Connectivity

The Pixi Plus connects to computers through a micro-USB cable. That connection means the phone can upload song files and calendar items from the computer. The phone can also act as a hub for computers and other devices by turning its 3G network into a Wi-Fi hot spot for up to five other devices.

The phone also connects to Bluetooth devices and supports dual video/audio stereo control wirelessly, as well as the ability to "push" items like messages from the Bluetooth device. The phone accepts MP3, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, AMR, QCELP and WAV audio files and MPEG-4, H.263 and H.264 video files.

The Pixi Plus connects to Bluetooth devices, computers, and even offers Internet connection to other devices. A few more Bluetooth options would be nice, but overall the Plus stay connected.

Conclusion

The Palm Pixi Plus is sleek, thin, and compact. It includes both touch screen technology and a full QWERTY keypad. The phone connects to computers to collect calendar items and music files and can act as an Internet hub for up to five additional devices. The phone also stays connected by integrating Web-based items like emails, contact information, social networking site updates, and instant messages, as well as text and multimedia messages, into a simple WebOS platform that organizes messages by contact and alerts users of a new message or status update through a notification that appears at the bottom of the screen. The Internet moves with lightning speed, and the browser system takes users directly to a URL or search engine result, although users can also choose to go to the Palm or Verizon sites, Facebook, MySpace, or Amazon.

Although Palm has expanded its application store, it will have to do some catching up to create as many fun and unique applications as the Android and iPhone application stores. The phone doesn't come with applications beyond Google Maps, so fun and games will take extra money, as will downloading songs and ringtones, unless a person uploads songs from a computer. The phone has a lot of memory, but that could get used up fast with any effort to fill up the phone with anything from Fandango movie time applications to stock tickers. The way messages are organized is a benefit for people that prefer to keep straight who a message comes from rather than the medium it came from, but some people would prefer to just see all their texts at once, all their instant messages at once, and all their emails at once, and may not be impressed by the Pixi Plus' ability to link messages by contact as a result. Multiple browser options can also seem a bit much for some.

The 2.0-megapixel camera is on the lower end for a smartphone and could use more editing options and especially a camcorder option. The screen is pretty responsive and has great resolution, but some may crave a longer or wider screen. Songs come through with clear, voluminous audio, but other sounds are quieter and the placement of speakers on the back of the phone put sounds at risk for muffling.

The Pixi Plus is a good fit for someone looking to stay connected with friends, family and colleagues on a continual basis, surf the Web with speed, and carry a lightweight phone with both a keypad and a touch screen. It may not suite those that prefer a simpler phone with just a keypad, a messaging system that groups only by messaging medium, and more battery life. It's also not the best fit for someone who wants to sacrifice slimness for a larger screen, prefers a touch-screen only phone, and wants more built-in applications and a better camera with camcorder.

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