Hit the Mobile Malls: Apps Shopping Centers

The capabilities of mobile devices have grown astronomically over the past couple of years. Even the most basic cell phones have features and functions that were only available for high-end devices or not available at all a short time ago. Smartphone capabilities have expanded even faster. A smartphone isn’t likely to replace your computer, but with the addition of some well-selected applications, it can provide remarkable sources of information, connectivity, and entertainment.

There are thousands of applications available for mobile devices. Finding the best ones from among the available options can be a challenge, but with a bit of information you’ll be able to zero in on just what you’re looking.

Operating System
Mobile applications are essentially software programs written to add to the functions that a mobile device can perform. One of the first things that you need to know when looking for applications is which operating system (OS) your device uses. When buying a program for a computer you just have to know if you’re buying for a PC or a Mac. There are a few more possibilities when dealing with mobile devices. The two biggest players in the smartphone game are the Apple iPhone 3G and the BlackBerry smartphones. Each uses a proprietary OS, i.e. The BlackBerry utilizes BlackBerry Handheld Software while the iPhone runs on Apple’s OS X.

The Windows Mobile OS is common among other manufacturers including Samsung, Motorola, HP, and HTC. Like the Windows OS for PCs, it doesn’t matter which company made the device as long as it’s running the Windows Mobile OS. Devices manufactured by Palm usually operate on the proprietary Palm OS, but one word of caution … there are some Palm devices that use the Windows Mobile OS.

Symbian is the most common operating system worldwide but is much less prominent in North America. It powers smartphones manufactured by numerous well-known companies including Nokia, LG, Sony Ericsson, Samsung, Motorola, and Fujitsu. The latest entry into the mobile OS arena is Android, created by search engine giant Google. The first, and so far only, smartphone using the Android OS is the T-Mobile G1 manufactured by HTC. Soon, other devices based on Android will be available with offerings from Motorola and Samsung, among others.