Confused about the ever-expanding number of smartphone platforms? Unsure which is the right one for you? Our Five Reasons to Choose series gives you an instant guide to the things you need to know about every mobile OS.

Part six: Android

1. Google integration
One often-overlooked benefit – yet the most important one to consider – is that Android devices work so well with Google apps. For example, on the T-Mobile G1, you can tap in your Gmail account when you first turn on the device and quickly view your messages. Android devices also work well with Google Maps, the Google Maps service, and Google search.

2. App variety
The Android platform does not boast the most apps – the iPhone has about three times as many – but app selection tends to be just as varied, including some of the best Twitter clients on any smartphone platform and tools that use the built-in GPS for location awareness.

3. Custom interfaces
A bare-bones Android device – such as the T-Mobile G1 – uses the Android OS without too much customization. The HTC Hero, however, adds some interesting extras to the interface, including custom ‘Scenes’ to quickly change the look and feel of the interface.

4. Openness
Google is committed to openness with the Android platform, meaning they make the development tools widely available and support open standards that make it easier for any developer – either a commercial entity or just one person – to create apps.

5. Fast browsing
Android devices include a Google browser that runs faster than the browser found on Windows Mobile and BlackBerry devices – so fast that, for some sites, the page will load in about half the time and still support rich content, including some Java features.

See also:
Five reasons to choose… iPhone
Five reasons to choose… Nokia & Symbian
Five reasons to choose… WebOS
Five reasons to choose… Windows Mobile
Five reasons to choose… BlackBerry

Series written by John Brandon. Originally published in Smartphone Essentials magazine.

Confused about the ever-expanding number of smartphone platforms? Unsure which is the right one for you? Our Five Reasons to Choose series gives you an instant guide to the things you need to know about every mobile OS.

Part five: BlackBerry

1. Business integration
Like Windows Mobile 6.5, the BlackBerry platform is well-suited to business users with push e-mail from Microsoft Exchange, sent directly to the device without having to click send/receive. While most phones offer this feature now, BlackBerry devices have supported business e-mail almost from the beginning so there is long legacy of business support.

2. Speed of the OS
While the iPhone and Palm Pre platforms certainly get all the attention for look and feel, plenty of apps, and a touch interface, one benefit to using a BlackBerry device such as the Bold is the speed of the more textual interface. In tests, most apps – even games and the Web browser – appear on screen instantaneously, compared to a second or two on other platforms.

3. Reliable Wi-Fi
Many BlackBerry devices – including the upcoming Storm 2 models – provide a Wi-Fi connection that tends to be more reliable than the wireless connection on other phones. In tests of the BlackBerry Bold, the device maintained a consistent connection at a public Wi-Fi location for hours, while other phones would lose the connection.

4. GPS Navigation
Other than some Nokia models, BlackBerry devices were the first to offer GPS built-in on the device with route navigation thanks to apps such as TeleNav GPS Navigator. Most importantly, the GPS apps on BlackBerry devices work reliably and are easy to use.

5. Multi-tasking
Interestingly, while many BlackBerry models support multi-tasking for running multiple apps at the same time, many users don’t actually know about this feature or use it. Even on older BlackBerry models, you can press ALT-ESC to see open apps and switch between them.

See also:
Five reasons to choose… iPhone
Five reasons to choose… Nokia & Symbian
Five reasons to choose… WebOS
Five reasons to choose… Windows Mobile

Series written by John Brandon. Originally published in Smartphone Essentials magazine.

Confused about the ever-expanding number of smartphone platforms? Unsure which is the right one for you? Our Five Reasons to Choose series gives you an instant guide to the things you need to know about every mobile OS.

Part four: Windows Mobile

1. Business integration
Many businesses choose Windows Mobile devices simply because they use a Microsoft OS, one that is highly compatible with Windows computers. In some cases, larger businesses have support contracts that include WinMo devices and connecting them to the desktop. Business execs often like to have consistency in their platform, choosing to use Microsoft Exchange for all e-mail and Microsoft Outlook on both the desktop and on mobile platforms.

2. PC support
While it’s true that mobile devices are now more autonomous – you can load apps and share data online without ever connecting to your PC with a USB cable – Windows Mobile devices provide better data syncing than other handsets. The recently released Windows 7 even has a Device Stage feature that works best with Windows Mobile phones for syncing data.

3. Fastest processor
One of the fastest phones on the market – the Toshiba TG01 – uses a super-fast 1GHz processor, the fastest in the smartphone market to date. Not surprisingly, given the PC processor pedigree of Windows Mobile, the TG01 runs Windows Mobile. Although Apple does not release exacts specs, the iPhone 3GS probably runs at only about 600MHz.

4. Known interface
Because Windows Mobile phones share some similarities with Windows on the PC, the look and feel is usually more familiar to first-time smartphone users. There is a Start button, apps for Word and Excel, and Internet Explorer browser, and settings screens that align with the desktop equivalent. Of course, whether the WinMo interface is actually better is up for debate.

5. Compatible browser
Other browsers – including the one on the Android platform – tend to run faster, but Internet Explorer on a Win Mobile device is highly compatible, especially with legacy sites originally developed to work well with Internet Explorer on the desktop.

See also:
Five reasons to choose… iPhone
Five reasons to choose… Nokia & Symbian
Five reasons to choose… WebOS

Series written by John Brandon. Originally published in Smartphone Essentials magazine.

Confused about the ever-expanding number of smartphone platforms? Unsure which is the right one for you? Our Five Reasons to Choose series gives you an instant guide to the things you need to know about every mobile OS.

Part three: WebOS

1. Social integration
The number one reason to choose a Palm Pre (or the upcoming Palm Pixi) is that the device integrates with multiple social networks. For example, you can maintain one contact for both Facebook and LinkedIn, or view one message thread for AOL IM and Google Talk chats.

2. Multitasking
Palm Pre offers the best multi-tasking of any smartphone platform. You can run multiple apps, and they are shown in a unique card interface that makes it easy to switch between then. The iPhone does not support multi-tasking (although you can run the music player with open apps), and other platforms use fiddly menus to switch between apps.

3. Unique interface
Palm Pre uses the webOS platform, which emphasizes finger gestures to control apps – similar to the iPhone, but just a hair more intuitive especially when it comes to understanding which apps are open and how to manage memory by closing open apps.

4. Easier charging
The Palm Pre offers the Touchstone charging dock, which charges the Pre when you set it on a cradle without having to make any connections. This makes it easier and faster to charge the device and hold it in place when it sits on your desk.

5. Growing number of apps
With just a few dozen apps at present, it might seem the number of apps for Palm Pre is a detriment rather than a plus. However, Palm has a long history of attracting developers and the list is growing rapidly now that the SDK for Palm Pre is available.

See also:
Five reasons to choose… iPhone
Five reasons to choose… Nokia & Symbian

Series written by John Brandon. Originally published in Smartphone Essentials magazine.

Confused about the ever-expanding number of smartphone platforms? Unsure which is the right one for you? Our Five Reasons to Choose series gives you an instant guide to the things you need to know about every mobile OS.

Part two: Nokia and Symbian

1. Media creation
No smartphones quite match the capabilities on many Nokia devices, including the N97 and the upcoming N900. Many Nokia phones provide a 5 megapixel camera and additional camera and video features for setting white balance, adjusting zoom, and adding photographic effects.

2. Durability
Nokia smartphones are known for their durability and reliability. The N97, for example, has a thick metal casing that can withstand a drop or two even on a hard surface. The iPhone and Palm Pre, meanwhile, are more susceptible to breakages and scratches when dropped.

3. Corporate backing
A woefully overlooked factor when it comes to smartphones, the Nokia brand has stood the test of time with millions of devices in use all over the world, strong corporate backing, and wide appeal. This means it is easy to find accessories and get technical support – or even someone else in the office with a charger on hand!

4. Removable media
Considering both the Palm Pre and the Apple iPhone do not even provide an external storage option, one benefit to the Nokia platform is that most devices support flash cards, so you can easily expand storage, install apps to cards and even use multiple cards interchangeably as you see fit.

5. Unique apps
Nokia smartphones usually use the Symbian OS (although the new N900 uses the Maemo OS) that tends to have a bit more of an “open source” mentality. Users create unique apps, games, and utilities that serve very specific purposes, such as finding nearby movies. They often lack the finesse of other platforms, but are immensely powerful.

See also:
Five reasons to choose… iPhone

Series written by John Brandon. Originally published in Smartphone Essentials magazine.

Confused about the ever-expanding number of smartphone platforms? Unsure which is the right one for you? Our Five Reasons to Choose series gives you an instant guide to the things you need to know about every mobile OS.

Part one: Apple iPhone

1. App selection
The iPhone is leagues ahead of the competition in terms of legitimate apps, from zany games like Rolando to serious business apps like Bento and powerful utilities like AppBox. There are now over 85,000 apps to choose across every category, many that takes advantage of the iPhone touch screen and tilt function. Just as importantly, most iPhone apps are just a pound or two.

2. Brilliant touch
There’s no question about it: the iPhone, especially the new 3GS model, has the best touchscreen of any device. The main advantage here is speed of input – the iPhone interprets your finger swipes, pinches, and other gestures more accurately than other models.

3. Media
It’s debatable whether new phone models such as the Samsung Instinct HD – which actually uses a proprietary OS – and the Nokia N97 are better media devices for making movies and taking photos. Yet, the iPhone wins hands-down when it comes to consuming media. The iTunes store has more media than other stores, and it is easy to use and easy to make purchases.

4. Extra media content
Another advantage to the iPhone that should not be ignored is content apart from the basic music and movies. It’s far easier to find and load audiobooks and podcasts with an iPhone than any other platform. In fact, podcasting is not nearly as popular apart from the iTunes store.

5. Tilt functions
The iPhone also uses the built-in accelerometer more effectively than other smartphones, rotating the screen quickly when you turn it, providing features such as lightly shaking to play a random song, and the ability to control game characters by tilting the device.

Series written by John Brandon. Originally published in Smartphone Essentials magazine.

No smartphone is complete without a memory card, and with prices falling all the time it is now possible to equip your phone with an extra 8GB of storage for little more than a tenner. But with so many cards to choose from, how do you know which is the best? And does it even matter?

Here are our top tips for buying memory cards.

1: Ensure you buy a card from a named brand, even if it means paying a little more than an equivalent no-name card. You should find it faster and more reliable and will also come with a lengthy no-nonsense warranty that will outlast your use for the card.

2: Beware of branded cards available at knock down prices on ebay. The brand might stretch no further than the sticker on the front.

3: Unless you plan on using the card for nothing more than storing files, make sure you choose a Class C card. This gives the fastest performance, and will be noticeable if you are using the camera of playing games.

4: Buy a second card for backups. You should be prepared to lose your card, so don’t store your phone backups on the one you use  on a daily basis. Yes, it’s more convenient, but it will end in tears.