{"id":141,"date":"2014-05-23T23:20:56","date_gmt":"2014-05-24T03:20:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tealdragon.net\/tealdragongal\/?p=141"},"modified":"2014-05-24T00:00:05","modified_gmt":"2014-05-24T04:00:05","slug":"choosing-a-smart-phone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tealdragon.net\/tealdragongal\/2014\/05\/choosing-a-smart-phone\/","title":{"rendered":"Choosing a Smart Phone"},"content":{"rendered":"

A friend read my recent post on iPhone tips<\/a> and then asked for recommendations on how to choose a smart phone.<\/p>\n

I recommend starting with the Consumer Reports Smart Phone Buying Guide video<\/a> which gives a quick overview of smart phones.<\/p>\n

Next, HowStuffWorks.com has the article, 5 Tips for Picking the Right Smartphone<\/a>\u00a0which covers whether\u00a0you really need a smart phone, choosing a cellular network, and choosing an OS.<\/p>\n

On the topic of whether you really need a smartphone, if you decide after reading the above linked article that maybe you don’t really want the expense of a smartphone, you might consider Apple’s iPod Touch which has many of the features of an iPhone except a phone, and without the expensive two year cellular data contract. \u00a0More about the differences between the iPhone and iPod Touch in my iPhone Tips<\/a> post. \u00a0(One of the downsides to an iPod Touch is that you’ll often need to carry that in addition to a cell phone, whereas if you have a smart phone, you’ll have both in one device.)<\/p>\n

The LaptopMag.com Smartphone Buying Guide<\/a>\u00a0has some helpful comparisons of different smart phone features, including\u00a0OSs, phone cameras, battery life, cell networks, and phone size.<\/p>\n

Of course Consumer Reports<\/a> is always a great place to look for reviews and comparisons of electronics such as smart phones. \u00a0A subscription is required to view some of this information online, but you may be able to get a print copy of the magazine at your library, or get access to Consumer Reports online via your public library web site.<\/p>\n

cnet.com is a reliable source of electronics reviews such as their Best Phones<\/a>\u00a0page.<\/p>\n

As always,\u00a0Amazon.com<\/a>\u00a0is one of my favorite places to get lots of customer reviews on products such as smart phones.<\/p>\n

Features to Consider<\/h2>\n

When shopping, among other features, remember to consider<\/p>\n