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Smart phone smackdown
Sep 02, 2010 (The Brunswick News - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --
1Some people prefer blonds, others brunettes or redheads. It's the same when it comes to a "techie" gadget. Everyone has his or her "thing." That is especially true with the abundance of mobile devices on the market. Model numbers, applications, networks and features can seriously make your head spin.
The "Big Three," at the moment, are BlackBerry, iPhone and Droid. For each user there are personal reasons for selecting one particular smart phone -- that special little object of affection (or, perhaps, obsession). Here are just a few:
BlackBerry
Nancy Usher has had a Blackberry Curve for about a year and a half. It's changed her life. As a Realtor with Hodnett Cooper, she uses it for both work and play.
"I don't know how I functioned without it. I think the Blackberry Curve is one of the greatest tools a real estate professional can have. I use Verizon as my carrier and almost never lose signal," she said.
Of course, she loves the "fun" things, too.
"I love so many things about it, but particularly the ability to search on Google and Facebook. The camera is pretty good, too, and I like being able to send pictures to friends and family, and, of course, real estate clients. It is especially nice for clients who live out of town and want to know how the beach is looking on that day," Usher said.
Then there is the hands-free option she uses frequently.
"I love being able to hold down the green button and tell it to call or find someone or something, and it searches while I drive, or multi-task. That can be so fabulous when I am out of town. I use it to order take-out or check restaurant hours and, my most favorite, Costco locations," Usher said.
Her only complaint is the battery life.
"It's too short or maybe I just keep it too busy," she said.
iPhone
The iPhone revolutionized the smart phone world with its arrival in 2007. Now in its fourth version, it's still making waves. Charles Murphy is certainly a fan.
"The model I currently have is the iPhone 4, which has several key features, which include the Retina display, which on iPhone 4 is the sharpest, most vibrant, highest-resolution phone screen ever, with four times the pixel count of previous iPhone models," he said.
The iPhone 4 also introduces a new way of multitasking through its apps -- or application programs used on smart phone platforms.
"Now you can run your favorite third-party apps -- and switch between them instantly -- without slowing down the performance of the foreground app or draining the battery unnecessarily. And, finally, shooting your own movies in high definition. I can capture impressive video even in low-light settings, thanks to the advanced backside illumination sensor and built-in LED light," Murphy said.
The iPhone, which is currently available only through ATandT, also has the popular "Facetime" option.
"We have been dreaming about video calling for decades. iPhone 4 makes it a reality," he said. "With the tap of a button, I can wave hello to my kids, share a smile from across the globe or watch a best friend laugh at my stories -- iPhone 4 to iPhone 4 over Wi-Fi. This phone makes staying in touch this much fun."
While he doesn't have many gripes, he does share a common problem for iPhone users.
"The main issue now is the proximity sensor for the phone. Currently, it can make phone calls act sporadic, such that while in the middle of a call, I accidentally mute or dial someone else while I am on a call. A fix is coming soon, and this should resolve the issue," he said.
Droid
About a year ago, Motorola released the Droid I, the first phone to use Android 2.0 software, which is now available on other phones and networks.
Gregg Moore picked up his the first day it was available.
"It was the best Android phone on Verizon at the time," he said.
The Droid provides sharp images and videos. It offers a fast processor and 3G speed for faster search capabilities. At 13.7 millimeters, or a half inch, it has one of the thinnest sliders -- that is, a key pad that slides into place.
Even with recent publicity, Moore says that many people are confused about the Droid.
"The misconception with Android phones is that everyone thinks they are all the same phone, like the iPhone. Android is an operating system, not a phone. Different companies, like Motorola and HTC, make Android (operating system) phones," he said.
For his actual smart phone, Moore loves the Motorola Droid's features.
"The GPS, Facebook, Twitter, Google voice," he said. "(I have) the Direct TV app so I can set my DVR to record a show from my phone. Then (I use) laptop tethering and mobile hot spot. I can arm and disarm my home security system and adjust my heat and air from my phone."
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