Brief descriptions of the six major components of a handheld device are given below:
Mobile operating systems:
They are the core software of handheld devices. Mobile operating systems are different from those in desktop computers as they include the following additional features: i) power management to prolong the battery life, ii) real-time capability for time-critical operations such as voice communication, and iii) wireless infrastructure for wireless communication.
Mobile central processing units:
Mobile CPUs are the core hardware of mobile handheld devices and the performance and functionality of the devices are heavily dependent on the capabilities of the processors.
Microbrowsers:
Microbrowsers are Internet browsers specifically designed for use in mobile handheld devices. They differ from desktop browsers in several ways, specifically the languages they use, security, footprint, and smaller windows. The last feature, smaller windows, enables them to provide simplified interfaces, although it also eliminates much of the desktop browser's multimedia functionality, such as streaming -audio and -video support.
Input/output devices: There is only one major output device, the screen, but there are several popular input devices, in particular keyboards and touch screens/writing areas that require the use of a stylus.
Memory: Three types of memory are usually employed by handheld devices: i) random access memory, ii) read-only memory, and iii) flash memory.
Batteries: Rechargeable Lithium Ion batteries are the most common batteries used by handheld devices.
