Guides

Demystifying Tech: Making sense of the tech world's alphabet soup

3G, 4G, 4K TV? We'll show you what's behind these crazy tech terms

by Adam Holisky | Last updated 12:00PM EST on February 13, 2012

Filed under: Guides | Computers

Technology is everywhere, and so is its jargon. But all those three-letter words in an endless alphabet soup doesn't have to be an intimidating thing! In fact, once you know a bit about the technology behind the terms, everything starts to make sense, and buying your electronics will be a breeze.

We've compiled our most helpful advice to show you what everything means.

The 5 things you need to know about video game systems

3G vs. 4G: What's the difference?

Explaining common computer terms

TVs and home theater
Mobile phones, tablets, and other portable devices
Cameras and photography
Gaming
Computers

TVs and home theater

The home theater dictionary

By Michael Gray
The basics of the home theater vocabulary.
Basics

The TV and video dictionary

By Michael Arcand
Everything you ever wanted to know about television and video and then some.
Basics

Visual Guide: Home theater connections

By Barb Dybwad
Tired of cable confusion? Let us help you get plugged in.
Basics

Visual Guide: Home theater components

By Barb Dybwad
Get to know the usual suspects in your living room entertainment system.
Columns

What is a 4K TV?

By Mariella Moon
With four times the resolution of current HDTVs, 4K displays are visually stunning.
- Basics
  
  LCD vs. Plasma vs. DLP: What's the difference?
  
  By Obsessable Staff
  Join us as we break down the basics of TV display technology.
- Basics
  
  What is smart TV and why should you get one?
  
  By Michael Gray
  Bring the best of internet video to your TV screen.
- Basics
  
  What's the difference between 720p and 1080p?
  
  By Michael Arcand
  Get to the bottom of HDTV lingo.
- Basics
  
  The 4 things you need to know about television and video
  
  By Michael Arcand
  Know the basics before you go shopping.
- Basics
  
  The 7 things to know when you buy your home theater system
  
  By Michael Gray
  What you need to know to buy the right system for you.
- Columns
  
  Understanding OLED: What makes an OLED TV different?
  
  By Jordan Goodson
  OLED TVs made a huge splash at CES 2012 — here's why.
Show More

Mobile phones, tablets, and other portable devices

The portable devices dictionary

By Michael Arcand
Learn the basics in portable device terminology.
Basics

3G vs. 4G: What's the difference?

By Liz Patt
Sort fact from fiction when it comes to the newest wireless standard.
Columns

What is bluetooth?

By Michael Gray
Understanding the wireless technology that seems to be everywhere.
Columns

Streaming vs. Syncing: What's the best way to listen to music?

By Michael Arcand
Learn the pros and cons of two major ways to enjoy your music.
Columns

Terms to know when shopping for headphones

By Taylor Hatmaker
Learn the lingo to find the right pair of headphones for you.
- Basics
  
  What is Google Wallet and how can I use it?
  
  By Adam Holisky
  Pay for your goods and service with just a tap of your phone.
- Columns
  
  What is NFC and what does it mean for mobile payments?
  
  By Sebastian Anthony
  Instead of cash, cards, and tickets, all you need is your smartphone!
- Basics
  
  The mobile phones and services dictionary
  
  By Liz Patt
  We cut through the jargon to explain mobile terminology.
- Basics
  
  Visual Guide: Mobile phone storage
  
  By Emily Price
  Find out how much your phone can really hold.
- Basics
  
  Visual Guide: Mobile phone connections
  
  By Emily Price
  Knowing how to stay connected with any mobile device.
- Basics
  
  Visual Guide: Portable device connections
  
  By Michael Arcand
  Pick the right plug with confidence.
- Basics
  
  Android OS chart: Comparing the major versions [Visual Guide]
  
  By Barb Dybwad
  Take a visual look at the differences between major Android OS releases.
- Columns
  
  Apple's iPad vs. the iPad 2: What's the difference?
  
  By Taylor Hatmaker
  Gear up for the iPad 2's release with this side-by-side comparison.
- Basics
  
  Wifi or 3G for Your Tablet: What's the difference?
  
  By Samuel Axon
  Most tablet computers come with 2 options for going online — which one meets your needs?
- Basics
  
  The 5 things you need to know about mobile phones
  
  By Emily Price
  Tips for getting started on your mobile phone journey.
- Basics
  
  Visual Guide: iPod and MP3 player storage
  
  By Barb Dybwad
  Find out how much media your portable music player can hold.
- Basics
  
  The 5 things you should know about MP3 players
  
  By Michael Gray
  The essential list of knowledge about personal audio players.
Show More

Cameras and photography

Must-know terms for digital camera shopping

By Taylor Hatmaker
Decoding digital camera jargon, one term at a time.
Basics

Visual Guide: Digital camera connections

By Barb Dybwad
Find out what you need to know about the most common ports on your camera or camcorder.
Basics

Visual Guide: Camera and camcorder storage

By Emily Price
The easy guide to keeping memories alive.
Tips & Tricks

Photography Tips: Lenses 101

By Katherine Gray
A primer on different types of DSLR camera lenses.
Basics

The 3 things you need to know about cameras and camcorders

By Emily Price
Don't buy a camera or camcorder without knowing these things first.
- Tips & Tricks
  
  Photography Tips: What is ISO?
  
  By Katherine Gray
  How film speed affects your photographs, even if you have a digital camera.
- Tips & Tricks
  
  Photography Tips: What is aperture?
  
  By Katherine Gray
  How to make sense of aperture settings and take your photography to the next level.
- Tips & Tricks
  
  Photography Tips: What is depth of field?
  
  By Katherine Gray
  How this photographic phenomenon can make your perspective pop.
Show More

Gaming

The video game systems dictionary

By Adam Holisky
From Atari to Wii, all the video game terms you need to know.
Columns

What is cloud gaming?

By Shawn Schuster
OnLive's new patent may pave the way for a future of streaming entertainment.
Columns

What is Wii Motion Plus and do I need it?

By Mike Wehner
Nintendo's motion-based accessory is an investment in the future.
Basics

Visual Guide: Portable video game connections

By Adam Holisky
Gaming on the go made easier.
Basics

Visual Guide: Video game console connections

By Adam Holisky
Keep the tangle to a minimum.
- Basics
  
  The 5 things you need to know about video game systems
  
  By Adam Holisky
  5 tips to make your gaming experience great.

Computers

The computer components dictionary

By Rafe Brox
Demystifying computer hardware jargon in plain English.
Basics

Computer security dictionary

By Rafe Brox
We take the mystery out of the terms you need to know to keep your computer safe.
Basics

Explaining common computer terms

By Rafe Brox
We speak geek so you don't have to.
Basics

What is a computer virus?

By Michael Arcand
Learn about computer viruses and how they can affect you.
Columns

Facebook terms to guide you on your social journey

By Taylor Hatmaker
Connect with your friends on the biggest social network on the block.
- Columns
  
  Browser Central: Web technologies dictionary
  
  By Sebastian Anthony
  There are a lot of arcane words and phrases on the internet; let Tecca help you sort them out!
- Columns
  
  What is an ultrabook laptop?
  
  By Mariella Moon
  These ultra-thin, highly portable laptops with Intel innards will be more common in 2012.
- Basics
  
  USB 3.0 vs. Thunderbolt: What's the difference?
  
  By Kingsley Foreman
  It's about more than just speed.
- Basics
  
  What is Thunderbolt? Everything you need to know about Apple's new port
  
  By Sebastian Anthony
  A new blazing fast way to connect devices is just getting started.
- Basics
  
  What is network-attached storage and when do you need it?
  
  By Samuel Axon
  Add a NAS device to your local area network for heavy-duty storage.
- Columns
  
  What is Google's Chrome OS?
  
  By Michael Arcand
  Find out why Google's cloud-based operating system could herald the future of computing.
- Basics
  
  What is Adobe Flash?
  
  By Sebastian Anthony
  One of the web's oldest megaliths might soon come crashing down.
- Columns
  
  Computing Everywhere: What is bandwidth?
  
  By Michael Gray
  Understanding the currency of internet data.
- Basics
  
  What is DRM and how does it limit my downloads?
  
  By Sebastian Anthony
  DRM restricts what you can do with TV, movies, music, and video games.
- Basics
  
  What is RSS?
  
  By Sebastian Anthony
  The first two letters stand for "Really Simple," which must a good sign... right?
- Columns
  
  What is malware and how to fight it
  
  By Sebastian Anthony
  Protect yourself and your computer from the crippling effects of malware.
- Basics
  
  Visual Guide: Hard drive storage
  
  By Taylor Hatmaker
  Find out how much media your hard drive can hold.
- Basics
  
  Hard Drives vs. Solid-State Drives: What's the difference?
  
  By Sebastian Anthony
  Solid-state drives are the new kid on the block, but can they unseat the tried and tested hard drive?
Show More