Compare cell phones
If you are in the market for a new cell phone, it can be extremely difficult to determine which devices are better than others and what features you really need. Your cell phone purchase should depend on a combination of factors that focus on your intentions with the device and your available budget. Understanding what features make a great cell phone will help you choose one that meets your needs and compliments your style.
Instructions
1. Consider the size and weight. As technology improves, electronic devices like cell phones continue to get smaller and lighter. However, you might be more comfortable with a larger or heavier phone, especially if you have bigger hands and fingers. Smaller phones have small buttons, which may be difficult or uncomfortable to accurately press. The "best" size and weight is a matter of opinion, and you should hold a phone in your hands to get a better sense of how it feels before you buy it.
2. Consider the shape and form. Today's phones come in three major designs: bar, flip and slide. Bar phones, also called "candy bars," are ordinary rectangular-shaped devices. Flip phones, also called "clamshells," have a hinged design. The inner top portion of the clamshell typically contains the screen, and the bottom portion contains the keys. Many of these phones also have a smaller secondary screen on the outside of the clamshell, which provides you with information such as the time and caller ID. Slide phones, or "sliders," are a relatively new design compared to bars and flips, and offer a large screen with few or no buttons and a keypad that slides out from beneath the screen. The keypads slide out to the side or below the screen. The specific shape and design of the cell phone you buy will be a matter of preference, and this factor alone cannot be used to determine which device is "best."
3. Consider the interaction method. Modern cell phones come in two choices of interaction: standard and touch-screen. Standard devices require you to press buttons on the phone to send and receive calls, navigate menus and access additional features. Touch-screen phones allow you to control the device by simply touching graphic buttons and images that appear on the screen, which senses the pressure of your finger. The interaction method is also a personal preference and there are many high-quality devices that are both standard and touch-screen.
4. Consider the text input method. If you will be sending text messages and emails with your phone, the method in which you input text is extremely important. Most phones require you to press the number on the keypad that corresponds to assigned letters and symbols. However, many devices contain QWERTY keyboards that are laid out similarly to ordinary computer keyboards. Most slider phones contain full keyboards beneath the screen, and many bar phones have one as well. It is rare for a flip phone to have a full keyboard, but some do exist. Nearly every touch-screen phone can display a full keyboard as well. The text input method is another personal choice and the method alone cannot be used to label a device as "better" or "worse" than another.
5. Consider the operating system. Many phones are operated by the manufacturer's proprietary software, while others use independent operating systems provided by the industry's largest and most popular companies. Microsoft provides Windows Mobile, an operating system similar to the desktop version of Windows, and allows for many more advanced uses of the device. Palm and Symbian are two other common operating systems, reducing the learning curve that is often problematic with a new device purchase. Additionally, the independent operating systems allow for simpler integration between the phone and your desktop computer, making them better if you will need your device for more than just phone calls.
6. Consider the camera. Most modern cell phones have a camera, and the quality of the camera is only relevant if you plan on actually taking pictures. Better mobile devices have integrated cameras with at least two or three megapixels, and some of the best devices have cameras with five or more megapixels, resulting in higher quality photographs. Some phones even include a flash on the camera, making your device extremely versatile for everyday snapshots. Good phone cameras can also take videos and act as a mini camcorder.
7. Consider the multimedia capability. Great phones give you the ability to store music and video clips which can be played back by an integrated media player application. This lets you use your phone as a portable jukebox and video library, alleviating the need for a separate music or video device. The quality of the speakers and screen, as well as the phone's storage capacity, are important if multimedia is a feature you want. Some phones are designed primarily with a focus on multimedia and include much better audio and video software than others.
8. Consider the messaging. Every mobile phone can send and receive text messages, but not every device can accommodate email accounts and instant messaging. The best phones are those that can connect to multiple email accounts, allowing you to send and receive emails regardless of the time and place, and to access instant messaging platforms, allowing you to communicate in real time with friends and family.
9. Consider Bluetooth. Bluetooth capabilities are present on all good phones and let your device connect wirelessly to headsets for hands-free operation, and transfer files to other Bluetooth-ready phones. The possibilities of what can be accomplished with Bluetooth applications continue to expand, and great phones have a powerful signal transmitter to ensure stable wireless connections between your device and others.
10. Consider the web browser. Many cell phones can connect to the internet, letting you search for information, play games and access additional resources. Unfortunately, several mobile browsers are unable to access websites not specifically designed for phones, or they display websites in a crowded and confusing manner. The best mobile phones contain internet browsers capable of displaying websites so they appear identical to what is displayed on desktop computers.
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