Choosing Smartphones

Blackberry Bold 9000



As of late I've been very interested in smartphones. Back in the day these devices was referred as PDAs, but thats an outdated term. What makes these phones so smart? I'm not going to look it up but give my definition of what a smartphone is. It needs a giant screen, a way of inputting text either via a touch screen or a keypad, and the ability to connect to data services.

So I can only recommend 2 brands of phone if someone was to ask me what type of smartphone to choose. The Apple Iphone or a Blackberry. These two seem to be the most popular devices at the moment. So the first thing you need to ask yourself is what you use the phone most for. If you only do texting, instant messaging and emailing I would recommend you get the blackberry. You can do other things on it and use simple apps if you have a data plan, but its strong point its keyboard. It has a media player but its no where near as good as the iphone.

So, if you already own an ipod, and don't want to carry a phone, then this is the phone for you. You will need some practice getting use to the touchscreen keyboard but you will grow use to it. Its great for music as it is also an ipod with itunes to help sync and also give you access to content. Apple has the largest app store, and you can find some great things on there, but not everything on the app store is excellent. You can play lots of great games, and more gaming companies are developing stuff for the iphone. If you need to surf the web, they have the best browser around for a smartphone. And you can also text, IM and email too. Did I also mention that it looks very slick and thin?

So its basically very simple. If all you do is messaging then you should pick up the blackberry, and for everything else, I would recommend the iphone since there is lots of other things you can do with it.

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Apple not the fruit, but the makers of the ipod

I would like to come out and say I'm not really a apple lover, nor do I hate their products. So I was looking on influences of the past decade and I do have to agree that apple has revolutionized the world. When the first ipod came out, I just thought it wasn't going to succeed and it was just going to be like any other mp3 player. But look where it is now, everyone in north america has one, and now it has evolved to be one of the most used and popular phones on the market.

I recently took an interest to discover why the masses are flocking to apple products and started to want an iphone. Sex sells. And so does sexy products sells as well. People in North America has bought into the white computers and ipods they come out with. Its cool to use an apple now. I see lots of people buy into apple products very frequently wanting the newest and latest of their product lines (reminds me of cars and computers). Owning an apple product now stamps you as being with the times, and their marketing dept has done a very excellent job selling apple the brand to their users.

Itunes, the store where people buy and download digital goods has to be the main reason why it has become so popular. The songs are so affordable at 99 cents. and the collection is so massive. Sure people know where to get songs for free, but there is sometimes the hassle of searching of them, and downloading them using software that might have spyware, or they might end up downloading virus, but with a store like itunes, there isn't much to worry about. Even your grandmother can easily pay for a song and start downloading it. (if she knows how to use a computer)
The other companies which makes mp3 players failed was there wasn't a support for users to download songs even for a cost. They just cared about the player and users needed to find their own way to obtain the content. Also, they probably just thought it would just be another mp3 player. By that time, I'm sure it was too late for other companies to compete as the ipod followers had huge market control. I keep on mentioning north america. Well ipods aren't that popular in asian countries, and someone correct me, but I suspect that the itunes doesn't have a great collection, and even 99cents can seem alot to people who don't have alot of money or who works in sweat shops.

And the final thing I want to point out is that apple is the leading consumer smartphone manufacture at the moment in north america. All other brands are playing catch up, and my personal favourite android is looking good, but its just trying to at least match the iphone, then maybe then it can take over, but right now, its still playing catch up. The app store has very affordable apps, and there are free apps out there as well. Of the 3 smartphone app store, apple is ahead by alot, and many developers are developing things for the iphone because of the masses that can use their software. (useful or not thats another thing) Its like having a computer without the internet. The smartphone are for people who do more than just talk on the phone. In the future I will talk about blackberry and the iphone in comparison.

Apple has created a very popular brand, and everyone is buying into their products. Although their products are much more expensive than the competition, they don't have to worry. They know their products is much more sexier, and has better functionality, with a giant marketplace for content. Bravo Apple! but how long will it be till I own one of your products? Oh, I don't even use quicktime which is made by apple.

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