I checked my e-mail constantly, surfed the Web in the car, texted while I drove (yeah, I was one of those guys) and occasionally talked on the phone. I had the standard contract, and since everything was supplemented with a monthly stipend from work, it never hurt my pocket book.

When I decided to make the change from the corporate world to stay-at-home writer and blogger, the phone that had been so important was pretty useless. My wife and I were home 24/7, so I had my desktop computer to surf the Web and check my e-mail.

We used our landline for phone calls because our cell reception was bad in the house. We didn’t go anywhere because we have three small children and no social life, so why was I spending so much money per month on a cell contract?

We looked into decreasing everything, but I still had tons of leftover minutes on both our phones. Our contract was reaching its end, and we began looking at no contract and prepaid phones as a way to stop wasting money.

I remember when these prepaid and no-contract phones first came out several years ago and they were, in my opinion, substandard phones that didn’t have the accessories that I wanted. I discovered through searching several sites that this aspect has changed.

They now have phones that serve at MP3 players, surf the Web at 3G speeds and have access to Android apps. We finally decided on a midlevel prepaid phone to use when we went out, in case of emergencies, and I pay about $30 a month.

I am sure that when the kids get older, I will head back to the contracts and family plans, but I don’t see this changing for us in the next couple years. If you are single or a couple looking to save money, but still want access to a cell phone, then prepaid or no contract is the way to go.

Many people feel self-conscious about going this route, but as someone who has been on both sides, I like the freedom and no monthly bill.

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/boostmobile/3788670375

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The information was leaked by Phandroid, a website devoted to Android updates and information. A bit of backstory is required before going into the actual updates themselves. Rival smartphone developer Palm has been in a structural shakeup after being acquired by HP, so much so that developer Martias Durate, the lead of Palm’s webOS team, left the company for greener pastures at Google. WebOS has been hailed for its sleek and innovative design, and with information pertaining to visual enhancements in Android, many speculated Durate was in part to thank.

Indeed the new Android boasts a trimmed-down interface, with graphical enhancements designed to make navigation a simple process. Many of the icons in Android have been given slimmed-down looks, with simple designs that look better and less crowded in smaller sizes. Congruous color and style updates have also been a focus for the new version. Apps in particular are being integrated into the visual stylings of the OS as well, with more of Android’s trademark green color spread around to various menus. “Simple and clean” has been the MO for this update.

On the hardware end of things, not as much information is available. For the first time, Google is listing minimum system requirements for Android, with a 1Ghz processor and 512mb of RAM. Google’s aim to optimize app performance has led them to embrace some cutting-edge technology, especially with the Android 2.2 update. It looks as though this will once again be the case. An exciting final note? 3.0 will only work on devices that allow for phone-to-phone video chat. Sounds as though the future is steadily arriving.

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/dannysullivan/272645770/

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As alluded to in the previous paragraph, the N8′s more intriguing feature is its operating system. It runs the Symbian^3 system, which has been a stable of Nokia gadgets for some time. While the operating system lacks the name recognition of its main competitors, it still boasts an intuitive interface that makes the phone a solid choice. Three side-by-side panels display information determined by the user, from three up to six widgets. The flexibility is convenient and should stand as one of the main draws to the system, although users will have to learn the OS when they first pick up the N8.

The 3.5 inch 640 x 320 main screen provides bright colors and a solid means of operation for the device. A single button at the base of the gadget brings up the main screen, which is then navigated through a combination of touch-screen interactions and the solid QWERTY keyboard that slides out from underneath the main device. A headphone jack on top allows for both multimedia use as well as in0call functions, and a mini-HDMI port allows the data to be transferred quickly to other devices.

The success of the N8 stateside will depend largely on reviews of the product as it hits shelves. Nokia has a lot of catching up to do in the smartphone market, but certainly nothing that a single strong performer could help. If you’re looking for a device that doesn’t necessarily have to boast Google or Apple branding, Nokia is, after all, one of the oldest players in the cellular phone game.

Image Source: lickr.com/photos/abulhussain/5009765079/

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In a joint study performed by Intel labs, Penn State, and Duke University, researchers determined that many applications perceived as secure have glaring flaws in them that can easily be manipulated by an experienced hacker. Their program centered around the development of TaintDroid, their own app intended to collect information for their research (ironically enough, perhaps). TaintDroid provides real-time updates about how apps downloaded to a smartphone collect personal information off the device, oftentimes beaming this information to other sources. The program tracks the flow of sensitive data both on the phone and to outside sources.

In the study, 30 popular applications were tested for their security. It was discovered that 15 of the 30 beamed the users current location to advertisers, likely so that better-targeted ads could be shown to the customer. Additionally, 7 of the studied apps sent other parties information pertaining to the hardware in use on the phone, including serial numbers on flash memory and on the phone itself. The final results of the study found a staggering 68 instances of information being inappropriately shared by the applications.

With the staggering number of these programs available to consumers, the hidden dangers of shoddy development and ulterior motivations could be putting consumers at risk when they least expect. There are 200,000+ applications available through Apple’s app store and an additional 70,000 for sale on the Android operating system. Because the information being shared is done without the consent of the user, protecting yourself from this type of thing is difficult to do. For more information on the study, check out this article at Bioscholar.

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/merfam/3291803968/sizes/s/in/photostream/

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The iPhone and Android have created the modern day version of a digital gold rush, as people download software to build cell phone applications and strike it rich at $1.99 a pop. Many of these developers are professional programmers, but a growing number are average people with a little computer knowledge and a dream of launching the next Pandora.

For the one guy in the Balkan Islands that hasn’t heard of cell phone applications, they are downloadable programs that do everything from ordering pizza and finding public restrooms to trivia games and fart noises. People download these apps to their phone for a small price, if not for free, but they are often ad supported.

Apple, in particular, has gone out of their way to make it easy to build apps, by creating a site dedicated to helping people design applications and providing the software for free. For every app built and sold, Apple gets a cut of the profits, so the more apps the better. What that means for the developer, is they only get a fraction of the sale.

The news becomes abuzz when a new app is downloaded a few million times and makes the developer rich and 15-minutes famous, but for every one of those, there are a thousand others that rarely get downloaded. I admit that even I was pulled into the gold rush fever and looked into building my own app for the iPhone, but I lacked an Apple computer, so I let the idea fall to the wayside. While the app gold rush may not leave the trail of death and destitution that the prospecting rush did, that doesn’t mean there won’t be a fair share of broken dreams.

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/johanl/4369336197

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Recently, however, the battle has intensified. Apple, who for so long seemed invincible, appears to have stumbled during the course of this iPhone antenna debacle. The iPhone, it seems, is no longer perfect as we once thought.

Therefore, today’s news story is perhaps no surprise. According to an article at BBC News, shipments of Android-equipped phones shot through the roof in the 2nd quarter of 2010. The numbers, compared to the same period of 2008, show a staggering 886 percent increase in shipments. The number can be attributed to a number of factors.

First and foremost, Google’s operating system has resonated with developers. Companies from HTC to Samsung have been developing phones with Android, providing a solid opportunity for an operating system that isn’t Apple’s. Google’s reputation as a computing giant is perhaps exactly the type of name-recognition needed to combat Apple.

However, Android offers something besides just the name recognition of the search-engine company. As a mass-market platform, Android offers up a constantly-upgraded system with an intuitive interface. Android phones might not have the advantage of having hardware and software made by the same firm, but Google has taken a place in the public consciousness that is perhaps as synonymous as Microsoft in the 1990s. During the same period of time, Apple phones saw the second-largest amount of growth, even though this number pales in comparison to Android’s figures.

It should be noted, however, that the numbers at stake can be a bit deceiving. Apple’s total market share has a steady lead on all other competitors, and even though there have been issues regarding specific features of the iPhone 4, Apple and CEO Steve Jobs are still the media darlings of the technological world. Later this fall, a slew of iPhone alternatives are slated to hit the market, boasting both Android and Palm’s WebOS. While the operating system wars are moving towards smaller and smaller gadgets, the ending has not yet been written to this story, so be sure to stay tuned.

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/laihiu/4083009028

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At the same time, rival companies like Apple and newcomer Google have managed to create computing empires based upon parts of the market where Microsoft was absent. Today’s news story seems to underscore this trend. Hot on the heels of Apple’s iPhone 4 and just before a slew of Android-equipped smartphones, Microsoft has abandoned its KIN smartphone.

This news, in some ways, was a while coming for the KIN. The device, which was different from other smartphones in several key ways, has been canceled for its European release later this summer.

Targeted primarily at younger phone user, the phone was deeply integrated with social networking, making publishing to sites like Facebook and Twitter a breeze. At the same time, the stripped-down interface prevented the device from appealing to serious users. Sales of the unit were stagnant, despite an aggressive marketing campaign and an innovative “Loop” function that had great potential for networking.

For those holding out for a Microsoft smartphone, there are luckily still options on the market. What’s more exciting, however, is the imminent Windows 7 powered smartphone. Many of the production staff of the Kin will be shifted over to this project, meaning some of the innovative features could be continued.

Here’s Microsoft’s official statement:

We have made the decision to focus exclusively on Windows Phone 7 and we will not ship KIN in Europe this fall as planned. Additionally, we are integrating our KIN team with the Windows Phone 7 team, incorporating valuable ideas and technologies from KIN into future Windows Phone releases. We will continue to work with Verizon in the U.S. to sell current KIN phones.

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/jurvetson/227904949

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Called the HTC EVO 4G and sporting the latest version of Android, Engadget reports that the device will be filled with a host of features making it the most advanced smartphone on the market.  Seeing as Sprint (and Android) will be beating Apple to the punch with a 4G phone, it’s entirely possible this could be a game-changer for Sprint as a mobile carrier. Engadget reports the following:

Everyone’s favorite WiMAX-powered Android device finally has a date and a price, and you don’t have terribly long to wait: June 4 is the date that you’ll want to be lining up outside your local Sprint store for an EVO 4G, $199 in hand (assuming you’re signing up for a new contract, of course — according to the fine print, the full cost is $450 before all discounts). Interestingly, Sprint has specifically called out that you’ll be able to video chat (remember, the EVO 4G has a front-facing cam) over both 3G and 4G using Qik — not a bad choice, considering the company’s well-established expertise with streaming live video out of handsets.

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Unfortunately, not everything about the EVO 4G is a complete home run. Along with these extra features comes an increased price tag. Consumers will be required to pay an additional $10 fee per month labeled by Sprint as “Premium Data Add-On” charge. This is perhaps understandable, given the 4G network creates additional strain for Sprint’s mobile infrastructure, but it is also driving the cost of an already expensive phone up by just a little more. In spite of this setback, HTC managed to improve the EVO 4G from it’s prototypes by offering multitasking, for voice calls and net browsing at once.

While we’re still just under a month away from this device being available on the market, consumers have a lot to be excited about. The iPhone and Blackberry lines of devices have been hard for other companies to compete against, but HTC very well may have created a true monster here. If the customer base reacts in the way they are no doubt hoping, then we as the consumers could have an all-out mobile war on our hands.  And as microeconomics tells us (to paraphrase off of my final from today), competition increases quality and decreases price!

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Android phones climbed to 28 percent, above Apple at 21 percent.  The numbers are somewhat unexpected, given that other research firms, such as comScore, have placed Android phones, which has placed the Android OS at 10 percent for February.

On Friday, IDC released its first-quarter market share data, placing Nokia and RIM atop the worldwide market, with 39.3 percent and 19.4 percent of the market, respectively. Apple finished third, with 16.1 percent, and HTC was fourth at 4.8 percent. IDC did not reveal its share breakdown for the various OS flavors, however.

Likewise, for the first quarter within the U.S., comScore said that Samsung, Motorola, and LG finished in a virtual dead heat, with 21.9, 21.9, and 21.8 percent of the market. Again, comScore did not break out first-quarter market share for the various Android flavors.

The news is certainly exciting for Google, but should be expected due simply to the varying number of phones available running each OS.  What once was regarded as a strength for Apple, brand integrity, appears to be harming them over time.  By only having a single phone in the market, Apple has the potential to lose customers who want something slightly less than the expensive iPhone. By using their operating system for a wide variety of phones, Google can gain market share more effectively, a great option for the company as it tries to catch up.

Ultimately, Apple is not likely to be in any danger of losing their place in the smartphone market, although the times do appear to be changing.  Blackberry operating systems still make up the vast majority of the market, with nearly 36% of the total market share.  All three companies appear to have a solid position, which should make for an exciting future as they attempt to out-compete each other for more customers.  This can only mean one thing for us: more great gadgets.

Check out Android phones from Smarter.

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/tomsun/3859690596

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T-Mobile Sidekick LX
This phone is the epitome of style over substance. Its flashy design and attractive touchscreen make it initially appealing, but several design flaws plague the Sidekick. First of all, the structural integrity of the design is a bit suspect, as the screen’s two-axis flip motion can break easily if the phone is subject to any sort of abuse. While the phone sports a full QWERTY keyboard, which can make texting a breeze, the buttons on this particular smartphone are packed together, difficult for anyone with larger hands (or anyone without the fine-tuned motor skills needed to operate a QWERTY keyboard successfully). You’re best off looking for an alternative, such as the T-Mobile Dash, which boasts a great interface based out of Windows Mobile.

Blackberry 8300
As a whole, the Blackberry line of smartphones are quite good, with many features available on a variety of networks. If you’re looking for a device with great business capabilities, web integration, and email, a Blackberry can be a great choice. However, not all Blackberries are created equal, and some, like the 8300, fall flat next to their siblings. The Blackberry 8300, in some regards, is a lesser version of other Blackberry phones, meaning that the interface and keypad aren’t as sturdy and up-to-date. For perhaps the best experience with a Blackberry, check out the Blackberry Storm, which boasts some great unique features.

Nokia Surge 6790
Our final smartphone to avoid also looks like it could be a winner. But, alas, looks are also deceiving, once again. The Nokia Surge has a slim black design and a slide-out keypad, making it one of the better-looking smartphones. The device boasts some great synchronization with Gmail, Yahoo, and Windows Live, even if its operating system is a bit dates compared to competitors. However, there are some puzzling design flaws that make using the Nokia Surge downright frustrating. It’s impossible to dial a number without sliding open the keypad, a flaw that becomes more and more upsetting the longer you have the phone. Also, the small and slightly off-center screen can be hard to squint at in dark environments, as the brightness is lacking. For a similar, but better, alternative, check out the Samsung Jack.

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/gibbons/34338447

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