What is WiFi?

WiFi, also spelled Wi-Fi, is a wireless networking technology used across the globe. It refers to any system that uses the 802.11 standard, which was developed by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and released in 1997. This standard was largely promoted by the Wi-Fi Alliance, a trade group that pioneered commercialization of the technology. A person or business can use a wireless router or similar device to create a “hotspot” or area in which appropriate devices can connect wirelessly to a network or gain Internet access.

Basic Setup

In a WiFi network, computers with appropriate network cards can connect wirelessly to a proper router. This router is usually connected to the Internet by means of a modem, often one featuring a high-speed connection. Any user within 200 feet or so (about 61 meters) of the access point can then connect to the Internet, though for good transfer rates, distances of 100 feet (around 30.5 meters) or less are often suggested. Retailers also sell signal boosters that extend the range of a wireless network.

Types of Networks

WiFi networks can either be “open”, so that anyone can use them, or “closed”, in which case a password is needed. An area blanketed in wireless access through a device is often called a “wireless hotspot.” Anyone with a device that includes appropriate functionality can connect to this network while in the hotspot. Through this connection, a local network can be accessed or Internet connectivity can be achieved. This allows people within the hotspot to connect to the Internet via the router and modem, often provided for employees at a business or as a complimentary service at coffee shops and similar locations.

Large Hotspots

There are efforts underway to turn entire cities, such as San Francisco, Portland, and Philadelphia, into big WiFi hotspots. Many of these plans could offer free, ad-supported service or ad-free service for a small fee to anyone within the city. Such efforts require a great deal of infrastructure planning and support, though they would grant unparalleled connectivity for residents of those cities.

How It Works

WiFi technology uses radio signals for communication, typically operating at a frequency of 2.4 gigahertz (GHz). Electronics that are “WiFi Certified” are guaranteed to interoperate with each other regardless of brand, as long as they use the same version of the technology. Companies designed this standard to cater to lightweight computing systems, which are typically mobile and designed to consume minimal power. Hardware developers produce mobile phones, laptops, and tablet computers that are all compatible with this wireless technology. Desktop computers can typically connect to such a network through the installation of a wireless card or dongle.

Different Types

Different versions of the 802.11 standard have been released over the years, often indicated by a letter following the designation. Wireless-G, for example, introduced numerous improvements over the initial standard such as higher transfer rates. It is important for a computer or device user to recognize what type of WiFi their device uses, to ensure compatibility with the router creating a hotspot. As the technology continues to improve, additional designations are likely to be released, though they are often backwards compatible with earlier versions.

via [www.wisegeek.com]

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What is an Adroid Phone?

For the sake of those who are not aware of what really is an Android phone, here is an article published by www.wisegeek.com I want to share. Read the article below…

An Android phone, sometimes called a Droid phone, is a mobile telephone that uses the Google-developed Android operating system. This operating system has become a popular option in recent years for so-called “smart phones,” because developers and manufacturers may freely customize it to their specific needs. This customization means that different Android phones can have widely varying user interfaces. Most smart phones — including those using competing operating systems — offer similar overall capabilities, however, including Internet browsing, personal information management, video streaming, and access to a large repository of freeware and payware applications.

Technical Specifications and Operating System

On the technical side, an Androidâ„¢ phone runs the Androidâ„¢ operating system, key applications, and middleware. It is Linux kernel-based, and is written in the C language. Androidâ„¢ runs applications that are written primarily in the Java language.

Android phones are considered revolutionary in some circles because of the open source structure of the basic firmware. All developers, whether professional or hobbyists, are encouraged to write programs and applications for the operating system, and contribute to the evolving Android project by submitting them to Google’s Play Store, a closed source application for Androidâ„¢ phones. Users may then choose to download and use the applications on their phones by accessing the application library via their handsets.

Multitasking

An Android phone can run multiple applications at the same time in the background, making multitasking easier. This makes the functionality of the phone more fluid than some competing platforms, although the extent of this capability depends on the hardware of the individual phone. Some handsets use multicore processors, which are more useful for “power users” who need their phones to run multiple simultaneous operations.

Non-Proprietary Approach

Some comparable devices using other operating systems are governed by strict proprietary rules. Developers interested in writing applications for the iPhone, for example, may not be permitted to create programs that closely mirror applications owned by Apple, such as iTunes. All applications must be approved by Apple before they are permitted to appear in the Apple App Store. This is not the case with applications for Android phones, which are developed under the auspices of the Open Handset Alliance, a consortium that encourages the use and advancement of open source software for mobile phones.

Another important distinction of the Android platform is that it is not tied to a specific hardware manufacturer. Any manufacturer interested in producing its own version of an Androidâ„¢ phone is welcome to use the operating system. The result is that many competing cellphone companies now use this platform to power their mobile phones and to market their devices.

Historical Background

Initially, Google partnered with the High Tech Computer Corporation (now HTC Corporation) to build the first mobile phone to run the Android platform, known as the G1 in the United States. In 2008, T-Mobile premiered the G1 Android phone to the American public. Since then, dozens of manufacturers have brought hundreds of phones with this operating system to market.

Different generations of smart phones have run various versions of Android. Each major software version is identified by a code name that is usually related to some sort of dessert. While many phones can be updated to newer versions of the operating system, this usually cannot be done indefinitely, because of the hardware limitations of the individual phones. For example, early phones like the G1, which initially ran the 1.0 version of Android, were eventually upgradable to version 1.6 (Donut), but could not be upgraded to later versions such as 2.3 (Gingerbread) or 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich), which require more robust hardware.

SDK

Android offers a Software Development Kit (SDK) to help developers create functional applications. While some parts of the Android operating system are protected under the Apache License to guard against applications that could compromise the phones’ basic functionality, much of it is released under the General Public License, which invites developers to freely make modifications. The SDK includes extensive resources and tools to facilitate this sort of development. It is updated regularly, together with the operating system itself, and a priority is placed upon supporting work on both newer and older versions of Androidâ„¢.

Rooting

Despite the relatively open structure of the operating system, manufacturers of many devices that use Android do frequently restrict user access to certain resources and functions within the structure of the software. Typically, manufacturers do this in order to ensure a consistently stable and predictable experience by all users, and possibly to maintain a certain level of control over how their products are used.

“Rooting” is the slang term for using software hacks to circumvent these restrictions in Android. Some users opt to do this either in order to expand the capabilities of a phone or simply as a hobby and for purposes of experimentation. The process varies, but commonly involves downloading a special file from the Internet and installing it on the phone from an external memory card. Detailed instructions on how to root a specific Androidâ„¢ phone are broadly available online, though users should be aware that there are risks to doing this. In many cases, rooting will void a phone’s warranty, and there is also a potential that a device could be rendered useless should something go wrong.

There you go guys. You know already what’s an Android phone is. So, better check the Net to see some reviews of this awesome phone.

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