Basic Information on Types of Mobile Computers #3 (Smartphones)

Mobile Computers are devices used between a user and a computer that is able to be transported during normal use. There are a large variety of Mobile Computers, Some of which are still being used today.

For Previous Post : Here (Tablet Computers)
(Post 3 of 6 - Types of Mobile Computers)
For Next Post : Here (Robots)

Smartphone
Smartphones are essentially mobile phones that have been buffed up with an advanced mobile operating system such as the IOS(Apple) or Android, Similarly to Tablets, Smartphones are flat mobile computer devices equipped with a touchscreen display, Unlike the Tablets they are pocket sized,

Smartphones still retain all the abilities of a regular mobile phone such as making and receiving phone calls, and sending and receiving text messages. The Smartphone also adds many popular features of the discontinued Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) such as an Event Calendar, GPS Navigation, Video Games, Media Player and Digital Cameras.

Like the Tablets, Smart Phones are also equipped with gesture controls for application shortcuts or commands, and a gyroscope to detect the orientation of the phone. Higher-end Smartphones are even equipped with a fingerprint biometric scanner. With “Selfies” (Self-Portraits) becoming a popular trend Smartphones almost always come with a front-facing camera.

A feature that has been very useful though we don’t notice is the proximity sensors on the front of your phone, these are the black dots you see, and it helps prevent you from accidently hanging up a phone call with your cheek or prevent you from pocket dialling.

Smartphones have also been used as a mobile console for mobile gaming. With an application market smartphone users are able to download third-party applications to play games. The application market is not only limited to games though as an abundance of productivity apps are available extending the possible features of a Smartphone.

On a Global Level Smartphones are still sort of rare. Though countries like South Korea over 88% of the population has a Smartphone, USA at 72%, Malaysia only at 65% and Tech-savvy Japan only has 39%. With the advancements of technology allowing for smartphones to be manufactured cheaper Smartphones are expected to me very common in the year 2019-2020.

By : Coronado Cestlly - 110044696

Basic Information on Types of Mobile Computers #2 (Tablet Computers)

Mobile Computers are devices used between a user and a computer that is able to be transported during normal use. There are a large variety of Mobile Computers, Some of which are still being used today.

For Previous Post : Here (Laptop and Mobile Computers)
(Post 2 of 6 - Types of Mobile Computers)
For Next Post : Here (Smart Phones)

Tablet Computers

Tablet Computers commonly known as Tablets, are flat mobile computer devices usually equipped with a touchscreen display, some tablets may include a stylus (pen shaped peripheral) that allows for touchscreen use that may require more finesse such as for handwriting or drawing.

Tablets remove the need for a physical keyboard by replacing it with a digital one on the touchscreen. Though some Tablets such as the Huawei Matebook or Microsoft Surface feature a minimalistic keyboard attachment. The Matebook Keyboard attachment doubles as a case and even includes a track pad.

Tablets also commonly feature gesture recognition to remove the need of a mouse or track pad.

In comparison to Laptops, Tablets are usually much more portable and easier to carry around as they are lighter and slimmer than most laptops.

Though the downside to tablets is that they usually lack ports (unless an adapter is used). Such as USB or HDMI ports are usually not featured on tablets. Though due to advances in technologies we may see the merge of Tablets and Laptops as laptops get slimmer and slimmer at some point laptop level of power may commonly be found in tablets. 

By : Coronado Cestlly - 110044696 

Mobile Computing Security Issues

Security Issues

Introduction:

Mobile computing is developing very fast 

recently for the improvement in the performance of some issues (handoffs, routing...), but there is another issue that has to be considered, which is important for every user of mobile devices, and that is security.

Wireless Mobile Communication Networks:

The networks included regarding this issue are:

• Wireless Lan.
• Wireless Access Point.
• Cellular Networks.

Using these three networks, the hackers can access the mobile devices and we can classify the type of threats and security challenges into two main categories:

1. Security problems that are related to the transfer of the data between the mobile devices and mobile support stations and networks.
2. Security problems that are related to the data and the informations that are in the mobile device itself.

The Common Problems of The Mobile Security:

• The mobile devices have a lack of passwords for the authentification and control access, and even if users do use passwords or PINs they usually make passwords that are easily bypassed, thus, it will increase the risk of accessing the devices.
• Some systems use static passwords which can be guessed, forgotten, written down or stolen, rather than the two factors authentification, that is very important to maintain high security levels than traditional passwords and PINs, this high level of security is necessary for sensitive informations and transactions.
• Using Wireless Transmissions that is not totally encrypted, sometimes when users send emails, and other informations, it will not be encrypted, another thing is the applications that transfer and receive the data also don't encrypt the data stansmitted.
• While doing the daily activities, the mobile devices may download malwares witout even knowing that, it's disguised in different ways: games, security patches, utilities or any other kind of applications.
• Often, the mobile devices don't use security softwares to be protected agains't malwares, spams and so on, cause some of the devices come with a preinstalled security software and some others don't. 
• The operating systems may receive a late updates, so it can be running out of date, it's up to the device manufacturers to develop certain device updates incorporating the vulnerability fix, it taes more time if the company is going to change properietaries to the device's software. Also there are devices who are older than 2 years and they will no longer receive software updates this strategy help the companies to sell their new products yearly.
• Lot's of mobile devices don't limit of internet connections cause they don't have firewalls, the mobile devices connect with others using communications ports when they're connected to a wide areas networks, so it's easy for the hackers to access the devices using these ports that aren't secure.
• Some mobile devices can be modified without authorisation in order to remove the limitations by what's called the jailbreaking or the rooting, this process changes the security management in the devices modified, thus the risks of getting hacked increse.

The Common Ways of Protection:

There are several ways for mobile device users to make it harder for the hackers to hack them:

• Use security passwords and enable authentification of the user.
• Check the resources of the downloaded applications and verify the authentifications.
• Buy the antimalwares against malicious applications, viruses, spyware, infected secure digital cards,b and malware-based attacks.
• Make sure the device is using a firewall.
• Make sure the operating system is up to date.
• In case of lost devices, disable the device and erase the data remotely.
• Encrypt the data stored in the device or the memory card.
• Use what's called by whitelisting, which means permitting only the safe applications to be processed.

Music Provided By :

• Solar Flares - Silent Partner https://youtu.be/h9bqn5Q3jVI (Free License)

• Parasail - Silent Partner: https://youtu.be/MzO4zfNO0kQ (Free License)

• Blue Skies - Silent Partner: https://youtu.be/5kDO8hLu9iI (Free License)

• Life Is by Cosimo Fogg (201) https://soundcloud.com/cosimo-fogg                  Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported— CC BY 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b...                                                         Music provided by Audio Library https://youtu.be/9MXUHYGvBVY

• Rock Angel by Joakim Karud https://soundcloud.com/joakimkarud               Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported— CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b...                                                          Music provided by Audio Library https://youtu.be/K8eRXvLL7Wo

• Before I Sleep by Muciojad https://soundcloud.com/muciojad                         Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported— CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b...                                                      Music provided by Audio Library https://youtu.be/K2viE1vRNuI

*This list will be updated if and when new songs are added

Basic Information on Types of Mobile Computers #1 (Laptops and Portable Computers)

Mobile Computers are devices used between a user and a computer that is able to be transported during normal use. There are a large variety of Mobile Computers, Some of which are still being used today.

(Post 1 of 6 - Types of Mobile Computers)
For Next Post : Here (Tablet Computers)

Laptops and Portable Computers

Before Laptops were a norm portable computers were used, they were essentially built out of full-specification desktop parts but allowed the user to move it around, and they would include the full desktop a screen and keyboard, either packed in a suitcase or luggage bag. Though due to Laptops being able to match the performance of some desktop computers, portable computers started losing popularity as the ability to carry around a much lighter and smaller device with the ability of a desktop was much preferred.

Though most Portable Computers are uncommon nowadays, Some All-in One PC’s like the iMac are still around for the niche market still interested.

Laptops otherwise known as notebooks, are computers designed like a clamshell, opening and closing, on the bottom part of the clamshell would include the input devices such as an alphanumeric keyboard some larger laptops even including a keypad, and a pointing device commonly a track-pad, The top part of the clamshell would be where the screen is a thin LCD/LED computer screen, May also include a built in webcam and microphone.  Laptops also have built in speakers that are normally on the bottom clamshell. The laptop is easily closed and kept in a bag or carried in the hands.

Most of the issued laptop user’s face when using a laptop though is the inability to hold long charges, Laptop Batteries tend to only last 1 – 6 hours during normal use. Though some recent laptops like the Lenovo ThinkPad X260 is able to last 17 hours while surfing the internet wirelessly. 


By : Coronado Cestlly - 110044696

Hardware & Software

  Mobile Computing (Hardware)  

The Principles of Mobile Computing:

Rules to abide by when constructing a mobile hardware

Portability: 
Ease of carry around.

Connectivity: 
Ability to continuously stay connected with very minimal amount of downtime, without being affected by movements of the device and frequencies of other devices.

Social Interactivity:
Able to maintain connectivity when interacting with other devices.

Individuality:
Adapting technology that suits individual needs.

   Examples of Mobile Computers:   

Smart Card: 

A chip card or integrated circuit card (ICC) is a pocket-sized card that has contains tiny integrated circuits. That delivers information when connected to a proper reader that are usually found on a mobile phone and laptops.

Usage:

Smart cards serve as credit or ATM cards, fuel membership cards, mobile phone SIMs, authentication cards for subscription television, household utility subscription payment cards, high-security individual identification and access-control cards, and public transport services cards and public phone payment cards.

Laptops:

A portable computer that has a "clamshell" form factor, normally a membrane keyboard at the lower bottom part of the computer. Easily folded shut for transportation, thus making it suitable for mobile use. Instead of a bulk power supply unit, a laptop depends on batteries to keep power up.

"Clamshell" form factor

Smartphones:

Modern day smartphones has many of the capabilities that a PC has but packed into a pocket-sized portable device. Smartphones uses an electronic visual display that are able to detect touch inputs from a user. Smartphones are also capable of making calls with an active SIM inserted and often dependent on an operating systems that provides a virtual keyboard. Smartphones OS of today are often Android and iOS.

Google flagship & Apple's flagship smartphones

Tablet Computers:

Tablet computers uses similar technology that  is of a smartphone but presented with a flat large display and a longer battery-life due to a larger form factor. The reason to this is because, tablet computers were made on the idea of an office-use presentation device. Tablet computers commonly does not include calling features.

Tablet Computers

Carputers:
A carputer is specialize to run in a car. Compact-sized and lower power consumption that normally has GPS capability to navigate a driver to a destination. A carputer also has Bluetooth functionality for convenient connection between another Bluetooth capable device. Carputer is also able to switch to hands-free call mode to prevent one hand-driving.

A carputer with Windows 10 pre-installed

Wearable Computers:

Also known as body-born computers that are miniature electronic devices that are worn with, under or on top of clothing. They are made usually for general or special purpose information technologies such as showing heart-rate when exercising, displaying important meetings at a specific time or a general heads up display.

Apple Watch released in 2015, as a wearable computer