The Palm Pre is yet to be released in Australia but a few standout features mean it is touted to be a big contender to take down the iPhone when it does arrive.

Gadget lovers will enjoy the well-integrated features and unparalleled multitasking capabilities of the Palm Pre. Its solid OS rivals the iPhone and sets a new standard in the way smartphones handle information.

In its closed form, the Pre is slim and lightweight. it fits nicely in the palm of your hand is more pocket-friendly than the iPhone. It isn’t as solid as the iPhone, being made of plastic, but feels sturdy enough.

It’s smooth, rounded edges give it the appearance of a black, lacquered pebble. It’s shiny black plastic coating makes it a fingerprint magnet but it looks nice all the same.

The device has only one control: a centre button that will return you to the Deck of Cards view. You can use this to scroll easily through the programs with a few simple manoeuvres. The ability to multitask makes the Pre a more user-friendly device than its rivals, as you can simply push the centre button to go back to the Deck of Cards and select the card you want.

Like the iPhone, the Palm Pre has an accelerometer that lets you turn it to the side and it automatically swaps for portrait to landscape mode without any lag. There’s also a proximity sensor that will automatically turn off the display when you lift the smartphone to your ear for a phone call.

With a multi-touch screen and 8GB memory, the Pre does have some remarkable characteristics to take on the iPod with. While not the most intuitive of devices, the Pre sets new standards for multitasking and is undoubtedly the next step forward for the smartphone industry.