Jargon Buster
4K Video with a resolution of at least 3840x2160 pixels. 802.11ac A standard for wireless networks that allows for higher transfer speeds than 802.11n. 802.11n A standard for wireless networks that allows for high transfer speeds.
AES-256 Advanced Encryption Standard. A form of encryption based on a key length of 256 bits. Cracking it would take longer than the age of the universe. APTX A codec that’s used to compress audio so it can be transmitted over Bluetooth with minimal quality loss. Autofocus A camera setting which lets you automatically position the camera’s lens to focus on the subject in the picture. Benchmarking Comparing software and products with an accepted standard. Beta A version of software that’s being tested. Beta versions are often released so problems can be ironed out. Botnet A group of infected computers connected via the internet, and used to infect other PCS, send junk email and perform other criminal tasks. Cache A temporary space for storing information. Can be memory used on a computer processor, or space on a hard drive used by a web browser. Client A computer program used to access and manage a user’s email. CPU Central Processing Unit. Another term for a computer processor. DNS server A server that matches a domain name, like www.google. co.uk, to its associated IP address. DOS Disk Operating System. Command-line operating system. dpi Dots per inch. A measure of printed-image quality, or the size an object will be shown on screen.
Driver A file that tells Windows how to work with a peripheral device, such as a mouse. DUAL-SIM A phone that holds two SIM cards, letting you use services from two different networks. Emulatorone computerA programact like that another, makes allowing software. it to run that computer’s EPUB popular A ebookfile format readers. used by many Extensionextra featuresA programto your browser.that adds Factory electronic reset device Restoringto originalan manufacturerits information. settings by erasing Firmwareon a device, Basic such softwareas a music stored player, to control its operation. Can sometimes be upgraded in a process often called flashing. GHZ Gigahertz. A measure of how many instructions a chip can process per second. 1GHZ is equal to 1,000MHZ. GIF Graphics Interchange Format. A type of image file often used on the web, but now largely superseded by PNG. Graphics card A component in a computer that produces the image shown on the monitor. Hotkey A key set up to perform a complex action. HTML Hypertext Markup Language. The language used to write most web pages. Internet of Things Umbrella term for electronic devices – often found in the home but not PCS – that are connected to the web.
IP address Internet Protocol Address. A unique set of numbers, separated by full stops, used to identify computers and websites on the internet. For example, Google’s IP address is 74.125.224.72 LCD Liquid crystal display. The technology used to create almost all flatscreen monitors.
LED devicemany Light-emittingelectronicthat emits devices,light. Diode. Used andA on to provide backlight for some LCDS. M.2 expansionA standard cards specificationand connectors.for PC Macro commandsAn automatedor options seriesthat can of be run need at to any performtime. Handy repetitiveif you actions.often Metadata information A aboutset of a data file. that gives Microsd card A small type of memory card. Can be converted to SD size using an adapter. Mirror site A website that contains the same downloadable software as others, so it’s available from more than on place. MS-DOS Microsoft Disk Operating System. The standard PC operating system before Windows. Open source Software that can be modified by anyone, rather than just by the employees of the company that created it. Overclocking Making a processor work faster to improve performance at a cost of it getting hotter and requiring more power.
Partition A large hard drive can be split into two or more partitions or ‘virtual’ drives. Each section is treated by Windows as though it were a separate hard drive. PCIE Peripheral Component Interconnect Express. A faster version of PCI - a slot on the motherboard for expansion cards, such as for sound and memory. Plug-in A small program that adds extra features to software or to your web browser. PUP Potentially unwanted program. A program that may not be desired, despite the user consenting to it being downloaded. Roaming fees Charges for using your phone to receive data through overseas mobile networks. Screen burn Permanent screen discolouring, caused by a still image appearing for a long time.
SD card Secure Digital card. A popular type of memory card. Solid-state electronics Devices in which electricity passes through solid material, rather than through vacuums or tubes. SRGB space printers A for and standarduse the on internet. monitors,RGB colour SSD uses Solid-stateno moving parts.drive. StorageFaster but that morehard drives. expensive than conventional
System restore point The collection of system files stored by System Restore on a given date and time to which Windows can revert if a problem occurs. Telemetry in Windows Microsoft’s10 that tracks systemhow peoplein order useto improvethe operatingit. system Temporarybrowser to storefile A websitefile created data. by a Tetheringinternet accessA way to ofa computerproviding by connectingsuch as a smartphone.it to another device, Tooltip A small message that appears when the cursor hovers over an option. Transition Joining two video clips or moving from one clip to another. Common examples include wipes, dissolves and cutting to black. Virtual drive A set of files seen by Windows as a separate hard drive. Virtualisation Running a second ‘virtual’ operating system on a PC. VPN Virtual private network. Keeps internet communication private even on insecure networks. Widget A small program such as a calendar that runs on the Windows desktop, and phones and tablets. Woofer A speaker designed to produce low-frequency bass sounds. Named after the noise made by dogs. ZIP file
a documentsnumber A of file or compressedthat files. can contain