The increasing demand for a mobile phone that can do a lot of things, and help its users keep up with the innovations has paved the way for the development of a smart phone. The smart phone is a high-end phone, which offers a combination of the functionalities of a mobile phone and a Personal Digital Assistant, or PDA for short. As smart phones continue to play a big part in our lives, they keep amusing their consumers. Some of the noteworthy additions to them are the Wi-Fi, GPS navigation, mobile broadband, high-resolution touch screens, portable media player and cameras.

A smart phone uses a mobile operating system (OS), which includes Microsoft Windows 7, Apple iOS, BlackBerry OS, Nokia Symbian and Google Android. These mobile OSs, use an API, or Application Programming Interface, to run third-party applications. They also offer a lot more capabilities when compared to ordinary cell phone. In fact, they also allow users to create, and even edit documents, or view them. You can also download applications, which could include both business and personal finance managers.

The emergence of 3G and 4G data networks and the inclusion of Wi-Fi support make the access of smart phones to the Web easy and fast. In terms of messaging, a smart phone has an edge over the ordinary cell phone, because it can handle e-mail, aside from sending and receiving text messages. Other smart phones allow users to access instant messaging services like Yahoo! Messenger and AIM.

Meanwhile, not all smart phones are very popular with consumers. In fact, there are only few that enjoy this increasing demand. Some of these few are listed below.

Apple iPhone 4
The size of this latest smart phone from Apple is 4.5 inches tall, 2.3 inches wide and weighs 4.8 ounces. It has a 5-megapixel camera, featuring LED flash, VGA camera, digital compass, Bluetooth, iPod player, Google Maps, assisted GPS, Safari Browser and FaceTime over Wi-Fi.

Motorola Photon 4G
This smart phone boasts Android 2.3 Gingerbread and also features a dual-core processor, dual-mode GSM/CDMA chipset and 4G WiMax speeds. The overall performance of this smart phone is admirable and this is one of the reasons why it is enjoying growing demands.

HTC Sensation 4G
This phone is supported by a 4G data network, offers an 8-megapixel camera, and the newest version of Android mobile phone operating system. Additionally, it has a dual-core CPU and is available from T-Mobile.

Samsung Droid Charge
The quality of the camera is amazing and users will surely love the Super AMOLED touch screen of this smart phone. Additionally, it offers fast connection to the internet.

Motorola Atrix 4G
This is very impressive because it looks like a computer and its performance is solid. Some of the admirable features of this smart phone include a large qHD display, 5-MP camera and a dual-core processor.

Samsung Infuse 4G
Investing in a good smart phone is common, especially among those who are into business and who prefer to carry light gadgets with them when they travel. The arrival of smart phones means that users can access their emails using these innovative phones.

Investing in a good smart phone is urged especially for those who are into business and who want to bring light gadgets with them when they travel. With the arrival of smart phones, this means that users can access their emails using these innovative phones.

You may have heard of iPhones, BlackBerrys and Android phones, and how they compete with each other in the smartphone market today. iPhone is the famous smartphone from Apple, while BlackBerry is by Research In Motion (RIM). That leaves us with the Android smartphones. Don’t be confused with this because Android is not a brand of smartphones. Actually, it is a mobile operating system (OS) and platform from Google.

Currently, Android is being used by a lot of manufacturers to make their smartphones run. As a result of the widespread adoption of this mobile OS, it became the best-selling platform across the globe in the fourth quarter of 2010, as depicted in the data released by Canalys.

The first commercially available Android phone was the HTC Dream, which was released on October 22, 2008. Google also partnered with HTC for the release of the Nexus One in 2010. Then, Samsung launched its own version of it called the Nexus S.

Presently, you will be amazed with the number of smartphones which run on Android. What more, the numbers continue to grow, so maybe, you will need help on how to properly select the right Android phone for you. So, here’s a list of Android-run smartphones that you may consider when planning to buy one:

• HTC Sensation 4G
  This smartphone offers a 4.3-inch HD display, a 1.2GHz dual-core processor and an 8-megapixel camera. When it comes to performance, the Android OS doesn’t disappoint. However, its internal memory is limited and the speakers are weak.
• Motorola Photon 4G
  This smartphone boasts Android 2.3 Gingerbread, a dual-core processor and a 4G WiMax speed. It also features DLNA support, Wi-Fi, 720p HD video capture and secure data encryption. However, it is bulky, along with its Motoblur interface, and this acts as a disadvantage to it.
• Samsung Galaxy S II
  The dual-core processor is a big plus for this smartphone, as is the large display. It also runs on Android 2.3 Gingerbread, and has a 4G capability. Despite excellent cameras, this Android phone doesn’t have a hardware camera button.
• HTC Evo 3D
  In an attempt to correct its former model, this Android Gingerbread-run smartphone features a larger battery and a dual-core 1.2GHz processor. The biggest advantage of this smartphone is that it has a glasses-free 3D display, which is capable of capturing 3D videos and pictures. Meanwhile, call quality still needs to be improved and its internal memory lacks.
• T-Mobile G2x
  With its 1GHz Nividia Tegra 2 dual-core processor, this smartphone offers excellent performance. It provides several multimedia features, but the quality of its pictures fails to impress.
• Droid Pro by Motorola
  Known as a business phone, this phone also runs in Android and can help you remain productive wherever you are.
• LG Optimus 2X
  This is the first commercially released smartphone, sporting a dual-core processor. The screen size is 4 inches wide and the internal memory is 8GB, and can handle up to 32 GB memory using microSD. The camera’s megapixel is 8, and it also a 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera which is used for video calls.

You will not run out of options when you decide to settle with an Android-run smartphone. This mobile operating system is also used in tablet computers, including Samsung Galaxy Tab. The average price for a majority of these smartphones is about $199.

Android is a mobile operating system launched by Google Inc. Currently, it is being used by several smartphones, including Samsung, Sony Ericsson and LG. According to survey results released by Nielsen, Android is the top mobile platform in the U.S. This means that users of smartphones love this OS because of the varied applications that it offers. The following are the top 30 best apps for the Android:

1. Astro File Manager
With this mobile app, your smartphone will be turned into a mini PC because you will be allowed to copy, rename and move files. Also, it enables you to send files as attachments, and even create compressed files. It has both a free version and the premium version which costs $4.

2. Thinking Space
Also called the mini-mapping application, it allows users to connect ideas and thoughts, and is best for organizing new concepts. The cost of the premium version is $4.

3. AndroZip File Manager
This application works effectively with archives, which include RAR, 7ZIPhone, BZIP2 and ZIPhone files.

4. GTasks
This free task manager is capable of being synched with the Google Tasks on your computer Desktops.

5. Handcent SMS
This application is for those who love customisable texting tools. It is free, and even includes speech bubbles which can be likened to the ones found in the iPhone.

6. Gesture Search
With this application, searching for a contact, an application, a music track or a bookmark is so easy. Moreover, it even allows you to draw letters on the touchscreen of your phones, and is absolutely free.

7. Toddler Lock
Aschildren love games, you can turn your smartphone into a game device with this free application. Colorful shapes will appear on your phone screen, which your child can play with.

8. Missed Call
Customising ringtones, vibrations and alerts for calls can now be done with this Android application.

9. Wifi Analyzer
When you have this application, you can see the signal strength of Wi-Fi and the channels that are being used.

10. AntiDroidTheft
With this Android application, you need not worry about losing your phone because it can be traced and located. It uses GPS tracking which commands your phone to shoot the image of its current location.

11. Color Flashlight
Your phone can have other functions too, and one of these is to become a flashlight that will transform into an array of hues.

12. Dolphin Browser HD
TThis is a Web browser for Android-run smartphones which makes use of plug-ins, and gesture-based navigation.

13. Skyfire
This is another Web browser which allows you to stream videos.

14. Bookmarklet
This app allows smartphone users to share Web pages using Digg, Twitter, Facebook and Delicious. It should be plugged into the Android Web browser to make it work.

15. Barcode Scanner
Using this application, you can check the prices of different products by only scanning their bar codes.

16. Digital Recipe Sidekick
Now, browsing recipes online is so much easier with the help of this application. You can even save the recipe on your SD card or email it.

17. Smart Measure
This application uses the camera in the smartphone to measure the size of objects, and the distance between the object and your smartphone.

18. ConvertMe
This application helps convert our phone into a currency converter, calculator and unit converter.

19. Spirit Level Plus
This app is very useful for taking pictures. With this, you can even see the angle of incline of pictures.

20. Listen
You can use this to look for audio feeds and then stream them. Additionally, it can be integrated with Google Reader.

21. Picasa Tool Pro
If you have lots of pictures, then this tool can help you to upload them in batches. You can manage your pictures easily, create albums, and comment on them too.

22. BeyondPod
This application is capable of integrating the music player in Android, and can manage both video and audio podcasts. The premium version costs $7.

23. Seesmic
Managing online social networks, including Twitter, Facebook and Google Buzz can be done with this simple mobile application. You can view and update your accounts, and even get notifications and messages.

24. Facebook for Android
Let’s face it, Facebook is very popular. Therefore, this Android application is in demand and very popular among smartphone users.

25. AppBrain Market Sync
Since it is impossible to install Android applications directly from the PC, this mobile application does magic by allowing users to queue Market downloads, which will be sent to the smartphone directly.

26. Foursquare
This Android application provides easy check-in’s into famous hot-spots around the world as it is integrated with Google Maps. These check-in updates are posted on your social networking accounts.

27. Google Sky Map
With this application, the orientation tools in your phone can aid you in having an accurate representation of planets and stars.

28. WordPress for Android
The latest version of this application provides integration of applications and helps spin content.

29. Google Googles
This mobile application allows smartphone users to take pictures and the Web browser to analyse them.

30. AppMonster
This is an application manager which allows you to have a backup for your applications on the SD card.