Category: Mobile Terms

What is the 2G Network?

2G which can also be short-termed 2-G is a second-generation cellular network. 2G cellular networks commercially launched on the GSM in Finland by Radiolinja (which is now an embodiment of Elisa Oyj) in 1991.

Benefits of the 2G Network

There are three main primary benefits of 2G networks over their predecessors which are:

1. Data services on mobile and SMS text messages.
2. Efficiency increase in the use of the radiofrequency spectrum, enabling more users per frequency band. 
3. Digital Encryption of phone conversations.

2G technologies can provision of services like messages, picture messages and MMS services (Multi-Media Messages) to various networks.

All text messages transferred or sent or received over the 2G are all digitally encrypted, permitting secured data transfer that only the receiver can receive and read it.

After the 2G network was launched, the past mobile wireless network systems were

After 2G was launched, the previous mobile wireless network systems were retroactively tweaked/dubbed 1G. And on the other hand, radio signals on 1G networks are analog, and on the 2g networks, radio signals are digital. Both the 1G and 2G uses digital signaling to connect to radio towers (which listen to the devices) to the whole part of the mobile system. 

Through the General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), 2G offers a theoretical maximum transfer speed of 40 kilobytes per second.

Using Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution, also called (EDGE), there is a consistent highest transfer speed of 384 kilobytes per second.

The most current 2G technology was the time division multiple access (TDMA)-based GSM, incipiently from Europe but used in the most utmost of the world outside North America.

Over 60 GSM operators were also using CDMA2000 in the 450 MHz frequency band (CDMA450) around 2010.

Related terms:

• CDMA (Code-Division Multiple Access)
• 3G
• 4G
• 5G

What is MacOS?

macOS fully known as Mac operating System (previously called Mac OS X and later OS X) is a set of established graphical operating systems promoted and built by Apple Inc. since in the year 2001. It is the first operating system for Apple’s Mac computers. Within the bourse of desktop, laptop, and home computers, and by web usage, it is the second most used desktop OS after Microsoft Windows.

macOS use the Unix operating system and technologies designed and built between 1985 and 1997 at NeXT company, which was founded by Steve Jobs after leaving Apple in the year 1985. In the previous names (Mac OS X and the OS X), the letter “X” stands for the number ten (roman numeral) and is pronounced against the roman numeral.

The term X was a notable element of the Mac operating system’s brand identity, it was selling real fast in the good old early years, but reduced continuously and decreased after the release of Snow Leopard in the year 2009.

The UNIX 03 certification was achieved for the Intel version of Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard, and all updates from Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard up to the latest version also have UNIX 03 certification. macOS bestows its Unix-based core, named Darwin, and several of its frameworks with iOS, tvOS, watchOS, and iPadOS. A dominant updated higher version of Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger was adopted for the first-generation Apple TV.

Related terms:

• Android Operating System
• iOS (iPhone OS)

Whats is the iOS?

iOS, also known as the iPhone OS is a mobile operating system which is developed and created by Apple Inc., built for its hardware. The operating system gives power to several mobile devices under the company, which includes the iPhone and iPod Touch. It also powered the iPad before the introduction of the iPadOS in 2019.

It is ranked the second most known and popular mobile operating system, following Android. 

Initially revealed in the year 2007 for the iPhone, iOS has been pushed further to support more Apple devices such as the iPod Touch ( September 2007) and the iPad (January 2010). In the year 2018 March, the Apple App Store contains over 2 million iOS applications, and over 1million were exclusively for iPads. And these mobile apps have been downloaded for more than 129 million times.

The user interface on iOS is solely based on direct manipulation, with the aid of multi-touch gestures.

The iOS user interface elements compose of switches, sliders, and as well as buttons. 

Interaction with the OS consists of gestures such as reverse pinch, tap, swipe. It has specific definitions within the standard and context of the iOS operating system and its multi-touch interface. The Internal accelerometers are consumed by some applications when shaking the phone (a typical result is a command to undo)—also, rotation of the device in three dimensions (switching from portrait to landscape mode).

Apple has been highly honored for consolidating a lot of excellent accessibility functions into iOS, Thus giving users with vision and hearing problems to use its products efficiently. They are enabling users with vision and hearing disabilities to use their products properly.

Related terms:

• Android Operating System
• macOS

What is the 1G Network?

1G was the first-ever generation of wireless cellular technology or Mobile communication. It was a form of analog telecommunications medium which were introduced in the middle 1980s and kept on ruling the telecommunication world until 2G digital telecommunications stepped in.

The big and ideal difference between the 1G and 2G is that the radio signals transmitted by 1G are analog, while that of 2G is in a digital standard.

However, both telecommunication systems use digital signaling to pair radio towers to the whole telephone system. The voice during a call is encrypted to digital signals in the 2G system, and in 1G, it is only modulated to a higher frequency (150Mhz and above). The underlying merits of digital technology above that of analog implies that 2G networks ultimately stood above them and replaced them.

History of the 1G Network

The predecessor to 1G technology is the mobile radiotelephone, also known as the Zero-G (0G).

The firstly made cellular network in the 1G generation was launched in the year 1979 at japan commercially by Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NTT). Originally in Tokyo, within five years, the NTT network grew so large and covered the whole of Japan, making it the first-ever nationwide 1G network. 

Also, the NMT system concurrently launched in Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Finland in the year 1981. The NMT was the initial mobile phone network to emphasize on international roaming. In the year 1983, the 1G network was firstly launched in the United States of America, and it was a Chicago-based Ameritech using the Motorola DynaTAC mobile phone. Many countries then joined in the early to middle 1980s, and this includes the UK, Mexico, and Canada.

In 2018, an NMT limited service in Russia retained the 1G Cellular Network Operation.

Related terms:

• 2G
• 3G
• CDMA (Code-Division Multiple Access)
• 4G
• 5G
• Wireless Application Protocol

What is an Android OS?

Android is a mobile operating system dependent on the modified version of Linux Kernel and other open-source software. Android is fundamentally in design for touch screen mobile devices (smartphones and tablets). Android is developed by a group of developers who are called the Open Handset Alliance, and the primary commercial marketer and contributor are Google.

Originally developed and created by Android Inc., which was bought in by google in the year 2005, Android was revealed in the year 2007, and the first commercial Android device unveiled in September 2008.

The modern, well-built version is Android 10, issued on September 3rd, in the year 2019. The kernel Android source code is distinguished as an Android Open Source Project (AOSP), which is principally authorized following the Apache License.

This license authorization had allowed sets or various Android to be built and developed on several other electronics such as PCs, Digital cameras, Game consoles, each with its specific user interface. Popular derivatives are Android TV for Televisions, and also the Wear OS for wearables, which are both built and constructed by Google. 

The Android source code has been used ad the foundation of various platforms. Some associated with google may include Google Mobile Services (GMS), which comes as an already installed app on android devices.

This deals with core follow come apps like Google Play, Google Play services, Gmail, and popularly Google Chrome web browser. 

All these apps are licensed by the producers and manufacturers of Android devices, certified under the rules as given and imposed by Google.

Some top-class competitors in Android ecosystems are Fire OS, LineageOS, and Amazon.com. Established application stores usually administer the distribution of software like Google Play Store or Samsung Galaxy Store or any open source program similar to F-Droid and Aptoide, which uses APK file format in its software package.

Since the year 2011, Android has been the number best-selling operating system (OS) worldwide on smartphones and became the best selling OS on tablets in 2019.

Android already has over two billion monthly active users as of May 2017, making it the most extensive installed base of all operating systems. In January 2020, Google Playstore highlights over 2.9 million apps.

Related terms:

• iOS (iPhone OS)
• macOS