1. Understanding Mobile Devices

2. Mobile Device Lightweight, usually less than two pounds
Small, designed to move with your hand or your pocket
Touch or stylus interface – no keyboard or mouse
Sealed unit – no Field Replaceable Units (FRUs)
Non-desktop OS – iOS or Android

3. More Definitions
Smartphones are phone first, enhanced to do things formerly reserved for PCs – started with iPhone in 2007
Tablets embody those enhanced computing features in an expanded format and screen
Phablets are hybrid phone and tablet
E-Readers – enable you to access and read electronic books

4. Wearable Technology Very small – usually a few ounces
Small interfaces – screen less than two inches
Light OS – performs a subset of functions of mobile device OS
Limited hardware – accelerometers for step counting
Pairing to a host device – usually a smartphone via Bluetooth

5. Smart Watches
Takes away many of the interruptions that using a smartphone involve
Check , playing music, reading texts
Apple is setting the standard

6. Fitness Monitors
Common features: counting your steps, registering your heart rate, using GPS to track exercise and vibration tools to remind you
Fitbit Surge is wearable, fobs attach to your clothing
Mine monitors steps and how I sleep

7. Glasses/Headsets
Google glass just too easy to invade privacy, has been pulled from market
Microsoft HoloLens is essentially a small Windows 10 computer with sensors, 3-D display, sound – in preproduction now

8. Screen Technologies
Most use some type of LCD panel; less expensive ones use Twisted Nematic (TN) – Apple uses In-Plane Switching (IPS) for richer colors and better viewing angles
Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED), for small screens, compound exposed to electrical current to light it – don’t use backlights

9. Cameras Front-facing and rear-facing Can transmit video over networks
High Dynamic Range (HDR) and light compensation (flash) to allow editing of photos

10. Microphones Have to have them on smartphone
Dictate speech or voice commands (Siri)

11. Digitizers
Provides the “touch” part of touch screen; digitizer’s fine grid of sensors under the glass detects your finger and signals the OS

12. GPS Great for checking traffic ahead even on iPhone
Waze is app for traffic and navigation
Can also allow you to find your phone
Geotracking (where you are) has a lot of room for abuse…

13. iOS Runs on iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch
Very tightly controlled by Apple
Apps only available through App Store
Line-of-business apps still have to get Apple’s approval

14. Google Android Almost polar opposite to iOS
Open source platform, based on another open source: Linux
Apps available through various apps stores: Google Play and Amazon Appstore

15. Microsoft Windows Phone
Finally delivered multi-touch OS with Windows Phone 7 in 2010; became foundation for Windows 8
Not a big market share

16. User Interfaces Major button or row of icons to navigate
Use touch features
Menu system so you can find apps and data
iOS allows some customization (put apps in folders) and reposition apps – the look and feel stays the same
Android uses launchers to customize interface
Accelerometer and a gyroscope for movement and up and down

17. Virtual Assistants Enable quick, vocal interaction to accomplish goals
Use in Internet searches; activating and using certain apps (call <name> home)
Apple: Siri; Windows 10: Cortana; Google Now

18. Software Development Kits (SDK)
Xcode for iOS runs on Intel-based Mac
Must pass rigid testing before allowed into App Store
Microsoft is similar
Android application package (APK) is the installation software for after compiling an app’s code

19. Capabilities Emergency Alert System (EAS) AMBER Alerts
911 calls use GPS and cell tower to find location of phone – called E911

20. Mobile Payment Service
App would connect to bank and transfer funds from bank to merchant
Apple Pay (not getting much air time)
Supports major credit cards: Visa, MasterCard and American Express
In-app payments for online purchases

21. Airplane Mode Turns off all cellular and wireless services
No signal can be transmitted or received
Most commonly used on airplanes

22. Roaming When you connect to a different carrier’s network
Preferred Roaming List (PRL) is list to search for alternate carrier

23. Alphabet Time
International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) – 15 digit number, unique to device, like MAC address
Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) – smartphones “G”
Integrated Circuit Card Identifier (ICCID) – unique, identifies the Subscriber Identity module (SIM) card
International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) – also on SIM, represents actual user account

24. Bluetooth Expansion
Android allows keyboard and mouse; Apple just keyboard
In theory, could add all sorts of stuff; doesn’t work out that way

25. iOS - Apple
Closed source – Apple controls the iOS and specifies how apps will be built
This is not new, Apple has been doing it for 30 years; developers have to pay to “join” Apple
Have to go to App Store to get apps, again Apple controls content, need account which is not real difficult
iCloud Keychain can hold account names and passwords for many accounts (Facebook, Amazon, etc.)

26. Android Apps
Google gives away the OS and developers create version(s) for their products
Vendor-specific stores for apps for a brand of device
Google Play has over 1 million apps, but no guarantee they will work on your device
Microsoft is in the middle, again

27. Network Connectivity
Turn on Wi-Fi then go to Settings to see available networks
Need SSID and password, just as with laptops
Settings stores profile so you can use it again
If you travel out of US, roaming charges can really add up – get a data plan before you leave
Be aware of your data limit – going over it will cost you

28.
Integrated Commercial Provider Configuration – that’s CompTIA for you
Same as configuring a desktop or laptop: need account name and password and in- and out- server names
Port numbers:
POP3 110
IMAP4 123
SMTP 25
Secure POP3: 995
Secure IMAP4: 993
Secure SMTP: 465 or 587

29. Synchronization
Don’t want several versions of accounts, contacts, calendar, programs, pictures, music, videos, bookmarks, docs, location data, social media data
iOS uses iTunes to sync
Android and Windows have app store for sync, some apps will do it for their data
Exchange ActiveSync (EAS) developed by Microsoft, for Exchange servers; Apple and Android devices can use it

30. Sync Methods
Apple has iCloud; Microsoft has OneDrive; Android has its own set – there are also independent providers
Dropbox is a prime example
Sync good: in full control of data, encryption, etc.
Sync not good: must be connected to that computer
Cloud good : good signal, can sync from anywhere
Cloud not good : loss of control of data

31. Apple iPhones and iPads sync thru iTunes installed on Mac or PC
Can choose what to backup
Goes to iCloud
Calendars, contacts, reminders, notes, etc.

32. Android and Gmail
Don’t have central desktop application similar to iTunes
Sync over Internet – but only some data
Contacts, calendars and by default

33. Mobile Device Communication and Ports
Near Field Communication (NFC) uses chips that create electromagnetic fields when these devices are close to each other
A few centimeters to a few inches
Data exchange and even payment transactions through stored credit cards like Apple Pay

34. Micro-USB/Mini-USB Non-Apple
Use to charge, connect to laptops and sync
Standard on most Android devices as well as Windows devices
Still some proprietary connectors
Getting standardized

35. Apple Lightning connector with iPhone 5 8-conductors, not keyed
Have to have small chip that identifies it as true lightning connector

36. USB Type-C
Not keyed
Not used much, Apple has expressed interest, should see more adoption as time goes on

37. Pairing Bluetooth
Settings icon (or app in the case of my step counter)
Turn on Bluetooth on smartphone; power on the device
Return to mobile to select to pair; enter appropriate personal identification number
For Apple, just have (keyboard or mouse) on and near iMac
Takes a battery hit

38. Mobile Hotspot
Small device that has access to cell tech such as 3G, 4G, and 4G LTE
Provides access for Wi-Fi devices
Go to wireless provider (Verizon, AT&T,…); devices are usually specific to vendor
Basically wireless routers
Might be able to use smartphone; that’s called tethering to cell phone

39. Accessories Bluetooth headsets and external speakers
Gamepads, including controllers
Specialized tablets with gaming controllers (NVIDIA SHIELD)
Some Android and Microsoft allow USB memory cards – not Apple
Charging pads – at Starbucks in T.O. – requires adapter
Chargers plug into wall, computer, car etc.