Tipzzz To Raise Your Smartphone , Buying IQ

Tipzzz  To Raise Your Smartphone ,
Buying IQ

Apple's iconic iPhone 3G S has yet to be topped in the coolness department, thanks to its gorgeous 3.5-inch touchscreen, iPod functionality, integrated Wi-Fi and GPS -- and more than 100,000 downloadable "apps." The iPhone has also morphed into a hot gaming platform. On a budget? The older model iPhone 3G is available for $99.


Giving someone a smartphone is like giving them a mini computer, with scads of downloadable applications.

If you're shopping for one, you'll first want to see what's available from your preferred carrier, says analyst Michael Gartenberg at researcher Interpret. Then decide what features are important -- do you want a touch-screen? And prioritize what you'll use the device for -- e-mail, music, games, Web browsing and so on.

Nearly 20 percent of all mobile phones are now "smart," up from 14 percent in 2008, according to a study by J.D. Power and Associates.

If you're ready for your first (or next) smartphone, or are shopping for someone else, here's a guide:

A Tasty Pick

Apple's iconic iPhone 3G S ($199/16 gigabytes or $299/32 GB with two-year AT&T Relevant Products/Services contract; apple.com) has yet to be topped in the coolness department, thanks to its gorgeous 3.5-inch touch-screen, iPod functionality, integrated Wi-Fi and GPS -- and more than 100,000 downloadable "apps." The iPhone has also morphed into a hot gaming platform Relevant Products/Services. On a budget? The older model iPhone 3G is available for $99. The "S" model, which stands for speed, is faster and has a video camera.

Messaging Marvel

Research In Motion's new BlackBerry Bold 9700 (from $199 with two-year AT&T or T-Mobile contract; rim.com) is powered by a peppy processor, multiple wireless options (3G, Wi-Fi, GPS and stereo Bluetooth) and reliable and fast "push" e-mail that delivers messages straight to your in-box. Navigate through the Bold's features -- high-resolution Web browsing, 3.2-megapixel camera and music playback (stored on memory cards) -- with a touch-sensitive trackpad and traditional keyboard.

Google-icious

Bring on the power of Google-to-go with the thin Motorola Droid ($199.99 with two-year Verizon Wireless contract; motorola.com), an Android-powered phone with integrated Google search, Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Maps and more. The 3.7-inch touch-screen glides open to reveal a keyboard for messaging and Web surfing. Music lovers can use the standard headphone jack or stereo Bluetooth (for wireless headphones), along with support Relevant Products/Services for the Amazon Music Store. Other features of this Wi-Fi-enabled phone include a 5-megapixel camera (with DVD-quality video capture), access to apps from the Android Market and a pre-installed 16-GB microSD memory card. Another hot Android phone is the Motorola Cliq with T-Mobile ($199.99 with a two-year contract).

Imagio That

"Windows Relevant Products/Services phones" powered by Microsoft Relevant Products/Services's new Windows Mobile 6.5 are offered by multiple manufacturers and carriers, such as the Samsung Intrepid from Sprint, HTC Tilt2 from AT&T and HTC Imagio from Verizon Wireless. The Imagio ($199.99 with a two-year contract; htc.com) is a powerful world phone with a 3.6-inch touch-screen, 5-megapixel camera (with auto focus and camcorder) and the ability to edit Word and Excel documents. Synchronization with Windows PCs is smooth. Similar to Apple's MobileMe feature, data Relevant Products/Services on Windows phones can be backed up on the Web.

Two new smartphones are available from the folks who kick-started the PDA (personal digital assistant) revolution more than a decade ago: the Palm Pre ($149.99 with a two-year Sprint contract; palm.com) and Palm Pixi ($99.99 after rebate, with a two-year Sprint plan) both run Palm's new operating system. Run multiple apps at once and, when you're finished with a function, simply flick it to the top of the screen to close it. Both include a touch-screen and traditional keyboard, but the Pre is a "slider" design, while the Pixi is "candy bar" style. Other differences are a 2-megapixel camera in the Pixi compared with a 3.2-megapixel camera in the Pre. The Pre has Wi-Fi and cellular connectivity..