Mobile Devices and Smartphones

Smartphone

Modern smartphones can do almost as much as a desktop PC could.They are extremely mobile and convenient. With a proper service provider they can access the internet from almost anywhere.

Like all other computers, they are a piece of hardware that uses software to perform functions and duties. They have their own operating systems and app stores to find and download more applications.

The only disadvantage of course, is that smartphones use slightly different apps compared to desktop or laptop computers. They are designed to be used on smaller screens. So software you find for a computer might not be available for a mobile device.

Operating Systems

Mobile devices have their own operating systems that are different from desktop computers. The majority are:

- (Android): Made by Google. Has 80+% market share of all mobile devices in the world. About 50% in the USA.

- : Made by Apple. Has about 15% of market share in the world. About 40% in the USA.

: Made by Microsoft. Has about 3% of market share in the world.

Blackberry OS: Made by Blackberry. Had about 3% back in 2013. Hasless than 1% now since it is obsolete. Peaked at 20% around 2009.

Android has a dessert naming scheme for their operating system. It follows the alphabet: A,B,C,D…

Alpha [1.0] (2008) Beta [1.1] (2009)Cupcake [1.5] (2009)Donut [1.6] (2009)Éclair [2.0 – 2.1] (2009)Froyo [2.2 – 2.2.3] (2010)Gingerbread [2.3 – 2.3.7] (2010)Honeycomb [3.0 – 3.2.6] (2011) [Tablets only]Ice Cream Sandwich [4.0 – 4.0.4] (2011)Jelly Bean [4.1 – 4.3.1] (2012)

Common versions as of 2017:KitKat [4.4 – 4.4.4] (2013)Lollipop [5.0 – 5.1.1] (2014)Marshmallow [6.0 – 6.0.1] (2015)Nougat [7.0 – 7.1.1] (2016)

Apple started with the iPhone OS back in 2008, and in 2010 renamed it to iOS.

iPhone OS 1 (2008) iPhone OS 2 (2008)iPhone OS 3 (2009)iOS 4 (2010)iOS 5 (2011)iOS 6 (2012)iOS 7 (2013)iOS 8 (2014)iOS 9 (2015)

[iPad 1 ends at iOS 5.1.1][iPhone 4 ends at iOS 7.1.2][iPhone 4S, iPad 2, iPad 3, iPad mini 1, and iPod Touch 5 ends at iOS 9.3.5]

The most up to date is:

iOS 10 (2016)

iOS 10.2 is the most stable release released in December of 2016.

iOS 10.3 is in beta and is released in March of 2017.

Difference: iOS and Android

Most of the operating systems share similar features. The most important factor is whether you like it or not.

Android operating systems are common and run on multiple brands of smartphones, but they tend to vary depending on the brand. This can be anything from the user interface looks, to efficiency/power consumption, to responsiveness, and even special functions. This is why Android tends to be unstable at times.

iOS operating systems are found in all Apple iPhones and iPads. They are heavily controlled by Apple and are extremely efficient and simple.

Buttons

Most phones will have at least:- Power Button = power off or on the device, power menu- Volume Buttons/Rocker = adjust volume

Some phones (like iPhones) will also have:- Home Button = go to the home screen page

Others might also have:- Back Button = to go back to the previous screen, or close a popup menu or

keyboard- App/Menu Button = (more common) open up list of recent apps (task manager)

(less common) open up a menu

Note that some devices turn the Back, Home, and App/Menu buttons into software buttons instead of having hardware buttons.

Gestures List

Since smartphones and tablets usually have no mouse or keyboards, it will rely on the touchscreen for input.

This is where “gestures” come in, and some of them include:

- Tapping = Use one finger to quickly tap once.- Double tapping = Use one finger to quickly tap twice.- Long pressing = Use one finger to press and hold.- Dragging/Sliding = Use one finger and drag or move it around the screen.- Pinching = Use two fingers far apart, touch the screen, and move them

together. Recommended to use index finger and thumb.- Spreading = Use two fingers close together, touch the screen, and move

them apart.- Rotating = Use two fingers slightly apart, touch the screen, and rotate the

fingers.

Gesture Functions

- Tapping = It is similar to left clicking once. It usually opens the item instead of selecting.

- Double tapping = Quickly zoom in or zoom back out.

- Long pressing = Usually for opening another menu, popping off something to move, or selecting something.

- Dragging/Sliding = Used to move around screens or objects.

- Pinching = Used to zoom out.

- Spreading = Used to zoom in.

- Rotating = Used to rotate.

Lock Screen

Even though the operating systems differ, they share many things. Some things include navigation, certain settings, and ways of obtaining apps or managing apps.

First, when you open your device you are greeted with a lockscreen. This screen is used to display notifications, such as missed calls or received messages, and keep your device secure if you have security set up.

To remove the lock, it is usually required to swipe across the screen.

There are many ways of securing your device: number pin, pattern, password, and fingerprints.

Home Screen

After the lock screen, the first thing you see is the home screen. Pressing home button will usually bring you to this screen regardless of whether you are in an app or in another screen.

Swiping left or right will let you view other screens. These screens, including the home screen, can be customized to your liking. For example, you may put apps that you most use on the home screen.

In Android, you may also put “widgets” on the screen. These are bigger, special looking modules that display various information to your liking.

To move anything, just long press an item or app, and then drag it to where you need it.

Status Bar and Notifications Screen

At the top of your phone is your status bar, and if you drag down from it, it will display your notifications screen.

The status bar shows you basic information and notifications, just like the lock screen. It has the time, cell signal or wifi signal, and possible alarmsor statuses like missed calls or new messages.

The notifications screen has detailed information concerning the icons on your status bar. In Android, you will also see your toggles for various functions like Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

This status bar and notification screen is accessible from any screen you are in. You can drag the screen back up to get rid of it.

Settings and Apps

Now let’s find the Settings app. This “app” controls most of your phone’s hardware and settings such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, security, and many other things. You may also check your operating system version as well.

In iOS, all the apps are in your screens. In Android, there are many launchers available that you can customize. Most Android devices have an app drawer that keeps all your apps organized.

Also note that iOS and Android are separate operating systems so apps that are made for iOS might not be in Android, and vice versa. As stated in the slide on iOS and Android (page 6), they have different app markets.

Basic Apps

All phones should have several basic apps. Settings is one of them.Some others include:- Web Browser (for opening web pages)- App Market (for getting more apps)- Photo and Video Gallery (for viewing your photos and videos)- Camera (for taking photos and recording videos)- Clock (for timekeeping and also set up alarms)- File Manager or File Explorer (for managing your files in your phone, not

all phones have this by the way)- Calculator

In Android:- Phone (dialing pad and phone)- Contacts (phone numbers and list of contacts)- Messaging (text messages)

Accounts

Usually when you obtain your smartphone and power it on for the first time, it will ask for an account to connect it with. For iPhones it will be an Apple ID, and for Android phones it will be a Google account.

Without an account, you will not have access to your saved contacts and possible backup information (such as call logs, photos, and home screen settings). Most importantly, you will not have access to the App Store.

To access the app store you need to have an account logged into your phone.

App Store Activity

Web Browsers- Mozilla Firefox- Google Chrome

Google Apps- Gmail- Drive- Photos- Translate- Youtube- Maps

Let’s go download some useful apps to your phone!Here is a list of some useful apps:

Messaging- Wechat- Hangouts

Chinese Dictionary- Pleco

Shopping- Amazon