Mobile Devices
Mobile Devices
Laptop Hardware
Batteries are usually Lithium-Ion or Lithium-Ion polymer. Charging the battery diminishes capacity slightly. Battery types and styles can vary.
Keyboards are the most used component. They are easy to replace. Only a few screws and a single ribbon cable. Sometimes it may not be as simple. Some laptops use USB keyboards. Repairing key caps are delicate and listening to the manufacturer instructions is important.
Memory is stored within the Small Outline Dual In-line Memory Module (SO-DIMM). These are often easy to install and replace. Sometimes memory is soldered to the system board, making it unupgradable.
Storage is often kept in a magnetic disk which is a traditional spinning drive platter. These storages are in 2.5 inch form factors (3.5 inch for desktops). Some laptops have Solid-state drives (SSD) which have no moving parts and are silent with less latency. These drives also have 2.5 inch form factors. Another type is the M.2 interface that has a smaller form factor. M.2s do not use serial advanced technology attachment (SATA) data or power cables and are easy to install. To replace anything, everything is internal and the laptop needs to be opened with screws. M.2 replacement is very similar to putting in RAM.
Moving from a spinning hard drive to an SSD is greatly beneficial. First, there should be an OS on the SSD and also movement of all of the documents to the SSD. Another way to do this is to clone the HDD to the SSD. To do this, there needs to be imaging software that may be included on the SSD or alternatively there are open source options. This imaging software may create an image file on one drive at a time or create a drive to drive image that goes directly from one drive to the other. Both devices need to be powered on for drive to drive imaging to be implemented.
Wireless network and bluetooth may be present on the laptop already through a Mini peripheral component interconnect (PCI) or a Mini PCI Express. Connection may be on an 802.11 or local area network (LAN) which provides high speed internet access. This connection can also be through bluetooth which is a personal area network (PAN) with a short range to connect peripherals and other nearby devices. Mini PCI and Mini PCI Express are very easy to implement.
Biometrics may be present on the laptop which may sign you in with face recognition or fingerprint. These require additional configuration in the OS and hardware to recognize the biometric. Relatively secure authentication for the laptop.
Near-field communication (NFC) allows authentication without contact. This is short-distance networking that is common on mobile phones and smart watches. NFCs are used for authentication without typing a password. NFCs can be used in hospital workstations, warehouses, or manufacturing positions.
Laptop Displays
Many have a liquid crystal display or LCD. Advantages of these are that they are lightweight, low power, and inexpensive. Disadvantages include the difficulty of black levels and that it requires a separate backlight.
The twisted nematic (TN) LCD is the original LCD technology with fast response times but poor viewing angles. In Plane Switching (IPS) LCD gives good color representation but is more expensive than TN. Vertical Alignment (VA) LCD is a compromise between the two. Some laptops use an Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) which doesn’t have a backlight and is very thin. The organic compound provides the light. UThese are usually on tablets, phones, and smart watches.
Wi-Fi Antennas are usually within the laptop display. When replacing a screen, you have to remember to replace the screen and antennas.
Webcams have a built-in camera and microphone. Webcams are useful for video calls but are not for non-casual use.
Older laptops may have a cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL). These take up more power and are no longer a common backlight. Modern laptops use an LED-backlit LCD display with LEDs around the edge and behind the screen. Inverters are used to take DC power and make it into AC power for fluorescent lights.
Digitizers convert analog input into graphical outputs. Digitizers are commonly used on laptops and tablets. An example of a digitizer is a stylus pen. Touchscreens are another example of a digitizer and have many options for input.
Mobile Device Configuration
Connecting Mobile Devices
Universal Series Bus (USB) is designed for high speed communication. Has type A, mini B, and micro B plug. Micro-USB is common now worldwide. Older devices may use Mini-USB.
USB-C plugs are commonly used on new devices and computers. USB-C is a 24-pin double-sided USB connector. USB-C can transmit different signals through the same connector such as DisplayPort, HDMI, or thunderbolt.
Apple devices use a lightning connector. Lightning is an 8-pin connector that is used in iPhone and iPad devices. Advantages include a higher power output, they can be inserted either way, and have a simpler design.
Serial interfaces such as DB-9 or DE-9 were used before USB and sent the standard RS-232 signals which were an industry standard since 1969. Now they are used as a configuration port for routers or firewalls. Commonly there needs to be a USB to DB-9 converter to use a DB-9.
NFC sends a small amount of information between a small distance. Usually built into your phone and has a token.
Bluetooth sends high speed communication over a small distance with a PAN. Bluetooth connects almost anything you can think of.
Phones can be used as a hotspot and others can connect to your phone through 802.11. Providers may make you pay more to be a hotspot.
Mobile Device Accessories
Touch pens or touch screen stylus activates the interface without touching it. Enables more precise selection.
An active stylus can be used for digital artists. Has pressure sensitivity. An active stylus must be compatible with the tablet, unlike a touch pen.
Drawing pads can use an active stylus to put in precise inputs from a third-party device.
Trackpads replace the mouse and are common on laptops. There are external options for trackpads as well. Some laptops have a function key to disable the trackpad.
Headsets provide hands-free audio. Wired headphones are often connected through USB. This USB connects to a 3.5 mm tip-ring-ring-sleeve (TRRS) connector. There are also options for an analog audio jack or an iPhone lightning port. Bluetooth headsets are always an option.
Speakers provide mobile audio and often use a wireless connection. Stereo sound often comes in a small package.
Webcams are internal or external and provide real-time video communications
Docking stations can use an external keyboard and mouse to allow the laptop to dock and be used without unplugging wires.
Port replicators are similar to a docking station and usually connect using USB. These are usually smaller than docking stations.
Mobile Device Connectivity
Cellular Standards
Land is separated into cells so that there can be connectivity everywhere. Original antennas and networks were on 2G with Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) and Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA). GSM was around 90% of the world market. GSM was used by AT&T and T-Mobile which used a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card. Original GSM used multiplexing which meant everyone got a slice of time for networking.
CDMA makes people communicate at the same time with a code. The codes are used to filter each call on the receiving side. CDMA was used by Verizon and Sprint.
3G technology was introduced in 1998. Incremental improvements improved speeds and bandwidth improvement allowed GPS mobile television and Video on Demand to be introduced.
4G and Long Term Evolution (LTE) needed to be introduced eventually. LTE converged the standard between GSM and CDMA. Based on GSM and Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE). This allowed standards to be improved to 150 Mbit/s. Some locations have LTE advanced (LTE-A) which supported download rates of 300 Mbit/s
5G was introduced in 2020 which had improved speeds up to 10 Gb/s. 5G may have a significant impact on the Internet of Things (IoT) since mobile devices now have more abilities.
Updates include Preferred Roaming Lists (PRLs) through CDMA networks. This allows your phone to connect to the correct tower.
With a hotspot, you turn your phone into a router so other 802.11 devices can connect.
Mobile Device Connectivity
Bluetooth devices have built-in security with a PIN. Devices only need to be paired one time.
Half of this video literally talks about how to connect bluetooth devices.
Global Positioning System (GPS) was created by the U.S. Department of Defense. Our devices need to see at atleast four satellites. Locations are triangulated with latitude, longitude, and altitude. WiFi and Cellular Towers can be used for a more precise location.
Mobile Device Management (MDM) is often used by companies to manage workers with devices. This is often a bring your own device (BYOD) system. Managers can control applications and data of the devices. Company data can be partitioned to be separate from personal data. Often corporate emails are configured to control account details. Two-factor authentication is often required on MDMs.
Mobile Device Configurations
Configurations such as emails and data synchronization are not pre-built into mobile devices and have to be created.
Microsoft 365 is a configuration to keep all data within Microsoft with authentication. 365 can connect to things such as notes and synchronize to your mobile device. This same process is seen in Google Workspace.
Apple has iCloud configuration for iOS and iPadOS with many synchronization options. iCloud can synchronize to macOS. Synchronization within iCloud can be personalized to your liking. You can also configure iCloud to have data caps and control when downloads happen.