to the growth of 3G data networks and the addition of Wi-Fi support to many handsets. Still, while not all smartphones offer high-speed Web access, they all offer some sort of access. You can use your smartphone to browse your favorite sites.
QWERTY Keyboard: By our definition, a smartphone includes a QWERTY keyboard. This means that the keys are laid out in the same manner they would be on your computer keyboard--not in alphabetical order on top of a numeric keypad, where you have to tap the number 1 to enter an A, B, or C. The keyboard can be hardware (physical keys that you type on) or software (on a touch screen, like you'll find on the iPhone).
Messaging: All cell phones can send and receive text messages, but what sets a smartphone apart is its handling of e-mail. A smartphone can sync with your personal--and, sometimes, your professional--e-mail account. Some smartphones can support multiple e-mail accounts. Others include access to the popular instant messaging services, like AOL's AIM and Yahoo! Messenger.
These are just some of the features that make a smartphone smart. But right now, they're the features we use when deciding whether a phone is a smartphone or a cell phone. The technology surrounding smartphones and cell phones is constantly changing, though. What constitutes a smartphone today may change by next week, next month, or next year. Stay tuned!
MY THOUGHTS
sometimes the cell phones get so smart i feel"unsmart". how many cell phones have i given up because i can't seem to make it work. i didn't even know that some cell phones have Qwerty keyboards. or at least i didn'tknow that's what they call those computer-like keyboards.
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