Modern smartphones are designed to offer the kind of functionality you would expect to find on a laptop computer, combined with the imaging capabilities of a digital camera and the storage capacity of a portable media device. They should allow you to find where you are and where you should be going with built-in GPS and should make it simple for you to browse, download and install software and applications that are both practical and easy to use.
Thankfully the current generation of smartphones like the Apple iPhone, the Nokia N97 and the HTC Hero all aim to do all this and more. Photography is also a big part of the smartphone standard features list, though to be honest some smartphones have underwhelming photographic capabilities at first glance. Though the iPhone 3Gs has an improved 3.2 megpixel camera, it lags behind the competition in terms of image quality and versatility. But when the iPhone and its contemporaries are coupled with decent photography applications, their functionalities and photographic potentials can be extended far beyond the original intentions of their manufacturers.
Pano App
Though some camera phones have built-in panoramic capture software, the iPhone does not. This application rectifies that by allowing you to take multiple pictures of a scene and then sit back as the app does all the work and stitches them together into a seamless panorama. Some truly breathtaking results can be achieved.
Photogene
If you are looking for a powerful image editing app for your iPhone then this is the one to pick. It is like having Photoshop in your pocket and you can tweak and manipulate virtually anything you can imagine after you have captured a picture. You can let your creative side get to work.
SplashPhoto
This application is compatible with various smartphone, including Nokia handset using the Symbian operating system. If you have got tons of photos stored on your phone but are not pleased with the way in which the basic software allows you to view and organise said photos, this is the app for you. What is more, SplashPhoto can load your pictures up to 80% faster than the basic software of your smartphone, which is a big benefit if your phone takes high-resolution images that can take a while to load.
SnapMyLife
This is one of the best mobile applications that lets you share your photos instantly via social networking and blogging sites. It is compatible with BlackBerry smartphones amongst others and it also allows you to view pictures your friends and family have taken on your own phone.
When you are searching for photography applications, or indeed applications of all kinds, you will want to do so at high speed. You could use the 3G connection on your smartphone, but this may cost you money. If you have a broadband connection in your home and a wireless router you could connect your smartphone using the built-in Wi-Fi for some free surfing and app downloading. This is undoubtedly the cheapest broadband option when you are looking for applications and is usually faster than 3G.
