A Review of Handheld Devices: PDA's, Smart Phones, Cellphones

One needs to have some source of entertainment on the move. And what if that same device can store all your important data, organize your daily schedule and allow you to make calls. That's the concept behind a handheld device which is more of a fashion accessory these days.

PDAs are handheld computers used as personal organizers but they have become highly complicated lately. PDAs can be used for calculations, calendar, video games, storing notes, checking and sending e-mails, video recording and other advanced functions like GPS. The latest PDAs have color screens and also can be used for making calls and as media players.
The video game industry has come a long way since the good old days of Tetris and Mario. The latest handheld gaming devices like the Sony PSP have games which have advanced 3D graphics and amazing sound quality. Moreover, it can play the AAC, WAV and MP3 audio formats and MPEG-4 and AVC video formats with reasonable quality.

Latest versions of the PSP also have a camera for taking pictures and video recording. The closest competitor to the PSP is Nintendo's Gameboy which doesn't offer high level features like the PSP but is suitable for low end gamers.

Mobile phones are an absolute must these days. There are not only required for communicating but also for other purposes like storing data, music, for radio and storing contacts. Along with the features what matters a lot is the look of the phone. A very expensive phone laden with amazing features but with poor design and body won't be as appealing to the eye as a cheaper but attractive looking phone.

Moreover cellphones, the latest fad is smartphones mostly in the corporate circles. So what is the smartphone? A smartphone is a relatively large-screen, data-centric, handheld device designed for normal phone functions whilst simultaneously functioning as a PDA.

In simple terms, a cellphone can allow you access your e-mail but a smartphone can synchronize it with your PC and your calendar. The best part of using a smartphone is that it is programmable. So one can easily add or remove applications due to its open operating system.

But the biggest disadvantage of a smartphone is that it is prone to malware like viruses and worms unlike mobile phones. Other cons include the high cost of media messages and 3G technology and the security risk of losing sensitive information and databases by carrying them on a phone everywhere.

Phones are getting smarter by the day and it's only a matter of time before all phones have the same high level of functionality as that of the smartphones.

Looking at the numbers of handheld devices most people carry, handphone, mp3 player, psp, thumbdrive and many others to come, you are actually waiting for that someone to combine everything into a single powerful device. This would help to save some weigh, pocket space and money.