Unit 4. MOBILE OPERATING SYSTEMS
A mobile device is a small computing device, typically small enough to be handheld (and hence also commonly known as a handheld computer) which has a display screen with touch input and/or a miniature keyboard. Samsung, Sony, HTC, LG, Motorola Mobility and Apple are just a few examples of the many manufacturers that produce these types of devices. A handheld computing device has an operating system, and can run various types of application software, known as apps.
A mobile operating system (or mobile OS) is an operating system for smartphones, tablets, PDAs, or other mobile devices. While computers such as the typical laptop are mobile, the operating systems usually used on them are not considered mobile ones because they were originally designed for bigger stationary desktop computers. This distinction is getting blurred in some newer operating systems that are hybrids made for both uses.
Mobile operating systems combine features of a personal computer operating system with other features useful for mobile or handheld use; usually including, and most of the following considered essential in modern mobile systems; a touchscreen, cellular, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS mobile navigation, camera, video camera, speech recognition, voice recorder, music player, and near field communication.
Mobile devices with mobile communications capabilities (e.g. smartphones) contain two mobile operating systems – the main user-facing software platform is supplemented by a second low-level proprietary real-time operating system which operates the radio and other hardware. Research has shown that these low-level systems may contain a range of security vulnerabilities permitting malicious base stations to gain high levels of control over the mobile device.
Initially mobile phones used embedded systems to control operation. Those OS were embedded as part of a complete device often including hardware and mechanical parts. In 1995 the first smartphone, the IBM Simon, was released. It had a touchscreen, email and PDA features. It was followed by Palm Pilot 1000 personal digital assistant which was equipped with the Palm OS mobile operating system. The first Windows-supported handheld devices were introduced in 1996, and four years later a completely new Symbian became the first modern mobile OS on a smartphone. Another mobile giant, Blackberry, released its first smartphone in 2002. But a real revolution was made in 2007, when the Apple introduced its iPhone, the first combination of a cellular phone and PDA, working on the iOS, an operating system based on Unix kernel. The next year Open Handset Alliance (OHA) formed by Google, HTC, Sony, Dell, Intel, Motorola, Samsung, LG, etc. releases Android (based on Linux kernel) 1.0 with the HTC Dream as the first Android phone.Unlike iOS, it is free and open-source and can be ported on devices of various manufacturers. Later Windows launched its Windows Mobile OS, which became the third most popular operating system (after Android and iOS) for handheld devices in the world. Other developers of mobile OS are also working on new alternatives, trying to attract consumers by new interface and embedded features, though this battle seems to be very hard at the moment.
- Translate words and phrases (from the text) from English into Russian.
Speech recognition // various manufacturers // a handheld computing device // a low-level operating system // touch input // security vulnerabilities // personal digital assistant // to consider a problem // malicious control // communications capabilities // open-source system // to combine multiple features.
- Translate words and phrases (from the text) from Russian into English.
Запускать производство // исследования показали // оснащенный чем-то // изначально разработанный для // сенсорный экран // может быть установлен на устройства разных производителей // КПК // встроенные системы // запись речи // широкий спектр уязвимостей по части безопасности // портативное устройство // ближняя бесконтактная связь // рассматривать, рассуждать, раздумывать (одно слово) // основанный на ядре Linux// привлекать потребителей //может запускать различные типы приложений // патентованная операционная система // совершенно новый // работать над чем-то // в отличие от // разрешать, позволять (одно слово) // получить высокий уровень контроля за // телекоммуникационный гигант // считается существенным в современных мобильных системах.
- Find the synonyms to the following words and phrases in the text.
Rather // difference // producer // mixture // different // to be equipped with // are thought to be / /harmful// initially // helperю
- Match the words in two columns.
| Handheld | giant |
| Miniature | vulnerabilities |
| Speech | smartphones |
| Equipped | device |
| Desktop | keyboard |
| Range | with |
| Security | hardware |
| Release | recognition |
| mobile | of |
| radio | computer |
- Fill in the gaps using the following words. Put them into a correct form.
| recognition vulnerabilities handheld embedded permit touchscreen consider proprietary equip with assistant |
1. This software is __________ and costs too much, we can’t afford it now.
2. The group of programmers had had to work a lot until all __________ were eliminated.
3. I went to my friend because the __________ of my tablet was broken, and he can fix it.
4. Our professor __________ us to use the laboratory for working on our course project.
5. This line of mobile devices has a very useful feature of handwriting __________.
6. The new operating system has a big kit of __________ functions.
7. The room is __________ the latest smoke detector, so you’d better not even try to take out a cigarette.
8. My parents __________ my choice of future profession to be very good and support me in my studies.
9. I travel a lot, that’s why I need a light __________ computer, not a big desktop version.
10. A computer has become an important __________ in all kind of scientific research.