Active Matrix Display

An LCD technology used in flat panel computer displays; it produces a brighter and sharper display with a broader viewing angle than passive matrix screens. Active matrix technology uses a thin film transistor at each pixel and is often designated as a "TFT screen."

ActiveSync

Allows you to synchronize the information on your computer with the information on your iPAQ H3000 Pocket PC. Synchronization compares the data on your iPAQ H3000 Pocket PC with your computer and updates both computers with the most recent information.

A-GPS

(Assisted GPS) A type of handset-based position location technology. To determine location, the phone takes readings from both GPS satellites and nearby cellular base stations (towers), with the help of a location server on the network.

AKA - (AKA - Also Known As)

Also known as.

Ambient Light Sensor

A light sensor at the top of the monitor which gauges ambient light in the work environment and automatically adjusts the brightness of the monitor for optimum viewing. This takes away the frequent and tedious task of manually adjusting brightness on the screen; it is particularly beneficial in environments where light in the office is subject to change throughout the day.

Application

A program, such as a word processor or a spreadsheet, that performs one of the important tasks for which a desktop or handheld computer is used. This term is sometimes use in place of or in conjunction with "software."

Application Buttons

Allow quick access to four applications. By default, the applications are Calendar, Contacts, QMenu, and QStart. You can change the functions of the application buttons to open different appli-cations. For more information, see "Adjusting Settings" later in this chapter.

Bit

Abbreviation for binary digit. Used in all digital communications. A bit is a binary unit, represented by either a "0" or a "1".

Bitmap image

An image with 1 bit of color information per pixel, also known as a bitmapped image. The only colors displayed in a bitmapped image are black and white.

Bluetooth

Bluetooth is a short-range wireless technology used to create PANs (Personal Area Networks) among your devices, and with other nearby devices.

Bluetooth allows you to leave your phone in your pocket, while talking on your phone with a Bluetooth headset - with no wires. You can also exchange contact or scheduling information with other Bluetooth-enabled phones nearby, or send such information to a nearby Bluetooth-enabled printer.

Another common use is to give your laptop computer or PDA wireless high-speed Internet access via Bluetooth and your phone.

bps (AKA- Bits per second)

A measurement of data transmission speed. Measures the numbers of bits (a bit is either a "1" or a "0") transmitted in a second. Loosely following the metric system, bps can also be express in kbps (1,000 bits per second) or Mbps (1,000,000 bits per second).

Byte

A sequence of adjacent bits (usually 8) considered as a unit. A bit is a binary unit - a "1" or a "0".

Car Kit

Accessories that allow you to use your device in the car without requiring use of your hands. The kit may contain a few essential items such as a fast battery charger and a hands-free holder (hardware to hold the phone). The kit may also include connections to an external antenna, external speaker and/or microphone for better audio quality, or a junction box with data port for optional fax/modem connections.

CD (AKA - Compact Disc)

Compact discs are 5 1/4-inch plastic-coated discs used to store digital information. They come in many flavors, from CD-DA (digital audio) and CD-ROM (computer data storage) to CD-R (recordable) and CD-RW (rewritable).

CF (AKA - CompactFlash)

One of the oldest forms of digital memory. Make sure your device is compatible.

CPU (AKA - Central Processing Unit)

The main microprocessor and the most important component in a computer system, often referred to as "the chip." The CPU is effectively the computer inside the computer, because it alone receives instructions from application software and turns them into action. The Intel Pentium and AMD Athlon chip families dominate Windows computing.

Digital Media

Digital content for a phone or mobile device, including ringtones, graphics, screensavers and more.

Digital Zoom

Zoom is a feature of many cameras and camera phones that makes the subject appear "closer", filling more of the image area.

The other type of zoom is optical zoom, which uses moving lenses for maximum quality. Unlike digital zoom, optical zoom has no trade-offs in quality or image size.

Doc

Document. Usually referred to when discussing electronic documents.

DPI

A measure of the resolution of images produced by a printers or scanners. The dpi number may also refer to the maximum-resolution output a device can produce. A 600-dpi printer, for example, produces sharper printouts than a 300-dpi printer.

Driver

A program that enables peripheral devices to communicate with an operating system. Windows comes with devices drivers for thousands of peripherals. Some device drivers for standard peripherals, such as keyboards or monitors, come with the computer. Devices that are added later require the user to install the corresponding drivers.

DVD (AKA - Digital Versatile Disc)

These high-capacity optical discs store everything from large computer applications to full-length movies. While similar in physical size and appearance to a compact disc or a CD-ROM, DVD is a huge leap from its predecessor's 650MB of storage.

 

A standard single-layer, single-sided DVD can store 4.7GB of data. DVD also has a two-layer standard that boosts the single-sided capacity to 8.5GB. DVDs can be double-sided, ramping up the maximum storage on a single disc to 17GB. DVDs come in several formats, including DVD-video, DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM, DVD-A, DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW, and DVD+RW. Not all drives read and write to all types of discs, but the emergence of multi-format DVD drives is eliminating the confusion.

Dynamic Memory (AKA - Shared Memory)

This refers to the structure of the phone memory for storing information. Shared (dynamic) memory means that there is one large "pool" of memory available for multiple types of information.

E-book

A book in electronic format that can be downloaded and read on a computer, PDA or phone.

E-commerce

Electronic Commerce. Selling and purchasing of products through an electronic service, such as the Internet.

EXE

A Microsoft Windows file extension used for applications that are "executable," and immediately launch a program when opened.

Expansion Card

Expansion cards can be used to add memory or features to a phone. Extra memory can be used to store and transfer photos, videos, music, computer files, or backups of phone data such as the phone book and calendar.

There are several different types of cards. Each has a different shape and size, but cards from a phone can also be used with other devices which use the same type of card. Such devices might include handhelds, digital cameras, and MP3 music players.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions: Questions received from users that are the most often asked. They are accompanied by a corresponding set of answers.

FireWire

The trademarked name of the IEEE 1394 external bus standard originally developed by Apple Computer. The standard's succeeding generations are named FireWire 400, FireWire 800, and so on.

Flash Memory

A type of memory chip that is used for storing information over time.
Compared to other types of memory, flash memory retains information without electrical power, which is why flash memory is used for removable memory cards, as well as internal memory for data that should be retained when the device is turned off.

Format

(1) You establish how a hard disk or a floppy disk will store data by formatting it. For instance, a disk used in an IBM-compatible PC would be formatted to use the FAT file system. The format is usually dictated by the operating system; you format a hard drive differently for working with the Windows OS as opposed to the Mac OS, for instance (and a floppy disk formatted in a Mac cannot work in a PC--although a disk formatted by a PC can usually be read by a Mac). You might also format a hard disk or a floppy disk as part of a system recovery process when data on the disk has become corrupted. Formatting does not erase existing data on the hard drive, but it makes it unfindable except with the assistance of a special disk recovery utility or a technical specialist.

(2) A file's format--how its data is presented to an application--is usually dictated by the application with which it was created. Some applications, such as word processors, can use documents created in the file formats of competing applications, usually with little or no loss of data or document-layout details.

(3) A document's format encompasses any or all of the specifications of its layout and presentation: typeface, margins and tabs, number of columns, use of graphical elements, and so on.

Freeware

Software offered free of charge by the developer to anyone wishing to use it.

GB (AKA - Gigabyte)

A gigabyte equals 1,073,741,824 bytes of data.

GHz (AKA - Gigahertz)

A unit of frequency equal to one billion cycles per second (Hertz). Wireless mobile phone communications in the United States occur in the 0.8 GHz and 1.9 GHz bands (better known as 800 and 1900 MHz, respectively).
1 GHz = 1,000 MHz = 1,000,000 KHz.

GPRS (AKA - General Packet Radio Service)

A packet-switched technology that enables high-speed wireless Internet and other data communications. GPRS offers a tenfold increase in data speed over previous technologies, up to 115kbit/s (in theory). Typical real-world speeds are around 30-40 Kbps. Using a packet switching, subscribers are always connected and always on-line, so services will be easy and quick to access.

GPRS is considered a "2.5G" technology, meaning it is more advanced than standard 2G digital technology, but does not meet the requirements of a full-feldged 3G technology

GPS (AKA - Global Positioning System)

GPS (Global Positioning System) is a global satellite-based system for determining precise location on Earth.

GSM (AKA - Global System for Mobile Communication)

GSM is currently the dominant 2G digital mobile phone standard for most of the world. It determines the way in which mobile phones communicate with the land-based network of towers.

GUI (AKA- Graphical User Interface)

A graphical user interface lets users interact with their computer via icons and a pointer instead of by typing in text at a command line. Popular GUIs, such as Microsoft's Windows, and Apple's Mac OS, have freed many users from the command-line interfaces such as MS-DOS and Unix.

Handheld

Used in two ways:
1) Any computing device that is small enough to fit in the user's hand, including palm-sized PCs, PDAs, Smartphones, smart pagers, and larger mini-laptops, and

2) Used to refer to Handheld PCs specifically, which are larger than palm-sized PCs and use Windows CE.

HDD (AKA - Hard Drive)

Just like a computer or high-capacity standalone music player. Typically, a built-in hard drive can store anywhere from 10 - 100 times as much information as built-in memory chips.

Headset Jack (2.5 mm)

Allows an external speaker and microphone to be used. Can be used with such accessories as a simple plug-in earbud, or a hands-free car kit with speakerphone.

HotSync

The process and software by which data is synchronized between a Palm OS device and another computer to send and retrieve information (i.e., Contact Information).

HTML

Hyper Text Markup Language. A language used to format web pages.

Icon

A small picture or image in a graphical user interface that represents an object, a file, a folder, a Web page, or a program. Clicking or double-clicking icons launches programs and files, opens windows, and executes commands.

IMEI (AKA - International Mobile Equipment Identity)

A unique number given to every mobile phone and usually found behind the battery. When a phone is reported stolen, the number is marked invalid.

IP (AKA - Internet Protocol)

The method by which data is sent from one computer to another on the Internet. IP is combined with the Transmission Control Protocol ( TCP ) to ensure that data sent between computers does not go astray. Each computer on the Internet has at least one unique IP address . When you send or receive data--e-mail, for example--the message is divided into data packets , each of which contains the sender's and the receiver's IP addresses. The packets are sent to an Internet gateway computer, then through various routes to their destination. TCP reassembles the packets correctly once they arrive.

IR (AKA - Infrared)

Infrared can be used to wirelessly connect the device to various devices, for various purposes. It can connect the device to a computer, so that the computer can use the device to make a data connection (to the Internet, for example.) It can also be used to exchange information such as phone book entries with other phones.

Infrared is a line-of-sight wireless technology that uses a beam of invisible light to transmit information. This means that the infrared ports of both devices must be nearby and aimed at each other for a connection to succeed.

IrDA (AKA - Infrared Data Association)

A standard for transmitting data via infrared (non-visible) light waves. IrDA ports support roughly the same transmission rates as traditional parallel ports.

JPEG

Joint Photographic Experts Group. This group established a standard method for compressing and decompressing digitized photos or images. The high-resolution images provided with PhotoDisc are compressed according to JPEG standards.

KB (AKA - Kilobyte)

A measure of computer memory or storage, a kilobyte contains 1,024 bytes (2 to the 10th power).

Kb (AKA - Kilobit)

1,024 bits of data.

Key Lock

Allows the user to disable (lock) the keys so that a number will not accidentally work while in your pocket or purse.

LCD (AKA - Liquid Crystal Display)

The optical technology that makes small, flat screens possible.

LED (AKA - Light-Emitting Diode)

A semiconductor device that emits light when electrical current is applied to it. LEDs require very little power and can last for decades. They are used as indicator lights on electronic devices, for digital and alphanumeric readouts on equipment, in fiber optic data transmission, and in remote-control devices.

Linux

An open source operating system developed collaboratively over the Internet. A smaller version of the Linux OS is used by Sharp in their Zaurus PDA. Handango offers hundreds of software titles utilizing the Linux operating system.

Mac OS

Apple's Macintosh operating system.

MB (AKA - MegaBytes)

Megabytes are used to measure computer memory. 1MB = 1024KiloBytes.

mb (AKA - Megabit)

Approximately 1 million bits. Data transmission rates are often expressed in megabits per second (Mbps).

MBps (AKA - MegaBytes per second)

Megabytes per second. A measure of data transfer speed to and from computer memory or data storage, expressed in millions of binary bytes per second.

Megapixel - MP

This term refers to the size of an image, usually in reference to a photo from a digital camera or camera phone. Megapixel means one million pixels. The resolution of digital cameras and camera phones is often measured in megapixels. For example, a two-megapixel camera can produce images with two million pixels.

Memory Effect

The life of a battery may be gradually shortened if it is recharged before it is completely discharged. Memory effect is common with Nickel Cadmium (NiCd) batteries, is less of a problem with Nickel Hydride (NiMH) batteries, and is even less with Lithium Ion (LiIon) batteries.

microSD (AKA - TransFlash)

A type of removable flash memory card designed specifically for mobile phones.

miniSD

A type of removable flash memory card. Like any flash memory card, it can be used to store various types of files, including photos, videos, music, or software. As the name implies, miniSD is similar to the SD format, but smaller.

MMC (AKA - MultiMedia Card)

A type of removable flash memory card. MMC is smaller than Compact Flash, but larger than miniSD, TransFlash, or RS-MMC. MMC is the same size as SD, but thinner. Most devices with SD slots can also accept MMC cards, but not vice-versa.

SD cards are generally faster than MMC, but use more power.

MMCmobile

A type of memory card based on RS-MMC. MMCmobile memory cards combine the small size of RS-MMC with the high speed of MMCplus. Physically, they appear identical to RS-MMC. They will fit in an RS-MMC slot and are compatible with all RS-MMC devices.

 

More importantly, MMCmobile cards are dual-voltage, meaning they will work with older phones with a high-voltage (3v) RS-MMC slot, as well as newer Nokia phones with a low-voltage (1.8v) RS-MMC slot.

MP3

Short for MPEG Layer 3. MP3 is a common file format for music and other audio content. It is commonly used on the Internet, on PCs, and on portable devices, including dedicated music players and phones with music player functionality.

MPEG

Motion Picture Experts Group A family of standards for digital video. For video, MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 are the most common. Most popular video formats are based on one of those two technologies, with MPEG-4 being the newer, more efficient standard.

Native Application

An application that comes already installed in a new handheld computer.

OEM (AKA - Original Equipment Manufacturer)

Refers to the software or hardware manufacturer before relabelling or distribution.

OS (AKA - Operating System)

The software by which a computer creates an environment where applications are run. Often abbreviated as OS.

Palm OS

The operating system used on Palm handhelds and other third-party devices, including Sony, Handspring, Kyocera and more.

PalmPilot

Palm, Inc.'s palm-sized device that debuted in 1996. In 1998, Pilot was dropped from the name for legal reasons.

PDA (AKA - Personal Digital Assistant)

Refers to a wide variety of handheld and palm-size PCs, electronic organizers, Smartphones, and pagers.

PDB (AKA - Palm Database)

Used in conjunction with PRCs to hold content used in Palm OS applications.

PDF (AKA - Portable Document Format)

A file format developed by Adobe Systems for formatting documents in such a way that they can be viewed and printed on multiple platforms using the free Adobe Acrobat file reader. A document can be created in one of a variety of programs and encoded as a PDF file.

PIM (AKA - Personal Information Manager)

Refers to applications for computing devices that organize personal information, such as addresses, dates, and task lists. Frequently abbreviated as PIM.

Pixel (AKA - Picture Element)

The smallest unit of color on a computer screen. High resolution devices have more pixels per square inch.

Platform

Refers to the group of hardware, software, and accessories that revolve around a particular operating system. See operating system.

PPC (AKA - Pocket PC)

Mobile operating system developed by Microsoft, which runs on third party devices.

Processor

A silicon integrated-circuit chip that contains a computer's central processing unit (CPU), which handles logic operations such as adding, subtracting, and comparing numbers. When a computer is turned on, the processor first gets instructions from the BIOS. It then acts on instructions from the operating system or from software applications. Processor speeds are measured in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz).

QWERTY

The standard layout for English-language keyboards; pronounced "kwer-tee." It gets its name from the first six letters in the top row of letters on a keyboard.

RAM (AKA - Random Access Memory)

Temporary storage for computer applications.

ROM (AKA - Read Only Memory)

Used for static information on computing devices.

Sampling Rate

The precision with which a digital file describes the analog sound it represents. Basically, a lower rate produces files that sound worse and take up less drive space than those with a higher rate. CDs have a sampling rate of 44.1kHz, and DAT machines have a sampling rate of 48kHz. MiniDisc player/recorders with a built-in sampling rate converter can handle both rates.

Screen Geometry

A general term describing a monitor's ability to reproduce various shapes accurately and without distortion. CRT monitors are subject to numerous problems with geometry, including pincushioning, trapezoid error, rotation (or tilt) error, and inadequate linearity.

SD (AKA - Secure Digital / SD Card)

A type of removable flash memory card. Like any flash memory card, it can be used to store various types of files, including photos, videos, music, or software. SD is smaller than Compact Flash, but larger than miniSD, TransFlash, or RS-MMC.

SDIO (AKA - Secure Digital I/O)

Similar to a PC Card but much smaller, SDIO cards provide additional functionality to handheld devices such as PDAs and mobile phones. This versatile format makes possible the production of tiny Bluetooth adapters, digital cameras, wireless networking cards, GPS receivers and the like that can be inserted into an SD card slot on any compatible device.

SDK (AKA - Software Development Kit)

Software used in the process of developing applications.

Security Code

A numeric code (password) used to prevent unauthorized or accidental alteration of data programmed into wireless phones. The security code can be used by the owner of a phone to change the lock code.

Serial Port

A communications port on a computer, also called the COM or RS-232 port, that is used to connect peripherals such as mice and modems. It's called serial because it sends information one bit at a time; compare this to a parallel port, in which eight separate wires transfer each bit of a byte.

SIM (AKA - Subscriber Identity Module)

A small, stamp-size "smart card" used in a GSM phone. The SIM card contains a microchip that stores data that identifies the user to the carrier. The data is also used to encrypt voice and data transmissions, making it nearly impossible to listen in on calls.

 

The SIM can also store phone book information - phone numbers and associated names. The SIM, typically located under the battery, can easily be removed and placed in another phone. This will cause the new phone to instantly operate using the subscriber's existing phone number and account.

Smartphone

A mobile phone integrated with a PDA, providing the benefits of both devices to users.

Spyware

The derogatory term for user-tracking software that is installed on a computer without the user's knowledge. It can be installed on a system by an employer, or it can be included in free software available on the Internet, such as games, utilities, or file-swapping programs.

 

To create revenue, some makers agree to let third-party software--in this case, software that gathers user information that can be used for advertising or marketing purposes--"piggyback" on their software. The third-party software installs along with the requested program. Notification of the additional software is usually buried in a lengthy licensing agreement that the user must accept to get the program.

 

The spyware continues to run in the background even when the program is closed, and uninstalling the original program doesn't necessarily remove the spyware. A similar type of software is called adware.

Sync

To synchronize the data between a handheld device and a laptop or desktop computer. See also HotSync.

TCP/IP (AKA - Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol)

Two interrelated protocols that are part of the Internet protocol suite. TCP breaks data into packets. IP routes packets.

TFT (AKA - Thin-Film Transistor)

A technology for building the active-matrix LCD screens that are commonly found on laptop computers.

TIFF (AKA - Tagged Image File Format)

A widely supported graphics file format, TIFF can handle color depths ranging from 1-bit (black and white) to 24-bit photographic images with equal ease.

Touch Screen

Touch-screens are typically found on larger displays, in phones with integrated PDA features. Most are designed to work with either your finger or a special stylus. Tapping a specific point on the display will activate the virtual button or feature displayed at that location on the display.

Some phones with this feature can also recognize handwriting written on the screen using a stylus, as a way to quickly input lengthy or complex information.

Transfer Rate

The rate at which data is transferred through a computing or communications channel, expressed in bits or bytes per second.

Transflective Display

A type of LCD screen often used for PDAs. Transflective displays incorporate elements of both transmissive and reflective displays. These screens use LED backlighting to illuminate the display indoors, but also use a reflective surface to produce readable images outdoors.

UDF (AKA - Universal Disk Format)

A file system standard, defined by the Optical Technology Storage Association, for use with DVD and CD-ROM recording technology, including packet writing.

UDMA (AKA - Ultra Direct Memory Access)

A protocol for the interface between the hard drive and computer memory. It improves on the ATAPI/EIDE standard by doubling data transfer rates to 33MB per second, which translates into faster disk reads and writes. UDMA retains backward compatibility for previously existing hardware.

Upload

To copy a file (for example, a program, a document, or an MP3 file) from your computer (the client) to a server. Conversely, you download a file when you copy it from a server to your computer.

URL (AKA - Uniform Resource Locator)

The Internet equivalent of an address. URLs move from the general to the specific. Take this URL for a Web page, for example: http://www.cnet.com/Resources/index.html.

The protocol used to access the server comes first: http://. Several different protocols are available on the Internet, including http (World Wide Web server), ftp (FTP server), and news (Usenet newsgroups). The domain name assigned to the IP address comes next: www.cnet.com. Then comes the directory on the server, in this case Resources ; finally, the specific file for the Web page, index.html.

URL is either pronounced "you are ell" or "uhrl."

USB (AKA - Universal Serial Bus)

USB (Universal Serial Bus) is a type of plug-in connection that is used to connect devices, to desktop or laptop computers. USB is useful for quickly transferring files, or for synchronizing address book and calendar information with a computer application such as Outlook etc.

VoIP (AKA - Voice over Internet Protocol)

A technology for transmitting voice, such as ordinary telephone calls, over packet-switched data networks. Also called IP telephony.

WAN (AKA - Wide Area Network)

A computer network that spans regions & countries.

WAP (AKA - Wireless Application Protocol)

A protocol for transmitting data between servers and clients (usually small wireless devices like mobile phones).

WiFi (AKA - Wireless Fidelity)

Wi-Fi originally referred to the 802.11b specification for wireless LANs, but it is now used to describe any of the 802.11 wireless networking specifications.

Windows CE

Microsoft's operating system for handheld and mobile devices and the precursor of the Pocket PC platform.

ZIP

An open standard for compression and decompression, ZIP was developed by Phil Katz for his DOS-based program PKZip. It is now widely used on Windows-based programs such as WinZip. The file extension given to ZIP files is .zip.