Choosing a SmartPhone

 Article by Grant Sidaway from SeniorNet.

More than 1.8 million New Zealanders now own a smartphone. According to researcher ABI (February 2013) there will one smartphone for every five people in the world, so choosing a Smartphone that's right for you can be tricky!

What is it?

A Smartphone is a mobile telephone with internet access and built-in applications (commonly known as Apps). Smartphones offer text messaging, e-mail, web browsing, still and video cameras, music and video players. However it's the Apps that allow a user to customise the device to suit their own requirements, around 40% of smartphone applications are free! Put simply the smartphone is a portable computer.

Computers require an Operating System to function, it provides core facilities making the device easy to use – Smartphones also require an Operating System. The three main smartphone operating systems are:

• Android, produce by Google

• Apple iOS

• Windows Phone from Microsoft.

Android is an "open sourced system" – it can be used by any smartphone manufacturer. Manufacturers are free to tweak Android, plus Google doesn't scrutinise apps before they appear on its web based Play store.

Apple's operating system has the best range of content and applications. Apple keeps incredibly tight hold on which applications are available for its devices. Many people don't like this but it ensures reliable quality. Apple does not allow its operating system to be used on anything but Apple products.

Microsoft, a newcomer to smartphone operating systems, doesn't have anywhere near the quality or quantity of Apps as iOS or Android. It uses "live tiles" on its home screen, these continually provide updates for users of their favourite applications, like a new Facebook, Tweet or email message.

There are numerous handsets to select from; at first glance they all look incredibly similar. What might appeal as a feature to one person may not to another, the location of buttons, the brightness of screens, the resolution of the camera and the general appearance all have a part to play in deciding what is best for you.

Spend plenty of time choosing a smartphone.

Test the main features, yourself, don't simply ask the salesperson to show you.

A study commissioned by Nokia found that the average smartphone user checked their phone 150 times a day and couldn't leave their phone alone for more than 6 minutes – so make very sure the features of the phone you are about to purchase are right for you.

Thanks to Grand Sidaway from SeniorNet for writing this article. GrownUps has had a long standing relationship with SeniorNet and we highly recommend this wonderful group to anyone who would like to further develop their understanding of technology.