Palm

Glossary of Mobile Device Terminology


a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | i | j | k | l | m | n | o | p | q | r | s | t | u | v | w | x | y | z

a


accessory

External hardware added to a Palm device in order to add value or additional functionality—like a case for protection or a keyboard for rapid typing. more info.

add-on

See peripheral or application.

Agenda View

The view in the Calendar application that displays your upcoming appointments, to-dos and email notifications (only devices with email). Day View, Week View, Month View and Year View are other included views.

alarm/alert

An audio, vibrating and/or visual (flashing LED or onscreen dialog box) reminder that you can set to announce an upcoming event or appointment scheduled in the Calendar or Tasks application. Alarms can be set to go off in minute, hour or day increments before an event.

application

A software program you use for a specific purpose. Some applications (apps) are built in to a Palm device, such as Calendar and Tasks. Others are included on the installation CD, and still others are available for purchase and/or download. See also Software Connection.

application button

See button.

Applications screen

The main screen on a Palm device from which you can see and launch (start) any of the applications installed on the device. This view is activated by selecting the home icon/button, or by holding down the center of the 5-way navigator button.

b


beam

To transmit information to another device wirelessly via the infrared port built into all Palm devices.

Blazer® web browser

Blazer is a dual-view browser, capable of adjusting the layout of web pages to fit the smaller screen of a handheld or smartphone, as well as displaying web pages as they would appear in a standard desktop browser. more info.

Bluetooth® wireless technology

A wireless networking technology built into a variety of devices, such as PCs, handhelds, smartphones, printers, and mobile phones, that uses low-power radio frequencies to transfer information wirelessly between similarly equipped devices such as a wireless headset. more info.

broadband

High speed Internet access, referring to a communications medium capable of transmitting a large amount of data over a given period of time.

business card

Your designated personal contact information created in the Contacts application that can be beamed to other compatible devices.

button

An element—physically built in to the front of a device, silk-screened on the screen to either side of the writing area, or virtual appearing on the screen within an application—that a user pushes or taps to launch an application (e.g. Calendar, Contacts, Phone, Memo Pad, Note Pad, VersaMail, or Calculator), or to initiate a function (e.g. Find ) or action (e.g. menu) within an application. The built-in and silk-screened buttons are pre-configured to launch specific applications or functions, but can be re-configured by a user using the Preferences or Settings application.

c


Calendar

The application that helps you manage and organize your daily, weekly and monthly schedules, including setting alarms or alerts to notify you of important dates or appointments.

carrier

See wireless service provider.

Centro

The brand name for Palm's smallest device that includes a touchscreen, full keyboard, phone and messaging capabilities.

CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access)

A type of mobile phone network. Also known as spread spectrum, CDMA cellular systems utilize a single frequency band for all traffic, differentiating the individual transmissions by assigning them unique codes before transmission. Used by Sprint in the USA and Telus in Canada.

command

An action you execute on a Palm device, such as beaming an entry, deleting an application, or calling up a particular view. See also menu.

Contacts

The application that helps you record and organize contact information for individuals and businesses, including names, titles, company names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses.

content

Information displayed on a Palm device or stored on an expansion card, such as an eBook or Word document.

conduit

Software that specifies how (and whether) info is exchanged and updated between your computer and a Palm device when you perform a HotSync® or synchronization operation. Each application has its own conduit, which is listed in the "Conduit Setup" dialog box on the device, the "Custom" dialog box in Palm™ Desktop on a PC or in the "Conduit Settings" dialog box in the HotSync Manager on a Macintosh.

carrier

See wireless service provider.

d


Date Book

See Calendar.

Day View

The view in the Calendar application that displays your appointments for a given day. Agenda View, Week View, Month View and Year View are other included views.

desktop

See Palm™ Desktop software. Also used in reference to a desktop or laptop computer.

device

See handheld or smartphone.

Dial Pad

A view in the Phone application on a Treo™ smartphone used to dial a phone number using the touch-sensitive screen. Dial Pad displays phone-like buttons, which you tap to dial a phone number.

dialing pad

Colored, dual-purpose keys integrated into the built-in keyboard of a Treo™ smartphone in the same layout as a standard phone, which make it easy to dial a phone number using the built-in keyboard.

Direct Push Technology

A wireless email capability developed by Microsoft that allows you to get email downloaded to your device as fast as it arrives.

display

See screen.

Documents To Go®

An application from DataViz® (included with many Palm devices) that allows you to view, create1 and edit2 Word and Excel® compatible documents and view PowerPoint®3 compatible documents on a PalmPowered™ device. more info.

download

To transfer files from the Internet to a desktop computer or Palm device. Files downloaded to a desktop computer and intended for use on a Palm device (such as a software application) can be transferred to the device via synchronization.

e


eBook

Short for electronic book, an eBook is a book in digital format that you can install on a Palm device or access via an expansion card, and read using an application such as eReader Pro for Palm.

enter

To input information in any application on your device by typing or writing.

entry

An individual set of information within an application, such as an appointment in Calendar or a person's contact information in Contacts. Also called a record.

Exchange ActiveSync®

A built-in application on select models that allows you to synchronize your device with your corporate Microsoft Exchange email and calendar. Requires Microsoft Exchange Server 2003.

expansion card

Stamp-sized add-on memory that you insert into the expansion slot of a Palm device. Expansion cards can contain applications, songs, videos, pictures, and other information in a digital format. They also come in four 'flavors': MultiMediaCard™ (MMC), SD (Secure Digital), miniSD, and SDIO (Secure Digital Input/Output). more info

expansion (card) slot

The opening found on many Palm devices where you insert expansion cards, thereby enabling you to add applications, memory and even peripherals to the device.

EvDO

A high-speed wireless WAN network that operates at broadband-like speeds.

Expense

The application that helps you track your expenses.

f


Favorites

A view in the Phone application on select Palm® Treo™ smartphones displaying buttons that you can tap to speed dial phone numbers, launch an application, write an SMS message to a particular number or open a website in the web browser application. You can create up to fifty of your own buttons in Favorites.

Also a screen view on the Palm® TX handheld that displays the name and icon for a user-configurable list of frequently used software applications for quick access to the listed applications. The Home button can be configured to display this view.

field

A editable area on the device screen where you enter information, such as an email address in Contacts or an event description in Calendar.

Find

The feature that makes it easy to locate occurrences of a specific group of text characters in various applications on a Palm device.

flash drive

A non-removable data storage system built into select models that stores large amounts of information using non-volatile memory.

g


gigabyte (GB)

A unit of measurement for the memory available on high-capacity expansion cards, consisting of about one thousand megabytes.

GPS (Global Positioning System)

A worldwide radio-navigation system formed by satellites which allows users with select Palm devices and GPS software to pinpoint their geographic location and receive driving directions.

Graffiti® 2 writing

Part of the operating system software that allows you to enter text quickly into select Palm devices via writing with a stylus. Letters, numerals and symbols resemble those in normal handwriting and are very easy to learn. Writing with Graffiti 2 is similar to writing on paper. It takes one stroke of the stylus to enter some characters, and two strokes to enter others.

GSM/GPRS

(Global System for Mobile Communications/General Packet Radio Service) A type of mobile phone network used throughout most of the world. GPRS enabled networks offer 'always-on', higher capacity, Internet-based content and packet-based data services. This enables services such as color Internet browsing, email on the move, powerful visual communications, multimedia messages and location-based services. Wireless Service providers on a GSM/GPRS network include AT&T and T-Mobile in the USA and Rogers Wireless and Fido in Canada.

h


handheld

A portable electronic device that fits in a hand or pocket and functions as a personal organizer, but can also contain other applications that enable you to listen to music, view photos, read eBooks, play games, view and edit documents, and more. Also commonly called a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA).

hard drive

A high-capacity, self-contained digital storage device containing a read-write mechanism plus a magnetic disk inside a sealed unit. Used to store your information such as documents, music and media files.

hardware

The physical parts of a handheld or smartphone. Hardware also includes external devices such as keyboards, printers, etc.

headphone/headset jack

A plug on a device where a headphone or headset can be inserted for listening to music, voice memos or talking on the phone.

home icon

The graphical representation of a "house" that appears on either a physical button or silk-screened button adjacent to the writing area, depending on the device model, that displays the Applications screen when pressed or tapped.

HotSpot

An access point location where high-speed Internet access through a WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) is available to anyone with a Wi-Fi enabled laptop, handheld or smartphone. HotSpots are located in various hotels, airports, libraries, bookstores, coffee shops and other places. more info.

HotSync®

The technology built in to Palm OS® that enables you to synchronize data and applications between a Palm device and a computer with the touch of a button.

i


icon

A symbol on a Palm device—found onscreen or on one of the buttons on the front of the device—that stands for a specific application or function. By tapping the icon or pressing the button, you can launch the application or initiate the function.

indicator light

See LED.

infrared port

The component on a Palm device that is used to transmit and receive data between compatible infrared equipped devices via infrared signals. On some models the infrared port can also be used to communicate with a compatible, infrared-equipped mobile phone for connecting to the Internet.

ISP (Internet Service Provider)

A company that provides Internet access services.

j


k


(add-on/portable) keyboard

A separate, physical keyboard (sold separately) that can be connected to a Palm device via the multi-connector or infrared port, and used to enter information quickly (i.e. spreadsheets, email messages, etc.).

(built-in) keyboard

A physical keyboard built in to the face of select Palm devices and used to enter information quickly (i.e. spreadsheets, email messages, etc.).

(soft/onscreen) keyboard

A virtual keyboard that appears on the screen of the device and enters letters, numerals and symbol characters when tapped with the writing stylus. Makes entering punctuation and symbols easier.

l


launch

To start or open an application, making the functions and features of that application available on the device screen.

LED (Light Emitting Diode) / indicator light

The light on certain Palm devices that indicates the battery charging status and/or other information such as an alarm notification or wireless on/off status on certain wireless-capable devices.

LifeDrive™

The brand name for Palm's mobile manager product line designed for carrying and viewing large amounts of digital information—including deskotp files, office documents, songs, video, photos and more. It also includes built-in Wi-Fi® and Bluetooth® wireless support for Internet access.

lithium-ion polymer battery

The type of rechargeable battery used in many of the latest Palm devices because of its low weight, small size and long-lasting charge characteristics.

m


Mail

The included application on a Treo™ smartphone used to compose, send, receive and read email. See also VersaMail.


megabyte (MB)

A unit of measurement for the memory available on a Palm device.

megapixel

One million pixels. A unit of measurement for the resolution of the digital camera built in to select Palm devices.

Memo Pad

See Memos.

memory

Storage for applications, photos, videos and other data in a Palm device, measured in megabytes. The more memory, the more applications, photos, videos and other data a device can store. Four types of memory are available: 1) fixed built-in random access memory (RAM) included with the device, 2) add-on memory, sold separately, in the form of expansion cards of various capacities, 3) fixed built-in read-only memory (ROM) containing the operating system and built-in applications and 4) built-in flash memory. See also non-volatile memory.

Memos

The organizer application that lets you write, store and display text-only notes and memos.

menu

Lists of actions you can perform within an a application. Menu items can be used to edit information, set preferences, save, delete, beam, and more. In most applications, menus are hidden at the top of the screen. You make them visible by tapping the upper-left corner of the screen or on select devices, the Menu icon, located to the lower-left of the Graffiti writing area.

MHz/megahertz

One megahertz equals one million cycles per second. The speed of microprocessors, such as those found in Palm devices, are measured in megahertz.

Midi

Sounds or tones used as alerts and ringtones on smartphones or as alarms on handhelds.

MultiMediaCard™ (MMC)

A removable memory solution and the format used in certain read-only content expansion cards.

MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service)

The wireless messaging technology that enables you to send messages that contain photos, video and/or audio clips between compatible devices.

mobile service plan/provider

See wireless service plan / provider.

Month View

The view in the Calendar application that displays your appointments for a given month. Agenda, Day, Week and Year are other included views.

MP3 music

Music that is saved in a compact, digital format suitable for playback on many mobile devices, including several Palm devices.

MP3 player

An application that enables you to listen to MP3 music files stored on expansion cards or internal flash memory.

multi-connector

A USB-enabled communications port and hardware attachment system on select Palm handhelds that is used to connect to accessories like cables, cradles and keyboards.

multimedia

Non-text-based communications typically consisting of photos, video and/or music presented together in various combinations to appeal to multiple senses simultaneously.

n


navigator / 5-way navigator / the 5-way

The navigator, or five-way navigator, consists of the two large, concentric buttons in the middle of the lower part of many Palm devices. Press the edges to move up, down, right, or left, and the center button to select items. The navigator works differently in different applications, but it's usually an easy way to operate the device with one hand.

non-volatile memory

Memory whose contents are preserved when the power source for a device is off. Expansion cards, the ROM (read-only memory) chip in a Palm device and the internal flash memory or hard drive found in select models are examples of persistent, non-volatile memory.

o


operating system

The core, built-in software that enables and supports end-use software applications, such as Calendar, Contacts and Tasks. Palm products use either the Palm OS® operating system, or the Windows Mobile® operating system licensed from Microsoft.

organizer

See handheld. May also refer to the group of applications used to organize a person's daily life (e.g. Contacts, Calendar, Tasks, Memos).

p


Palm® Desktop software

The software by which your desktop or laptop computer shares and backs up information and applications from a Palm device. It also lets you enter and edit information on your computer and then transfer it to a device via sychronization. It is installed on your computer from the Installation CD included with all Palm devices.

Palm OS®

The leading operating system for handhelds and smartphones. See also Palm Powered.

PalmPilot™

The very first handheld device to use the Palm OS®.

Palm Powered™

Refers to a device that utilizes the Palm OS®. All Palm devices are Palm Powered.

PAN (Personal Area Network)

The interconnection of Bluetooth-capable devices—typically within a range of ten meters. This personal network enables information to be exchanged between devices. more info.

PDA (Personal Digital Assistant)

A generic term used to describe the category of devices also known as handhelds or smartphones.

peripheral

Separate, add-on hardware, such as a portable keyboard or GPS navigation unit, that connects to a Palm device and extends its functionality.

Phone

The application on a Treo™ smartphone that enables the built-in phone functionality.

pick list

A list of choices or commands found in many applications. Choices are typically displayed by tapping a downward arrow on the device screen.

PIM (Personal Information Manager)

Computer software such as Palm™ Desktop or Lotus Notes Act! software, used to store contacts, schedules, to do items and memos.

pixel

Refers to picture element, which is a unit of programmable color on a Palm device screen.

polyphonic ringtone

See ringtone.

POP3

A protocol used to receive email from a remote server on your Palm device. Built into email products such as Outlook Express and browsers such as Microsoft Internet Explorer.

preferences

User-configurable settings, such as alarm sounds, system sound volume, time zone, security, date formats, etc., on a Palm device.

processor

The logic circuitry or "brain" that processes and responds to the basic instructions received from both the operating system and software applications on a Palm device.

q


QWERTY

The standard layout for letter keys on computer, handheld and smartphone keyboards used to type in English, modeled after the typewriter and named for the order of the first six keys on the top row.

r


Reminder

The screen in Calendar that appears when a preset alarm goes off before an event, reminding you of the details and giving you the option to repeat the reminder in a few minutes by selecting the Snooze button.

repeating events

Events or appointments in Calendar that occur on an ongoing basis-daily, weekly, monthly or yearly (e.g. birthday) and more complex patterns like the first of every month.

resolution

The number of dots, or pixels contained on an entire screen, often expressed as the number of pixels wide multiplied by the number of pixels high (i.e. 320x320). Resolution is often used to describe the sharpness or clarity of an image. A higher resolution enables a screen to display more information within the fixed physical dimensions of the screen.

ringtone

Phone ring sounds that vary in tone and melody. On the Treo™ 700p smartphone, a different ringtone can be assigned to each incoming caller so that callers can be identified without viewing the screen or answering the phone. Polyphonic ringtones are based on songs. See also Midi.

s


screen

The visual display area of a Palm device. The entire screen is touch-sensitive and responds to tapping, drawing or writing with a stylus. Screen can also refer to a particular place or view within an application, such as the Contact Edit screen in Contacts.

screen rotation

The ability to switch between portrait and landscape view on a device. Portrait view is useful for working with email, memos and Word documents, while landscape view is advantageous for viewing spreadsheets, web pages and photos.

scroll bar

The bar with arrows at each end that appears on the side and/or bottom of a Palm device screen in certain applications. You can make hidden portions of the current screen visible by tapping on the scroll bar to scroll the view up and down or left and right.

SD (Secure Digital)

A technology standard for providing portable devices with non-volatile memory/storage and peripheral I/O expansion capability. On many Palm devices this standard is implemented in the form of miniSD memory expansion cards, used to store digital information like applications, databases, photos, text, audio, video or MP3 music files, and an SD/SDIO expansion slot. The SD standard makes it possible to transfer information between devices that support miniSD expansion cards (e.g. transfer photos between a digital camera and a Palm device by exchanging the miniSD expansion card), assuming both devices support the file format used for the transferred information (e.g. JPEG image file).

SDIO (Secure Digital Input/Output)

SDIO is a part of the SD memory specification. It enables I/O (input/output) expansion for add-ons such as serial, modem, camera or GPS cards. Whereas SD is only used for storage expansion cards, an SDIO capable expansion slot can also support SD expansion cards, while an SD-capable slot may not support an SDIO expansion card.

service plan

See wireless service plan.

ShortCut

Graffiti 2 stroke combination, beginning with the ShortCut stroke and followed by other standard Graffiti 2 characters, that lets you quickly enter words or phrases into a Palm device without entering the entire word or phrase (ShortCut stroke + USA = United States).

SIM (Secure Identity Module)/SIM tray

The smartcard, inserted in a mobile device with GSM service, that contains your GSM mobile account information. SIM cards are portable between GSM devices-your mobile subscriber information moves to whatever device houses the SIM.

smartphone

A portable device that combines a wireless phone, email and web access and an organizer into a single, integrated piece of hardware.

SMS (Short Messaging Service)

A text message service which enables users to send short messages (160 characters) to other compatible devices. A very popular service, particularly among young people, with 400 billion SMS messages sent worldwide in 2002. Available on select Palm devices.

Software Connection

The section of the Palm.com website where thousands of software applications are available for purchase or free download to your Palm device. more info.

solution

A combination of software, hardware and/or consulting services designed to provide functionality to meet specific interests or business needs such as those encountered in education, business, government, healthcare, insurance or real estate settings. more info.

STN color screen/display

Stands for supertwist, which is a technique for improving LCD screens by twisting light rays.

stylus

The pencil-like instrument included with every Palm device used to enter information and commands, and to make menu selections by tapping and/or writing Graffiti 2 characters on the device screen.

sync/synchronize

To exchange and update information between a Palm device and a desktop computer, so that the information is the same in both places. You also synchronize to transfer applications or content you have purchased and downloaded to a device. Synchronization uses HotSync® technology built into the Palm OS®.

t


tap

To touch the screen with a stylus to make something happen on the device.

Tasks

The included organizer application that lets you keep track of your to do items, allowing you to sort them by importance, organize them into specific categories, and check them off as soon as they get done. more info.

3G

The third generation of mobile phone standards and technology, offering greater data efficiencies and network capacity. Includes CDMA and cdma2000.

To Do/To Do List

See Tasks.

transflective TFT color screen/display

A liquid crystal display (LCD) screen made with TFT (thin-film transitor) technology, found on many Palm devices.

Treo™

The brand name for Palm's smartphone product line. more info.

Tungsten™

The brand name for a line of handhelds from Palm designed for the most demanding business tasks. more info.

u


unlocked

A mobile phone that recognizes a Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) card from practically any carrier, allowing the user to choose between various mobile service providers when signing up for wireless service.

USB (Universal Serial Bus)

USB is a standardized communications protocol that enables data exchange between electronic devices. Utilized by Palm to enable communications between Palm devices and computers for synchronization. USB supports data transfer rates of up to 12 megabytes per second.

v


VersaMail® email client

Email software included with many Palm devices that enables you to compose/view, and send/receive email using a wireless connection/network (e.g. Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GSM/GPRS, CDMA) or via sychronization. more info.

video playback

The ability to play movie trailers and video clips on a Palm device.

view

A particular way an application displays information. Calendar, for example, has a Day View, Week View, Month View and Agenda View.

voice memo/recorder

A voice dictation feature that allows you to record audio, available on select Palm devices.

VPN (Virtual Private Network)

A way to remotely and securely access a corporate network via the Internet. more info.

w


WAN (Wide Area Network)

A computer network that provides data communications to more users than a local area network (LAN) does, and usually spans a greater geographical distance than a LAN. more info.

Week View

The view in Calendar that displays your appointments and events for a given week. Agenda, Day, Month and Year are other included views.

Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity)

Wireless technology, also known as 802.11b, that enables you to access the Internet, to send and receive email, and browse the Web anywhere within range of a Wi-Fi access point, or HotSpot.

Windows Mobile®

An operating system for mobile devices from Microsoft and deployed for the first time in a Palm product on the Treo™ 700w smartphone.

wireless

Technology that allows you to communicate and/or connect to the Internet or mobile phone networks without physical wires. Wi-Fi, Bluetooth®, CDMA and GSM are all examples of wireless technology.

wireless service plan/provider

A service contract offered by a company (wireless service provider) to enable wireless communication services such as email and Web access or phone calls on a wireless-capable device (mobile phone or smartphone) at a specified billing rate.

WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network)

A type of local-area network that uses high-frequency radio waves rather than wires for communication. more info.

writing area

The area on many Palm devices below the screen, where you write letters and execute commands by writing and/or tapping with a stylus. Also called the input area. The Palm TX handheld uses a virtual writing area that appears on the screen when activated from the status bar.

x


y


Year View

The view in the Calendar application that displays all 12 months. Agenda, Day, Week, and Month are other included views.

z


Zire™

The brand name for a line of handhelds previously offered by Palm designed to keep your life organized and provide multimedia functionality.





1

Creation and editing functionality not available in all versions of Documents To Go. Refer to the specifications for each Palm device for availability.

2

Windows only. Functionality not available in all versions of Documents To Go. Refer to the specifications for each Palm device for availability.

3

Web, email, and messaging require data services from a mobile service provider at an additional cost. See the available service plans for details.

Palm, Palm OS by ACCESS, Blazer, Centro, Treo, Tungsten, VersaMail, and Zire are among the trademarks or registered trademarks owned by or licensed to Palm, Inc. DataViz and Documents To Go are registered trademarks of DataViz, Inc. Microsoft, ActiveSync, Excel, PowerPoint, and Windows Mobile are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. All other brand or product names are or may be trademarks of, and are used to identify products and services of, their respective owners.