iPhone 4 faces stiff competition - Off Duty, Technology - Navy Times

iPhone 4 faces stiff competition

Apple’s iPhone and phones running Google’s Android operating system dominate the touch-screen smart phone market. They’re your best bet. A look at the hottest new touch-screen smart phones:

iPhone 4

The most striking feature of the iPhone 4 is its design. The front and back panels are made of aluminosilicate glass also used in the windshields of high-speed trains and helicopters. The panels are joined by strips of stainless steel that function as the antenna. At about one-third of an inch thick, it’s the thinnest smart phone available.

The camera features a 5-megapixel back-illuminated sensor. You’ll take better photos in low light. And the LED flash works both for photos and videos. A second, front-facing camera allows video chats with other iPhone 4 owners over Wi-Fi.

The iPhone features 720p high-definition recording at 30 frames per second, and videos can be edited on the phone. The 3.5-inch retina display offers an astounding 960-by-640-pixel resolution.

Talk time is seven hours, and standby time is 300 hours. On the downside, the iPhone doesn’t support Adobe’s Flash. This means not all Web pages will display properly, and you won’t be able to see as many online videos.

Available in black or white, it comes with either 16 gigabytes of memory for $199 or 32GB for $299. Apple will continue to sell the 8GB version of the iPhone 3GS for $99. To check your upgrade eligibility, dial •639# from your current iPhone.

HTC Evo 4G

This Android phone is the first phone to use 4G, and it’s flying off the shelves. This technology promises faster data speeds, but Sprint’s 4G service is only available in a handful of cities. The Evo supports up to 32GB of storage via a microSD slot; an 8GB card is included.

The Evo ($200) offers a 4.3-inch display with 800x480 resolution. There’s an 8-megapixel camera on the rear with dual LED flashes. A front-facing camera can be used for video calls. The rear camera records 720p video at 25 frames per second. You may notice some choppiness in your videos. A micro-HDMI port connects the Evo to your television.

One of the Evo’s cooler tricks is its hot spot feature. Sprint says up to eight gadgets can connect via Wi-Fi. The phone also supports Sprint TV. You can watch live broadcasts and other programming from NBC, ABC, ESPN and Disney.

HTC Droid Incredible

This high-end phone ($200) runs Android. It features 8GB of internal storage. You can add up to 16GB of additional storage with a microSD card.

The Incredible has a brilliant 800x480 OrganicLED screen. This type of screen offers better, brighter colors than other screens. However, it can be a problem outdoors in bright sunlight. An optical joystick button is placed on the front of the phone to help you position the cursor precisely.

The 8-megapixel camera is one of the Incredible’s more attractive features. It has autofocus and dual LED flashes. Unlike other phone cameras, you have a fair amount of control over settings. It will record video, but only in standard definition. Also, with special wired headphones, you can pick up FM radio stations. Ë

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Komando writes for Gannett and hosts the nation’s largest talk radio show about computers and the Internet. To get the podcast or find the station nearest you, visit www.komando.com/listen.