Working of Cell Phones

Cell phones or cellular phones are so called as they cover compartmentalized, cell like areas. The origin of the Cell phone can be traced back to the year 1973 when Motorola came up with World`s first cellular portable telephone which was commercialised as Motorola DynaTAC 8000X.

These days, new cell phones are being added at a rapid pace. The parts of them typically consist of following: circuit board; antenna; keyboard; LCD – liquid crystal display; battery; microphone; speaker.

In recent times, they are available with a wide range of functions. To list a few functions, depending on the type of cell phone you choose: store contact information; keep track of appointments; set reminders; prepare to-do lists; send/receive e-mail; play games; send text messages (sms); access to internet; watch and enjoy TV; built-in calculator; integration with other devices like GPS receivers, MP3 players, etc.

Cell phones, operating on radio frequency, have come up with an innovative cellular approach to counter limited availability of RF spectrum. Now, several cell phone towers are used to cater to a large geographic area.

Each tower (base station), covers a circular area called a cell. A large region is split into a number of cells allowing different base stations to use the same channels/frequencies for communication. This enables thousands and thousands of mobile telephone users to share far fewer channels.

Another important aspect is that, phones need less power to transmit to reach any base station as each base station covers a smaller area. Reducing the required transmit power reduces the size of the battery and thereby the weight of the phone. This has led to miniaturization of cell phones which would not have been possible without the cellular technology.

When you use your cell phone, following things happen. First the phone locates base station having strongest signal, and requests for a channel assignment. The base station permits channel assignment and the call gets accepted. The call is then forwarded to the local telephone network if it is to a regular phone otherwise it is transmitted through the cellular network. The call is then sent to its destination through the telephone network.

When the cell phone is switched on, SID (System Identification Code) on the control channel compares it to the SID programmed into the phone. If the SIDs match, the phone understands that the cell is communicating with home system. The phone sends a registration request, along with the SID and the MTSO keeps track of the phone`s location in a database. If the SID on the control channel does not match the SID of your phone, then the phone is in roaming.

The three technologies commonly used by 2G cell phone networks for transmitting information: frequency division multiple access (FDMA); time division multiple access (TDMA); code division multiple access (CDMA).

GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) implements TDMA, to connect to the specific service providers in different countries. GSM uses subscriber identification module (SIM). SIM stores all the connection data/identification numbers needed to access a particular wireless service provider.

Standard 2.5G protocols used widely are GPRS, EDGE to name a few. Some latest 3G protocols are: Universal Mobile Telecommunication Service (UMTS); Wideband Code-Division Multiple Access (WCDMA); High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA); Evolution Data Maximized (EVDO).

A few popular cell phone models in the market have been offered by Nokia, Ericsson, Motorola, Samsung, LG, etc. with each model with its own range of collections.The year 2008 may be a high watermark in the cell phone history with Nokia N-Gage 2, HTC Dream, Apple iPhone 2, BlackBerry Touchscreen, Sony PlayStation Phone which are expected to be launched.

Print Management Software Manages All Reporting

This software is used for controlling, reporting and to monitor the printing done in different companies. These software are known for their easy use and handling. They have various effective and powerful features, which makes the printing efficient and flawless. This software provides solutions to the monitoring of printing and also assists in the printing being done within a network. Different organizations are enjoying and taking benefits from the comprehensive solutions, given to them, through the use of different print management software, including the control and reporting of their printing. Many companies, around the globe are using this software and have made their printing, more managed and accurate. Different print management software are providing innovative and latest techniques, to their users, which have made their use more common. Companies are switching their printing methods, over to the printing software, which ultimately has improved their control, reporting and efficiency of printing. Printing software provides solution for a complete organization. There is no limit of clients and companies can get the license, having a large number of clients or according to their requirement. Print management software is easy to use and a user can get the required data by just clicking a button. The access to the users is restricted and a user needs to enter a pin code or a password, in order to login and work on this software. Printing software is created with innovation, which helps different organizations to use it according their needs and requirement. It works on all the types of printer including small and large format printers. This software is customized according to the number of users, in a company, using this facility. Printing is secured in this software. Access to the printing is given from the main print terminal. Print management software supports multiple printing at the same time, as it supports multi tasking. The printers, installed locally on the desktop are also monitored. The times, printers are committing errors, this software sends notification reports, which prompts the problem and make the user aware of it. There appears a pop up window, which indicates the users to assign printing jobs to the printers. This printing software is now being used commonly by different companies. Therefore, various developments are being made in the creation of the print management software, which makes them innovative. This type of software does not need to be administered more often. It has a built in system, which administers its functioning and maintains it automatically. On entering of a new user, this software, manages and records the details automatically. All the developments made in this technology are to make sure that this software is meeting the demands of its clients. This software is especially designed to fulfill the needs of engineering and graphic design enterprises. This software also supports the work being done in schools and universities. Therefore, print management software is now being used by universities and schools as well. The innovative features and its easy use have made this software very popular among different types of organizations.

This software is used for controlling, reporting and to monitor the printing done in different companies. These software are known for their easy use and handling. They have various effective and powerful features, which makes the printing efficient and flawless. This software provides solutions to the monitoring of printing and also assists in the printing being done within a network. Different organizations are enjoying and taking benefits from the comprehensive solutions, given to them, through the use of different print management software, including the control and reporting of their printing.

Many companies, around the globe are using this software and have made their printing, more managed and accurate. Different print management software are providing innovative and latest techniques, to their users, which have made their use more common. Companies are switching their printing methods, over to the printing software, which ultimately has improved their control, reporting and efficiency of printing.

Printing software provides solution for a complete organization. There is no limit of clients and companies can get the license, having a large number of clients or according to their requirement. Print management software is easy to use and a user can get the required data by just clicking a button. The access to the users is restricted and a user needs to enter a pin code or a password, in order to login and work on this software.

Printing software is created with innovation, which helps different organizations to use it according their needs and requirement. It works on all the types of printer including small and large format printers. This software is customized according to the number of users, in a company, using this facility.

Printing is secured in this software. Access to the printing is given from the main print terminal. Print management software supports multiple printing at the same time, as it supports multi tasking. The printers, installed locally on the desktop are also monitored. The times, printers are committing errors, this software sends notification reports, which prompts the problem and make the user aware of it. There appears a pop up window, which indicates the users to assign printing jobs to the printers. This printing software is now being used commonly by different companies. Therefore, various developments are being made in the creation of the print management software, which makes them innovative.

This type of software does not need to be administered more often. It has a built in system, which administers its functioning and maintains it automatically. On entering of a new user, this software, manages and records the details automatically. All the developments made in this technology are to make sure that this software is meeting the demands of its clients.

This software is especially designed to fulfill the needs of engineering and graphic design enterprises. This software also supports the work being done in schools and universities. Therefore, print management software is now being used by universities and schools as well. The innovative features and its easy use have made this software very popular among different types of organizations.

Open Source vs. Closed Source Software: The Great Debate

1) Open Source Software

Open source software can be defined as software distributed under a licensing agreement which allows the source code (computer code) to be shared, viewed and modified by other users and organisations.

Cost

Open source software is free. This is a huge draw card, and if your in-house capabilities are such that you are able to implement, train and support at little cost to your organization it may be an attractive option. Having said that, open source software requires a certain level of technical expertise in order to manage content. It is therefore important to take into consideration the costs incurred once the software is obtained may be substantial unless the resources are already in place to manage it. Long term costs include the cost of implementation, innovation, the opportunity cost incurred battling with service/support issues, and the costs associated with investment in infrastructure due to a general inability to scale (assuming the organisation will grow and develop and will therefore have evolving requirements). Notably, open source software providers are increasingly charging for add- ons, additional services and integration. The total cost of ownership for open source software may roughly equal some closed source options as a result.

Service and Support

Service is one of the key issues regarding open source software. Open source software relies on its online community network to deliver support via forums and blogs. While there are massive, loyal and engaged online communities that users can turn to, time-poor consumers of today are familiar with the immediate service and support that enables issues to be resolved in a timely manner, and these communities cannot guarantee the high level of responsive service and support proprietary software can offer.

Innovation

Open source software enables innovation by providing users with the freedom and flexibility to adapt the software to suit, without restriction. However, innovation may or may not be passed on to all users of the software. It is a user’s prerogative whether they wish to share their innovation with any online communities, and users must be actively participating in these communities to become aware of such innovations. It has been debated whether customized changes to the original source code limit the future support and growth of the software, as these can potentially result in a limited ability to apply future updates, fixes or modules aimed at improving the software, leaving the user with a version that may have irresolvable issues. It is relevant to note that open source software providers generally struggle to attract large scale R&D

Usability

Open source software has been highly criticized for its lack of usability, as generally, the technology is not reviewed by usability experts and does not cater to the vast majority of computer users. Open source software is generally developer-centric, and without system administration experience or the knowledge required to manipulate programming language, use of the software and ability to fix errors as they arise is often limited to those with technical expertise. Furthermore, open source software does not legally require documentation such as user manuals or guides, hindering the creation of such tools. When documentation is provided, it is often general, containing implicit jargon, inhibiting learning. Without adequate documentation users must rely on alternative means such as online communities, assuming they are capable of finding them and the problem is one others have encountered or are willing to help resolve.

Security

Open source software is often viewed as having security issues. New data from Forrester Research has shown that 58% of IT Executives and technology decision makers in large companies are concerned about the security of open source software. Open source software is not necessarily developed in a controlled environment. While big players often have a concentrated development team, oftentimes the software is being developed by individuals all over the world who may not work on the software for the duration of its developing lifetime. This lack of continuity and common direction can lead to barriers to effective communication surrounding the software. Furthermore, open source software is not always peer reviewed or validated for use. While users are free to examine and verify source code, the level of expertise required means that it is entirely possible for a programmer to embed back door Trojans to capture private and confidential information without the user ever knowing. Adopting a reputable brand with a concentrated development team supported by a strong online community will reduce the potential risk.

2) Closed Source Software

Closed source software can be defined as proprietary software distributed under a licensing agreement to authorized users with private modification, copying and republishing restrictions.

Cost

The cost of proprietary software will vary from a few thousand to a few hundred thousand dollars, depending on the complexity of the system required. This cost is made up of a base fee for software, integration and services and annual licensin g/support fees. This cost may be prohibitive for some; however what the user is paying for is a more customized product from a trusted brand that includes higher levels of security and functionality, continuous innovation, a greater ability to scale, ongoing training and support and a lower requirement for technical skills. In order to support these elements and maintain high availability websites, a mechanism must be in place to recoup the costs. As mentioned previously, increasingly open source software providers are also charging for add-ons, additional services, and integration, reducing the gap in cost between the two options.

Service and Support

If the internet is an important channel for an organisation, software is often a secondary concern, with service level and support structure requirements taking precedent in favour of maximising uptime and minimising downtime. Service is probably the greatest advantage of using proprietary software. Proprietary software providers offer ongoing support to users, a key selling point for users without technical expertise.If the user manual or guide is not enough, or if a user experiences a problem with the software, there is an immediate point of call to turn to for assistance. There is a certain reduction in the risk undertaken with proprietary software because users are working with companies that are viable, and people with intimate knowledge of the products and services being used should any questions arise. Because service is one of the main reasons users choose proprietary over open source software, many proprietary software providers compete on service, increasing the bargaining power of buyers and thereby increasing customer service levels among providers.

Innovation

Proprietary software providers do not allow users to view or alter the source code. While this may be viewed as a disadvantage to some, it ensures the security and reliability of the software. Furthermore, many proprietary software providers customize software for specific users to provide more flexibility while investing in R&D in order to regularly offer new products and upgrades. Moreover, proprietary software providers have online user communities that create value by sharing ideas, strategies and best practices through feedback mechanisms such as forums and surveys, which also foster innovation and allow the product to adapt with changing needs. This innovation comes fully tested, and is available to all users of the software. It does not require investment in R&D or the technical understanding of source code, and assistance with implementation is generally part of the package. Because vendors must ensure their software does not become redundant, users also benefit from the type of targeted innovation undertaken- continuous investment in R&D rather than “innovation for innovation’s sake”, business focused rather than technology focused.

Usability

Proprietary software generally employs expert usability testing, and as the software is normally aimed at a more targeted audience, and therefore more tailored, usability is generally ranked quite high. In addition, detailed user manuals and guides are provided. This enables faster training and provides an immediate reference, allowing users to move along the learning curve more quickly. Supporting services include seminars, targeted training courses and extensive support to help maximise use of the software. It is also important to note that while many people see proprietary software as “closed”, today’s proprietary software offers a vast array of mechanisms for enhancement by third party systems and developers.

Security

Proprietary software is viewed as more secure because it is developed in a controlled environment by a concentrated team with a common direction. Moreover, the source code may be viewed and edited by this team alone, and is heavily audited, eliminating the risk of back door Trojans and reducing the risk of any bugs or issues with the software.

Samsung F480 Tocco Vs Samsung F490

The Samsung Tocco and the Samsung F490 are similar phones, but they each have a different concentration. The Tocco is focused more on better touch quality and user interface. The Tocco is actually a more advanced phone than the F490, which seems odd because it has a lower number assigned to it. The F490 is focused more on phone power and screen quality and size, which it accomplishes very well. The tocco has a smaller screen, but has other features such as a better camera.

The Samsung F490 has very good phone quality. It is Bluetooth compatible, and the sound quality is excellent. The basic shape of the F490 is set up very similarly to the iPhone, but the Samsung F490 is not necessarily an iPhone knock off. For one thing, all of the features not relating to the Internet are better designed on the F490. The screen is 3.2 inches and it is run off of a touch screen. However, there are still some buttons left over from more traditional phone designs. The main issue with this screen seems to be that it gets dirty quickly, but it is also easy to clean. The main drawback is the fact that the camera lens is inverted, so that dust falls into it easily, making pictures smudge and the lens hard to clean. The screen is also hard to read in sunlight. The phone uses the Samsung Croix interface, which is their new interface design. The main issue with the Internet on this phone is the lack of java capabilities. Still, overall the Samsung F490 is pretty cool except for one main issue. Whenever calls come in, the screen automatically locks. This makes it impossible to answer or hang up when people call without putting in the unlock sequence.

The Samsung Tocco is basically a redesigned version of the Samsung F490. It looks a lot like the Samsung Armani, and is black, small, and flat like most other similar phones right now. The screen is 2.8 inches, making it smaller than the F490. The phone interface is completely different, using widgets similar to Windows Vista. The touch interface for the Samsung Tocco is much faster and more responsive. It uses a regular phone pad rather than a QWERTY set up. It comes with a good music player, FM radio, sound effects, and Bluetooth recognition. The camera that comes with this phone is a 5 megapixal with anti-shake and other features. This phone also is hard to read in sunlight. This phone is a great all around phone, with competent features in every category. If you are looking for a phone that does a little bit of everything, then this phone is a good option for you.

In comparing the Samsung Tocco and the F490, the Samsung Tocco is definitely the better phone. It has improved features on nearly all counts. Still, there are some drawbacks to it as well, such as the inability to support QWERTY functions, and only average sound quality. If you are looking for great all around phones, either one of these would be good options, although the Tocco is a little better.

Htc Touch Diamond Review

The HTC Corp, though a relatively young company, has already captured the hearts of millions across the globe with their amazing device, the HTC Touch Diamond. The mobile phone is extraordinary in everything it offers its users: style, utility and innovation. The first thing that would attract you about this phone is its amazing beauty of brushed steel with mat finish, smooth flowing edges and as compact as it can come. Whenever you would read a HTC Touch Diamond review, you would most definitely find one whole paragraph to its amazing style and beauty.

The second most impressive factor is the huge 2.8″ TFT touch screen. Not only is the screen of the phone super-huge but also, it brings the menu literally at your fingertips. The touch screen is powered by a new technology, TouchFlo 3D which permits you to operate your mobile phone with your fingers by touching different icons on the screen. You have to experience this in order to understand how amazing it feels to do so. The HTC Touch Diamond comes not only with this amazing innovation but also with super fast connectivity to the Internet through yet another ground-breaking technology, HSDPA. You can surf the Net and even open and navigate sites such as YouTube, Google and the like.

This is not all. As you will read in the HTC Touch Diamond review, this phone comes with a wonderful 3.2 megapixel camera with auto focus and flash. You can now capture any such memory you like, anytime it happens because you would be always ready. The camera is easy to set up, easy to use and produces excellent quality photographs and videos. The HTC Touch Diamond comes with a picture stabilizer that insures that your photograph is perfect even if your subject chooses not to. You can shoot excellent videos, while the still camera can give you an unending source of joy.

The HTC Touch Diamond review would mention the major highlights of the HTC Touch Diamond mobile phone:

1. A huge 2.8″ touch screen – the screen is great in two ways – size and touch-driven menu. You would be quite impressed seeing the huge screen at first; then the touch ability of the mobile phone would make you completely forget about the size and concentrate on its utility. The TouchFlo 3D interface literally brings the mobile phone to life.

2. Weather announcement – this is perhaps one of the few if not first mobile phone that provides you a weather analysis wherever you go. It has two settings so you could program it to see the weather where you are presently and at home. The same goes for the time.

3. Internet connectivity – The HTC Touch Diamond review also mentions the excellent HSDPA internet connectivity with the help of which you could access Internet at high speed for effortless surfing, uploading and downloading.

4. Memory – the HTC Touch Diamond comes with a 4GB internal storage memory, which gives you scope to carry as many songs, photographs, video clips as you would like.

5. GPS – this is one of the very few phones, according to the HTC Touch Diamond review that allows you satellite navigation experience with the help of automatically reading maps.

Overall, this is a product that deserves all the accolades it was awarded and more.