Best Business and Personal Mobile Devices

I'm confident that 2010 will go down as the year that personal and professional computing officially merged, as the iPhone finally knocked down the wall that had kept the two separate. Sure, working at home on personal PCs had already put holes in the structure, but it was the iPhone that took the barrier out completely.

What is the best mobile device for the new, integrated world? There are many, many options available from Apple, Research in Motion, and Hewlett-Packard's Palm division, as well as Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 and Google's Android hardware partners. InfoWorld.com has winnowed down all of these choices to the handful that matter.

Best touchscreen smartphone: Apple iPhone 4 InfoWorld has tested the iPhone against every business-capable competitor, and no one has come close. The iPhone excels at apps of all sorts, as well as Web surfing, email and other messaging, and media presentation (music, movies, TV, books, and so on). With iOS 4, it offers business-class security and management capabilities, breaking the BlackBerry's stranglehold in this arena. Only the defunct Windows Mobile joins iOS and BlackBerry OS as business-class.

The iPhone's use of iTunes, though disliked by IT, also ensures an easily accessible backup of all apps, media, and even document files. These backups can even be encrypted to comply with government regulations on managing personal information.

The iPhone 4 is not perfect. Its weakest aspect is its phone; users regularly complain of dropped calls and poor audio. It's also tied in the United States to the worst network (AT&T's). Both weaknesses ultimately need to change, and they're barriers for many people to buying an iPhone, as is the lack of a model with a physical keyboard.

But no other device comes close to the iPhone 4 in the ability to serve as a pocket computer, which is the "smart" in "smartphone."

If the AT&T tie-in or the poor phone quality issues prevent you from going for an iPhone 4, our recommended touch-only runner-up is the HTC Droid Incredible. Note that the device runs Android OS 2.2, which is not as secure as the iPhone and may not be allowed onto many corporate networks -- or at least not without a third-party software solution such as NitroDesk TouchDown or Good for Enterprise.

Best keyboard smartphone: RIM BlackBerry Torch The BlackBerry has long been the de facto smartphone standard, thanks to its messaging capabilities. Many executives use the BlackBerry as their primary device for conducting business via email, but RIM's devices have not been good with apps, the Web, or media presentation. The company's first attempt, the Storm, was a poorly designed iPhone clone, and the Storm 2 was little better.

However, the BlackBerry Torch 9800 is not like a previous BlackBerry -- well, it is and it isn't.

For messaging, the Torch works very much like a BlackBerry Bold -- the executive's BlackBerry of choice -- which makes it immediately comfortable for longtime BlackBerry users. Its slideout keyboard is essentially the same as the Bold's, so it's easy to type with.

Whereas Web browsing was the Achilles' heel of previous BlackBerrys, the Torch's new browser is thoroughly modern, displaying the Web in its full glory. And the Torch's touchscreen is both large enough and touch-responsive enough to handle the Web and iPhone-style apps well. At this point, there are few BlackBerry apps available, and many websites assume that the Torch is as Web-crippled as previous models, so they often autosubstitute a limited WAP version. As Torch adoption grows, both of these external limits should fade.

Although the Torch is tied to AT&T in the United States, that exclusivity will end soon, and you can expect models from all the major carriers this winter.

In a nutshell, the BlackBerry Torch is a good merger of the traditional BlackBerry messaging and security strengths with the modern touch, app, and Web capabilities pioneered by the iPhone.

If the BlackBerry Torch feels too old school for you, our recommended physical keyboard runner-up is the Motorola Droid 2. Note that the device runs Android OS 2.2, which is not as secure as the iPhone and may not be allowed onto many corporate networks without third-party protection.

Best tablet: Apple iPad A year ago, some pundits were questioning the viability of the then-unreleased iPad. Today, it has created a whole new market and proved a hit among consumers and businesses alike.

There's a reason for its success: The iPad is an amazingly good device, one that can act as a surrogate laptop much of the time. Its large screen is quite good for desktop-like Web browsing, as well as for running productivity apps, playing movies, and working with multiple email accounts. With hardware attachments, it can act as a presentation device or pull in photos from digital cameras, for example. Additionally, it's very portable, thanks to its low weight (1.5 pounds) and long battery life (10 to 11 hours is typical).

Plus, because of the iPad's use of iOS 4 and native support for Microsoft Exchange policies, it can be securely used in most businesses.

The iPad is not perfect. Its Safari browser, for example, doesn't work well with many applications-oriented websites such as Google Docs and Microsoft SharePoint, but it is amazingly capable for a first-generation product. None of the competing Android tablets comes close to the iPad in terms of capability or performance. The closest competitor, theSamsung Galaxy Tab, is a weak imitation.

The iPad is tied to AT&T, whose network is iffy in several cities, such as New York and San Francisco, but AT&T requires no long-term commitment to use its 3G data service; you sign up for a month at a time. Apple offers models with and without 3G radios; all models have Wi-Fi.

A new iPad this spring will all but certainly add front and rear cameras. It will probably be a bit thinner and perhaps faster, so you may want to wait. But today's model is a joy to use, and it's handy to boot. It's also likely to benefit from further software updates -- Apple is very good about ensuring that OS updates run on at least two previous generations of its hardware.

If for some reason the iPad doesn't appeal to you, we have no runner-up options. It's an iPad or nothing.

Expect new choices in the new year In 2010, the Android platform took off, quickly rivaling the iPhone in popularity. RIM finally delivered its first viable iPhone competitor, but has yet to follow up with other models or bring the new BlackBerry OS to its previous hits, the Bold and Curve. I expect Android to get even more competitive in 2010 -- and perhaps start filling some of its business security gaps. We should see the first tablets running a version of Android designed for tablets this spring. I also expect RIM to make a serious effort with its forthcoming PlayBook tablet and perhaps build on the Torch's momentum with smartphone upgrades.

Also in 2010, Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 crashed and burned, while Hewlett-Packard's acquisition of Palm put the struggling WebOS in deep freeze. On the tablet front, Hewlett-Packard's Windows 7-based Slate tablet proved to be more of a demonstration product than a serious product commitment. Either or both of these companies may get mobile religion in 2011 and even deliver on it. Nokia's smartphone strategy is in disarray, and it's unlikely to be a serious option in 2011 -- but you can never know for certain.

You can be sure that Apple will continue to put distance between itself and its competitors with new versions of the iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch. Google's Android has the best shot at keeping up.

But that's next year. For now, if you need a mobile device, you know what to get.

samsung rolls out its galaxy player with Android 2.2 Froyo OS

Samsung is about to debut the new Galaxy Player, an Android-based music and applications device that will be similar to the Galaxy S smartphone, but without the cellular connection. Samsung has confirmed it will unveil the media player at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas next month, according to Samsung follower, Samsung Hub.

The Samsung Galaxy Player

The device will have a front-facing VGA camera forSkype and other webcam applications, as well as a 3.2-megapixel camera on the back. It will be 9.9 mm thick with a 4-inch Super Clear LCD screen with WVGA resolution.

The Galaxy Player will run on the Android 2.2 Froyo operating system, and it will have built-in WiFi and Bluetooth 3.0. It will come with 8-GB, 16-GB and 32-GB storage capabilities and will feature a 1 GHz processor.

Samsung did not respond to the E-Commerce Times' request for comments by press time.

Going Up Against Apple

The Galaxy Player fits niftily as a competitor to Apple's (Nasdaq: AAPL) iPod touch -- basically a smartphone without phone capabilities. This will complete Samsung's match-up with major Apple mobile devices. Samsung already competes head-to-head with the iPhone and the iPad.

While the iPod may have slipped as a major consumer device, the iPod touch -- and now Samsung's Galaxy Player -- addresses the gigantic tween market. Parents of teenagers are not quick to sign up for pricey smartphone plans for their children. However, a dumbphone on a family plan combined with an iPod touch or Samsung Galaxy Player completes the digital picture.

Freedom From the Data Plan

The absence of the smartphone's data plan may be the biggest competitive feature for the Galaxy Player.

"This is a good device for people who want a strong mobile computer that can provide gaming, mobile Web and email without the monthly data plan," Chris Hazelton, research director for mobile and wireless at the 451 Group, told TechNewsWorld. "The trade-off is you need to find WiFi when you need the network. Then what you get is access to 100,000 applications from the Android market."

Over the course of a year, there are plenty of savings to take by avoiding the smartphone's monthly bill.

"You can roll the dumbphone into a family plan and use the media player like a smartphone. The iPhone was a game changer, and you're seeing smartphones that are challenging the iPhone," said Hazelton. "The iPod touch has a similar grip on the market -- even more so -- and this is what is coming from the competition to challenge Apple."

Parents will like the device because they can apply parental controls. Kids will like it because they can get around the controls.

"It's a good device for kids because you can have control over the content they download -- even if they can get around it," said Hazelton. "Plus, they can do voice calls through Skype or other voice applications."

The Need to Match Apple

Ultimately, the difference in cost between dumbphones and smartphones will be in the monthly contract.

"As the price of subsidized smartphones continually decreases and the difference in cost between a dumbphone and a smartphone becomes negligible, the only real barrier to entry left is the data plan," said Michael Morgan, senior analyst, mobile devices, for ABI Research.

"However, it may be Samsung that needs these devices more than the market does," he told TechNewsWorld." With these media players, Samsung's device portfolio mimics that of Apple's with a phone, media player and tablet."

As Samsung completes its mobile device picture, Apple will have little to tempt the Android user from switching systems.

"With children using these media players, perhaps one day they will aspire to have a Samsung smartphone instead of an iPhone," said Morgan. "While at the moment, Samsung's content library is not the equivalent of Apple's iTunes or App Store, this could be built up over time, particularly if they port Android over to these devices and offer access to the Android application store.

Microsoft demonstrate new Windows7 based Slate devices at CES

Microsoft will demonstrate new Windows based Slate devices at the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January.

The software giant is expected to show-off a number of new devices from key hardware partners. The New York Times reports that the company will show devices built by Samsung and Dell. The Samsung device will be a similar size and shape to Apple’s iPad and include a “unique and slick keyboard that slides out from below for easy typing.”

Both the Dell and Samsung devices will run Windows 7 with a custom UI on top for accessing multimedia functions. Microsoft CEO, Steve Ballmer, is expected to introduce both devices during his CES 2011 keynote.

Microsoft has promised a “major revamp” of Windows for slate applications, that will come in the next version, Windows 8. The New York Times suggests that Ballmer may show off a Windows 8 based Slate but WinRumors understands this is not the case. The software maker may show off a future Tablet/Slate concept device but will not refer to Windows 8 specifically. Microsoft is currently in the planning and preperation stage for Windows 8 and is compiling early milestone builds for product functionality.

Microsoft has been criticized for its slow response to Apple’s iPad device, introduced in April this year. Steve Ballmer, Microsoft CEO, previously said Windows 7 based Slates would be available “as soon as they’re ready” when questioned earlier this year. The iPad sold three million units in its first 80 days of release and is currently selling approximately 4.5 million units per quarter, Bernstein Research estimates.

Microsoft Chairman, Bill Gates, said earlier this year that the company has a lot of different tablet projects it is pursuing. Microsoft canceled their internal Courier project shortly after the release of the iPad. The project was an innovative new tablet concept that had promised to combine a dual screen book design with finger and stylus input. The leaked promotional materials demonstrated various concepts that would have brought an unparalleled productivity tool to the market. Most media outlets and analysts felt the move to cancel the device was a mistake

Motorola's Android Honeycomb to be Disclosed at CES

Motorola's Android Honeycomb to be Disclosed at CES

Hey, guess what? We're going to get another tablet at CES in January. No huge surprise there--we're anticipating an utter deluge of the devices at the show. Motorola is seemingly attempting to undercut some of those last minute iPad/Samsung Galaxy Christmas purchase with a little teaser of its own announcement.
The company used its @MotoMobile Twitter page to kick off speculation, tweeting, "Might want to hold off on that tablet purchase until 2011." The page linked to a tongue-in-cheek CGI tour of the "evolution of tablets," including such detours as the Rosetta Stone ("Good graphics, but weight makes for difficult portability") and the Ten Commandments ("Excellent durability, but zero flexibility").

The company also used the occasion to take potshots at the competition, the iPad ("It's like a giant iPhone, but...it's like a giant iPhone") and the Samsung Galaxy Tab ("Android OS, but Android OS...for a phone"). The video finishes on a shot of what we're led to assume is the shrouded unannounced Motorola tablet.

Not a lot of info here, but between the Samsung comment and the fact that Motorola has had some recent success with Android, as of late, we can probably assume that the thing will run Google's mobile--the tablet version. The goofy little animated bee also hints at the use of the Android "Honeycomb" build. As for a name? The Motorola Evolution, perhaps?