What is ActiveSync?

What is ActiveSync?

ActiveSync is a mobile data synchronization technology and protocol developed by Microsoft. It is a program, which allows mobile devices to be synchronized. It is a bridge for data transfers between computers and mobile devices. It helps mobile devices in transferring documents, files, photos, contacts, calendars, and emails to and from the computer with ease. With ActiveSync, mobile phone is transformed into a pocket PC.

Microsoft provides two types of technology for data synchronization.

Desktop ActiveSync:

Data and information of handheld devices are synchronized with a desktop computer.  Apart from with limited backup/restore functionality, and the ability to install and uninstall mobile device applications, ActiveSync also provides for the manual transfer of files to a mobile device. Users need to connect the mobile device with the desktop to synchronize the data. Supported mobile devices can be Smartphones and PDAs running Windows Mobile, or the Windows CE operating system and other operating system.

It is to be noted that all Personal information manager (PIM) data including Email, Calendar, and Contacts can be synchronized with the ActiveSync but Tasks. Synchronization of Tasks is allowed only on Windows Mobile 5.0 devices.

ActiveSync doesn’t support all features of Outlook. Contacts grouped into subfolders are not transferred with ActiveSync.

Exchange ActiveSync:

Exchange ActiveSync provides push synchronization of contacts, calendars, tasks, and email between ActiveSync-enabled servers and mobile devices. It synchronizes directly with Microsoft Exchange Server and lets users keep e-mail, calendar data, tasks and contact information updated wirelessly via Wi-Fi or cellular network.

It is a proprietary protocol, which is licensed to a number of mobile manufacturing companies such as Apple, Palm, and Google. These companies can incorporate Exchange ActiveSync in their devices.

Many brands including Apple, Nokia, Sony Ericsson, and Sony offer products that are compatible with Exchange ActiveSync.

Resistive vs Capacitive Touchscreen

Resistive vs Capacitive Touchscreen

This article will help you in understanding the basic differences between Resistive & Capacitive touchscreen.

Resistive Touchscreen

A resistive touchscreen comprises of several layers, out of which the flexible plastic and glass layers are two important electrically resistive layers. The front surface of resistive touchscreen panel is a scratch-resistant plastic with coating of a conductive material (mostly Indium Tin Oxide, ITO), printed underside.

 The second important layer is either made of glass or hard plastic and is also coated with ITO.

Both the layers face each other and are separated with a thin gap in between. An electrical resistance is created between both the layers in such a way that charge runs from top to bottom in one layer and side-to-side in another.

When a finger or stylus tip presses down on the outer surface, both the ITO films meet. It is the measure of the resistance of both the layers at point of contact, which leads to get an accurate measurement of the touch position. The accuracy also relies on the evenness of the coating of ITO on both the layers.

Advantages of Resistive Touchscreen

Low production cost

High resistance to dust and water

Best used with a finger, gloved hand or stylus

Best suited for handwriting recognition

Disadvantages of Resistive Touchscreen

       Not too sensitive, you have to press down harder
      Poor contrast because of having additional reflections from extra layer of material              placed over the screen
       Does not support multi-touch 

Phones with Resisitive Touchscreen

Spice Mi-270, Nokia C2-02, Samsung Star Duos, Spice FLO, LG P520, Nokia C5-05, LG Cookie Joy, Samsung Champ Duos, Nokia C2-02

Capacitive touchscreen

A capacitive touchscreen also consists of two spaced layers of glass, which are coated with conductor such as Indium Tin Oxide (ITO). Human body is an electrical charge conductor. When a finger touches the glass of the capacitive surface, it changes the local electrostatic field. The system continuously monitors the movement of each tiny capacitor to find out the exact area where the finger had touched the screen.

Advantages of Capacitive Touchscreen

• Because capacitive touchscreen has glass layer instead of plastic, it looks brighter and sharper
• Highly touch sensititive and doesn’t need a stylus
• Supports multi-touch

Disadvantages of Capacitive Touchscreen

• Because the technology is dependent on the conductive nature of human body, it doesn’t work if the user is wearing gloves
• Because of having a complex structure, these are quite expensive
• Glass is more prone to breaking

Phones with Capacitive Touchscreen

HTC Incredible S, Apple iPhone 4S, Spice Mi-310, LG Optimus Black, HTC Sensation, HTC Explorer, Samsung Omnia W, Samsung Galaxy Ace Plus, Samsung Galaxy Note, Samsung Galaxy SII, Nokia Lumia 800