PALM

The first thing that stands out about the Apple iPhone 3GS is how quickly it can launch applications. Web pages render in a fraction of the time, and viewing email attachments is faster than ever before. Improved performance and updated 3D graphics deliver an incredible gaming experience too. In fact, everything on the iPhone 3G S is up to 2x faster and more responsive than the iPhone 3G. After all, they call it the iPhone 3G S for a reason. The ‘S’ stands for speed, and everything on the new iPhone is clearly a great deal faster. This includes opening apps, surfing the Web, e-mails, and more. The iPhone 3G S also supports 7.2 Mbps HSDPA.

Another useful new feature is an upgraded 3 megapixel autofocus camera compared to the originals standard 2 megapixels. There is also a unique tap to focus tool whereby photos can be accessed, then by tapping the display on a specific object, focused in on any selected object. To supplement this, the iPhone 3G S boasts an auto macro mode, so when the handset is too close to an object the function will automatically kick in.

Not forgetting that the new camera can now capture video, a feature which was widely sought after and that the original failed to provide. It can record 30 fps footage at VGA resolution. Not only can it edit footage, altered media can then be shared on MobileMe or YouTube and via MMS (assuming your network supports it).

The mobile is slated to be released on the Sprint network in 2009. The new webOS of Palm brings together all the contacts and networks and makes for a people centric way of communication. webOS is the operating system of the mobile and it is simple, colorful and touch-centric. The mobile has a 3.1-inch 320 x 480 multitouch display. There is a full QWERTY keyboard and the phone can be flipped on its side for the purpose of accelerometer-sensed widescreen browsing. Some of the other internal specifications include EV-DO Rev. A, GPS, Bluetooth with A2DP, 802.11b/g WiFi and 8GB of built-in flash storage. The mobile is equipped with a 3 megapixel camera that has a 3.5mm headphone, jack LED flash and storage-friendly microUSB plug. There is also a wireless charger which is one of its kinds.

At the end of the screen there is a "gesture area" which allows the users to use fingers to manage the content. The screen comes with iPhone-style multitouch that facilitates pinching to zoom in and out. It is also equipped with a light sensor that helps to adjust the light while in dark rooms, a proximity sensor and an accelerometer. The phone gathers all the contacts of the user and makes a unified contacts list. It facilitates contacting family and friends in a number of ways including IM, phone calls, text messages, e-mail, or Facebook. It is one of the most people-centric phones.

The Palm Treo Pro boasts an elegant design, slightly alerting from the standard hard edged phones and replacing it with a smoother rounded one. The Palm Treo utilizes a QWERTY keyboard, which is a big benefit to any businessman for ease and convenience when typing. Each letter is set out on a different key, and overall is easy to understand. The only problem may be that the keys are too small for accuracy when typing at fast speeds. However, this problem can be overcome with experience and familiarization with the phone.

The Treo Pro features Windows 6.1-running, is 3G-ready and also a touchscreen smartphone. The Treo Pro, when compared to the iPhone 3G is just slightly larger and acts as a close competitor. This phone may be one of Palm’s best looking release yet.

The phone comes at a price range of around $500 +. This does not include subscription services, so the cost may be more for internet usage and phone credit. The PalmOS system that the Treo runs on is highly flexible, allowing a wide range of applications to be manually installed after purchase. The SIM card can be easily switched and activated when travelling to different countries, so you don’t have to worry about technical difficulties.

A 400 Mhz processor running on 256MB ram handles all the core functions of the Treo Pro effortlessly. This windows based mobile phone handles itself well in terms of performance and useability when compared to its price and should definitely be held in high regard.