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August 1, 2005
• Vol.2 Issue 7 Page(s) 66-70 in print issue | |
All-In-One Smartphones Multimedia Goes Mobile | |
 They're stylish. They sing in public. They play video. They take photographs. And they surf the Internet and use instant messaging around the clock. No, they are not our teenage daughters; they are the latest generation of all-in-one smartphones. Of all the consumer electronics technology changes in the past five years, we rank changes in cell phones right up there among the most significant developments. Just a couple of years ago, we were talking about smartphones as a class of cellular devices that let users connect to the Internet via a wireless data connection. While that was pretty cool at the time, today's smartphones let you do much more. Smartphones blend traditional cell phone use with multimedia features. The newest batch of smartphones contains video displays, digital camera capabilities, MP3 players, Microsoft Windows Media Player, radios, games, and more. We'll take a brief look at some of the technologies behind these features, and then we'll show you some of the devices that show off these features.  The Smarts Behind Smartphones Short for Third Generation, 3G technology lets phones transfer data at up to 2Mbps (megabits per second) when the phone is stationary. This technology makes it possible for cell phone users to stream video and music to their phones, as well as perform other high-speed data transfers, but 3G is just beginning to emerge in the United States. A new data transfer technology that already is making waves is EDGE (Enhanced Data for Global Evolution), a faster version of the widespread GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication) mobile phone service. EDGE allows data transfer at rates of up to 384Kbps (kilobits per second), and EDGE-enabled phones let you quickly download email messages and other Internet content to your smartphone. Audio is another important multimedia application, and more smartphone manufacturers are incorporating MP3 support into their devices. True, MP3 is old hat, so the technology itself isn’t news. However, the fact that it is being integrated into cell phones is. Microsoft is providing new technology to help customers access their music through their phones with its Windows Media Player 10. More than 70 smartphones and portable media devices can now run the media player. If your smartphone uses this platform, you can rip your CDs to your PC's Windows Media Player 10 and then transfer them to your smartphone. And then there's Bluetooth. This technology is widely known for its interaction with PDAs, but it has found its way onto numerous multimedia smartphones, as well. Bluetooth is a technology specification that enables short-range communication between wireless devices, such as between a PDA and a notebook computer, and it enables smartphones to offer handy accessories such as wireless headsets. OK, enough of the educational background. Let's move on to the really fun stuff: the smartphones themselves. Here are five of our favorites, presented to you in alphabetical order.  Zn Audiovox SMT5600 PC users are likely to feel immediately at home when they pick up the Audiovox SMT5600 (as low as $199.99 [price set by vendors]; www.audiovox.com), thanks to the familiar Microsoft Windows interface. The combination smartphone, digital camera, and audio player runs Microsoft Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition software, which enables the smartphone to communicate with your Windows PC. This allows you to perform tasks such as download and play audio and video files on Windows Media Player 10; access your Outlook email, calendar, content, and tasks; and surf the Web via Internet Explorer. The SMT5600 offers digital photography and camcorder functionality, as well. The camera has 4X digital zoom with a sharp, clear display, Bluetooth support, and a built-in speakerphone and Mini SD (Secure Digital) memory card slot that lets you expand the smartphone's storage capabilities. All of these features are wrapped in a 3.6-ounce black package with silver accents that measures 4.24 x 1.82 x 0.69 inches (HxWxD). Nokia 6620 The Nokia 6620 ($349.99; www.nokiausa.com) is one of the three most popular phones in Nokia's stable of nearly 70 models, and considering its combination of technology and features, it is easy to see why. This smartphone is Bluetooth- and EDGE-enabled, and it provides useful features for both business and pleasure. On the business front, you can sync the device with your PC. This provides access to your work and personal email accounts, as well as your calendar and contacts, which you can store in your phone book with multiple numbers and text entries. On the lighter side, the built-in camera has a 640 x 480 resolution and features such as a night mode, self-timer, and 2X digital zoom. If you prefer "moving pictures," you can view real-time streaming clips via the RealOne mobile player or capture clips with the video recorder. And after you have downloaded pictures and clips to your phone, you can easily organize them in the phone’s gallery. The Nokia 6620 weighs 4.37 ounces and is 4.28 x 2.29 x 0.93 inches. In April, Nokia announced the Nseries, a new series of smartphones that will launch later this year. The Nseries smartphones include 3G technology and are based on the Series 60 smartphone platform. These phones will carry typical smartphone features, along with features such as a camera equipped with Zeiss optics and a 4GB hard drive that can store up to 3,000 tunes.  palmOne Treo 650 For an all-in-one device, it is hard to beat the functionality of the Treo 650 ($449; www.palmone.com). This device is a cell phone, MP3 player, digital camera, digital camcorder, Web browser, email client, and PDA rolled into one package. The Treo 650 lets you search the Web through the proprietary, intuitive Blazer browser, which includes familiar Web browser tools such as Forward and Back arrows, a home page icon, and a bookmarks icon. It supports more than a dozen Internet standards and offers useful features such as a customized start page and easy-to-use navigation with the five-way navigator button. It includes an email client that works with any Web-based email account such as Yahoo! Mail. And, you can sync your smartphone with your PC and transfer your contacts, calendar, tasks, memos, and more. On top of all that, the smartphone carries an MP3 player with RealPlayer software that lets you download and listen to tunes from your PC by storing them on an expansion card (sold separately). Photographers can take advantage of the digital camera's 2X digital zoom and can display photos with a resolution as high as 640 x 480. You can also shoot and transmit video clips. In addition, the phone is Bluetooth-enabled, so you can talk on a wireless headset or connect with other Bluetooth devices. The Treo 650 smartphone weighs 6.3 ounces and measures 4.4 x 2.3 x 0.9 inches. Sony Ericsson S710a When you first pick up the S710a ($399.99; www.sonyericsson.com), you may think you have picked up a digital camera by mistake. While the phone looks like a cell phone on one side, the other side is reminiscent of an older point-and-shoot digital camera, albeit with an updated-for-the-21st-century look. The 1.3MP (megapixel) camera snaps photos with up to a 1,280 x 960 resolution, and it features digital zoom, automatic exposure control, and a 262K color screen with 240- x 320-pixel resolution that makes it easy to view your snapshots. If you turn the device over and open the cool swivel cover, you'll see the S710a’s cell phone and other capabilities. Download and play Java 3D games (we happen to be partial to Super 3D Golf) quickly with EDGE technology. You can send instant messages to friends through the My Friends messaging feature or click the PlayNow button to listen to pop hits. The professional in you can sync data from your PC, including your list of contacts and your calendar, via Bluetooth, infrared, or cable connections. The S710a weighs 4.83 ounces measures 4.2 x 1.9 x 1 inches. T-Mobile Sidekick II If you spend as much time talking with your fingers as you do with your voice, you'll want to check out the T-Mobile Sidekick II ($299.99; www.tmobile.com). Because the device opens to reveal a standard, though small, QWERTY keyboard, the Sidekick II is well-suited for email and instant messaging. It includes a 6MB email account, and you can set up three external accounts, excluding corporate email, to send email to your Sidekick, as well. AOL Instant Messenger is built-in, or you can download Yahoo! Messenger if instant messaging is more your style. Where there is email, there is usually Web access, and the Sidekick II has a Web browser that gives you the ability to create bookmarks, view your history, and create a customized home page. Plus, you can sync with your PC and check your calendar, search through an address book, write notes, or access your tasks list. The earlier version of the Sidekick had an optional camera module, but this time around, T-Mobile has added an integrated camera with a built-in flash and 640- x 480-pixel display. The phone features have been redesigned, too. The Sidekick II includes a speakerphone, a dedicated 12-key dial pad for making phone calls, and fun music clips for phone ringtones. The Sidekick II is the heftiest of the devices covered here, weighing in at 7 ounces. It is 5.1 x 2.6 x 0.9 inches. Find The Right Smartphone Upgrading your current cell phone to a multimedia smartphone requires that you balance several factors, including functionality, features, and form. Fortunately, with all the options out there today, you are likely to find several models that meet your budget (and your carrier's requirements).  by Heidi V. Anderson
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Connect & Organize On The Go Cell phones that feature PDAs are must-haves for busy career women. If you want one device that carries both your planner and your cell phone, be sure to take a look at the following smartphones: • The Blackberry 7100 line (www.blackberry.com). This Bluetooth-enabled device offers a miniature but standard keyboard, PC synchronization, a Web browser, and more. • The Treo 650. Send email, store business contacts, synchronize your calendar, get driving directions from the Web, and perform other business and social tasks. • The Sidekick II. T-Mobile's proprietary combination PDA/cell phone features a QWERTY keyboard, built-in camera, unlimited Internet features such as email and Web browsing, and other enhancements. |
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When Smartphones Get Sick Should you worry about the health of your all-in-one cell phone? In April, Symantec (www.symantec.com) published a survey of 300 Americans in which 73% of them knew about viruses targeting the devices, and more than 70% of the users were concerned crackers could steal their information. That claim was quickly disputed by WDSGlobal (www.wdsglobal.com), which handles data support calls for major cell phone manufacturers and service providers. WDSGlobal said just 0.0036% of the 275,000 calls from the previous quarter came from callers inquiring about viruses. But no matter what the numbers are, it's wise to be aware that there are potential dangers and check with your service provider if you have any questions about its security practices or risks regarding your smartphone. |
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