In today’s issue, we’re going to look at some of the more common file types that appear on the Windows Operating System. Bmp: Stands for Bitmap. One of the most basic types of image storage, Bitmaps tend to be larger than JPEGs, as they’re completely uncompressed. The pixels of a bitmap are resolution-dependent, so it’s very [...]
In today’s issue of Layman’s Terms, we’re going to have a look at some terminology related to power and energy. Power Cycling: Essentially, power cycling is a fancy way of saying ‘hard reset.’ It involves cutting the power to a device, then restoring the power. You can either do this by manually cutting the device off [...]
In today’s issue of In Layman’s Terms, we’re going to be looking at a few pieces of terminology related to authority in the computer world. Those of you who are looking for a highly technical piece should probably look elsewhere- today’s issue’s going to be a pretty simple affair. Let’s get started. Administrator: Where websites, webforums, and online [...]
It’s usually pretty easy to capture screenshots in a game. Most titles on the market now include some sort of hotkey for taking a picture, and even for those that don’t, you can always just use the good old “print screen” command. But what if you want to record some video, and you’re not interested [...]
With today’s issue of Layman’s Terms, we’re going to have a look at a few more graphically-inclined terms. Let’s get right into it, shall we? LCD: “LCD” stands for “Liquid Crystal Display.” Basically, it utilizes a unique type of matter which exists somewhere between a solid and a liquid in terms of state. The molecules of [...]
Hey there, folks. Today we’re taking a look at a few more common terms in the world of computing – both software and hardware related. Let’s get started. Native Mode: Basically, native mode is the default operating state of any given computer system. Sort of. For example – let’s say you’ve got a Windows PC, with [...]
So, if you haven’t heard already…OUYA. For those of you who don’t want to read through the Kickstarter page, I’ll summarize what the console is, as well as what it represents. OUYA is, at its core, an attempt to blow open the last closed market in gaming. That is to say, they’re trying to make console [...]
There’s a pretty good chance that you’re reading this article on either an LCD screen or an LED screen. We’re not here to discuss the differences between the two (LED is basically LCD’s prettier, slightly more expensive younger sister). Instead, we’re going to take a look at how your monitor works. How does an image [...]
Many folks have taken to referring to hackers by the theoretical color of their hat- white, black, or gray. But what, exactly does all that mean? How exactly does one categorize a ‘hat?’ Believe it or not, that’s actually incredibly simple- and nowhere near as complex as some of the other terminology we’ve covered. Let’s [...]
Today’s issue of Layman’s Terms is going to look at some of the terminology related to application development. Native Applications are programs coded in the “native language” of an operating system. For example, the native language of iOS is Objective C. Any applications coded in that language are considered native applications. Consequently, a Non-Native application is anything [...]
Hey there, folks. In today’s issue, we’re going to have a look at a few terms and phrases specifically related to graphics and graphics cards. Naturally, we don’t have enough space to cover all of them in one article, so this is probably something we’re going to be revisiting at a later date. Ambient Occlusion: You’ve [...]
Digital Rights Management. Few things raise the hackles of PC gamers more than those three words. Granted, it’s not always terrible. DRM can, when done right, protect the intellectual property of a developer without making legitimate customers feel like criminals. The trouble is, it’s almost never done right anymore. Virtually the only example I can [...]
In this edition of Layman’s Terms, we’ll take a look at a few more definitions related to the web. Specifically, we’re going to look at some of the languages in which the Internet is coded; a few of the languages which makes it what it is. HTML: “HTML” stands for “Hyper Text Markup Language.” Now, [...]
Today, we’re going to take a look at a few terms that are fairly often applied to software and what each term means. Vaporware: Vaporware basically describes an application that simply…isn’t. It’s software that’s neither developed nor officially cancelled and exists in a strange sort of limbo between real and nonexistent. This term could also [...]
This is the third installment in the series “Apple Jailbreak Q & A”! If you missed it, check out “What is Jailbreaking?” before getting started with the rest of the series. Can My Device be Jailbroken? Not every iDevice can be jailbroken, but most any of them that run the iOS firmware (iPod touch, iPad, and [...]
