Infographic: Smartphone Apps
Here is a great infographic that runs through the various platforms and smartphone applications within those platforms.
The graphic is created by XCube Labs.
Archive for: Smartphones
Smartphones with QWERTY Keyboards
Whether it’s planning business meetings, reading emails, tracking family schedules, surfing the net or playing games, smartphones can do just about everything for everyone. With a host of multimedia applications to excite every type of consumer, smartphones are no longer just the phones of the business user. PAYG deals are now making smartphones widely accessible to all.
Amongst the latest smartphones are the Motorola Milestone 2 and the recently launched Sony Ericsson Xperia Pro. Both phones have a slide-out QWERTY keyboard with actual keys, making a refreshing alternative to the touchscreen that is not to everyone’s taste. The Xperia Pro is the more business-orientated of the two phones whereas the Milestone 2 caters for the general consumer. The Milestone 2 currently costs around £350 SIM-free while the Xperia Pro will not be on sale till around April time so pricing has not yet been set. Customers looking to acquire the Milestone 2 for less should keep an eye out for up-and-coming PAYG deals. PAYG offers are currently limited on this new handset.
The Motorola Milestone 2 is in close competition with the HTC Desire Z, another Android smartphone also possessing the QWERTY keyboard. Reviews indicate that the HTC Desire Z has a better battery life than the Milestone 2 and also possesses free remote services, but the keyboard usability is far superior on the Milestone 2.
The Milestone 2 appears to be well-received by the public and critics. It is a slim yet sturdy design with a large 3.7 inch screen taking up nearly the whole of the device front. The phone is crafted mainly from metal giving it a solid, durable feel. The keyboard has a smooth sliding mechanism and the phone certainly gives the impression of a robust quality that will stand the test of time. The QWERTY keyboard features back-lighting. There is plenty of room for the keys because Motorola has replaced the directional controller from the original Milestone with smaller controls.
The Sony Ericsson Xperia Pro, supporting video output and having a physical keyboard, is targeting itself to be 2011′s number 1 business smartphone. This Android handset has succeeded, as with the Milestone 2, to be a compact device, despite incorporating the QWERTY keyboard. Early reviews indicate the phone to be of a similar thickness and weight to other Android phones. The keyboard mechanism is also reported to be well-designed and less clumsy than the HTC Android slide-out keyboard. The keys on the Xperia Pro are reasonably spaced apart, considering the size of the device.
In addition to the sleek, easy to use keyboard, the phone is bursting with useful tools for the business user. The Xperia Pro has a micro HDMI port allowing connection to a monitor, projector or TV. The video output is compatible with any application, including the Office Suite Pro and the web browser. In theory, it could actually replace laptops in giving presentations!
It may be a while before handsets such as the Xperia Pro become available with PAYG deals, but there are plenty of PAYG options currently available for other smartphones, including those with QWERTY keyboards. Some of the best-rated examples of PAYG smartphones include the iPhone 4, the Motorola DEXT (with an Android QWERTY slide-out keyboard) and the Blackberry Bold 9700.
Dell Roadmap for Smartphones and Tablets has been Leaked
It seems that the Dell roadmap for tablets and phones has been leaked to the world. We have added both roadmaps with all the devices and specs.
What device are looking forward to seeing in 2011?
iPhone’s Most Desired, Android in the Raise
Nielsen Wire created a complete report about the current smartphone share. Where we can find some discernible results like: iPhone is the most desired device, but with other not so much expected saying that Android is the OS with the most expansion.
Some of the most important remarks we can find in this report:
Smartphones represent 25% of the US mobile market- The prediction says that by the end of 2011, smartphones will overtake feature phones.
- Android represents the OS with the highest growth in the market.
- In the last 6 months, Android took 27% of the new smartphone users; iPhone “only” had 23%.
- iPhone users are the most loyal: 89% say that the their next device will be an iPhone as well.
- 29% of BlackBerry owners want an iPhone next.
Here are some of the graphs about this report:
Another Reason To Envy iPhone Users
There is a day not long ago when we said, the future will be here. And in that day long ago we saw amazing things in the future, self lacing shoes, hoverboards, flying cars even, but while none of that may have happened what we do have is iPhones. Sure you may know of the iPhone, held an iPhone, and maybe you’re one of the millions of people worldwide that own an iPhone, but now the future has indeed arrived; your iPhone is now capable of starting your car.
Thanks to a little iPhone app called Viper SmartStart, you simply get the SmartStart system installed into your car ($300-$500), and the iPhone app will do the rest. Using a GSM signal you’re able to not only start your car, but also lock and unlock your doors, open your trunk and a few other additions without ever needing your keys again.
The website says you can literally start your car from just about anywhere. Not sure what the actual “anywhere” means, but it’s good to know in those times when I can’t remember where I parked my car, or when you want to distract someone as you run for your life. In any case, below you’ll find some demos for the actual product.
It’s not a hoverboard and it’s not a flying car, but if you can add self driving from your iPhone ala James Bond, then we can forgive the lack of said advancements. One thing is for sure, it makes your iPhone that much more valuable to thieves. Now they take your iPhone and your car. Saddle up my friend, it’s going to be a long walk.
Intro to New Apps Thanks to AppGiveaway
- Image by The Pug Father via Flickr
All of us with an iPhone or iTouch know the addiction of downloading applications. For those of us with the 1-click purchase mode have probably found ourselves just clicking away before we realize we’ve spent some major money on what we think are useful applications.
For the rest of us that don’t have that luxury and are happy to play with free apps, perhaps this site is for you. AppGiveaway is a site that offers you promo codes to get iPhone apps for free or at deeply discounted prices. This is a great site to be introduced to apps that perhaps don’t get a lot of press, or get lost in the shuffle. The site introduces its readers to unique games, productivity apps, financial apps, etc.
Give the site a try and explore what they offer. I won’t say every app they offer promos for are worth it, but it’s a matter of introduction and taste, what works for me may not work for you, and vice versa.
Give it a try and let us know what you think!
Kick Productivity Into High Gear with ActionMethod
I’ve been a big fan of Behance products offline, for my meetings, site sketches, and to-do list from time to time. Now they are tackling productivity online with their new online app and comparable mobile app to always stay on top of the things that you need to do daily.
Action Method was introduced this year as the premiere application to manage your projects, tasks, planning, and meetings. The application allows you to create projects, create tasks, assign tasks, and manage a calendar. If tasks are falling behind you can nudge the people to whom you assigned them to in order to remind them of deadlines. Color coding is a big winner for this app as it’s easy to find what you’re looking for with alternating colors.
Have an iPhone or iTouch? No problem, your web application syncs with your mobile app so your to-do list is never far away. Incredibly useful and sure to improve with future updates, the app is free to download, and free for up to 50 tasks, premium service for unlimited tasks comes in at $12/month or $99/year.
