Motorola DROID – Verizon Network

Motorola Droid

If the name DROID sounds familiar, it may be a reminiscence of the Google Android phone that was released in 2007.  Of course, since then, Google has made improvements to the Android OS (Operating System) dubbed Android 2.0 Eclair (earlier versions are the 1.6 Donut & 1.5 Cupcake; both delicious) and is driving the Motorola DROID with  improved Google Maps, Microsoft Exchange support, built in flash and digital zoom (for the 5 Mpx camera) just to name some features.

Aside from what is inside the DROID, my excitement over this device begins with the asthetics and design.  The capacitive touchscreen screen spans nearly the entire length of the phone at 3.7 inches and  is viewable vertically or horizontally enabling you to tippity tap the on screen keyboard to your liking. However, I don’t like on-screen keyboards.  I prefer the feeling of pressing buttons and because my thumbs aren’t transparent, I need to feel what buttons i’m touching, so if you’re like me,  the Motorola DROID has a slide out keyboard.

The slide out keys can come in handy if you’re a Facebook user, since the DROID also offers contact syncing from your Facebook account.  With the Motorola DROID, you can choose to have your Facebook contacts sync to your handset and can even bet set to sync certain lists so you don’t get contacts that you don’t want.  Last but no least, and perhaps the biggest selling point of all, is the free turn by turn GPS navigation offered by Google Maps. No more paying for GPS service as it comes bundled into your DROID, so that means less gadgets to have to deal with at once (though we at Justgeekstuff.com never can have too many gadgets). Other features include  video capture.

Palm Pre – Sprint Network

Palm Pre

The Palm Pre is surely a unique and rare kind of creature, based on Linux, and it runs a one-of-a-kind WebOS (Operating System) that possesses an intriguing user interface.  If you have an iPhone, or know someone who has an iPhone, then you’ll notice that you can only run one app at a time.  The Palm Pre has taken advantage of Apple’s downfall utilizing true multitasking with the use of a “cards” system.

The cards represent containers for your apps, and you can run many “cards”  including a web browser,  IM sessions, email accounts, and music players all simultaneously.  The “card” order can even be re-arranged by dragging them around with your finger and can be flipped through with a swipe of your finger.  The Palm Pre, also a social networking smartphone, also offers contact syncing from your AIM, Gmail, Facebook and other social profiles you use the device for. **However unlike the DROID, the Pre has been reported to sync ALL your contacts from your profiles, whether you truly know them or not.  You can’t specify which friends will end up on your Palm Pre.

As far as aesthetics of the Palm Pre, you may already know that it features a slide out keyboard.  If you are used to using a Blackberry or previous Palm devices, then you will be comfortable using the vertical narrow keyboard style the Pre has.  Others that use horizontal keyboards will have to get used to this format. Just above the keyboard is a little strip of touch sensitive area separate from the screen that’s called the gesture area.  The gesture area is new kind of function that allows you to manipulate the interface as sort of a short cut. I’ll link a video below as it’s a little harder to explain in words than just to see it in action.  But before that, the last feature that’s very impressive about the Palm Pre is the digital camera.

The Palm Pre’s WebOS has a backloading function which will allow you to snap pictures, with a 3.5 Mpx camera, while processing the previous the image in the background.  So no more waiting for shutter lag and more picture taking with the Palm Pre. The Palm Pre does not feature video capture but has been confirmed my development that to be added later.

Motorola Cliq – T Mobile

Motorola Cliq

For those that use T Mobile and are interested in a touchscreen phone, the Motorola Cliq is the essential social networking handset.  Although Motorola Cliq is running the early Android OS 1.5 Cupcake, the interface has been a bit tweaked by Motorola dubbed MotoBlur.  Blur gets its name from blurring the lines between email, text and IM messaging, and social networks including Twitter, MySpace, and Facebook.  Motorola Cliq consolidates it all onto the phones desktop where you can enjoy seeing all your friend’s tweets and status updates without ever having to load an app.

The Motorola Cliq runs off the Google Android OS, so this smartphone will include Google Search, Google Maps, and Picasa photosharing.  Taking photos and sending them straight to your facebook, myspace or twitter is a snap with the Blur interface and 5 Mpx camera, and Cliq is also built with a slide out keyboard for fast tweets and messaging. Other features for the Cliq are, WIFI 802.11 G/B enabled, Bluetooth capable, and support multiple IM and email services, so there’s nothing you will miss with this sweet little smartphone.

Wrap-up

So there you have it, one touchscreen phone for 3 different networks, all with their own unique selling points.  The DROID with the latest in Google Android OS, the new species we know as Palm Pre, and the Motorola’s successful experiment the Motorola CLiq.  Now we can all stay connected without having to connect ourselves to a laptop or worse, a desktop.  I made sure each phone on this article offers the total package, so no one will be left out, but if you got one better let me know if the comments.  And for those that are fans of the iPhone, I didn’t include that one because we all know the iPhone is super duper and frankly, the iPhone has only set the bar for it’s competition to make

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