You can't eat this BlackBerry and Blu-ray is not a fish! - A few high-tech devices explained

If you are like me you may have a problem understanding some of the new high-tech devices on the market. Imagine this scenario: You suddenly find the word BlackBerry on a Christmas list and get an inkling that it is not the kind found in your backyard, but you wonder just what it is.

So, to help others – as well as myself – further understand some of the new electronic devices I have compiled a simple guide to some of the confusing technological terms or high-tech devices that may pop up on a Christmas list or two.

Blu-ray

Blu-ray is the name of an optical disc format which can be recorded and is capable of storing more data than a DVD. Over 300 commercial films from studios such as Disney and Paramount are now available in this format.

It is called Blu-ray because a blue-violet laser is used to read and write data, as opposed to DVDs, which are recorded with red lasers. The blue laser is a shorter wavelength and its focus is more precise, which allows for more data storage on the disk.

I recently attended a Disney Blu-ray exhibition and the picture on the screen looked like Technicolor to the ‘nth degree.’ Also, it seemed as if I could walk right into the picture, it was so sharp and detailed.

The Sony PlayStation 3 is one device that can be used as a Blu-ray player.

iPod Classic

This Apple invention is used for selecting various songs and then listening to the songs you have downloaded. The iPod Classic allows 40,000 songs to be stored and enjoyed and also has 200 hours of video storage. The patented Click Wheel browsing device allows you to select your music by album cover.

iPod Shuffle

The iPod Shuffle is a small clip-on device that allows you to store 240 songs. It is available in various colors and is billed as “the only iPod that’s wearable right out of the box.”

iPod Nano

The iPod Nano is an iPod with video capabilities. You can watch five hours of television, movies and more. It has a larger display surface than the other iPods.

HDTV

High-definition television (HDTV) is usually a sharper, better quality of picture than the older models of televisions. HDTV also has better color.

Some problems, such as ‘snow’ and double images, are absent from HDTV. These types of televisions are also said to use less electricity.

Bluetooth

This is a wireless type of technology invented at the Swedish cell phone company Ericsson in 1994 and named after a Danish king. It is complicated technology that enables various devices to have wireless communication. The most popular is the wireless headset that allows you to communicate hands-free.

PDA

A PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) is a handheld computer that also has fax, cell phone and Internet capabilities. It is also popular as a personal notebook and organizer.

The PDAs come with either a keyboard or stylus to input data. Some PDAs also utilize voice recognition for data input.

PDAs first appeared on the market in the mid-’90s.

BlackBerry

The Research In Motion company markets the BlackBerry, which is a mobile e-mail package that includes airtime, software and a choice of several mobile devices.