Smartphones

A smartphone is a powerful mobile phone that is designed to run a variety of applications in addition to providing phone service. Smartphones are basically small tablet computers, and they can be used for web browsing, watching videos, reading e-books, playing games, and more.

Smartphones use touch screens and operating systems similar to those used by tablet computers. Many of them use a virtual keyboard, but others have a physical keyboard, which allows the entire screen to be used for display purposes.

Internet access is an important feature of smartphones. Generally, you will need to purchase a 3G or 4G data plan in addition to normal cell service. Smartphones can also connect to Wi-Fi when it is available; this allows you to use the Internet without using up your monthly data allotment.

A personal digital assistant (PDA) is a mobile device that is used for managing phone numbers, addresses, calendars, and other information. Before smartphones existed, a PDA was usually a separate device. Today, smartphones combine the functionality of a PDA and a mobile phone.

6. True, false or no information.

1. All e-book readers can have only an LCD display.

2. Smartphones and small tablet computers are basically different devices.

3. Tablet computers differ from laptops because they normally don't have keyboards or touchpads.

4. A GPS navigator is nowadays a part of any smartphone.

5. If you have a computer, you can read an e-book.

6. With solid-state drives, tablet computers work quicker and longer.

7. LCDs are used in a wide range of applications including computer monitors, televisions, instrument panels, aircraft cockpit displays, and signage.

8. Tablet computers are optimized for producing texts.

7. Answer the questions.

1. What portable electronic devices are mentioned in the text?

2. Which of them are described?

3. How do tablet computers differ from laptops?

4. What tasks are tablet computers optimized for?

5. What features do tablet computers possess?

6. What feature is necessary to use external devices with a tablet computer?

7. What examples of e-books do you know?

8. Which display would you prefer: an e-paper one or an LCD? Why?

9. What devices are combined in a smartphone?

8. Continue the sentence.

1. Many LCD e-readers …

a. combine the functionality of a PDA and a mobile phone.

b. can perform many different tasks in addition to displaying e-books.

c. often use a wireless Bluetooth connection.

2. An e-paper display…

a. was usually a separate device.

b. is still needed in order to use some programs.

c. is designed to look a lot like an actual page in a book.

3. The entire screen of a tablet computer allows you …

a. to read books even outdoors in full sun.

b. to use your finger as a mouse pointer.

c. to purchase a 3G or 4G data plan in addition to normal cell service.

4. An LCD screen reader …

a. is better for viewing magazines.

b. causes less eye strain.

c. is used for managing phone numbers, addresses, calendars, and other information.

5. Tablet computers have …

a. an external keyboard or other peripherals.

b. an e-paper display.

c. built-in Wi-Fi.

9. Speak about how a tablet computer is different from a laptop. What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of a tablet computer?

10. If you're thinking about buying an e-reader, think about what kinds of things you like to read. Do you mostly read books or magazines? What kind of screen do you think would be better?

11. Smartphones can have virtual keyboards or physical keyboards. What are some advantages and disadvantages to each one?

12. Match the words (1-7) with the definitions (A-G). Translate.

1. Bluetooth. 2. Voice activation. 3. Lithium-ion battery. 4. 3G network. 5. Text message. 6. Call waiting. 7. Voicemail.

A. A power source in cell phones. B. A short, written message sent to or from a cell phone. C. A cell phone feature that alerts of incoming calls during another call. D. A feature that calls a number by speaking instead of by dialing. E. A feature that lets you leave or listen to an electronic message. F. A wireless network that connects a phone with other devices. G. A wireless network that sends and receives data.

13. Make up a sentence using the words and phrases.

1. For consuming, tablet computers, mostly, are, media, designed. 2. Is, in order, some programs, to use, needed, a laptop, still. 3. Of computers, different, different, use, types, operating systems. 4. I, to download, will, free updates, be able, to my OS. 5. Have, very few ports, to save, tablet computers, in order, space.

14. Find English equivalents.

Посылать электронную почту, проверять расписание, сенсорный экран, потреблять энергию, преимущество планшета, множество приложений, такие программы все еще нужны, обновить информацию, экономить пространство, вместо набора номеров, чтобы улучшить качество, важная особенность прибора, проводная связь, оставить сообщение.

15. Translate into English.

1. Мой компьютер очень мощный. 2. Эта особенность позволяет мне скачивать различные программы. 3. Нам требуются как настольные, так и переносные компьютеры. 4. Переносные компьютеры не имеют клавиатуры. 5. Преимущество планшета – в его размерах. 6. У нас есть возможность скачать бесплатные обновления. 7. Как правило, планшетники имеют встроенный Wi-Fi. 8. Мобильные устройства могут выполнять различные задачи.

16. Give synonyms.

To allow, cell phone, extremely, feature, to fit, to purchase, entire, rate, type, usually, quickly, portable devises, convenient, to update.

17. Choose the correct preposition. Translate into Russian.

1. The goal (of/on) scientific research is publication. 2. Scientists become known or remain unknown (by/into) their publications. 3. Good organization is the key (to/from) good writing. 4. Pay particular attention (on/to) those aspects (to/of) editorial style which tend to vary widely (on/from) journal (to/in) journal, such as the style (during/of) literature citation. 5. An improperly titled paper may be virtually lost and never reach the audience (for/with) which it was intended. 6. (with/in) scientific writing generally, and especially (about/in) titles, a good rule is: use the specific word, the familiar word, the short word.

18. Underline complex object. Translate the sentences into Russian.

1. Tell the secretary what you would like her to do. 2. Seeing the professor enter the room the students rose to greet her. 3. We can expect computer and internet to occupy a central place in distant education. 4. We knew him to be very clever, so we are not surprised that he won in the competition of programmers. 5. The manufacturers would like the time fixed for delivery to run from the 20^thJanuary. 6. I want this IT-engineer to help me in repairing my computer.

19. Form comparative or superlative degree depending on sense of the sentence.

Translate into Russian.

1. Transistor computers consumed far (little) power, produced far (little) heat, and were much (small) compared to the first generation. 2. The twenty – second of December is (short) day in the year. 3. Winter is (cold) season. 4. Moscow is (large) than St. Petersburg. 5. London is (large) city in England. 6. Friendship is (strong) that steel. 7. Minicomputers were much (small), and (cheap) than first and second generations of computers. 8. Health is (good) than (wealth).

20. Write out suffixes for: a) the doer of action; b) the action. Translate.

Leader, indicate, worker, speaker, influence, simplify, owner, classify, profiteer, certify.