The Edge of Using EDGE

When GPRS was first introduced, mobile phone users rejoiced at the prospect of being able to go online and browse websites made specifically for mobile phones. WAP sites grew in numbers and while the average connection speed of GPRS technology was akin to dial-up internet speeds, it still provided amazing mobile internet experience. Now, GPRS has been greatly improved with EDGE technology.

What is EDGE?

EDGE stands for Enhanced Data rates for GPRS Evolution. One other name for EDGE is IMT signal carrier, but EDGE is more commonly used. The improvements with EDGE are so huge that it is considered 3G technology and are no longer in the same tier as the old GPRS signals.

EDGE and Connectivity

Many carriers support EDGE and most smart phone are EDGE capable. This enables many users with instant access to the internet at decent connection speeds. While EDGE is not as fast as HSDPA it still works wonders particularly when HSDPA is unavailable. Another major advantage of EDGE over other technologies is that the hardware that EDGE system needs is cheaper than other networking options.

Existing GSM transmitters and transceivers can be easily upgraded to support EDGE networking. This enables many carriers to switch to EDGE without problems. Creating consumer-side EDGE equipment is also easy since manufacturers are already familiar with the hardware.

What is next for EDGE?

Sadly, this seems to be the true limit of GSM and GPRS technology. EDGE right now stands as the fastest data packet creating and transmitting option available to GPRS technology. The next real step already exists with 3G and HSDPA technology. EDGE is still important because it still keep most transient technology in the loop. But as each month passes and more and more people are switching devices, the time will soon come when nobody will be using EDGE anymore.

Bookmark It

Defining What TV-Out is

When playing a video from a disc or cassette, this refers to the port through which data shall be fed into your television set. The word more generally used is video out. In more specific terms, TV out refers to the specific port where television broadcast signals are fed through cable.

Technically Speaking

TV out is just a video feed and not an audio feed. This means whatever data you stream or receive from a TV out port will be limited to images without sound. Simply, it is just a connector that transmits Analog Video signal while Fiber optic cable transmit digital video signal.

TV out is used in various connectors such as composite video, component video and S-video. Each type of connector has its own unique traits and output capabilities. The quality of video and audio also varies with each. Most importantly, the types of compatible devices for each kind are very specific.

Using TV Out

In all cases, you do not need to know about the more intricate working capabilities of TV-out signals. All you need to do is connect the appropriate jacks to the right ports. You can have your local technician handle it or do it yourself. Just be gentle in handling the plugs or jacks. Too much pressing and pushing of cable jacks or plugs will affect the housing structure and could damage your TV out port and also other connectors.

Bookmark It

How HSUPA Works

This is done by allocating bandwidth and creating large packets of information that are sent out in scheduled batches. This method of allocating and scheduling streamlines the transfer of data allowing large amounts of data to be quickly and efficiently sent and received by mobile phones. With HSUPA, some devices are able to create chunks of data of up to 11mb and more.

Evolving 3G

3G technology is already powerful to begin with. This is the very same technology that enabled mobile devices to do video conferences and go online through carrier services. Now HSUPA pushes the 3G technology even more. This is similar to HSDPA technology in many aspects; particularly with the creation of data packets into large chunks. The term HSUPA stands for High Speed Uplink Packet Access and was coined by Nokia. While HSUPA is a powerful method of sending and receiving data, it is surpassed by the more powerful and more widely used HSDPA technology.

HSUPA and HSDPA

As stated, HSUPA is not as efficient as HSDPA; this is why most modern smart phones are HSDPA capable instead of HSUPA. This is mostly due to the scheduling aspect of HSUPA technology. The allocation and timing of sending and retrieving packet data is not able to synchronize properly with many mobile devices, this sometimes causes unintended lag and delays in data transfer. This problem does not happen with HSDPA though other forms of network interference are present in both technologies.

Bookmark It

Universally Needed

If you have been using computers for quite some time now, then you are definitely familiar with the plethora of different plugs and outlets used to connect monitors, keyboards, printers and all sorts of computer parts. Socket names such as PS/2, Parallel port, I/O port, serial port, Comm 2 and Fire wire are all too familiar.

The Problem as it Stood

Of course, it was not really that hard to figure out; as each plug corresponded to only one socket, connecting the parts was a simple as a child’s play set. What was complicated was how these devices were made. Manufacturers of parts had to coordinate all the time with manufacturers of motherboard in order to ensure that their device will be supported. Unless their product can be plugged into a computer, there was always a danger of producing a completely unusable item.

Enter the Universal Serial Bus Port

USB stands for Universal Serial Bus. No, not the kind of buses that tour the city streets. USB was invented in order for devices to share a single plug in port format thereby removing the problem of compatibility. By having a single port that will be always available, manufacturers could produce all sorts of USB devices without worry. These made computing life a lot easier for everyone

USB Today

USB v2.0 stands for the latest version of USB port. This allows faster speed of transfer as compared to their predecessors. You can plug USB v2.0 devices to older USB ports but expect transfer speeds to be a lot slower. As of today, USB is not only used in computers but also in media players. The Sony Playstation 3 uses a USB port to charge its wireless controllers and for accessing flash memory. Many other devices use the USB for file transfers, charging and power supply sources. Most of the fun accessories for computers also use the USB port as well.

Bookmark It

It is Cool if it has Bluetooth

There is a saying in the tech community, that its cool if it has Bluetooth. Sounds silly, yes, but Bluetooth is such a powerful wireless connectivity function that cannot be done without. As compared to infrared technology, Bluetooth does not require a direct line of sight between two connected devices. The power consumption of Bluetooth is also significantly less than that of wireless LAN devices. Most importantly, Bluetooth technology allows for high speed large data transfers making it perfect for input controls.

A Bluetooth in Every Home

Most homes have Bluetooth technology, it is most commonly found in the form of headsets. This is because wired headsets are hard to use. Users are restricted in movement due to the wire connecting the headset with the broadcasting device. Bluetooth headsets will allow you to receive signals from your playing device without having to be limited to the range of your wire. Range is hardly a problem for Bluetooth technology. Bluetooth can reach from one end of a large room to another, allowing users to move with a lot freedom. Hands free technology became truly possible thanks to the power of Bluetooth.

Other Applications of Bluetooth

Aside from Bluetooth headsets for mobile phone, there are plenty of other devices that use Bluetooth technology. Of course, there are headsets that are used in gaming consoles and desktop computers, but that is the same technology as for the mobile phones. Other input devices such as wireless mouse and keyboards, as well as most wireless controllers, use Bluetooth technology to synchronize devices to a controller.

Wireless Console Gaming

As of today, the three most powerful gaming systems, the Sony PlayStation 3, the Microsoft X-Box 360 and the Nintendo Wii all use wireless controllers that use Bluetooth technology. Bluetooth is so fast at 24Mbps, it can recognize a controller input and send it to the console without any delay at all.

Bookmark It

Why HSDPA is so Successful

If there is one major event in the past few years that truly changed mobile phones, it is the invention of 3G technology. 3G technologies allowed mobile phone to send and receive large packets of information fast and smoothly allowing for video conferences and other features. This was later updated with the development of HSDPA.

What on Earth is HSDPA?

HSDPA stands for high speed downlink packet access and is basically 3G on steroids. It has been named 3.5g, 3G+, and even turbo 3G, yes turbo. With these options available, it is no wonder people stuck with the bland sounding HSDPA. Besides it does not matter what name you call it, it still works wonders for mobile devices.

How it Works

HSDPA allows for the sending and receiving of large chunks of date through a careful management of transmissions. Mobile phone stations are scattered all over cities where carrier service is available. By carefully managing how devices send and receive information, the process is streamlined allowing for huge chunks of substantial data to be received by a single device. This was so effective that HSDPA paved the way as the basis for mobile broadband capabilities.

The Birth of Mobile Internet

While GPRS technology already existed, it did not have the same bandwidth or efficiency as 3G and HSDPA, this was akin to comparing dial up with fiber optic technology, the difference in performance is just too much. HSDPA allows for high speed video streaming, real time date gathering and even networked GPS usage. Mobile smart phones benefit greatly from having HSDPA since this enables them to connect to the internet anywhere and anytime even outside of a Wi-Fi hotspot. The performance of HSDPA is magnificent, allowing users to send and receive large megabytes of data at speeds faster than originally possible in mobile devices.

Bookmark It

Got Wireless with WiFi

For a long time, connecting to the internet meant being connected physically to a wire. In the early days of the world wide web, this meant hooking up your PC to a modem (or having an internal modem) and then hooking it up to a phone wire. This later evolved to cable, DSL, and eventually, optic fiber cables, with each offering faster connection speeds. Still, one thing remained the same, going online meant being hooked up physically to a wire. Wireless LAN changed all that.

It is All in the Name

If you have been wondering what Wi-Fi actually stood for, then here is the answer: nothing. Most people assume that just like “Hi-Fi” which stands for High Fidelity, Wi-Fi stands for wireless fidelity. This is just not true, though even a lot of early electronic experts were also easily confused by the term and had misinformed the public, thus pushing the misunderstanding until today.

Why it Works

We can go into a whole spiel about different signals, the concept of Wi-Fi, 802.11 standards and all that other hoopla, but that does not really matter. What is important is why WiFi is important. There is a reason why almost all modern laptops, smart phones, hand held gaming consoles and even home gaming consoles are Wi-Fi capable, it is because the wireless connectivity is a freedom that is appreciated by everyone.

Wireless Convenience

It is true that connecting to the internet from outside your home or office requires some form of wireless access and assessing the importance of Wi-Fi technology through that is pretty common sense. But the fact that people still prefer to use wireless routers at home goes to show that being able to arrange and use your electronic devices at home without having to be limited to the location of wires and cables is still important.

Bookmark It