Apple’s iPhone family have dominated the smartphone charts for the last couple of years, with a few serious challenges, but nothing that could quite unseat the market leader. With the new iPhone launched recently, it looks like the challenge has become even more difficult. The Samsung Galaxy S didn’t receive quite the same level of publicity on its recent launch, but could the Korean company’s best ever smart phone give Apple a run for their money?

When you first see the Galaxy S, you notice how good looking it is, and even though there has been a fairly liberal use of plastic to keep the weight down, the chrome trim gives it a quality appearance and feel. The next thing you notice is the size of that screen, which comes in at a very impressive 4 inches, considerably larger than the iPhone 4.

The screen is even more impressive when it’s switched on. The high resolution Super AMOLED display makes everything come to life on the phone. Colors are bright and vibrant, and the superb contrast makes everything appear crisp and clear. The visual performance of the display is matched by its touchscreen capabilities, with a responsive touch that is easy and enjoyable to use.

The camera on the Galaxy S is more than adequate, if not quite as impressive as the display. At 5 megapixels, it compares well with the iPhone 4 and is only less than a couple of other smartphones, but it comes with a range of settings and options that mean you have more flexibility to get exactly the shot you want. There’s no flash, but night mode and full 720p HD video recording add some more value.

Samsung wanted the Galaxy S to blow the competition away when it came to playing media, and most users will probably agree that they’ve achieved their aim. Whether your playing music or video from the smartphone’s incredible 48GB storage capacity, with features like virtual surround sound and that Super AMOLED screen, everything just looks and sounds great.

The latest Android operating system works well with Samsung’s own Touchwiz user interface, and the Galaxy S matches all the other smartphones on the connectivity front with data over 3G, WiFi capability, as well as Bluetooth and GPS. A powerful battery and nippy 1GHz processor make sure that, whatever the demands placed on it, the Galaxy S gives a smooth performance.

With a range of apps available from Android as well as Samsung’s own offerings, and full integration for all your communication, from e-mail to text, and social networks to instant messaging, the Samsung Galaxy S will make sure you stay in touch, the way you want to.

The Samsung Galaxy S will surely give the iPhone 4 a run for its money, but it might not have the complete package needed to beat the Apple smartphone. However, for someone looking to buy their first smartphone, there is now another phone that needs including in the discussion.

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Long renowned for the quality of their phones, LG have followed demand and started to develop a range of mobiles that will try to challenge in the smartphone market. The LG Optimus is the latest edition to LG’s smartphone stable, and comes with quite an impressive spec. But is it enough to take on the likes of Apple, Google and HTC?

It’s probably fair to say that LG don’t make many ugly mobile phones, and this tradition continues with the Optimus’s good looks. The quality finish of the phone also helps its appearance, and it’s size and shape mean it is easy to hold when you’re using it, and slip into your pocket when you’re not.

At 3 inches, the Optimus’s touchscreen is not the biggest on the market, but it is the right size for the phone and certainly doesn’t feel small when you are surfing the web or looking a photos and video. The high quality HVGA screen is bright and clear, and the accelerometer makes it easy to use the touchscreen capability in portrait or landscape.

As well as the standard connectivity options, including 3G and the latest Bluetooth, the Optimus is capable of wireless networking, just like many of the other smartphones. It also provides you with a fast and simple way to get connected to their favorite social networking sites, with pre-loaded features that keep you in touch with real-time updates from fans and followers on Facebook and Twitter.

LG looks to have decided on Android as their operating system of choice for their smartphones, and whilst the Optimus comes with the slightly outdated version, it still has the functionality most will need in a basic smartphone. Plus, with Android you can take full advantage of the Android Market, and the technology inside the Optimus means it’s performance and battery life will let you make the most of the apps you install.

The Optimus only has a 3 megapixel camera, which does let it down slightly, but it still performs well in most environments, especially with the autofocus making things easier. The lack of a flash and video capture at only 17 frames per second isn’t ideal, but it won’t stop most people getting what they want from the camera.

LG’s Optimus is a good looking entry into the smart phone market. While some of its features might lose it points when compared to the top phones in the market, it will do very well as a mid-market offering for those who want smartphone functions, without the HTC or Apple price tag.

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It wasn’t so long ago that mobile phones were all pretty much the same, and all people needed them for was to make calls while they were out and about. Times have changed, and with a wide variety of features, and technology that is constantly developing, it can be hard to figure out which is the best mobile phone you can buy.

Phones like Apple’s new iPhone 4, HTC’s Desire, and the Google Nexus One, not to mention Blackberry’s Bold, could easily claim to be the best mobile around, if you need a phone that is capable of a lot more than just calling home. For mobile users who don’t need hundreds of different features and Apps, and are more concerned about having the best-looking phone, Sony Ericsson and Samsung have plenty to offer, and LG even has a Prada phone for those looking for the ultimate fashion accessory.

Just because some people might think a phone is the best one on the market, doesn’t mean you have to agree. Different phones will be best for different people, and you really need to know what you want out of your new mobile before you can decide which one is best for you. Apart from the obvious calls and texts, what else are you going to use your mobile phone for? If you want to play music, you might find a Sony Ericsson is the best choice for you; or the big screen Apple and HTC phones if you want a touchscreen phone you can watch films on. If you need it for business, you might be better off with a Blackberry, and if it just needs to look good, you could choose an LG.

If you want to choose the best mobile phone, you also need to think about how much it’s going to cost to use it once you’ve actually spent the money to buy it. Some of the networks will let you have the phone for free, but only if you agree to spend a certain amount on your monthly tariff; and even then, they might make you sign a 24 month contract. With a contract this long, your phone could be outdated long before you are eligible to upgrade to a better one. Even if you chose Pay As You Go, offers from the different networks vary, so you need to look into them all to make sure you are getting the best deal.

Deciding which is the best mobile phone on the market depends a lot on what you want it to do. If you know what you need from you mobile, it should make your selection process a lot easier; and once you know which phone is best for you, make sure you’re not spending a fortune to use it, by getting the best call plan as well.

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Remember the Motorola Droid? Of course you do, especially if you live in the US and were subject to the endless, mysterious, and slightly annoying multimedia ad campaign. Irritating commercials notwithstanding, it was a very good smartphone. Motorola let its guard down somewhat in the period since and other manufacturers have flexed their smartphone muscles, surpassing the company with new and highly advanced creations of their own. Motorola, however, has stepped from the shadows with the Milestone XT720 in an effort to make their presence felt once again.

With the Motorola Milestone XT720, gone is some of the size and weight of devices that came before. The Milestone’s shell measures 116 x 61x 11mm and the phone weighs 160g. The shape of the handset is rather unique. When viewed in landscape mode, there is a protuberance on the top right that seems to serve no other purpose than house three lights that indicate the camera option the phone is in. The front and back of the Milestone seem to be carved from two completely different pieces, as they fit together oddly. Critics have expressed their displeasure with the looks of the phone, stating that the changes were unnecessary. The new design does set the phone apart from the others.

Aside from the controversial design of the handset itself, the Milestone XT720 possesses a 3.7-inch screen that has been featured on previous models. It is a capacitive touchscreen containing a 480 x 854 pixel display. The large screen is perfect for displaying photos taken with the Milestone’s 8-megapixel camera. The camera includes a Xenon flash, a feature currently found on no other Android smartphone. Face detection and a panorama mode are also nice aspects of the camera. Of course, a phone that features a high-quality camera will likely have an advanced video recorder as well. The Milestone does, capturing video at 720p. The customer is also treated to an HDMI port and the necessary cables to connect the phone to the big screen.

Some customers will be saddened to learn that Motorola did not offer Motoblur on the Milestone, but it did include Android 2.1. There may be no built-in social networking, but customers are treated to a trial version of MotoNav and the company’s new Phone Portal app. With this application, users are able to manage the XT720’s data from any browser on a PC or Mac linked to a USB or WiFi network. Youtube and movies are then viewed enjoyably on the 3.7-inch screen.

The Motorola Milestone XT720 has not done in the competition by any means. It is, however, a very solid smartphone that is capable of performing the duties customers look for in these devices. The XT720 is sure to provide a quality experience to its users.

For awhile, no smartphone manufacturers held a candle to Apple and its iPhone. As time went on, companies realized that their existence would depend on keeping up with smartphone technology and spent time and money improving their own models. As the gap has closed, Apple felt the pressure to remain ahead of the competition, and has answered their competitors’ handsets with the iPhone 4.

The iPhone 4 features some changes on the inside from previous models. Replacing the Samsung-based Cortex CPU in the 3GS, iPhone 4’s predecessor, is Apple’s own A4 chip. Those in the know will recognize this as the same chip found in the iPad. While the iPad boasts 1GHz of speed with the A4 processor, the iPhone 4 doesn’t quite reach those heights. This is not to say the phone is slow by any means. It renders graphics quickly and navigates smoothly. Users who are looking for a high performance phone have nothing to worry about.

Viewing those graphics is accomplished on a 3.5 inch screen. Though not as large as screens found on some comparable models, the iPhone features what is known as the Retina Display. It boasts 960 x 640 pixel resolution and an incredible 326 ppi pixel density. So named because it reportedly displays images in more detail than even the human eye can distinguish, Retina more than makes up for any lack of screen size. Due to the incredible resolution, blurry and pixilated images are of no concern at all. Many testers of the iPhone 4 claim that they have never seen images so clear on any other handset.

The iPhone 4 also takes advantage of its Retina Display by improving on the meager 3 megapixel camera found on the 3GS. A new, 5 megapixel camera replaces the old and includes a backside-illuminated sensor more sensitive to light. The LED flash, like most flashes of its size, can over-illuminate the photographs, but the iPhone is adept at producing high-quality photos without flash and at low light.

Multitasking finally makes an appearance on an Apple smartphone with the iPhone 4. Technically, the phone doesn’t offer true backgrounding, but it does allow a few APIs to operate at the same time that imitate backgrounding. For those who are looking for typical use, it presents no problem at all. Apple claimed that their reluctance to embrace multitasking abilities was due to the battery strain it would put on the phone. iPhone 4 users will not find battery life a problem at all, as some tests have produced nearly 40 hours of regular use on one charge.

With the iPhone 4, Apple has once again established itself as a leader in smartphone technology. With a Retina Display that none other can boast and improved performance, they have set the bar high. Not only has Apple won again, so have their customers.