Electronics: 
Revolutionary electronic-paper display provides a sharp, high-resolution screen that looks and reads like real paper., Simple to use: no computer, no cables, no syncing., Wireless connectivity enables you to find, buy, and read instantly—whether you’re in the back of a taxi, at the airport, or in bed., Shop the Kindle Store directly from your Kindle., Buy a book and it is auto-delivered wirelessly in less than one minute.

Company: Amazon 

List Price: $399.00
Amazon Price: $399.00

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These days, it seems that wireless Bluetooth headsets are a dime a dozen, but Aliph’s Jawbone stands apart from the pack not only due to its unique looks but also thanks to some seriously amazing noise canceling technology. Originally developed for DARPA (The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) to create a communication headset that would pick up voice in hostile environments, the Jawbone offers some of the best clarity from a Bluetooth headset we’ve experienced. This version comes in red, but it’s also available in black and gray.

Sophisticated modern industrial style meets the next step in audio technology with the Jawbone Bluetooth headset.

It can be worn on either ear, and you can customize your fit by choosing from one of the included earloops and earbuds.

The first thing you notice about this headset is its rather chunky size and cheese grater-like texturing on the exterior. Designed by Yves Behar, an award-winning industrial designer who also contributed to the design of the OLPC (One Laptop Per Child, aka the $100 Laptop), the Jawbone certainly has that iconic modern look that will be copied for years to come. It’s also a bit large on the face (due to the embedded technology and speech sensor), which reminded us of Lando Calrissian’s assistant, Lobot. But then there’s no easy way to disguise a Bluetooth headset, and it’s probably an advantage as passersby won’t think you’re just muttering crazily to yourself.

The Jawbone can be worn on either ear, and it comes with four earloops of varying sizes to fit your lobe. Made of solid metal with a rubber cover, they’re fairly comfortable around the ear. The trick, however, is getting it on over the ear, and this is the Jawbone’s biggest disappointment. Because it’s so stiff, you literally have to use both hands to try to slip it on over your ear. And since we don’t wear our headset constantly, we missed a few calls while performing this dance. Also, the metal frame does bend (as we found after carrying it in our pocket), which can be viewed as an annoyance or as a feature–enabling you to form-fit the frame to your ear. It also comes with five ear pads of varying shapes and sizes, and we tried one of the teardrop shaped pads to secure the Jawbone inside our ear sans metal frame–it was comfortable and worked for awhile, but isn’t a solution if you’re moving around a lot.

As with Steve Jobs, Behar is not a fan of protruding buttons. Thus, the Jawbone’s two controls are hidden within the headset, requiring you to press either the front or back of the unit to answer calls, adjust volume, or turn on/off the noise cancellation function. While we’ve read some reviews that complained about these hidden controls, we had no problem in accessing them and appreciated their tactile response. The Jawbone also comes with a custom-fit recharging cable that can either plug into a PC’s USB port or into the included wall jack. We enjoyed the flexibility of the USB charging, but wished the cable could have been a more standard USB mini-jack (for those times when you forget to bring the cable along).

But the true test of the Jawbone is how its “noise shield” performed. First, a little about this technology. The Jawbone has a small piece of rubbery plastic that protrudes from the bulbous microphone and sits flush against your face, and this sensor tells the Jawbone whether or not you’re speaking and can remove background noise from your ongoing speech signal. It can also dynamically adjust the volume of the incoming audio from your call.

We tried the Jawbone in a number of different situations, and for the most part it worked flawlessly. Sitting at our desk with the stereo volume cranked up while playing The Chemical Brothers, our call partner was none the wiser. She didn’t hear any of the music coming through, and our voice came through strong on her end. While standing on a street corner, the undulations of traffic noise never made it through to our caller, while we noticed an uptick in volume with an increase in traffic noise.

However, the Jawbone wasn’t perfect, as it doesn’t do a great job in windy situations. Still, for the good majority of situations you’ll find yourself in–from busy airports to talk-heavy coffeehouses to traffic-laden city streets–the Jawbone should perform very well, masking the surroundings to improve fidelity for you call partner as well adapting your ear volume to the surrounding environment. We just wish the ear frame was a bit more flexible.

Pros:

• Amazing background noise masking capabilities–even when faced with loud, thumping music
• Outstanding adaptive volume as the environment around you changes
• Options for customizing the fit

Cons:

• Metal earloop frames are hard to quickly put on
• Non-standard USB connection is a bummer if you forget the cable at home

Wireless Phone Accessory: 
Advanced, military-grade noise-canceling system continuously adapts adapts to your environment, Award-winning modern industrial design by Yves Behar, Can be worn on either ear; includes four earloops and five earbuds for custom fit, Charges via proprietary USB cable, Jawbone’s ergonomic design enhances the acoustic performance and keeps the device lightweight, stable and comfortable

Company:  

List Price: $149.99
Amazon Price: $69.00

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Wireless Phone: 
This slim phone packs advanced functionality into an ultra-desirable package, with premium metal finishes, a precision cut keypad and a svelte form measuring barely half an inch thick, The MOTORAZR V3xx is a secret mobile weapon in the digital world - keeping users connected while on the go. With HSDPA and EDGE technology, the MOTORAZR V3xx delivers broadband-like speeds for downloading, Effortlessly download the latest music videos, catch up on news or check out a favorite television show via live streaming content, Create personalized content in low or high resolution via the MOTORAZR V3xx’s offering of a VGA camera and a powerful 1.3 megapixel digital camera, Includes: Battery, Charger, User’s Manual and Quick Start Guide

Company: Motorola 

(2007-04-10)

List Price: $299.99
Amazon Price: $0.01

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Slide into high style and lightning fast multimedia with the power-packed Motorola RIZR Z9 in fashionable metallic red. The next step in the evolution of its RIZR line of slider-style phones, the MOTO Z9 offers super-fast downloads and multimedia streaming via AT&T’s 3G WCDMA network, which makes it easy to download music purchased from AT&T Mobile Music, stream tunes from Napster and eMusic, and watch video streamed from CNN and Comedy Central via AT&T’s Cellular Video. It also supports AT&T’s Video Share service, which offers a one-way video stream during a mobile-to-mobile phone call. And you’ll be able to get to where you’re going fast with the integrated Assisted GPS (A-GPS) receiver and support for AT&T Navigator software and service.

A sibling to Motorola’s RAZR 2 V9 phone, the MOTO Z9 shares many of its features, including a sleek stainless steel body, CrystalTalk noise reduction technology, 1.3-megapixel camera (with video capture capabilities), Bluetooth connectivity for streaming music and photo printing, MicroSD memory card expansion (up to 8 GB), access to your personal email and instant messenger services, digital audio player, and full duplex speakerphone.

The sleek MOTO Z9 effortlessly slides open.

AT&T Service
This AT&T phone can handle high-speed data connectivity via AT&T’s 3G mobile broadband data network, which is available in most major metropolitan areas. This dual-band 3G phone–WCDMA 850/1900 MHz–makes it possible to enjoy a variety of feature-rich wireless multimedia services with speeds up to 3.6 Mbps. It also gives you the advantage of accessing voice and data services at the same time.

With 3G connectivity, you’ll be able to access AT&T’s Video Share service, which enables you to send a live, one-way video stream to another compatible phone during a standard voice call. The service also allows you to switch the direction of the video stream during the same phone call. (Customers must be in an area served by the company’s 3G network and have a Video Share-enabled phone.)

In areas where the 3G network is not available, you’ll continue to receive service on the AT&T EDGE network, which offers availability in more than 13,000 US cities and along some 40,000 miles of major highways. Providing average data speeds between 75-135Kbps, it’s fast enough to support a wide range of advanced data services, including full picture and video messaging, high-speed color Internet access, and email on the go.

With 3G connectivity, you’ll be able to access AT&T’s Cellular Video (CV) service and the Internet while on the go. Cellular Video features content from CNN, The Weather Channel, iFilm, Comedy Central and exclusive premium content from HBO and much more. It also features AT&T Mobile Music, which provides access to the Napster and eMusic subscription music services. You can also access streaming radio for a complete mobile music experience. (A MEdia Max subscription bundle is recommended for accessing AT&T’s Internet, video, and music services.)

With its quad-band connectivity, this phone communicates over GSM/GPRS networks and AT&T offers voice roaming in more than 190 countries and data roaming in more than 130 countries.

You can also take advantage of the AT&T Navigator GPS software and service, the full-featured premium navigation application that includes audible turn-by-turn directions, real-time traffic updates and re-routing options, and 3D moving maps (additional charges applicable).

Phone Features
The MOTO Z9 has a large, brightly colorful 2.4-inch screen with a 240 x 320-pixel resolution and a depth of 262K colors. With the redesigned, more intelligent interface, you’ll be able to search for contacts faster and avoid duplicate entries for the same person while allowing contacts to have multiple numbers. The customizable main menu means you’re never more than 2 to 3 clicks away from your favorite applications. And text messaging is easier, with the MOTO Z9 recognizing what type of message you are sending.

The innovative CrystalTalk technology automatically accounts for background noise during a call and adjusts the audio quality based on ambient noise conditions to provide the optimal conversational experience. CrystalTalk also reduces the volume of the background noise picked up by the microphone during a call, making it possible to be more easily heard over the phone while in a noisy environment.

The 1.3-megapixel camera includes an 8x digital zoom and it can automatically snap up to eight new pictures–letting you choose the best image from a complete series of pictures. You can even print photos wirelessly to a Bluetooth-compatible printer with just a few menu selections. It also features a self-timer, free memory space indicator, color effects, night mode for low-light shots, and five shutter sounds (with a silent mode).

The MOTO Z9 is also an impressive video camcorder, providing up to QCIF resolution (176 x 144 pixels). It also gives you the option of choosing the video format, which offers different frame rates–25 fps for MPEG and H263 and 15 fps for WMV and Real. You can record video for as long as you have available space on your MicroSD/MicroSDHC memory card (which offers compatibility with cards up to 8 GB).

This phone provides Bluetooth version 2.0 wireless connectivity, and includes profiles for communication headset, handsfree car kits, and photo printing. With the A2DP Bluetooth profile, you can stream your music to a pair of compatible Bluetooth stereo headphones. You can connect your laptop (either via Bluetooth or wired USB) and enjoy dial-up networking–surf the Internet, send email, and access files from a server.

In addition to voice calls, text messaging, and MMS capability, the phone is also compatible with mobile email (POP/IMAP/SMTP) as well as instant messaging (IM) from AIM, Windows Live, and Yahoo!. The embedded iTap predictive text entry technology makes it easier for entering text on handsets–a plus for mobile email and text messaging users. Other features include:

• 45 MB internal memory
• Support for caller groups, multiple numbers per contact, photo ID, and ringer ID
• Polyphonic and MP3 ringtones with vibrate silent mode
• Music format support: MP3, AAC, and WMA (as well as protected WMA-DRM)
• PIM functions including calendar, calculator, alarm clock, and world clock
• USB 2.0 wired connectivity, with mass storage capability
• Bluetooth profiles: A2DP (stereo music streaming), AVRC (remote control), HFP (hands-free car kits), HSP (communication headsets), BIP (for sending images to another device), BPP (basic printing profile for text, email), DUN (dial-up networking), FTP (file transfer), OPP (object push for business cards, calendar items, and pictures)

Vital Statistics
The Motorola RIZR Z9 weighs 4.9 ounces and measures 4.48 x 2.11 x 0.55 inches. Its 950 mAh lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 4 hours of talk time, and up to 13 das of digital standby time. It runs on the 850/900/1800/1900 GSM/GPRS/EDGE frequencies as well as the 850/1900 MHz 3G WCDMA frequencies.

Wireless Phone: 
Sleek metallic slider phone with bright 2.4-inch LCD and dual-band 3G network compatibility, AT&T Music downloads and Cellular Video streaming content; real-time video streaming with AT&T Video Share; AT&T Navigator turn-by-turn A-GPS service, MicroSD expansion (up to 8 GB); 1.3-megapixel camera with video capture; Bluetooth for headsets and stereo music streaming, Up to 4 hours of talk time, up to 13 days of standby time; measures 4.48 x 2.11 x 0.55 inches (HxWxD), Includes: Handset, Battery, Charger, User Manual, AT&T Navigator, Parental Controls Insert

Company: Motorola 

(2008-03-03)

List Price: $299.99
Amazon Price: $99.99

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Add a colorful accent to your mobile gear with the fashionable style and clear communication of the Plantronics Discovery 925 Bluetooth headset. Offering simple-to-use functionality and customizable comfort, the Discovery 925 stands out with a silver diamond earpiece that, when in use, is accented with a subtle splash of color in its interior. The microphone extends along the side of your face with an open design, avoiding the bulky look of some Bluetooth headsets. Ultra-lightweight at just 8 grams (0.3 ounces), it can be worn in either ear and it comes with three earpieces for a range of fit.

Fashionably styled and ultra-lightweight at just 8 grams.

The Discovery 925 utilizes Plantronics’ AudioIQ digital signal processing (DSP) technology for automatic noise control. For incoming calls, AudioIQ automatically adapts to background noise levels–from a quiet taxi to a noisy city street–and intelligently improves the receive quality, clarity and volume level. For outgoing calls, AudioIQ reduces background noise for listeners up to 7-8 decibels, or by approximately 50 percent. It also minimizes interference from artifacts such as speech distortions to maintain exceptionally clear voice intelligibility.

The carrying case includes a rechargeable NiMH battery for keeping the headset charged.

It also includes multipoint technology, which allows you to effortlessly switch between calls on two Bluetooth devices–great for multitaskers. (This feature can be turned off to extend battery life.) The Discovery 925 is embedded with Bluetooth version 2.0+EDR (Enhanced Data Rate) for faster, more stable transmission, and it includes profiles for headset (connecting directly with a communication device) and hands-free (connecting to a car’s hands-free kit). Controls include volume, call answer/end, voice activated dialing, and last number redial.

The headset’s earpiece itself has a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which is supplemented by a NiMH rechargeable battery in the included carry case. The Discovery 925 provides up to 5 hours of talk time and 5 days of standby time on a single charge.

Design Philosophy
The Plantronics Design team treats the human form as a canvas from which to begin the inspiration process. The team’s expertise in human behavior and anatomy, ergonomics, color, proportion and complex surface development converge in the design of advanced products that look beautiful and become extensions of the body. By marrying the intricacies of sound innovation with the intimacy of personal fashion and comfort, Plantronics Design enables people to express their style preferences and individuality through headsets.

What’s in the Box
Plantronics Discovery 925 headset, AC charger, micro USB cable, carrying case with rechargeable battery, three earipieces

Wireless Phone Accessory: 
Ultra-lightweight Bluetooth headset (weighs 8 grams) with stylish, colorful accents, AudioIQ technology for automatic noise control for clear calls, Multipoint technology allows you to effortlessly switch between calls on two Bluetooth devices, Bluetooth version 2.0+EDR with connectivity for phones and hands-free car kits, Up to 5 hours talk time and 5 days standby time; carrying case comes with rechargeable battery for powering headset

Company: Plantronics 

List Price: $149.95
Amazon Price: $129.99

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The SanDisk Extreme III 4GB SDHC memory card offers speed, performance and reliability to ensure you get your photos every time. A 4GB memory card can store more than 2,000 high-resolution pictures or up to 8 hours of MPEG 4 video. As an added bonus, the card is packaged with a bonus SanDisk MicroMate so that users have a one-stop shop solution for capturing, storing and transferring their images.

Electronics: 
One of the fastest, most rugged and most durable memory cards on the market, Includes SanDisk’s MicroMate USB 2.0 Reader/Writer (SD/SDHC compatible), Minimum 20 MBps sequential read and write speed, Built to work under extreme conditions, including extreme temperatures and high altitudes, RescuePRO recovers images, documents, mail, video, music and other digital files

Company: SanDisk 

List Price: $85.80
Amazon Price: Too low to display

Used Price: $31.95

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The Garmin nüvi 360 GPS Navigator and Personal Travel Assistant is a GPS navigator, personal translator, multi-media entertainer and tour guide all wrapped into one. In addition to all the advanced features of the Garmin nüvi 350 — including automatic routing, turn-by-turn voice directions, an MP3 player and audio book player, JPEG picture viewer, and much more — this pocket-sized personal travel assistant comes with hands-free Bluetooth wireless technology, making it the hands-down go-anywhere travel companion.

Which nüvi is Best for You?: Click here to see a quick, simple comparison of features for all Garmin nuvi GPS navigators

The nüvi 360 comes with hands-free bluetooth wireles technology. See side view.

Browse your stored pictures with an easy-to-use JPEG viewer.

The device sports a handy MP3 player, letting you play songs stored on SD memory cards.

Make Hands-Free Calls
The nüvi 360 integrates wireless technology with a microphone and speaker that lets you make hands-free mobile phone calls using your compatible Bluetooth-enabled phone. Simply dial numbers with the nüvi’s touch screen keypad to place a call, and to answer calls, just tap the screen and speak directly into its built-in microphone.

In addition, you can easily look-up and dial numbers from your personalized phone book or from your phone’s call history log. Don’t know the phone number for your destination? Simply find and dial it from nüvi’s database of more than six million points of interest — including hotels, restaurants, stores, and attractions.

Navigation and Entertainment with Ease
For starters, the nüvi 360 includes a high-sensitivity integrated GPS receiver that offers exceptional performance and reception. The unit’s flip-up antenna includes an MCX-type connector for optional external GPS antenna connection. Preloaded software features maps of Europe or North America, and it includes automatic routing, 2D or 3D map perspective, turn-by-turn voice directions that speak street names, and a fingertip touch screen interface — making navigation as easy as it gets.

But navigation is just the beginning. Like the nüvi 350, the nüvi 360 also includes many entertainment and travel tools including an MP3 player, audio book player, JPEG picture viewer, travel alarm, and currency converters.

The nüvi 360 features a bright, 2.8 x 2.1-inch TFT display with white backlight for easy readability. At 3.87 x 2.91 x 0.87-inches (WxHxD) and just 5.1 ounces, the unit is small enough to be placed on the dashboard with the included suction mount, or into your pocket for easy transportability. The unit also features Garmin Lock — an advanced anti-theft feature that disables the unit from performing any functions until you type in a specific four-digit PIN or take the unit to a predetermined location. A built-in lithium ion battery will give you up to eight hours of power, and an included 12/24 volt adapter cable will let you run the navigator off your vehicle’s power. An AC battery charger is also included.

A built-in Travel Kit that includes sample MP3s and audio books will get you started with entertainment, and with the unit’s SD memory card expansion slot you can add optional software, such as language and travel guides. A USB port is also included for loading and updating data.

What’s in the Box
Gamin nüvi 360, Preloaded City Navigator NT North America or Europe (full coverage), vehicle suction cup mount, AC charger, 12/24 volt adapter cable, dashboard disk, USB interface cable, carrying case, owner’s manual, and quick reference guide.

Which nüvi is Best for You?

Screen Size inches (w x h)

Included Maps

POIs

Directions in Real Street Names

Traffic

Bluetooth

Media

FM Transmitter (audio through car stereo system)

Multi- Point Routing

Cont. U.S., Hawaii, and Puerto Rico

AK and Canada

Europe

capable

included

nüvi 200

2.8 x 2.1

6 million +

Photos

nüvi 200w

3.81 x 2.25

6 million +

Photos

nüvi 250

2.8 x 2.1

6 million +

Photos

nüvi 250w

3.81 x 2.25

6 million +

Photos

nüvi 260

2.8 x 2.1

6 million +

Photos

nüvi 270

2.8 x 2.1

6 million +

Photos

nüvi 350

2.8 x 2.1

6 million +

Photos, MP3s

nüvi 360

2.8 x 2.1

6 million +

Photos, MP3s

nüvi 370

2.8 x 2.1

6 million +

Photos, MP3s

nüvi 650

3.81 x 2.25

6 million +

Photos, MP3s

nüvi 660

3.81 x 2.25

6 million +

Photos, MP3s

nüvi 670

3.81 x 2.25

6 million +

Photos, MP3s

nüvi 680

3.81 x 2.25

6 million +

Photos, MP3s

nüvi 750

3.81 x 2.25

6 million +

Photos, MP3s

nüvi 760

3.81 x 2.25

6 million +

Photos, MP3s

nüvi 770

3.81 x 2.25

6 million +

Photos, MP3s

Electronics: 
Bluetooth wireless technology, built-in microphone, and speaker for hands-free calls with compatible phones, MP3 player with pre-loaded sample songs and audio books, JPEG picture viewer, travel alarm, and currency converters, 2D or 3D views; pre-loaded with most recent Navteq-driven maps for United States, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and Canada, Turn-by-turn directions with actual street names; real-time traffic and weather info, Super-bright 2.8 x 2.1-inch sunlight-readable color screen

Company: Garmin 

List Price: $964.99
Amazon Price: Too low to display

Used Price: $210.00

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When it comes to mobile communication, Bluetooth is the wireless way to go. When it comes to featherlight comfort and widescale functionality, Samsung headsets are front runners. Samsung’s WEP200 Bluetooth headset is soft as a sigh, light as an undertone, slim as a murmur and as mobile as you are. The Samsung WEP200 bring Bluetooth to your ear as none other. Talk for hours with the ergonomically stylish design. Wear the Samsung WEP200 Bluetooth headset and keep communicating. It is compatible with Samsung and other non-Samsung Bluetooth enabled phones. It’s here for you! Voice Dialing capable Call waiting capable Volume up/down control

Wireless Phone Accessory: 
Up to 4 Hours Talk Time, Up to 70 Hours Standby Time, Weighs only 9 grams, Smallest and lightest headset on the market today, Headset controls for last number redial, call hold, and call rejection

Company: Samsung 

List Price: $49.99
Amazon Price: $22.45

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Motorola H700 Bluetooth Headset - Utilizing Bluetooth technology, this headset earpiece lets you carry on crisp and clear cell phone conversations without the need of wires. It has an impressive range of 30 feet, so you can chat on your phone without ever taking it out of your bag or pocket! The Motorola H700 is the premium choice for those who are serious about wireless connectivity, offering up to six hours of talk time, 200 hours standby time and charge time of less than one hour. Designed with your cellular-phone calls in mind, the headset features Bluetooth 1.2 wireless technology for better call quality, faster connections and less interference. Designed for enhanced comfort while delivering a 30% reduction in size and weight from its predecessor, the super compact Motorola H700 delivers unbeatable comfort with an ergonomic ear hook that can be worn on either ear. A blue light lets others know when you’re on a call. The light changes colors to let you know when the headset is in pairing mode, charging or running low on battery power. When used with a compatible cell-phone, the H700 offers superior performance to enhance your personal and professional communication needs. Up to 6 hours talk time or up to 200 hours standby time per charge Multi-function button to control 3-way calling, call start and end, hold and mute Advanced Volume controls - orientation technology to assure that volume controls will always be upright and volume adjustment form the headset Bluetooth Class 2 for wireless connection up to 10 meters (30 feet); Bluetooth 1.2 support for quicker pairing, fewer dropped calls and reduced interference Compatible with Bluetooth 1.2- or 1.1-enabled mobile phones, PDAs, PCs, printers and more that support headset and hands-free profiles Status LED light that can be turned off or on depending on user preference

Wireless Phone Accessory: 
Comes with Motorola Bluetooth H700 headset; Travel Charger; User Manual; Quick Start Guide, Experience pure sound and impressive call clarity from this compact headset with advanced noise reduction. RapidConnect powers it on or off, Compact, small and lightweight design is approximately 30% smaller than its predecessor, Award Winning PowerFlip foldable microphone design with ergonomic reversible ear hook, Cutting-edge noise reduction and echo cancellation technologies

Company: Motorola 

List Price: $99.99
Amazon Price: $27.99

Used Price: $44.35

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Life starts after five o’clock. Not coincidentally, that’s also when the Palm Centro smartphone comes alive. Not only does the Palm Centro handle all your favorite voice functions, but it also offers text, IM, e-mail, and web access, all in a body that’s a lot smaller than you’d think. Add in such features as a 1.3-megapixel camera, 64 MB of internal memory, Bluetooth 1.2 support, a microSD expansion slot, and a full QWERTY keyboard and you have a terrific smartphone for all your messaging and personal needs. In short, there’s no better way to stay in touch.

The Palm Centro’s full QWERTY keyboard makes it easy to type text messages, IMs, and e-mails (the red version is pictured).

Design
The Palm Centro boasts a sleek black housing that measures a mere 2.11 by 4.22 by 0.73 inches (W x H x D) and weighs 4.2 ounces. It’s notably smaller than many competing smartphones, yet doesn’t sacrifice functionality at any point along the way. Users will also love the 320 x 320 touchscreen (up to 65,000 colors), which offers a crisp resolution for photos and videos. And thanks to the full QWERTY keyboard, you can say L8R to those tricky keys on your old cell phone.

Phone and Messaging Functions
The Palm Centro smartphones offers a ton of ways to stay in touch with friends, whether you’re calling Brian, firing off a quick text to Jen, instant messaging Chris, or shooting an e-mail to Kat. From a phone perspective, the Palm Centro lets you dial people right from your address book, set up three-way calls from the touch of a button, or use the speakerphone to talk hands-free. The keyboard, meanwhile, makes it a breeze to type complete messages whether you’re sending text, pictures, or even audio or video clips. Plus, the Centro keeps all your messages in a chat-style view, so it’s easy to keep track of the conversation.

The 320 x 320 color touchscreen is crisp and vivid, making it ideal for viewing photos or watching videos.

Want to keep up with all the latest gossip when you’re away from the computer? Turn to the Centro’s instant messaging functions, which support all your buddy lists on AIM, MSN, Yahoo, and others. Similarly, the Centro lets you access your personal e-mail accounts, such as Gmail, AOL, and Yahoo. As a result, you can reply to invites and answer e-mails when you’re out and about.

Web Functions
Whether you’re keeping up with friends on MySpace or looking up directions to the new bistro across town, the Centro’s touchscreen and keyboard make it fun to navigate around the web. The Centro includes a fast built-in web browser that lets you check out photos on Flickr or watch videos on YouTube, with broadband-like speeds on the EV-DO network that are guaranteed to impress. No more waiting around for your favorite sites to load. The Centro is also compatible with Google Maps, making it simple to get directions or see which freeways are clear and which ones are parking lots. Google Maps shows you red, yellow, or green traffic routes in real time.

Organizer Functions
The Palm Centro includes a complete organizer for keeping track of all your daily, weekly, and monthly responsibilities. The contacts list gathers all your friends’ phone numbers, addresses, and more, while the calendar keeps you from missing upcoming meetings, events, and parties. You can even enter a friend’s birthday in the contacts list and will automatically show up in your calendar. As with the best organizers, the Centro also offers a to-do list that lets you check off items when they’re complete. As a result, it’s easy to keep track of what you did and still need to do. And should you come across a tidbit that doesn’t have a logical home, simply turn to the memo function, which lets you store random information such as hot spots in Vegas or the names of movies you’d like to rent. Say goodbye to carrying around crumpled scraps of paper in your pocket or purse. Finally, it’s possible to save a copy of all those names, numbers, appointments, photos, and videos on your computer thanks to the sync function.

Multimedia
Whether you want to take pictures, play videos, or listen to music, the Palm Centro has got you covered. The 1.3-megapixel digital camera (with a 2x digital zoom) lets you shoot pictures and send them to friends, store digital albums, or shoot videos. The built-in MP3 player, meanwhile, lets you take your tunes everywhere you go. With 64 MB of storage, there’s plenty of room for your playlists, plus you can add up to 4 GB more with a microSD card. And thanks to Pocket Tunes Deluxe, you can play the songs you downloaded from places like Rhapsody or Yahoo. As a bonus, the Centro supports a ton of fun stuff from Sprint, including the ability to watch such TV channels as CNN Mobile, Fox Sports, the Weather Channel, the Disney Channel, and E! Entertainment. There’s never a dull moment with the Palm Centro around.

Other phone details include a removable lithium-ion battery that offers 3.5 hours of talk time and up to 300 hours of standby time; a Palm OS 5.4.9 platform; and support for Windows XP and Vista and Mac OS X 10.2 and higher.

Wireless Phone: 
Onyx black smartphone with 320 x 320 color touchscreen and 1.3-megapixel camera, Full QWERTY keyboard for messaging; offers text, e-mail, instant messaging, and web access, Comprehensive organizer functions, including contacts, to-do lists, calendar, and more, Expandable microSD slot (up to 4 GB), Includes: Battery, AC Charger, USB Sync Cable, Palm Software Installation CD and User Documentation

Company: Sprint 

(2007-10-14)

List Price: $399.99
Amazon Price: $0.01

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