Comptia A+ 220-1201 Course FlashCards (1.0 mobile devices)

Section 1.0 (Mobile Devices)

Laptop hardware

• Engineered to precise specifications –A challenging repair • Some laptops are easier to fix than others –An ongoing learning process • Understand the process –The details will vary between laptop manufacturers

Laptop batteries

• The power source when unplugged –May be easily replaced or require a tear down –Five minutes vs. one hour • Lithium-Ion (Li-ion) and Lithium-Ion polymer (LiPo) are common –No “memory effect” –Charging the battery does not diminish capacity • Different form factor for each laptop –Battery types and styles can vary –Battery technology is changing constantly

Laptop keyboard

• The most-used component of the laptop –Can be easy to replace –A few screws and a single ribbon cable –May not always be this simple • Or connect an external USB keyboard –Not very portable, but works in a pinch

Laptop keys

• Some repairs might require the removal or replacement of a key cap –This can be a delicate procedure • Check with the manufacturer’s instructions –It’s very easy to accidentally break

Laptop memory

• Small Outline Dual In-line Memory Module (SO-DIMM) • Memory used in laptops and mobile devices –Often easy to install and replace • Some laptop memory is soldered to the system board –No upgrade available –Requires a full system board replacement

Laptop Storage

• Magnetic disk –Traditional spinning drive platters –2.5 form factors (3.5 inch for desktops) • SSD (Solid-state drive) –All memory, no moving parts –Silent, fast access time, less latency –2.5 inch form factors • M.2 –Smaller form factor –No SATA data or power cables –Easy to install and replace

Replacing laptop storage

• All internal –Open a cover on the back –Open the entire laptop • Can be very modular –Two screws and the drive slides out • M.2 drives are even easier –One screw - similar to RAM installation

Migrating from HDD to SSD

• An impressive upgrade –Move from spinning mechanical drive to solid state memory –It’s almost like getting a new laptop • Install an OS on the SSD –Move user documents between drives –Install any required applications –Can be time consuming • Image/clone the HDD –No OS installation required –Move everything from one to the other • Imaging software needed –Sometimes included with the SSD –Many commercial and open source options • Create an image file –One drive at a time • Drive-to-drive image –Image directly from one drive to the other

802.11 wireless and Bluetooth

• Wireless network connectivity– Connect without wires • 802.11– Local area network (LAN)– High speed, Internet access • Bluetooth– Personal area network (PAN) - Short range– Connect peripherals and other nearby devices

Biometrics

• Sign in or unlock your laptop with a fingerprint reader or face recognition– Something you are • Requires additional configuration in the OS– Hardware required for most options • Relatively secure– Faces and fingerprints are quite unique

Near-field communication (NFC)

• Short-distance networking– 4 centimeters or less– Data transfers or authentication • Common on mobile phones and smart watches– Payment method on your wrist • Use it for authentication without typing a password– Hospital workstations, warehouses, manufacturing

Wi-Fi antennas

• Multiple antennas– WiFi main and aux– Bluetooth • Antenna wires wrap around the laptop screen

Connecting mobile devices

• Phones and tablets– Many different ways to connect • Wired and wireless connectivity– Standards and options change through the years • Used for synchronization, connectivity, backup, and identification– Sometimes simultaneously

USB

• Universal Serial Bus– High-speed wired communication– Used for charging and data transfers • Micro-USB– A smaller USB connection– Common now worldwide • Older devices may use Mini-USB -Slightly larger

USB-C

• 24-pin double-sided USB connector– Used for both hosts and devices • Acts as a USB 2.0/3.0/3.1/4 connection– Different signals can use the same connector • Can transmit other signals– DisplayPort– HDMI– Thunderbolt

Lightning

• Apple proprietary– 8-pin digital signals– iPhone and iPad devices • Some advantages over Micro-USB– Higher power output for phones and tablets– Can be inserted either way– Simpler design

NFC

• Near Field Communication– Send small amounts of data wirelessly over a limited area • Built into your phone– Payment systems, transportation, in-person information exchange • Access token, identity “card”– Short range with encryption support

Bluetooth

• High speed communication over short distances– PAN (Personal Area Network) • Connects our mobile devices– Smartphones– Tethering– Headsets and headphones– Health monitors– Automobile and phone integration– Smartwatches– External speakers

Hotspot/Tethering

• Turn your phone into a WiFi hotspot– Your own personal wireless router– Extend the cellular data network to all of your devices • Dependent on phone type and provider– May require additional charges and data costs

Stylus

• Digital stylus– A more advanced writing tool • The stylus communicates directly to the device– Pressure sensitivity, programmable buttons, etc. • Must be compatible with the tablet– e.g., Apple iPad uses an Apple Pencil

Headsets

• Hands-free audio - Earphones and microphone • Wired– USB connections are common on laptops– Connects to 3.5 mm TRRS (tip-ring-ring-sleeve) connector– Analog audio jack– iPhone can use Lightning port • Wireless - Bluetooth headsets

Speakers

• Mobile audio - Battery powered • Wireless connection - Bluetooth link • Stereo sound - Small package

Camera / webcam

• Internal or external– Commonly external on desktops, internal on laptops/tablets/phones • Accessible from multimedia applications, photo utilities,and video conferencing -Real-time video communication

Docking station

Use external keyboard and mouse– Extend existing laptop interfaces– Add additional functionality– Desktop adapter cards -Avoid cable issues

Port replicator

• Port replicator– Similar to a docking station– Does not commonly have an expansion card option– Usually connects using USB

Trackpad

Replace the mouse– Useful in tight working areas– Common on laptops • External options– Battery powered– Bluetooth connected • Drag and tap– Or use multiple finger input for right-clicking, zooming, and window control • Enable and disable– Avoid inadvertent mouse clicks and movements

Drawing pad

• Use an active stylus with an external digitizer– Very precise input

Cellular networks

• Mobile devices –“Cell” phones • Separate land into “cells” –Antenna coverages a cell with certain frequencies • Enable or disable voice and/or data –Airplane mode disables all cellular networks –Could also disable data but keep voice

3G technology

• 3rd Generation –Introduced in 1998 • Upgraded data connectivity –Incremental 3G updates improved speeds –Usually several megabits per second • Bandwidth improvement allowed new functionality –GPS –Mobile television –Video on demand –Video conferencing

4G and LTE

• Long Term Evolution (LTE) –A “4G” technology –Based on GSM and EDGE (Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution) –Standard supports download rates of 150 Mbit/s • LTE Advanced (LTE-A) –Standard supports download rates of 300 Mbit/s

5G

• Fifth generation cellular networking –Launched worldwide in 2020 • Significant performance improvements –At higher frequencies –Eventually 10 gigabits per second –Slower speeds from 100-900 Mbit/s • Significant IoT impact –Bandwidth becomes less of a constraint –Larger data transfers –Faster monitoring and notification –Additional cloud processing

Wi-Fi

Connect to a local 802.11 network –Data access for email and Internet –Higher speeds, no cellular bandwidth use • Requires a local access point –Limited distance coverage • May also support voice communication –Wi-Fi calling –Requires support from the voice carrier –Very useful when cellular coverage may not be available

Hotspot

• Turn your phone into a WiFi hotspot –Your own personal wireless router –Extend the cellular data network to all of your devices • Dependent on phone type and provider –May require additional charges and data costs

Subscriber Identity Module (SIM)

• A unique identifier for cellular devices –Often a tiny physical card –Replace the SIM and the phone has a new number • Contains information for the carrier and user –SIM ID and phone number –Cellular network information –Storage space for contacts, messages, etc. • eSIM - embedded SIM –SIM is inside the device –Cannot be physically removed • Many devices support multiple SIMs

Bluetooth pairing

• Connect a Bluetooth device –Built-in security - Use or verify a PIN • Pair the devices one time –Future connections should be automatic • Check with the manufacturer –May prefer a specific sequence –Discoverable mode isn’t always obvious

Bluetooth pairing process

• Enable Bluetooth on both devices –Android and iOS: Settings / Bluetooth • Set devices to discoverable mode –May require key sequence on Bluetooth device • Select discovered device –Many devices may appear! • Enter or confirm PIN –Should be the same on both devices • Test connectivity –Devices should now communicate

GPS (Global Positioning System)

Created by the U.S. Department of Defense –Over 30 satellites currently in orbit • Precise navigation –Need to see at least 4 satellites • Determines location based on timing differences –Longitude, latitude, altitude • Mobile device location services and geotracking –Maps, directions –Determine physical location based on GPS, WiFi, and cellular towers

MDM (Mobile Device Management)

• Manage company-owned and user-owned mobile devices– BYOD - Bring Your Own Device • Centralized management of the mobile devices– Specialized functionality • Set policies on apps, data, camera, etc.– Control the remote device– The entire device or a “partition” • Manage access control– Force screen locks and PINs on these single user devices

BYOD

• Bring Your Own Device– Bring Your Own Technology • Employee owns the device– Need to meet the company’s requirements • Difficult to secure– It’s both a home device and a work device– How is data protected?– What happens to the data when a device is sold or traded in?

COPE

• Corporate owned, personally enabled– Company buys the device– Used as both a corporate device and a personal device • Organization keeps full control of the device– Similar to company-owned laptops and desktops • Information is protected using corporate policies– Information can be deleted at any time • CYOD - Choose Your Own Device– Similar to COPE, but with the user’s choice of device

MDM policy enforcement

• Corporate email configuration– User does not need to configure anything– The MDM makes the changes on the device– Account details, server address, communication method • Two-factor authentication– Require specific authentication types– Biometrics, pseudo-random authentication app • Corporate applications– Allow or restrict app installation– Prevent unauthorized app usage

Mobile device synchronization

• Many settings are preconfigured– Telephone / Text messaging • Email– Everyone handles email services differently– Corporate email configurations can vary • Data synchronization– Based on data rates and speeds– Important for backup and recovery

Synchronizing data

• Data types– Calendar– Contacts • Data caps and transfer costs– May have significant financial consequences – Cellular/Mobile vs 802.11 • Verify data restrictions with the wireless carrier– Get it in writing • Enable or disable network connections– Control the use of cellular downloads

Business applications

• Mail, cloud storage, etc.– Many different services available • Authenticate– Username, password • Select the items to synchronize– Changes will appear on the mobile device • Same process for other services– Often built-in to the mobile device