What is that plus icon next to the price?

I’ve heard many people ask what the plus icon next to app prices in the app store is.

The explanation is very simple: Apps with a plus symbol are adapted for both iPad and iPhone. Buy once, use native on both.

This is nothing but good news for you, so if you have an iPad or are planning to buy one, you should choose these apps when available.

1. Smartphone or cellphone?

Are you going to use your phone for more than texting and calling? Then you want a smartphone. With a smartphone you can surf the web, watch videos, run apps and more. If you are just going to use your phone mainly for calling and texting, you can go for a normal cheap cellphone.

2. a) Cellphone

When you are getting a normal cellphone, your choice is both easier and more difficult. It is easier because almost any phone works, but more difficult because you have more to choose from.

I would recommend that you check what menu system and features you like the best first, then choose a phone with that system based on price and design. That way you get a phone you like to use, in your price range. Remember to check the cell plan when you look at the price! A “free” phone is not free if you pay $70/month for two years.

2. b) Smartphone

Now this is where it gets interesting. Personally I got very strong opinions on this market. First of all you must consider that you are going to have this phone for at least a year, most likely two years or more. That means you should put a lot of consideration into what platform you choose.

Unless you are using your phone mainly for work, I would stay far away from Windows Mobile devices. I would also recommend iPhone and Android devices ahead of Symbian and Blackberry. To make a possibly long answer short: If you like the iPhone and are comfortable with the restrictions it comes with (no backgrounding apps except IMs and other simple tools, no porn apps, etc), go for it. If not, check out the different Android devices.

Android is Google’s entry into the smartphone market. It has a good user interface and lots of apps (second only to iPhone). Being supported by Google means that you most likely will get lots of free updates to your software, adding new functionality. If I wasn’t already on the iPhone platform, my next phone would very likely be a Google Nexus One or the Motorola Milestone (Droid in the US).

Google Nexus One

3. General tips

Above are my opinions, and they should be good guidelines for most of you. But the most important is that you do the following before making the final decision:

• Try different phones! They vary greatly.
• Pay attention to ease of use. If it is difficult, chances are that you are only going to use it when you absolutely have to.
• Check out the availability of apps (smartphone). You might miss just that one important feature, and find out that all other smartphones has it but yours.
• Consider the monthly fee when buying. It is most likely more than half of the total price that you end up paying.

Feel free to ask questions in the comment section.

Happy shopping!