Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
istics of printed text. Released products include
Amazon's Kindle DX, the BEBOOK, iRex iLiad,
and the Sony Reader PRS-700BC.
the screen size may pose ergonomic challenges for
designers and users. Types of UMPCs include Acer
ASPIRE One, ASUS EeePC, HP Mini-Note, Sony
VAIO P500, Samsung Q1EX, and Viliv X70EX.
Portable Audio-Video Media Players
The portable media player, most commonly re-
ferred to as the mp3 player sometimes with video
capability, has revolutionized the way audio and
video is created and distributed. A device usually
consists of a file storage mechanism (memory),
power solution (rechargeable battery), a method
to download files or synch with desktops and
laptops (USB connection or removable memory
card), and an audio output (headphone port). The
portable media player's physical size may be as
small as a postage stamp, to the size of a laptop.
More advanced versions have video displays
which enable encoded video file playback.
The Apple iPod has become the ubiquitous
portable media player of choice, specifically
among younger users. Apple's marketing strategy
has been extremely successful, as the portable
media player market is one of Apple's highest
revenue generators. Other manufactures have
tried to claim market share as they produce their
versions of the portable media player. A few
examples include Microsoft Zune, Creative Zen,
and Samsung YP-P2.
mobile device: Software
The advent of new mobile device hardware tech-
nology is the impetus for innovative software that
optimizes the functionality of mobile devices
in m-learning environments. As with personal
computing, operating systems (OS) on mobile
handheld devices have evolved. The most notice-
able difference between the desktop PC market and
the mobile computing market is a movement from
proprietary based software to open source software
design spearheaded by organizations such as the
Symbian Foundation, the Linux Mobile (LiMo)
Foundation, the Open Handset Alliance (OHA),
and Open Source in Mobile (OSIM). It is projected
that open source software will spur innovation,
facilitate improved device performance, enable
more user-friendly software design, and increase
the level of positive user experiences.
Mobile Device Operating Systems
The Symbian OS, developed by Symbian Software
Ltd., is the most used and developed mobile OS
with licensed copies in more than 250 million
shipped units. Though portions of the software
code of the Symbian platform are open to the
public, by 2010 it is expected that the entire
Symbian platform will be open source and free
to the public. This type of open source OS will
enable continuity and increased compatibility of
developed software in m-learning environments.
Such open source initiatives are managed by the
Symbian Foundation. The Symbian Foundation,
which became operational in early 2009, is the
premier lead organization in the move toward
open source mobile OS implementation. The
foundation is composed of the following mobile
device industry leaders:
Ultra-Mobile PC (UMPC/Netbook)
Ultra-Mobile PCs are the newest developments
in personal computing. UMPCs retain the same
functionality of laptops and notebooks, while
shrinking the technology into a smaller package.
Advances in microelectronics design and manu-
facturing have enhanced this smaller portable PC.
The common display size of the UMPC is about 8
inches (203.2 millimeters) diagonally compared
to 15.4 inches (391 millimeters) for the typical
laptop. The future of the UMPC may depend on
a single concern; battery life. Unfortunately exist-
ing battery technology is limited by the physical
size of the cell; typically, the smaller the cell, the
smaller the storage capacity. Besides battery life,
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