smartphones

SmartphonesSmartphonesWhat are they and what are they good for?

What is a “Smartphone”?What is a “Smartphone”?No standard definitionThe definition changes with time as

technology advancesOne definition: “A device that lets you

make telephone calls, but also adds in features that you might find on a personal digital assistant or a computer.”

Unique Smartphone FeaturesUnique Smartphone Features

Advance Messaging: Sync e-mail and handle multiple e-mail accounts

QWERTY KeyboardHigh Speed Web Access, i.e., 3G-4GHigh Level Operating System: Can run

productivity applicationsMay also have: GPS, Accelerometer,

Digital Compass, Proximity Detector

What Can a Smartphone Do?What Can a Smartphone Do?Phone ServiceText MessagingE-MailStill and Video CameraMusic & Video PlayerWeb BrowsingOrganizer, i.e., calendar & address bookRun Applications

Smartphone ApplicationsSmartphone ApplicationsApps are user-installed softwareYou name it and “There is an App for that”Lots of Apps for Different OS:

Operating System Apps Available

Palm 500+

MS Windows Mobile 800+

Blackberry 3,000+

Google Android 20,000+

iPhone OS 100,000+

Smartphone Data ConnectivitySmartphone Data Connectivity

Data Connectivity is needed to:Access & Manage E-Mail AccountsBrowse the WebProvide Data Flow for Apps

Fast Data Connectivity is Important!

Wi-Fi(LAN/WAN)

3G & EDGE (2G)(Cell Phone Provider)

Phone Provider NetworkPhone Provider Network(2G vs. 3G Data Flow)(2G vs. 3G Data Flow)

Network Type Download Speed (Mbps) *

2G (EDGE) 0.1-0.2

** Home LAN with AT&T DSL “Pro” Plan = “Up to 3 Mbps”

Wi-Fi (LAN) 2.3** (~1½-5x “3G)

4G (future) Up to 10x “3G” (or more)

3G (UMTS) 0.5-1.6 (~5-10x “2G)

* AT&T Network Speed at my home in Walnut Creek

% Max Avail. Min. Max. Avg.

AT&T 56% 116 10 514 350

Verizon 59% 534 8 501 246

Sprint 77% 284 6 489 224

T-Mobile 62% 19 5 673 191

Signal @ No. Not Download (kbps)

Voice Data Speed

How do Phone Carriers How do Phone Carriers Compare in the East Bay?Compare in the East Bay?

A comparison of the Walnut Creek, Lafayette, Alamo, Danville, & Concord Area Only

http://reviews.cnet.com/coveragemap/

Top 5 Smartphones Top 5 Smartphones (cnet- 1/04/10)(cnet- 1/04/10)

* 2 year contract commitment typically required

Phone Service Provider OS Cost*

Apple iPhone 3G S

AT&T iPhone $199.00

Motorola Droid Verizon Android $199.99

HTC Touch Pro2 Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon

MS Windows

$199.99

RIM Blackberry Bold 9700

AT&T, T-Mobile Blackberry $99.99

Palm Pre Sprint Palm $149.99

Other top phones: Google Nexus, HTC MyTouch 3G

Smartphone CostsSmartphone Costs

* With 2 Year Commitment

AT&T Cost

3GS iPhone w/ 16G $199 *

SMS= $0.20/Msg, MMS= $0.30/Msg

Voice Plan $30-70/Mo.

Text Plan (if desired) $5-20/Mo.

3G Unlimited Data Plan $30/Mo.

Smartphone Web BrowsingSmartphone Web Browsing

App Examples – Included AppsApp Examples – Included Apps

Video App (included)Video App (included)

YouTube, Movies, TV Shows, etc.

Purchasing Smartphone AppsPurchasing Smartphone AppsApps purchased via phone or online

from App store, i.e., iTunes, VCast, etc.Many Apps are freeMost Apps cost less than $5Some Apps cost as much as $40-100Load as many Apps as memory allowsMovies, Videos, TV Shows & Music may

also be purchased from App Store

Now Now SomeSome App App

Examples…Examples…

News/Sports Apps (free)News/Sports Apps (free)

AroundMe (free)AroundMe (free)

Wikipanion (free)Wikipanion (free)

Location Services Apps (free)Location Services Apps (free)

•Yelp•Urban Spoon•Local Eats

Bing Mobile (free)Bing Mobile (free)

DailyFinance (free)DailyFinance (free)

Tom Tom GPS ($99.99)Tom Tom GPS ($99.99)

Golfshot GPS ($29.99)Golfshot GPS ($29.99)

MotionX GPS (free/$2.99)MotionX GPS (free/$2.99)

BMW F1 ($1.99)BMW F1 ($1.99)

PS Mobile (free)PS Mobile (free)

RedLazer ($1.99)RedLazer ($1.99)

MS Tag Reader (free)MS Tag Reader (free)

AppBox ($0.99)AppBox ($0.99)

21 Mini Apps for $0.99

iAccounts ($4.99)iAccounts ($4.99)

Personal Assistant (Personal Assistant (free/$6.99free/$6.99))

Dragon (free)Dragon (free)

Shazam (free)Shazam (free)

AAA Roadside (free)AAA Roadside (free)

TravelTracker ($7.99/$8.99)TravelTracker ($7.99/$8.99)

Southwest Airlines (free)Southwest Airlines (free)

Wi-Fi Finder (free)Wi-Fi Finder (free)

iBART (free)iBART (free)

CardStar (free)CardStar (free)

Grocery Gadget (free/$4.99)Grocery Gadget (free/$4.99)

Facebook (free)Facebook (free)

Movies (free)Movies (free)

Streaming Music AppsStreaming Music Apps

Pandora (free)Wunder Radio ($6.99)

Augmented Reality (AR) AppsAugmented Reality (AR) Apps

New creative type of AppAugmentation of the real world

with computer generated imageryUses GPS, Accelerometer, Digital

Compass inputsPoint at something and AR can give

info on what you are looking at

AR App ExamplesAR App Examples

Urbanspoon (free)Wikitude (free)

Lets Review…Lets Review…Smartphone: “A device that lets you

make telephone calls, but also adds in features that you might find on a personal digital assistant or a computer.”

It can’t do everything a PDA or computer can do, i.e., run large/complex programs

But it can do many things that they can’t because it is has microphone, camera, gps, accelerometer data inputs and it’s mobile (fits in your pocket or purse).

Smartphones of the FutureSmartphones of the Future

Faster Processing SpeedBetter Still/Video Camera CapabilityLonger Battery LifeFaster Internet Access, i.e., 4GImproved Virus ProtectionMore Creative ApplicationsPerhaps a blending of stand-alone cameras, GPS and/or netbooks

The End....The End....

Area 2 Computer & Tech. Web Site: http://www.sir-web.org/computer/

March 2010 C&T Meeting “Gadget”: March 2010 C&T Meeting “Gadget”:

eReaderseReaders

Looking for members with eReaders to Looking for members with eReaders to bring them to the March meeting to bring them to the March meeting to

demonstrate their Kindle, Nook, demonstrate their Kindle, Nook, Reader, etc. Reader, etc.