CORNING GORILLLA GLASS
Gorilla Glass is the registered trademark for a toughened glass, manufactured by U.S. glassmaker Corning, Inc.
MEMORY CARD SLOT
A special slot for inserting a memory card. Memory cards allow you to expand the phone's built-in memory (or in the past these slots have been used to add some missing features such as Wi-Fi connectivity).
Memory cards have different capacities and are used to store and transfer files between compatible devices. There are several types of memory cards. The most popular and frequently used by mobile phone manufacturers is microSD; however, up until recently Sony Ericsson exclusively used the Memory Stick Micro (M2) card type developed by Sony.
Memory card slots can have various supported memory card capacities. Depending on the device, card slots can support capacities of up to 2, 4, 8, 16 or even the yet unavailable 32GB.
As manufacturers rarely test their products for compatibility with newer and larger cards that come out after a specific handset is out on the market, whenever it is possible, we try to verify that larger capacity cards run on older phones.
When we confirm that a mobile phone works with a larger capacity memory card than what the manufacturer has advertized, we usually put that down in the phone specs sheet in our database.
That way, when you see the word "verified" in the Card slot field, you will know our reviewing team has personally tested the device for compatibility with the stated capacity and they are compatible even though it may not be officially stated so by the manufacturer.
Still, you should take that information with a pinch of salt, as your mileage with your specific unit may vary.
SD (SECURE DIGITAL)
Secure Digital or SD is a popular type of memory card. Memory cards are based on Flash memory and are used as solid state storage, their main purpose being an inexpensive way to store or transfer data between computers and other digital products.
The dimensions of an SD card are 24 x 32 x 2.1 mm, which makes it smaller than CompactFlash but larger than miniSD, microSD (TransFlash) and RS-MMC.
SD cards are about the same size as MMC but a bit thicker. They provide a bit more speed than MMC at the expense of higher power consumtion. SD cards also provide a hardware lock that can protect the stored data from being erased.
microSD
A memory card is a flash memory data storage device used in a wide range of digital devices such as mobile phones, digital cameras, PDAs, music players, etc. They are small, rugged and offer high re-record ability.
There is a wide range of memory card formats. MicroSD (SD stands for "Secure Digital") and M2 (memory Stick Micro) are the smallest at the current time. The microSD format was originally called TransFlash or T-Flash.
microSDHC
The microSDHC cards (HC as in High Capacity) upgrade the microSD standard. They have the same physical dimensions but offer higher capacities (4-16 GB) than the regular ones (64MB-2 GB).
miniSD
A memory card is a flash memory data storage device used in a wide range of digital devices such as mobile phones, digital cameras, PDAs, music players, etc. They are small, rugged and offer high re-record ability and power-free operation.
There is a wide range of memory card formats, miniSD (SD stand for Secure Digital) being one of them. It's now considered an outdated standard and in the current generation of portable devices has been replaced by the microSD and microSDHC formats.
MMC
A memory card is a flash memory data storage device used in a wide range of digital devices such as mobile phones, digital cameras, PDAs, music players, etc. They are small, rugged and offer high re-record ability and power-free operation.
There is a wide range of memory card formats. MMC (which stands for "Multi Media Card") is one of the oldest formats and has been replaced by newer ones like SD, microSD and microSDHC. Physically, it's fully compatible with SD cards.
MMCmobile
A memory card is a flash memory data storage device used in a wide range of digital devices such as mobile phones, digital cameras, PDAs, music players, etc. They are small, rugged and offer high re-record ability and power-free operation.
There is a wide range of memory card formats. MMC (which stands for "Multi Media Card") is one of the oldest formats and has been replaced by newer ones like SD, microSD and microSDHC.
MMCmobile cards are based on the RS-MMC cards and share the same mini form factor. The difference between them is that MMCmobile cards are dual-voltage and can operate in older phones with a high-voltage (3V) slot as well as in newer models with a low-voltage (1.8V) slot.
The MMCmobile standard is now considered an outdated standard and has been replaced by newer ones like microSD and microSDHC.
FLIGHT MODE
Known also as Airplane mode, this mode disables all radio parts of
a mobile phone but leaves other functions available. These include music
player, organizer and everything that doesn't require the radio transmitters.
This mode is required because most airlines forbid the use of
wireless devices during flight. Some airlines do not allow the use of such
devices even in Airplane mode.
There is an industry standard icon to signify that airplane mode
is on but not all phones use it.
This mode is required for several reasons. Preventing interference
with the airplane equipment is the best known one but another reason is that
cell towers cannot handle phones moving at high altitudes and speeds.
MULTITOUCH INPUT METHOD
In mobile computing, multi-touch refers to the capability of a
touchscreen (or a touchpad) to recognize two or more points of contact on the
surface concurrently. The constant tracking of the multiple points allows the
mobile phone interface to recognize gestures, which enable advanced
functionality such aspinch-to-zoom.
The multi-touch sensing doesn't work on the resistive type of
touchscreens (budget touch phones), the capability comes inherited in
capacitive touchscreens (majority of touch phones nowadays).
Apple is
considered the pioneer of multi-touch technology on mobile phones with their
first iPhone. They introduced the pinch-to-zoom gesture that is now available
across various platforms.
CAPACITIVE TOUCHSCREEN
Capacitive touch sensors are used either as buttons or on touchscreens.
They work by sensing the electrical properties of the human body instead of
pressure and generally they don't work with a stylus so they don't allow
handwriting recognition. However, capacitive touchscreens feel more sensitive
than their resistive counterparts.
Capacitive touch screens are also considered more durable than
resistive touch screens.
RESISTIVE TOUCHSCREEN
Resistive touchscreens operate by sensing direct pressure applied
by the user. It can be activated by pressing it not only with a finger but also
with a stylus (unlike the competing capacitive technology).
A resistive
touch screen consists of a touch layer placed on top of a standard display. The
touch layer normally includes two transparent electrical layers separated by a
small gap.
Pressing the display's surface causes the two separate layers to
come into contact, which creates an electrical connection that can be sensed
and located.
HANDWRITING RECOGNITION
The ability of a device or software program to analyze the shape
of cursive or printed handwriting drawn on a touchscreen and then translate it
into letters, words, numbers, and punctuation marks.
Most
devices that have touchscreens have built-in handwriting recognition
capability. Input is best done using a stylus.
It should be noted that only devices using resistive type of
touchscreen readily allows for input with various objects. The capacitive
touchscreen devices can accept only human finger input.
A-GPS (ASSISTED GPS)
Assisted GPS (A-GPS) is used to speed up start-up times of
GPS-based positioning systems. GPS may have problems getting a lock when the
signal is weak and in such a case A-GPS would assist in getting a lock.
This, however, is achieved by the use of an Assistance Server, so
a data connection is required and charges may apply for the data transfer.
GPS (GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM)
Global Positioning System was developed by the United States'
Department of Defense. It uses between 24 and 32 Medium Earth Orbit satellites
that transmit precise microwave signals. This enables GPS receivers to
determine their current location, time and velocity. The GPS satellites are
maintained by the United States Air Force.
GPS is often used by civilians as a navigation system. On the
ground, any GPS receiver contains a computer that "triangulates" its
own position by getting bearings from at least three satellites. The result is
provided in the form of a geographic position - longitude and latitude - to,
for most receivers, within an accuracy of 10 to 100 meters. Software
applications can then use those coordinates to provide driving or walking
instructions.
Getting a lock on by the GPS receivers on the ground usually takes
some time especially where the receiver is in a moving vehicle or in dense
urban areas. The initial time needed for a GPS lock is usually dependent on how
the GPS receiver starts. There are three types of start - hot, warm and cold.
The hot start is when the GPS device remembers its
last calculated position and the satellites in view, the almanac used
(information about all the satellites in the constellation), the UTC Time and
makes an attempt to lock onto the same satellites and calculate a new position
based upon the previous information. This is the quickest GPS lock but it only
works if you are generally in the same location as you were when the GPS was
last turned off.
The warm start is when the GPS device remembers its
last calculated position, almanac used, and UTC Time, but not which satellites
were in view. It then performs a reset and attempts to obtain the satellite
signals and calculates a new position.
The
receiver has a general idea of which satellites to look for because it knows
its last position and the almanac data helps identify which satellites are
visible in the sky. This takes longer than a hot start but not as long as a
cold start.
And finally – the cold
start is when the GPS device
dumps all the information, attempts to locate satellites and then calculates a
GPS lock. This takes the longest because there is no known information.
The GPS
receiver has to attempt to lock onto a satellite signal from any available
satellites, basically like polling, which takes a lot longer than knowing which
satellites to look for. This GPS lock takes the longest.
In an attempt to improve lock times, cellphone manufacturers and
operators have introduced the Assisted GPS technology, which downloads the
current ephemeris for a few days ahead via the wireless networks and helps
triangulate the general user’s position with the cell towers thus allowing the
GPS receiver to get a faster lock at the expense of several (kilo)bytes.
AUDIO JACK
A common connector for plugging in a standard pair of music
headphones such as the ones found on music players, computers and most other
electronic devices with audio outputs.
It can
support stereo and/or microphone, depending on the number of separate connector
rings on the jack.
Some phones offer only a 2.5 mm jack, which is a smaller variety
of the same principle.
Headphones
supplied with mobile phones usually have a mic somewhere along the cable and a
remote button that allows for managing calls without using the phone.
Some
manufacturers opt for placing a 3.5mm audio jack on this remote control instead
of directly on the phone itself. The reason for this is that 3.5mm jacks take
up quite a lot of internal space; plus, in this way the user gets to keep the
remote control/mic functionality while using third-party headphones.
PORT
A term that is generally used to describe a physical connector
that docks with another connector (a type of plug on the end of a cable) to
electronically connect two devices. It is also called a "connector"
or "jack".
GPRS
General Packet Radio Service is a packet-switching technology that
enables data transfers through cellular networks. It is used for mobile
internet, MMS and other data communications. In theory the speed limit of GPRS
is 115 kbps, but in most networks it is around 35 kbps. Informally, GPRS is
also called 2.5G.
EDGE (ENHANCED DATA FOR GLOBAL EVOLUTION)
EDGE (also known as Enhanced GPRS or EGPRS) is a data system used
on top of GSM networks. It provides nearly three times faster speeds than the
outdated GPRS system. The theoretical maximum speed is 473 kbps for 8 timeslots
but it is typically limited to 135 kbps in order to conserve spectrum
resources. Both phone and network must support EDGE, otherwise the phone will
revert automatically to GPRS.
EDGE meets the requirements for a 3G network but is usually
classified as 2.75G.
MMS (MULTIMEDIA MESSAGING SERVICE)
Abbreviated as MMS, the Multimedia Messaging Service is a store
and forward messaging service that allows subscribers to exchange multimedia
files as messages.
MMS supports the transmission of various media types: text,
picture, audio, video, or a combination of all four. The originator can easily
create a Multimedia Message, by snaping a photo with the phone camera, or by
using images and sounds stored previously in the phone (or downloaded from a
web site).
If the recipient phone is not switched on or it has not been setup
to receive MMS messages, the Multimedia Message will be stored in a special
repository offered by the GSM carrier.
In order to
send or receive a MMS, the user must have a compatible phone that is running
over a GPRS or 3G network. Most current mobile phones and operator networks
support MMS.
The maximum message size (along with the attachments) is generally
limited to 300KB (MMS 1.2), but recently the MMS 1.3 standard has allowed for a
maximum size of 600KB. Wireless carriers however can impose their own size
restrictions. Whenever possible we will try and state the MMS version supported
by the individual handsets in our database.
MOBILE IM (INSTANT MESSAGING)
Mobile Instant Messaging is the ability to engage in Instant
Messaging services from a mobile handset. Mobile IM allows users to address
messages to others using a dynamic address book full of users with their online
status updated constantly. That allows anyone participating to know when their
"buddies" are available for chat.
The advantage of mobile IM is that messages are sent and received
in real-time via mobile handsets on-the-go without a stationary computer.
Mobile IM is seen as a natural evolution of the popular SMS service.
Mobile IM is available from some operators or mobile phone
manufacturers now, but unfortunately, it is not always possible to use IM
services between different operators.
When we
state IM in our specs sheet that usually means the phone is equipped with a
proprietary IM solution. Those solutions frequently rely on either carrier
support or can be used between users with handsets of one and the same make.
Fortunately, popular third-party IM providers such as ICQ, Skype,
Google Talk, MSN, AOL, Yahoo, etc. are alleviating the situation by making
their own mobile applications allowing mobile phones to engage in Instant
Messaging independently of their carrier or mobile phone manufacturer. The only
prerequisite is having internet access on the go - over GPRS or 3G.
SMS (SHORT MESSAGING SERVICE)
SMS or the Short Messaging Service allows users to send and
receive personal text messages directly between mobile phones or sometimes to
email adresses. Each message can be up to 160 characters long (when using the
default character set) and can be sent to and from users of different operator
networks. All mobile phones support SMS.
Recently mobile manufacturers have started offering special
reading layouts for SMS inspired by Instant Messengers such as ICQ, Skype, and
MSN. The so-called threaded
message layout orconversation-style
layout displays the incoming
and outgoing messages between two participants in a single pane ordered
chronologically.
This enhancement reflects the recently prevalent use of SMS as a
type of instant messaging much like you would chat on a computer. When possible
we try to explicitly state that a mobile phone supports this enhanced messaging
view.
3G
Analog cellular phones were the first generation while digital
marked the second generation.
3G is
loosely defined, but generally includes high data speeds, always-on data
access, and greater voice capacity.
The high data speeds are possibly the most prominent feature, and
certainly the most hyped. They enable such advanced features as live, streaming
video.
There are
several different 3G technology standards. The most prevalent is UMTS, which is
based on WCDMA (the terms WCDMA and UMTS are often used interchangeably).
CDMA (CODE-DIVISION MULTIPLE ACCESS)
CDMA is a digital technology for transmitting data. It is a
general technology utilized through various standards.
CDMA has no limit on capacity but the base station will only
connect users upon determining that the call quality would fall bellow a
predetermined limit.
The term is often used to refer to one specific family of
technologies - IS-95 (often referred to cdmaOne) and CDMA2000. Networks using
this technology operate in the 800 and 1900 MHz frequency bands and are
primarily used in the Americas and Asia.
WCDMA(WIDEBAND CODE DIVISION MULTIPLE ACCESS)
Wideband CDMA is a third-generation (3G) wireless standard which
allows use of both voice and data and offers data speeds of up to 384 Kbps.
The frequency bands for WCDMA are as follows: Europe and Asia -
2100MHz, North America - 1900MHz and 850MHz.
WCDMA is also called UMTS and the two terms have become
interchangeable.
Some parts
of the WCDMA are based on GSM technology and the networks are designed to
integrate the GSM networks at some levels.
HSDPA (HIGH-SPEED DOWNLINK PACKET ACCESS)
An upgrade for UMTS networks that doubles network capacity and
increases download data speeds by five times or more.
The service was initially deployed at 1.8 Mbps but upgrades to the
networks and new user devices led to increased rates of 3.6 Mbps, followed by
7.2 Mbps and further down the road, 14.4Mbps and even 21Mbps.
HSDPA only handles the downlink while the
uplink is handled by a related technology called HSUPA. The combination of both
technologies is usually called HSPA.
HSUPA (HIGH-SPEED UPLINK PACKET ACCESS)
An upgrade for UMTS/HSDPA networks that increases upload data
speeds up to 5.76 Mbps. HSUPA together with HSDPA are sometimes referred to as
HSPA.
The standard is backwards compatible with UMTS and HSDPA and will
work with devices supporting only those standards.
HSUPA only handles the uplink while the downlink is handled by a
related technology called HSDPA.
WLAN
Wireless Local-Area Network is a way of providing a wireless high speed
connection between data devices or a data device and an access point over a
short range. See Wi-Fi.
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi is a WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) technology. It
provides short-range wireless high-speed data connections between mobile data
devices (such as laptops, PDAs or phones) and nearby Wi-Fi access points
(special hardware connected to a wired network).
The most common variant of Wi-Fi is 802.11g, which is capable of
providing speeds of up to 54Mbps and is backwards compatible with 802.11b
(providing up to 11Mbps).
There is currently a new standard in the works called 802.11n
(offering twice the speeds of 802.11b) and there are already retail networking
devices that support its draft specifications.
Wi-Fi is much faster than any data technologies operating through
the cellular network like GPRS, EDGE and even UMTS and HSDPA.
The range covered by a Wi-Fi access point is from 30 to 100 meters
indoors while outdoors a single access point can cover about 650 meters.
TETHERING
In the context of GSM mobile phones, tethering describes the
process of connecting a phone to a computer so that the computer can access the
internet via an EDGE/UMTS/HSDPA network. In this way, the mobile phone acts as
a modem for the computer.
That specific use of the word "tethering" stems from the
fact that to be used as a modem, the mobile phone usually has to be connected
to the computer via a USB data cable. In recent years however the same thing
has become possible without cables by using a Bluetooth connection.
Thus, tethering has turned into a generic term for using your
mobile phone as a GSM modem for your computer.
Some carriers require that you sign up for special plans in order
to use your phone for tethering, while for others it's simply a matter of
paying the data traffic used, much like you pay for browsing on your mobile
phone.
Wi-Fi HOT SPOT
An area where users can access Wi-Fi services to access the
Internet if they have the appropriate device. Hot spots vary in area of
coverage. They are usually public and many charge users by the day or month.
However, some are free - for example privately owned in restaurants or cafes or
public in universities and schools.
Wi-Fi DIRECT
Wi-Fi
Direct, initially called Wi-Fi P2P, is a Wi-Fi standard that enables devices to
connect easily with each other without requiring a wireless access point and to
communicate at typical Wi-Fi speeds[3] for everything from file transfer to
internet connectivity. Only one of the Wi-Fi devices needs to be compliant with
Wi-Fi Direct to establish a peer-to-peer connection that transfers data
directly between each other with greatly reduced setup. Wi-Fi Direct negotiates
the link with a Wi-Fi Protected Setup system that assigns each device a limited
wireless access point. The "pairing" of Wi-Fi Direct devices can be
set up to require the proximity of a Near Field Communication, a Bluetooth
signal, or a button press on one or all the devices. Some have suggested that
Wi-Fi Direct may not only replace the need for routers, but may also replace
the need of Bluetooth for applications that don't rely on low energy.
NFC (NEAR FIELD COMMUNICATION)
NFC is a short-range high frequency wireless communication technology
that enables the exchange of data between devices over about a 10 cm distance.
NFC is an upgrade of the existing proximity card standard (RFID)
that combines the interface of a smartcard and a reader into a single device.
It allows users to seamlessly share content between digital devices, pay bills
wirelessly or even use their cellphone as an electronic traveling ticket on
existing contactless infrastructure already in use for public transportation.
The significant advantage of NFC over Bluetooth is the shorter
set-up time. Instead of performing manual configurations to identify Bluetooth
devices, the connection between two NFC devices is established at once (under a
1/10 second).
Due to its shorter range, NFC provides a higher degree of security
than Bluetooth and makes NFC suitable for crowded areas where correlating a
signal with its transmitting physical device (and by extension, its user) might
otherwise prove impossible.
NFC can also work when one of the devices is not powered by a
battery (e.g. on a phone that may be turned off, a contactless smart credit
card, etc.).
BLUETOOTH
Bluetooth is a wireless protocol for exchanging data over short
distances from fixed and mobile devices, creating personal area networks.
There are two important parameters of Bluetooth devices - class
and supported profiles.
"Class"
signifies the distance at which a Bluetooth connection is possible. Most mobile
devices are Class 2, which means they have a range of up to 10 m. Class 1
devices are rare and have a range of up to 100 feet.
A "profile" is a type of Bluetooth connection. The most
common are the Headset (HSP) and Handsfree (HFP) profiles that enable the
device to connect to a wireless headset or handsfree.
Some other
profiles are OBEX (OBject EXchange) which allows transfer of files, contacts
and events; A2DP, which adds support for streaming of stereo sound and AVRC,
which allows remote control of playback.
TFT (THIN FILM TRANSISTOR)
TFT is one of the best Liquid Cristal Display technologies in
terms of image quality and response time. However, it also consumes more power
and is more expensive.
TFT, like
TFD, is an active-matrix technology. This means a transistor is located next to
each pixel, allowing it to be turned on and off individually. This ensures
faster response time and greater contrast.
TFD (THIN FILM DIODE)
TFD is a kind of Liquid crystal display (LCD) technology. It is an
active-matrix technology which means that a diode is situated next to each
pixel making it possible for the pixels to be turned on and off individually.
This allows a quicker response time and more contrast than passive-matrix
technologies.
TFD takes the excellent picture quality and the fast response of
TFT displays and combines them with the low power consumption and cost of the
STN ones.
OLED (ORGANIC LIGHT-EMITTING DIODE)
A display technology that consists of small dots of organic
polymer which emit light when charged with electricity.
OLED
displays have several advantages over the LCDs. They are thinner, lighter, brighter,
need less power, have better viewing angles, contrast and response time for
video and animation. OLEDs are also cheaper and easier to manufacture.
On the other hand, LCDs offer better legibility in bright ambient
light.
SENSORS
Modern mobile phones come with a variety of sensors that automate
or easy many of our daily tasks. This field takes into account the presence of
an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a compass, and a barometer.
Accelerometer
and gyroscope
Accelerometers in mobile phones are used to detect the orientation
of the phone. The gyroscope, or gyro for short, adds an additional dimension to
the information supplied by the accelerometer by tracking rotation or twist.
An accelerometer measures linear acceleration of movement, while a
gyro on the other hand measures the angular rotational velocity. Both sensors
measure rate of change; they just measure the rate of change for different
things.
In practice, that means that an accelerometer will measure the
directional movement of a device but will not be able to resolve its lateral
orientation or tilt during that movement accurately unless a gyro is there to
fill in that info.
With an accelerometer you can either get a really
"noisy" info output that is responsive, or you can get a
"clean" output that's sluggish. But when you combine the 3-axis
accelerometer with a 3-axis gyro, you get an output that is both clean and
responsive in the same time."
Digital
compass
The digital compass that's usually based on a sensor called
magnetometer provides mobile phones with a simple orientation in relation to
the Earth's magnetic field. As a result, your phone always knows which way is
North so it can auto rotate your digital maps depending on your physical
orientation.
Barometer
And finally, you may see a device sporting a barometer in its
specs sheet. Contrary to what you may suggest, it has nothing to do with
weather. Instead, the barometer is there to help the GPS chip inside the device
get a faster lock by instantly delivering altitude data.
ACCELEROMETER
The accelerometer is a built-in electronic component that measures
tilt and motion. It is also capable of detecting rotation and motion gestures
such as swinging or shaking.
The most common use for
it is to activate auto screen rotation on mobile devices when the user changes
their orientation from portrait to landscape or vice-versa.
Another modern application for the accelerometer is to control the
mobile device music player with gestures (Sony Ericsson Shake control or
Samsung Motion play technologies).
Accelerometers are also
utilized for enriching the gaming controls (navigating by tilting the device
instead of by pressing keys).
Another popular mobile phone feature based on an accelerometer is
turn-to-mute. It allows user to mute an incoming call, silence an alarm or
pause the mobile music player simply by turning the device face down.
JAVA
Often stands for "Java ME" (the new name of J2ME, Java 2
Platform, Micro Edition). Java ME is a platform for applications running on
mobile phones. These, mainly small, applications (e.g. games) can be downloaded
from the Internet directly to the phone using its built-in web-browser.
STAND-BY TIME (BATTERY LIFE)
Stand-by time is the officially quoted longest time that a single
battery charge will last when the phone is constantly connected to the GSM
network but is not in active use.
The
stand-by time is highly dependent on the cellular network environment, such as
the distance to the closest GSM cell tower (base station). Moving the phone (as
in a vehicle) also negatively affects battery life.
Manufacturers measure talk time in controlled conditions and the
quoted numbers are rarely reached in real-life scenarios. These numbers are
best used as reference when comparing phones from the same manufacturer because
battery life measurement methodology will probably vary from manufacturer to
manufacturer.
Quite often you will find the Stand-by time field in the
specification pages of new phones empty as the manufacturers sometimes fail to
disclose the info at the official announcement. Later on when the handset hits
the market, the figures are usually revealed and accordingly, we take the care
to add them to the database.
TALK TIME (BATTERY LIFE)
Talk time is the officially quoted longest time that a single
battery charge will last when you are constantly talking on the phone.
The talk time is highly dependent on the cellular network
environment such as the distance to the closest GSM cell tower. Moving fast
while talking (as in a vehicle) also negatively affects battery life.
Manufacturers measure talk time in controlled conditions and the
quoted numbers are rarely reached in real-life scenarios. These numbers are
best used as reference when comparing phones from the same manufacturer because
battery life measurement methodology will probably vary from manufacturer to
manufacturer.
Quite often you will find the Talk time field in the specification
pages of new phones empty as the manufacturers sometimes fail to disclose the
info at the time of the official announcement. Later on, when the handset hits
the market, the figures are usually revealed and accordingly, we take the care
to add them to our database.
WAP (WIRELESS APPLICATION PROTOCOL)
WAP is an international standard for applications that use
wireless communication. Its most common application is to enable access to the
Internet from a mobile phone or a PDA.
WAP sites are websites written in or converted to WML (Wireless
Markup Language) and accessed via the WAP browser
WAP websites are now considered outdated as most modern phones
have web browsers with HTML support.
ROM (READ-ONLY MEMORY)
A form of data storage. This type of memory keeps the saved data
even if the device power is off. The data on the ROM can be loaded into the RAM
if needed.
The word Read-Only identifies it as "read-only memory",
since the reprogramming process is generally infrequent, comparatively slow,
and often does not permit random access writes to individual memory locations.
RAM (Random-Access Memory)
This is the memory where the software resides while it is running
along with the data it is using. RAM is used by both OS and application
software.
RAM is very
fast but volatile, meaning that all information is lost when electric power is
cut off. That makes it useful for temporary storage of data that requires fast
access.
Normally, devices with RAM also have another type of storage
memory (flash memory or a hard drive) that stores the information while the
power is off.
Devices
with more RAM can run more complex software and multiple applications at the
same time.
VGA (VIDEO GRAPHICS ARRAY)
One of the resolution standards used for images, videos and
displays. VGA means a resolution of 640 pixels x 480 pixels.
QVGA (QUARTER VIDEO GRAPHICS ARRAY)
QVGA images or videos are 320 pixels wide and 240 pixels tall (320
x 240 pixels). The name Quarter VGA is written as QVGA and the resolution is
four times smaller than VGA resolution (640 x 480 pixels)
SVGA(SUPER VIDEO GRAPHICS ARRAY)
Super video graphics array is a standard size for images and
displays. SVGA indicates a resolution of 800 x 600 pixels.
USB (UNIVERSAL SERIAL BUS)
USB is a standard for a wired connection between two electronic
devices, including a mobile phone and a desktop computer. The connection is
made by a cable that has a connector at either end. One end, the one that plugs
into the computer, is the same across all USB cables while the one that plugs
into the mobile device can be of various types such as miniUSB, microUSB or a
proprietary connector.
USB version
1.1 provides maximum speeds of up to 1.5 MB/s while the current version 2.0 is
about 40 times faster. The versions are backwards compatible and the speed is
limited by the slower device. Transferring data may require drivers to be
installed on the desktop computer but some phones offer "mass
storage" mode which means they appear as thumb drives to the computer and
no special drivers are needed.
In addition to their data transferring application, USB cables
also carry an electric charge that can be used to power peripherals (such as
USB mice or keyboards), and many mobile phones can be charged through their USB
port.
Micro USB
A type of USB connector. USB stands for "Universal Serial
Bus". Devices connected to the computer using a USB cable can easily
exchange files and information (if the device supports Mass Storage mode, the
files can be transferred without the need for special drivers or software).
Some
devices can be charged via the USB cable when connected to the computer. There
are different USB interfaces: MicroUSB (with two subtypes - Micro-A and
Micro-B) is one of them, and was developed to replace the older MiniUSB
interface. However, the latter is still the most popular connector type in
Mini-USB
A type of USB connector. USB stands for "Universal Serial
Bus". Devices connected to the computer using a USB cable can flawlessly
transfer files and information between the phone and the computer (if Mass
Storage mode is supported files can be transferred without the need of special
drivers or software).
Some devices can be charged when the USB cable is connected to the
computer. There are different USB interfaces: Mini-USB (with two subtypes -
Mini-A and Mini-B) is one of them,but it's in the process of being replaced by
the newer and slimmer Micro-USB interface.
The miniUSB
connector however is still the most popular connector type in portable devices.
MASS STORAGE MODE
A standard mode allowing compatible phones to be connected to a
computer's USB port and be used as a removable storage drive without the need
for any special drivers.
Usually, in Mass Storage mode, the phone's memory is mounted as a
removable drive by the computer OS and cannot be used by the phone itself.
That's the reason why some phones only allow an inserted memory card to be
mounted in Mass Storage mode thus keeping their system partition inaccessible
on the computer in this mode.
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