Chapter 1 - Mobile Devices Flashcards
You are configuring the mail app on an iPhone to use an Outlook.com email address. What
configuration information do you need to enter to establish connectivity?
A. Email address and password
B. Email address, password, and server name
C. Email address, password, server name, and mail protocol
D. Email address, password, server name or IP address, and mail protocol
A. When configuring a mobile email client to access a commercial email provider, you typically just need your username and password to establish connectivity. Examples include
Google, Yahoo, Outlook.com, and iCloud.
Which type of smartphone display has fewer layers, providing more flexibility, a better
viewing angle, and excellent color as compared to other technologies?
A. IPS
B. OLED
C. LED
D. TN
B. Many newer smartphones are boasting OLED displays for their light weight, flexibility,
color depth, and wider viewing angle. IPS is a popular type of LCD (Liquid Crystal Display)
that requires backlighting to display the image. TN was the LCD technology developed first.
It uses less power and has a limited viewing angle, but it supports very fast refresh rates.
LEDs can be used as the backlight for LCD systems. OLED displays don’t need a backlight
because their carbon-based material can emit light and color.
In which scenario would you use the Fn key and the F10 key?
A. To turn the screen brightness down
B. To turn the screen brightness up
C. To turn the speaker volume down
D. To turn the speaker volume up
B. Some laptop keys are consolidated into special multifunction keys to save valuable space.
These keys are accessed through the standard keys by using a special function (Fn) key. Video
adjustments come in two varieties: changing the video output and dimming or brightening
the screen. In this case, there is a large sun icon for brightening the screen on the F10 key,
so pressing the Fn key and the F10 key simultaneously would increase the brightness. Some
laptops use a smaller sun to label the key for dimming and a larger sun to label the key for
brightening, or they use plus and minus signs or up and down arrows next to the suns. You
may also see special function keys to turn network connections on or off or to play, fastforward, or rewind media.
You are purchasing a mobile device that allows you to use multi- finger gestures to interact
with the device. What type of touchscreen technology does this device most likely use?
A. Capacitive
B. Infrared
C. SAW
D. Resistive
A. Capacitive touchscreens are a little less accurate than resistive touchscreens but more
responsive. They respond to changes in electrical current, and as such, the human fingertip
works great as the facilitator of input. Resistive screens require a heavier touch and don’t
support multi-touch input. Infrared screens don’t work with multi-touch gestures, but like
resistive screens, they can be used with gloves on. Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) is another
type of touchscreen, but it is not popular.
You are using a public Wi-F i hotspot and believe that someone is trying to hack into your
laptop. Which laptop feature should you use to immediately turn off all wireless connections?
A. Silent mode
B. Quiet mode
C. Airplane mode
D. Connectionless mode
C. Airplane mode turns off all wireless connections on a mobile device. It’s common on
phones and tablets, and most laptops have the feature as well.
You have been asked to purchase a new camera for the company photographer. Some of
the cameras are marketed as “smart” cameras. What key feature does this likely mean the
camera includes?
A. Wi- Fi
B. RJ- 45
C. Separate video processor
D. Internal hard drive
A. Smart cameras have built-i n wireless network connectivity for easy picture and video
transfers. Many will include Wi- Fi, Bluetooth, and Near- Field Communication (NFC). Smart
cameras, such as security cameras, can also connect via Wi- Fi to your network and the Inter-
net, and can thus be accessed and controlled by a cell phone.
Your friend’s iPhone 13 will no longer charge. They have tried replacing the charging block
and cable with compatible ones and tested the wall outlet. What should be done next?
A. Purchase a new phone.
B. Purchase a new battery.
C. Take the phone to a repair shop.
D. Use a wireless charging pad.
C. While it’s possible that the phone could be charged with a charging pad, most often
phones won’t charge because the battery is worn out and needs replacing. Also, according
to the Apple Support website, a phone that won’t charge likely needs servicing. Your friend
should take their phone to a service center. They may be able to replace the battery or fix
problems they find with the phone’s connector.
Your customer brought you a laptop with an internal battery that will no longer charge. You
have told them that replacing the battery will be no problem at all. Which of the following
will you need to do first?
A. Remove the back cover.
B. Remove the keyboard.
C. Disconnect the external power.
D. Disconnect the LCD panel.
C. Legacy laptops may have a battery that is removable and replaceable by sliding a connec-
tor or removing a few screws from the back of the case, but you might not be able to find a
compatible replacement. Modern laptops have internal batteries. Before removing the back
(bottom) cover of the laptop to get to the battery, you must disconnect the power to avoid
A coworker is having a problem with their laptop and has asked you to fix it. When an
external keyboard is plugged in, the laptop works just fine, but without it strange characters
appear on the screen when typing. Which of the following are likely causes? (Choose two.)
A. The driver is corrupted and needs to be updated/replaced.
B. The ribbon cable is partially disconnected and needs to be reseated.
C. The laptop needs to be replaced.
D. There is debris under the keys.
A, B. Users should be discouraged from eating cookies or toast (or anything) over their
laptops. Fine crumbs or other debris can cause keys to stick, but that likely wouldn’t cause
the type of problem the user is experiencing. Oftentimes a laptop keyboard can be replaced
fairly easily assuming a compatible one can be found, but in this case, the problem is most
likely caused by a loose ribbon cable connecting the keyboard to the motherboard, or a cor-
rupted driver.
You’re working as the IT support person at an accounting firm. One of the accountants
dropped their keyboard, and the number 5 key is no longer there. This is a critical problem
for an accountant. What is the most cost- effective way to get them up and running again?
A. Replace the laptop with a new one.
B. Replace the entire keyboard.
C. Replace the missing key.
D. Give them a desktop computer to use.
C. Individual keys can be replaced on a laptop. If your company uses many of the same
model of laptops, keeping one or two nonfunctioning ones in stock for parts is helpful. If a
key is not readily available, they can be purchased from third- party vendors for much less
than an entire keyboard. When ordering, ensure that it has the right type of clips, hinges, and
possibly cup for the model being replaced. Is the short term, an inexpensive USB- connected
keypad might suffice.
Your boss has asked you to maximize the RAM in their laptop computer. You check the spec-
ifications and discover that the maximum system RAM is 32 GB of DDR4 RAM. The laptop
currently has 16 GB onboard RAM and one empty slot. Which of the following RAM mod-
ules will you purchase?
A. One 16 GB SODIMM
B. One 32 GB SODIMM
C. One 16 GB DIMM
D. One 32 GB DIMM
A. You will always check the device’s documentation before purchasing components to
ensure compatibility. In a laptop, RAM is often soldered directly onto the motherboard
(onboard) and isn’t meant to be replaced by most users. Since the maximum system RAM
is 32 GB, you would need one 16 GB RAM module to bring it up to that total. The SO in
SODIMM stands for Small Outline and is the type of RAM module used in devices like lap-
tops and sometimes printers. DIMMs (Dual Inline Memory Modules) are used in desktop
computers.
A friend is trying to install an update on their iPod, but they’re receiving a message about
insufficient space. They want to know if you can upgrade their storage. What will you
tell them?
A. Sure, bring it over later today.
B. Storage can’t be upgraded. You’ll need to buy a new iPod.
C. Storage can’t be upgraded, but you may be able to offload some apps you no longer use.
D. Just purchase more space on iCloud; it’s the same thing.
C. The short answer is that no, storage on an iPhone, iPad, iPod, or almost any small device
can’t be upgraded. When you buy one of these devices, it’s best to buy as much storage as you
can afford. Attaching the device to your PC and doing the upgrade there may work. If not,
you may not have to buy a new iPod if you have some data that you no longer need like con-
versations from years ago, or if you have some apps that you no longer use and can delete.
You should be able to download them again later onto a new device. iCloud is storage in the
cloud, and not the same as storage on your device; however, you could store photos in iCloud
Photos or use Messages in iCloud to save space on the device.
You need to replace a failed SATA hard drive on a 10- year- old laptop. The user has asked
that the new drive be as fast as possible, regardless of disk space or cost. What type of drive
should you install?
A. SSD
B. Magnetic
C. Hybrid
D. NVMe
A. A solid- state drive (SSD) uses the same memory technology found in other forms of flash
memory. They are much faster than traditional magnetic drives or hybrid drives but gener-
ally don’t have as much capacity for the same price. An NVMe drive is newer technology and
would have to be supported by the laptop. It also uses a different connector.
You need to replace a failed hard drive in a user’s laptop, and it’s a model you are unfamiliar
with. You look at the bottom of the laptop and see no obvious entrance points. Which
component will you most likely need to remove to access the hard drive bay?
A. Plastics/frames
B. Battery
C. System board
D. Keyboard
D. As a rule of thumb, either you can access components from the bottom of a laptop, such
as the memory and Mini PCIe card, or you’re going to need to remove the keyboard to access
the components from the top.
You are on the phone talking to a technician who is trying to upgrade a laptop. The techni-
cian is having trouble identifying the Mini PCIe card. How wide should you tell the techni-
cian that the card is?
A. 27 mm
B. 30 mm
C. 51 mm
D. 60 mm
B. Mini PCIe cards come in two sizes. The full- size cards measure 30 mm wide and 51 mm
long. Half-s ize cards are 30 mm wide and 27 mm long.
Which mobile connection type allows you to share your cellular Internet connection with a
Wi- Fi enabled device?
A. Hotspot
B. NFC
C. Bluetooth
D. IrDA
A. If you have a cellular- enabled device such as a smartphone, you may be able to turn that
phone into a mobile hotspot. By doing so, you can share your cellular Internet connection
with Wi- Fi- enabled devices such as laptops and tablets. Near- Field Communication (NFC)
devices can communicate and send data and files but only if they are within inches of each
other. Bluetooth is a common wireless technology for connecting devices such as keyboards
and headsets to a computer, and IrDA (infrared) communicates using light, but requires a
line- of- sight.
Your friend wants to be able to use their phone to pay for purchases at a popular coffee
shop. They noticed that the phone needs to be about 4″ from the coffee shop’s reader. What
radio wave communication type do you need to configure for your friend?
A. NFC
B. Wi- Fi
C. IrDA
D. Bluetooth
A. Near- field communication (NFC) is a wireless technology that uses radio frequency
(RF) signals with limited range, about 4″ (10 cm). Bluetooth and Wi- Fi have greater
ranges, and IrDA uses infrared light and requires line- of- sight communications. IrDA is no
longer popular.
You’re working from a home office and need to be able to type on your keyboard while
talking with clients, so you purchase a wireless headset. What wireless technology will you
need to enable on your laptop to ensure that the headset and laptop can communicate?
A. Wi- Fi
B. IR
C. Bluetooth
D. NFC
C. Headsets are used for hands- free phone conversations and listening to music. Headsets
can either plug into the speaker/headphone jack or be wireless. Most wireless headsets are
Bluetooth. Wi- Fi is for connecting to wireless Local Area Networks (LANs). IR is infrared
communication, which uses infrared light and requires line- of- sight for connections. It is
seldom used. NFC (near- field communication) only works over very short distances, about
10 cm or 4″.
You are wearing your smart watch, which allows you to make payments like a credit card.
What type of connection technology does this service use?
A. Bluetooth
B. NFC
C. Wi- Fi
D. IR
B. Near- field communication (NFC) is a wireless technology that uses radio frequency (RF)
signals with limited range, about 4″ (10 cm). NFC can operate in card emulation mode,
which lets the device act as a smartcard. This is useful for making payments at the site of a
merchant who uses NFC. Bluetooth is a popular protocol for personal area networks (PANs)
such as a laptop and headset or speakers. Wi- Fi is used for wireless Local Area Networks
(LANs). IrDA uses infrared light for communication; although it was once popular, it is
rarely used in PC communications.
You’re upgrading the Wi- Fi card in a manager’s laptop and notice that the antenna cable
is frayed, so you need to replace that too. What will you likely need to do to replace
the antenna?
A. Wrap the antenna with electrical tape.
B. Open the display to replace the cable.
C. Attach a dongle for the new cable.
D. Just install the new card because the antenna is part of the card.
B. Often in laptops, the antenna is housed in the display area of the laptop. You would
most likely need to separate the display from the laptop’s motherboard section to open it
and replace the antenna cable. It will also likely have two different parts, a right and a left
antenna, so make sure you get the right one.
Your boss has asked you to make sure that each of the company’s laptops has a biometric
scanner as an extra measure of security. Which of the following are biometric devices that are
commonly found and can be configured on laptops? (Choose two.)
A. ID card scanner
B. Face ID
C. Fingerprint reader
D. Retina scanner
B, C. Biometrics are using part of your body to identify you. An ID card is not biometric.
Retina scanners are used in some secure environments but are not commonly found on lap-
tops, but facial recognition like Apple’s Face ID and Windows Hello are on most modern lap-
tops. Fingerprint readers can be found on many laptops, or can be easily added.
Your company is producing posters for an upcoming public relations campaign. The project
leader wants to embed information into an NFC Type 4 tag in the poster. How much
information can this tag hold?
A. 16 KB
B. 32 KB
C. 1.4 MB
D. 2.4 MB
B. Near- field communication (NFC) is a wireless technology that uses radio frequency (RF)
signals with limited range, about 4″ (10 cm). To read an NFC tag in a poster, you would
move your phone close to the tag. The phone would generate a small RF field that would
power the tag, and data could then be read from the tag. There are five types of tags that
vary in speed from 106 kbps to 2424 kbps and in maximum capacities from 2 KB to 32 KB.
Type 4 holds the most data but is slower than Type 3.
Your customer has an iPhone 8 and wants to read and write NFC tags with it. What advice
will you give them? (Choose two.)
A. Their iPhone will only work with Apple Pay.
B. They need to upgrade to iPhone X to write NFC tags.
C. With iOS 13 or better on their device, they’ll be able to read and write NFC tags using a
third- party app.
D. iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 can read NFC tags simply by holding the phone over the tag.
C, D. The only Near- field communication (NFC) capability with devices prior to the iPhone
7 is the ability to use Apple Pay; however, with iPhone 7 and newer devices, a third- party
app can be used to read and write NFC tags. iPhone 12 and newer devices can natively
read NFC tags.
You’ve been asked by the company president what can be done with NFC in addition to
paying for coffee. What will you tell them? (Choose three.)
A. Securely share data with someone you’re having lunch with.
B. Beam data to someone 10 feet away.
C. Transfer files, photos, and videos.
D. Add information or URLs to business cards, making it easier for customers to learn
about your products or services.
A, C, D. NFC can do so much more than pay for your coffee. In addition to the answers
above, NFC tags can be set up to automate tasks instead of manually changing settings, such
as silencing an alarm or logging into a PC. In some places they can allow your phone to be
your bus pass. They’re considered secure for communication because of the short distance
between devices.
You are investigating new laptops for your company. You want the laptop displays to have a
wide viewing angle. Which technology standard is best suited for your needs?
A. LED
B. SVA
C. IPS
D. TN
C. There are three types of Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) technologies listed in the A+ exam
objectives: Twisted Nematic (TN), In- Plane Switching (IPS), and Vertical Alignment (VA). IPS
LCDs provide better color representation as well as wider viewing angles, so that would be
the best choice for this situation. Their drawbacks are somewhat slower response times and
they tend to be a bit more expensive. Considering the other two types of LCD technologies,
TN displays were developed first. They use less power compared to IPS and VA; however,
when you start viewing them at wider angles, the picture quality suffers greatly. VA LCDs
have slower response times than either IPS or TN, but they have the best contrast and image
depth. SVA, or Super Vertical Alignment, is a Samsung term, not a standard, but it claims to
offer better viewing angles than VA displays. LED monitors use Light Emitting Diodes as the
backlight for an LCD. There are also microLED monitors and OLED monitors that create
colors using LEDs with no backlight required.
Which type of LCD has the best contrast, meaning the darkest black and lightest white?
A. TN
B. IPS
C. VA
D. OLED
C. OLED (Organic LED) monitors are not LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) monitors. Each of
the other three has their advantages. TN (Twisted Nematic) displays have the fastest refresh
rates, IPS (In- Plane Switching) displays have the best viewing angle, and VA (Vertical Align-
ment) displays have the best color contrast.
Of the laptop LCD technologies, which consumes the least amount of power?
A. LED
B. IPS
C. TN
D. VA
C. There are three types of Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) technologies listed in the exam
objectives: Twisted Nematic (TN), In- Plane Switching (IPS), and Vertical Alignment (VA). Of
those three display types, TN uses the least amount of power. TN displays also have very fast
refresh rates. The issue with TN LCD screens is that when you start viewing them at wider
angles, the picture quality suffers greatly. IPS LCDs provide better color representation as
well as wider-a ngle viewing, but they tend to be a bit more expensive and have somewhat
slower response times. VA LCDs have slower response times than either IPS or TN, but they
have the best contrast and image depth. LED (Light- Emitting Diode) refers to a type of back-
lighting for LCD monitors.
What type of display uses organic materials that themselves light up so that no backlight is
needed, meaning true black and greater contrasts can be achieved?
A. QLED
B. Mini- LED
C. LED
D. OLED
D. The Organic LED (OLED) displays have incredible color contrast ratio because they can
turn individual pixels off. They also have an excellent viewing angle. The drawback is that
they may not be as bright as an LED (Light Emitting Diode) display. LED and mini- LED
displays use LEDs for backlighting, but still need the LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) panel.
QLED is a marketing name, but QLED displays use a quantum dot layer providing more
color depth than regular LED displays. Micro- LEDs use three microscopic LEDs (red, green,
and blue) to make each pixel, and each pixel can be turned on or off like an OLED TV.
QLED, mini- LED, and micro- LED aren’t on the CompTIA A+ objectives yet.
You have recently purchased a laptop computer with a touchscreen. It allows you to draw
images on the screen and save them on the computer. Which device is responsible for
converting the input into the image that you see and save?
A. Inverter
B. Touchpad
C. Digitizer
D. Touchscreen
C. A digitizer is a device that can be written or drawn on and the content will be converted
from analog input to digital images on the computer. Digitizers take input from a user’s
finger or a writing utensil, such as a stylus. Touchscreen devices and touchpads have a digi-
tizer built into them. An inverter changes DC (Direct Current) to AC (Alternating Current)
and is needed for some types of backlighting.
Which two components of a laptop or other mobile device are the most useful when making
a videoconference call? (Choose two.)
A. Digitizer
B. Webcam
C. Microphone/speaker
D. Inverter
B, C. Webcams are nearly universal on laptops. The most common placement is right above
the display on the laptop. Microphones are also often built into the display, next to the
webcam. Both laptops and mobile devices such as smartphones are used for videoconfer-
encing. Desktop computers can be used for videoconferencing, too, but usually will require
adding a webcam and microphone. A digitizer converts touch input into digital format, and
an inverter is used to convert DC (Direct Current) to AC (Alternating Current).
Of the laptop components listed, which one is least likely to be built into the display?
A. Wi- Fi antenna
B. Speakers
C. Webcam
D. Digitizer
B. Common components to include in the display are the screen, Wi- Fi antenna, webcam,
microphone, inverter, and digitizer. Speakers are often near the keyboard on a laptop; how-
ever, some desktop displays have built-i n speakers.
What is this device, which can be found inside an iPhone 10 along the bottom, connected
with a small ribbon cable?
A. Wi- Fi antenna
B. Digitizer
C. Haptics connector
D. Stylus sensor
A. Smartphones will have both a cellular antenna and a Wi- Fi antenna internal to the phone.
Typically they connect with a ribbon cable, and they may be shaped differently or in dif-
ferent places depending on the particular cell phone model. These are not considered user-
replaceable parts, but as an IT technician, you may be asked to replace them. Special tools,
often plastic, may be needed to open a cell phone case without causing damage. The digitizer
is a thin layer of electronic material that is usually fused between the glass and the LCD.
Haptics are the ability of the device to interact through touch, such as vibration when they
ring or feeling like you’re pressing a physical button even though you’re not. Stylus sensors
are not actual devices.
Which type of mobile device is known for using electrophoretic ink?
A. E- reader
B. Smart watch
C. Smart glasses
D. Tablet
A. Most e- reader displays use a technology called electrophoretic ink, or E Ink, which is a
proprietary type of electronic paper. Although E Ink is available in color, many consider its
best applications to be in grayscales or pure black and white. Additionally, E Ink uses almost
no power to keep print on the page until the print is changed.
Which display component is capable of discharging energy and causing severe injuries to
technicians?
A. Screen
B. Backlight
C. Inverter
D. LCD
C. The job of the inverter is to store and convert energy from DC to AC. Inverters have the
potential to discharge that energy and can be dangerous to technicians, so be careful when
working with them. A backlight provides light that shines through the Liquid Crystal Display
(LCD) to create pictures on the screen.
Which of the following is not a type of LCD?
A. OLED
B. IPS
A. OLED technology uses organic material that lights up and creates colors without the use
of backlighting or an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display). IPS, TN, and VA are all types of LCDs.
What types of networking will smart cameras often have built into them? (Choose two.)
A. Bluetooth
B. IrDA
C. RJ- 45
D. Wi- Fi
A, D. Smart cameras have built-i n wireless network connectivity for easy picture and video
transfers. Many will include Wi- Fi, Bluetooth, and NFC (Near- field Communication). IrDA
uses infrared light for communication and is not popular, and RJ- 45 is a type of networking
connector.
What component or characteristic on most mobile phones has its ability measured in
megapixels?
A. Brightness
B. Contrast
C. Camera
D. Digitizer
C. Megapixels are a measure of how many unique points a digital camera is capable of stor-
ing. It’s more a measure of detail than quality, but for most of us it’s a quick way to compare
a smartphone’s photographic capabilities. Brightness and contrast are settings that affect the
display, whereas the digitizer accepts analog input and converts it into digital format.
What three components of a mobile display are often connected in such a way that if one
fails, you must replace the other two with it? (Choose three.)
A. Glass cover
B. LCD
C. Wi- Fi antenna
D. Digitizer
A, B, D. The digitizer on a mobile device is a thin layer of electronic material that is glued or
fused onto the back of the glass. Popular new smartphones are fusing all three together, so if
the ability to communicate with the smartphone through touch fails, you must replace not
only the digitizer but the glass cover and LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) as well. If the glass
cover shatters, then the digitizer and LCD are replaced as well because it is sold as one unit.
The Wi- Fi antenna is usually a discrete part inside the case.
An artist in your company’s marketing department just received the new drawing pad that
they ordered. What might you need to do to configure it? (Choose three.)
A. Install an alternate operating system.
B. Plug the device into an appropriate port, likely USB.
C. Enable Windows Ink or other software settings.
D. Calibrate the device.
B, C, D. Some drawing pads simply plug into the USB port of a laptop and they work just
fine. Higher- end devices will likely need more setup but will pay off in quality. Some will
need special software installed, including drivers, and that software will need to be config-
ured. Most likely you’ll want to enable and configure Windows Ink. You may need to cal-
ibrate a drawing pad when you first connect it or only if the movement of the stylus is off
from the movement on the screen. It’s unlikely that you’ll need a different operating system
to use it.