Digital Camera Glossary | Digital Definitions

A group of online services and tools offered by Apple for an annual subscription fee.

A popular high definition format that displays a resolution of 1080 vertical pixels by 1920 horizontal pixels. The "i" stands for interlaced scanning which "paints" the digital picture on the screen so quickly that the eye detects only one continuous image.

The so-called “Holy Grail” of high-definition formats, 1080p means that the resolution of the picture is 1920x1080 with “progressive” scanning. 1080p is supposedly superior to 1080i which uses an “interlaced” format. The rub for consumers is that very little 1080p content exists at this point.

The 16:9 aspect ratio is commonly known as "widescreen" and delivers a panoramic view of movies. All HDTVs have a screen with a 16:9 aspect ratio, which is 1.78 times as wide as it is tall.

Drivers, also known as moving coil drivers or dynamic drivers, are the tiny loud speaker in headphones that convert an electrical signal to sound. 16-mm drivers, as used in Sony's MDR-EX700LP earbuds, are extremely sensitive to power input and offer extraordinary sound frequency and dynamic range.

2nd Generation mobile wireless which includes CDMA networks (such as those used by Verizon Wireless and Sprint) and GSM (offered by Cingular/AT&T and T-Mobile).

A professional-quality imaging sensor commonly used in high-end digital camcorders which uses three CCDs to produce better color by recording red, green, and blue light separately. Camcorders which use 3CCD imaging sensors are also known as "three-chip" camcorders.

3rd Generation wireless technology for mobile communication. 3G service, which is offered in Japan and parts of Europe but in the U.S., operates 50 times faster than 2G wireless technology. 3G service gives you the ability to use a videophone and videoconference without having to be connected to the Internet. 3G also allows you to use your mobile phone from anywhere in the world.

3LCD projectors use three LCDs to crisply reproduce bright, natural images that are easy on the eyes.

The 4:3 aspect ratio is found in most standard television sets. It represents four inches of width for every three inches of height.

A popular surround sound set-up in home theaters where separate audio tracks are sent to five speakers-–two in the front of the room (on the left and right), a front center channel (handling most of the dialogue) plus left and right rear speakers behind, creating a “you’re-surrounded” feeling.

A top of the line computer processor which has made its way from huge mainframe computers into desktop and notebook PCs. 64-bit computers are able to process twice the amount of data at the same speed as their earlier 32-bit counterparts, allowing for faster image and video editing.

A common high-defintion video standard that employs a resolution of 1280x720 pixels. The "p" stands for "progressive" scanning which offers a smoother picture than "i", or interlaced high definition footage.

A wireless standard developed by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) for what is commonly known as “Wi-Fi.” 802.11g is the previous fastest protocol. It was recently eclipsed by a new standard – 802.11n.

A wireless standard developed by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) for what is commonly known as “Wi-Fi.” 802.11n is the current cutting edge protocol.

A now-obsolete audio storage technology that used rectangular-shaped magnetic tape cartridges, 8-Tracks were popular during the 1960s and 1970s. Invented by William Powell Lear who also invented the Learjet, 8-Track tapes fell out of fashion in the 1980s with the rise of compact tape cassettes, and eventually disappeared once Compact Disks (CDs) took over the market.

AAC (Advance Audio Coding) is a digital audio file format used for songs in Apple's iTunes software. AAC is widely regarded to have better sound quality than the MP3 format. It's also the standard audio format for Sony Playstation 3.

AC (Alternating Current) Power is a way to operate an electronic device, such as a digital camera or stereo boom box, by plugging it into the wall rather than a battery.

A device for measuring acceleration or rate of speed.

Adobe Photoshop Elements is the consumer version of the Adobe Photoshop image editing program. Sold for a fraction of the cost of Photoshop, Photoshop Elements offers surprisingly sophisticated editing, albuming, and presentation features, including a slide show. The current version is Adobe Photoshop Elements 5.0.

Adobe Premiere Elements is a video editing software application for non-linear video editing. It’s a scaled-down version of the professional-level Adobe Premiere Pro, and is optionally bundled with Adobe Photoshop Elements.

A card that fits into your laptop to provide wireless Internet access via a cellular network.

A mode on your cell or smart phone that turns off the wireless capabilities so it doesn't interfere with a plane's avionics. Airplane mode is also sometimes referred to a Flight mode.

The actual time you spend talking on a cell phone.

A wireless reading device from Amazon, also called an e-book, e-book reader, or electronic book. The Amazon Kindle uses an electronic paper display to present book and magazine downloads from Amazon. Over 190,000 titles are now available to download from Amazon either via a wired or wireless connection to the Kindle.

AMD (Advanced Micro Devices) is American-based manufacturer located in Sunnyvale, California which produces microprocessors. AMD is a former partner but now chief rival of Intel.

a traditional older television set which receives an analog broadcast signal typically via an antenna. On February 17, 2009, the U.S. will make the switch from analog TV broadcasting to all digital TV broadcasting. Owners of analog TVs will have to purchase a converter box in order to still receive a television signal.

Aperture is the size of the opening in a lens. In advanced cameras, such as digital SLRs, aperture can be selected by the user to control the amount of light reaching the film or digital imaging sensor. Aperture is measured in f/stops, such as f/4, f/8, etc.

An adaptor used in older Apple computers that lets you connect to the Internet wirelessly.

A software component that performs a specific function within a program, such as running a movie in a web browser. The term applet is also used to describe a small standalone application in an operating system, such as a calculator program or a basic text editor.

Slang for software applications.

A built-in tuner in a high definition television (HDTV) set for receiving broadcast HD programs. Also known as an HDTV tuner.

A healthcare professional who tests hearing and helps patients with hearing problems, including fitting them for hearing aids.

Someone who is obsessed with achieving high-quality results in the recording and playback of music.

A mode where the camera fires off several frames of varying exposure in sequence automatically.

A camera setting which automatically adjusts the aperture and shutter speed to create an accurate exposure.

A feature in cameras that allows them to focus automatically without the photographer having to adjust the lens manually. Autofocus is typically engaged by half pressing the shutter button.

An ADF is a tray that attaches to a scanner to allow you to scan multiple pages without having to manually feed each page into the machine.

The amount of information than can be transmitted and received in a network. Bandwidth is usually used to describe the amount of data than can flow across an Internet connection. High bandwidth means graphics, audio, and video can be sent and received more quickly.

A new interactive function on Blu-ray disk players that allows them to communicate with the Internet to provide additional multi-media content.

Developed by RIM (Research in Motion), BlackBerrys are best known for their ability to send and receive real-time email anywhere there is a wireless cellular network. The devices, sometimes referred to a "CrackBerries" for their addictive email functionality, have other “smart” features including organizing functionality and web browsing services.

Short for weblog, a blog is a personal website featuring regularly updated entries displayed in reverse chronological order with the most recent entry at the top. Subject matter for blog entries, also known as “posts,” can run the gamut from the personal to the political though they are typically written from the first person perspective.

A popular wireless protocol used in small electronic devices such as cell phones, laptops, and printers.

Blu-ray is an optical disc format designed for high definition video and high-density data storage. Blu-ray is one of two competing high definition disc standards. The other is HD-DVD. The name Blu-ray Disc comes from the blue-violet laser used to read and write these discs. The main backers of Blu-ray Discs are Sony, Philips, Sun Microsystems, Dell, HP, Pioneer, TDK, and Apple.

A Japanese word which loosely translates as "beautiful blur." Bokeh is typically created by a lens with a fast aperture which produces a shallow depth of field in an image. Bokeh can help a subject stand out in a photo, such as in a portrait.

Apple's name for a technology it uses to help users create a local area network (LAN).

A disk on which a computer’s operating system is stored.

a common two-pronged fastener used in scrapbooking as a decoration. To secure a brad on a page, prongs are inserted through the surface and then opened butterfly style on back.

Taken from the words "broad bandwith," broadband is a term to describe high-speed telecommunications associated with the Internet.

A type of memory in a computer or other digital device such as a digital that is used to temporarily store data

A general-purpose computer programming language developed in 1983 by Bjarne Stroustrup.

A device that connects your computer to a local TV cable line to receive high-speed Internet access.

An electronic plug-in card provided by a cable company to decode their scrambled signal without the need of a separate set-top box (STB). About the size of a credit card, a CableCARD also allows consumers to record digital cable television channels on digital video recorders and personal computers without an STB.

Memory or storage area your computer can access quickly. Internet browsers also have cache which stores information about places you've been to on the Web.

A device for transferring images from a memory card to your computer.

A type of digital imaging sensor often found in compact cameras. CCD stands for Charge Coupled Device.

One the more common cellular networks in the United States is called CDMA. CDMA stands for Code Division Multiple Access and is offered by Verizon Wireless and Sprint. CDMA coverage is generally better in the U.S. but has some limitations abroad.

Stands for Compact Disk Read-Only-Memory. CD-ROM's are similar to audio CDs but store data instead of music.

The center speaker in a home theater sound system. The center channel typically handles voices such as dialogue in a movie.

Verizon's "Family Locator" service which allows you to track the location of family member's cell phones from the Chaperone Web Site or the Chaperone Parent Application on your cell phone.

A virtual room on the Internet where groups of users can communicate in real-time by sending text, images, and other info.

A Canon ink system designed to prevent photo prints from fading. Prints made from this system should last a long time before the colors show any noticeable change: 100 years in dark storage (an archival-quality photo album); 30 years on display in a glass frame indoors, without direct sunlight or other high-intensity light; and 10 years of resistance to gases found in indoor air (ozone, nitrous oxides, sulfur oxides.)

An array of electronic components wired together on a thin sheet of non-conductive material. Circuit boards are common used in computers and other electronic devices.

An imaging sensor used in digital SLRs and other cameras. CMOS stands for Complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor.

Short for coder/decoder, a codec is a piece of hardware or software that can encode or decode data such as video or audio files.

A matchbook-sized removable memory card used in digital cameras. Though many point-and-shoot digital cameras have switched to smaller SecureDigital (SD) cards, CompactFlash cards are still popular in higher-end cameras, such as digital SLRs, because they can store more images. Like SD Cards, a CompactFlash (CF) card uses flash memory to store information. There are two kinds of Compact Flash cards, Type 1 and a slightly thicker Type II.

Also known as an RCA cable, a component cable has three red, green and blue plugs and is commonly used for connection audio components -- such as a CD player -- to a receiver in a typical stereo.

Like a traditional desktop, a computer desktop is the virtual area where all of a user's folders, files and programs are placed. It's the first area you see after your computer has finished starting up.

A program designed to infect, destroy or interfere with a computer's operation.

A small piece of data from a web page that's downloaded to your computer's hard disk and is accessible by your Internet browser. Cookies allow web pages to "remember" you so you don't have to reenter user info including your name and password each time you visit.

Image editing and enhancing software from the makers of WordPerfect. Corel Paint Shop Pro is a competitor of the popular Adobe Photoshop imaging software.

A way to three-dimensionally view album cover art and other graphics and photos using Apple iTunes or the Macintosh finder on your computer. Cover Flow is also available on other Apple products such as the iPhone or iPod Touch.

A word coined by the writer William Gibson in his 1984 science fiction novel Neuromancer. The word is meant to describe the abstract world of information and communications that connects humans and computers. Cyberspace is commonly associated with, but not limited to, the Internet or the World Wide Web.

A special setting on the Apple Hi-Fi which manages energy to enhance battery life and sound.

Depth of field identifies the range in a photo in which subjects are in focus.

A window that "pops up" in a computer application to allow the user to enter options or change settings.

Also called a digital photo frame or a digital picture frame, a digital frame is an electronic device that looks like a traditional picture frame but is designed for displaying digital images instead of photo prints. The other main difference between a digital and a traditional frame is that a digital frame can display images in a slideshow format or include other types of media such as video or audio. Digital frames can be used as a stand-alone device or while attached by cable or via WiFi to a computer.

A type of image stabilization which automatically increases a camera's ISO light sensitivity and shutter speed to reduce image blur. Digital image stabilization is considered to be inferior to optical image stabilization -- which moves an element inside a camera (typically the lens or imaging sensor) to reduce blur – because shooting at a higher ISO can increase image "noise."

Taking your digital photos and turning them into professionally bound photo books.

Also called a photo station, a digital photo kiosk is a cabinet-sized device at a drugstore or photo retail shop that allows consumers to make prints and enlargements from their digital images; perform simple picture editing; and transfer and burn images images to a photo CD. To use a digital photo kiosk, a consumer will typically insert a memory card or CD, or connect a USB drive to the machine. Payment is usually made by swiping your credit card.

A digital version of the popular scrapbooking hobby which preserves family history by creating virtual scrapbook pages on a computer or an online site. See also "Scrapbooking."

In a digital SLR (DSLR), light passes through the lens and is reflected by a mirror onto the optical viewfinder, giving the user a clear image of their subject. When the shutter button is pressed on a DSLR, the image is projected onto a imaging sensor.

A new television format which will become the standard in the U.S. on February 17, 2009. Digital television is more flexible and offers more resolution (including high definition) than a traditional analog signal.

Also known as a USB turntable, a digital turntable is a way to digitize music from traditional vinyl records through a USB connection to a computer with the help of software.

Digital zoom is actually not really zoom at all but rather a way to "crop" the digital image or digital video footage in the camera to enlarge the subject. This cropping can degrade image quality, especially in lower resolution cameras.

A geekier name for a traditional cathode ray tube (CRT) TV set.

One of the major satellite television providers in the U.S. which offers several high-definition channels.

Digital Light Processing (DLP) is a technology created by Texas Instruments and used in projectors and projection televisions. DLP technology creates images by reflecting light off hundreds of thousands of tiny rotating mirrors.

An animated television series for pre-schoolers about an intrepid traveler named Dora. Dora the Explorer has also made into a series of video game titles.

To transfer a file or group of files to your computer from another computer. Most downloads are done over the Internet.

Printing term that means the number of “dots per inch” used to create an image, such as a photo. The higher the DPI, the higher the resolution of the image.

Moving an element, such as a folder or an icon, from one location to another on a computer by dragging it with the mouse.

Short for "Dynamic Random Access Memory," DRAM is a common form of RAM which can hold data for only a short time. The "Dynamic" means DRAMs need to be constantly refreshed electronically by the computer to keep the stored data.

Software from Adobe that helps you build a website.

A program which allows a computer to interact with an external device such as a printer or a back up hard drive.

DRM, or Digital Rights Management, is a blanket term for technology that’s used to prevent unauthorized copying of digital content, typically music.

DRM (Digital Rights Management) is a blanket term for technology that’s used to prevent unauthorized copying of digital content, typically music.

DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) is a type of high-speed Internet connection that transmits data over the regular copper wire phone lines.

An acronym for digital television which is the new broadcast standard from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). DTV is slated to replace the analog television signal in the United States by February 17, 2009 but some legislators, including President Barack Obama, are hoping to push back that date to give people more time to update their televisions.

A dual-core processor combines two independent Central Processing Units (CPUs) to better perform multiple computing tasks at the same time.

An inkjet system from Epson that uses long-lasting pigment-based inks. Photos created with this system have a projected fade resistance of up to 100 years – not only for prints made on special photo paper, but even for prints made on good-quality plain paper.

Short for Digital Video Interface, DVI is a video connector designed to maximize the picture quality of digital display devices such as digital projectors and LCD screens. It was developed by the Digital Display Working Group (DDWG), an industry consortium.

A DVR is short for a Digital Video Recorder which can be used to record television shows either live as they occur or at different times. Instead of using tapes like a VHS recorder, a DVR records to a built-in hard disk drive.

A dye-sub printer (short for dye-sublimation) uses heat to transfer dye to paper to create a color image. The dye-sublimation process uses a ribbon with color panels to lay one color at a time until the full-color image is complete. A final laminate overcoating seals in the ink and protects the print against fading from UV light and air while making it water-resistant.

Small stereo listening devices that fit inside the ears rather than over the ears as do headphones. Earbuds became increasingly more common with the introduction of the iPod.

The world's most well-known Internet auction site.

A common way to create a local area network (LAN) connecting various computers and electronic devices. The Ethernet protocol was first developed by Xerox in the late 1970s.

A coaxial cable for connecting to an Ethernet local-area network (LAN). Typically used to connect a computer to a modem to access the Internet.

A socket on a computer for connecting to an Ethernet local-area network (LAN).

EVDO stands for Evolution Data Only or Evolution Data Optimized and is a a wireless radio broadband data protocol being adopted by some cellular phone providers. In the United States, EVDO is currently offered through Verizon Wireless and Sprint. By sliding an EVDO card -- sometimes called an Air Modem -- into your laptop, EVDO lets you have fast wireless access to the Internet from practically anywhere.

A file with a built-in program that is automatically run by the computer once it's opened.

External hard drives – like embedded hard drives – store data on rapidly rotating magnetic disks. They’re typically housed in a protective plastic case and receive power through an A/C connection. They connect to a computer either by a USB or Firewire (IEEE1394) cable.

The numbers on a lens signifying the width of the aperture. Technically a fraction of the focal length.

A feature in some recent digital cameras which automatically detects faces in a scene and adjusts for sharpness and exposure to produce more pleasing portraits.

A social networking website similar to MySpace but aimed toward college and university students.

A bundled communications package from Verizon that uses fiber optic cables to provide high definition TV, Internet and photo service. The name FiOS stands for Fiber Optic Service. Verizon is the first communications company in the U.S. to offer fiber optic service to consumer for home use.

Computer hardware and/or software that prevents hackers from getting into a computer system. The term is taken from construction where a firewall – or fireproof wall – is installed to prevent fire from spreading from one section of a building to another.

FireWire is Apple Inc.’s name for the IEEE1394 high-speed connection standard. Similar to USB 2.0, FireWire is a fast and versatile serial bus interface often used to connect DV cameras and electronic devices to computers. It offers transfer rates of 400 megabytes per second.

Firmware is software embedded in a hardware device such as a computer or digital camera. Firmware, which usually can be updated by a user, is written into the device’s read-only memory (ROM).

Adobe-owned multi-media software that helps add animation or video to web pages.

A common type of digital storage that does not need to be powered on to retain its information. Flash memory -- which has no moving parts -- is used in memory cards and, increasingly, in cell phones and laptop computers.

Flat-screen, or flat-panel, TVs take up very little room and can be hung on the wall. Because of their flat design, they offer a sharp, colorful picture from any angle, even in a brightly lit room. There are two competing flat-screen technologies – plasma and LCD.

The range in which a lens can focus. Often written as 3x zoom, 4x zoom, 10x zoom etc.

An image sensor known formally as the Foveon X3, it was designed to mimic film by directly capturing three layers of red, green, and blue light at each point in an image during a single exposure. Foveon X3 imaging sensors are currently found in Sigma cameras.

Software that is distributed free of charge, typically on the Web.

FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol which is a system for quickly sending large files over the Internet

The prize in a game of Geocaching, a geocache is a container filled with a hidden treasures that participants find using a GPS device.

An outdoor adventure game where participants use GPS devices to find containers full of hidden treasures.

A term used to describe a fine-art inkjet print.

A gigabyte is a unit of information or storage equal to approximately 1000 megabytes, or one billion bytes. Hard drive storage on computers are often measured in gigabytes.

A free, web-based email service from Google.

An electronic device which receives information from the satellite-based GPS (Global Position System) to track the coordinates of a person or object anywhere in the world. GPS devices are typically used in cars.

GPS (Global Positioning System) is a satellite-based radio navigation system developed and operated by the US Department of Defense (DOD) and now available on a variety of consumer electronics devices. GPS helps track the coordinates of a person or object anywhere in the world.

GSM, which stands for Global System for Mobile Communication, is a cellular network offered by Cingular (now AT&T) and T-Mobile. While GSM service is fairly prevalent in the United States, it’s much more common overseas. (GSM is the standard in Europe, for instance.) GSM phones, unlike CDMA phones, use a SIM card, allowing you to use different handsets while still keeping your phone number and list of contacts.

Pronounced "goo-ee," a GUI (Graphical User Interface) uses graphics such as icons, pictures, and assorted objects instead of text to let the user interact with a computer or electronic device.

An immensely popular science fiction video game created by Bungie Studio exclusively for the Microsoft xBox. Halo 3, the third installment in the series, had the highest grossing opening day in entertainment history, taking in $170 million in sales.

A digital storage device, also known as a hard drive or a hard disk, that uses a rapidly spinning platter with a magnetic surface to store data.

HD DVD is a high-density optical disc format designed for high-definition video high-density data storage. HD DVD (which stands for High-Density Digital Versatile Disc) is one of two competing high definition disc standards. The other is Blu-ray. HD DVD is supported by Toshiba, NEC Corporation, Microsoft, and Intel.

An all-digital audio/video interface capable of transmitting uncompressed streams. The High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) provides a connection between any compatible digital audio/video device such as DVD player or a High Definition television.

High-definition televisions (HDTV) feature eye-popping resolution that is up to five times sharper than traditional television formats. HDTV signals are digital and broadcast in a wider aspect ratio (16:9) than traditional signals which are in standard aspect ratio. (4:3).

High Definition Video (HDV) is a video format designed to record compressed HDTV video on standard DV media such as DV or MiniDV cassette tape. In HDV, resolution can be 720p or 1080i. HDV 720p uses a resolution of 1280x720 square pixels. HDV 1080i uses a resolution of 1440x1080 pixels, but is still displayed with an aspect ratio of 16:9

A Home Theater in a Box (HTIB) system includes the receiver, speakers and (sometimes) DVD player required to create a movie theater audio experience in the home. All the components in an HTIB have been pre-selected to work well together, complete with cables and easy setup instructions.

A wireless access point in a public place such as in a coffee shop, hotel lobby, or airport.

Short for HyperText Markup Language, HTML is a computer language used for designing web pages.

The premier website for viewing full episodes of TV show and full-length movies from NBC, FOX, and their subsidiaries, along with other networks and movie studios. All content is offered for free and some of it is available in in 480p or 720p high-definition.

Software on Apple computers that allows for instant text and video messaging. iChat AV can be used over the popular AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) service. The current version supports up to four people in a video conference and ten people in an audio conference.

The number of images you can shoot before they are processed by the camera and stored to the memory card. A digital camera with a large image buffer can keep shooting a long sequence without having to wait for internal processing to catch up.

Software designed to help you manipulate and enhance your digital images. The most popular professional image editing software is Adobe Photosho but there are dozens of other programs out there -- including many easy-to-use consumer-oriented applications -- to help you improve and tweak your digital photos.

A device which electronically analyzes a physical image, such as a photograph, and converts it into a digital image.

The ImageLink print system is a industry standard, created by Kodak, designed to simplify at-home printing. With ImageLink, you can place any compatible digital camera directly on an ImageLink printer dock and then press a single button to make snapshot-size pictures in seconds.

Short for Internet Message Access Protocol, IMAP is a protocol for retrieving email from a mail server on the Internet. It’s slightly more sophisticated than POP3 (Post Office Protocol 3) and is seen as its successor.

A sheet that contains thumbnail images of every image on a photo CD.

An inkjet printer shoots out tiny droplets of liquid ink onto paper to create text or a graphic or image. While standard inkjet printers often use four colors to print, inkjet photo printers typically use six, seven, or eight different colors. The more colors, the better the quality of the photo.

Instant Messaging (IM) is a real-time text or video “chat” between two or more users who are online simultaneously. Some of the more popular instant message services include AOL Instant Messenger, Microsoft Windows Live Messenger or Yahoo Messenger.

Storage for digital information that is already built into the device.

Software that helps you surf the Internet. Some of the more popular browsers include Firefox, Safari, Internet Explorer, Opera, and Netscape.

An image that has been digitally resized to increase the number of pixels at the expense of image quality.

A software application from Apple designed to manage and edit digital photos. iPhoto is part of Apple’s iLife suite of applications and comes bundled with all the latest Mac computers.

Launched in October 2001, the iPod is on its 5th generation music player from Apple, which now also plays video content. The “classic” iPod uses a hard disk drive and a click wheel to access digital content.

A device which connects to you iPod and beams the tunes to an empty channel on the car’s radio.

A small and lightweight Apple iPod digital audio player that replaced the iPod Mini in 2005. Unlike the traditional iPod, the Nano does not have a built-in hard drive but instead uses flash memory storage, allowing a more petite design.

A postage stamp-sized music player from Apple that has no display. The iPod Shuffle uses flash memory to store songs and other data.

An international standard used to denote film speed that has been carried over to digital cameras. A digital camera’s ISO speed corresponds to how sensitive the imaging sensor is to light. The higher the ISO, the better the camera is for capturing images in low light without a flash.

A digital music player from Apple Inc. that allows you to play and organize digital music and video files, Podcasts, downloads of TV shows and movies, and Internet radio stations.

Websites such as Monster.com and CareerBuilder.com which feature listings of jobs and other potential opportunities for employment.

A commonly used compressed image file format created by Joint Photographic Experts Group, hence the name JPEG. JPEGs are popular with amateur photographers because they let you squeeze lots of image information into a relatively small file.

Another name for a portable USB drive.

Popular words or phrases that Internet search engines use to locate your website. The proper positioning of keywords on your site will improve your Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and get you ranked higher in searches by Google.

A telephone connection that uses actual fiber optic, metallic or copper phone lines. A traditional or non-wireless telephone line.

A technique in Adobe Photoshop that lets you blend two or more images together seamlessly to create a new picture. A layer is similar to a transparency in which imaging effects are applied and placed over or under an image.

Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) screens can be found on many electronic devices including digital cameras. LCD television sets have also been gaining in popularity as an alternative to plasma TVs.

The Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) screen found on the back of a digital camera to help you compose a shot, review an image, or set menu items.

As indicated by its name, an LCD TV uses liquid crystal display technology (generally TFT) for its visual output, as opposed to cathode ray or plasma.

A series of video games created by famed game designer Shigeru Miyamoto (inventor of Donkey Kong) for Nintendo. The series, which began in 1986, are set in a fantasy world and mix action, adventure and role-playing.

Common rechargeable batteries found in consumer electronics such as laptops computers, digital cameras and camcorders, and cellular phones.

A connector on audio equipment to which a device like a CD-player or DVD player may be attached.

A popular "open source" operating system based on Unix that was created in 1991 by Linus Torvalds.

A way to preview your image on the LCD screen of your digital camera before you take the picture. This feature has been available on point-and-shoot digital cameras for some time now though camera designers have recently figured out a way to add Live View to digital SLRs.

A measurement of illumination on a screen or other surface. As a rule of thumb, one lumen is equal to one candle of light.

A unit of measurement for light

Mac OS X is the latest version of the Mac OS, the operating system software for Macintosh computers.

A setting for close-up photography. In Macro mode, or when you use a macro lens, you can focus extremely closely to the subject to capture minute detail.

A lens that can focus extremely closely to the subject to capture minute detail. A macro lens is ideal for taking close-ups of subjects such as flowers or insects.

A popular football video game from EA Sports named after John Madden, an NFL commentator and former coach.

Malicious software designed to attack or interfere with your computer's operation.

An instrument that measures pressure of fluids. A manometer can be used to gauge depth when diving.

Also known as memory cards, media cards are small removable chips in digital cameras that use “flash memory” to store image files. Memory cards come in a variety of formats, the most popular being CompactFlash (CF), Secure Digital (SD), and xD-Picture Cards.

A computer that's optimized for music, photography, digital video, games, DVD playback and Web-based entertainment, but still has practical computer applications.

Where a pixel is a single “picture element” in a digital image, a megapixel is equal to a million “picture elements,” or pixels.

A small removable chip in digital cameras that use 'flash memory' to store image files. Memory cards come in a variety of formats, the most popular being CompactFlash (CF), Secure Digital (SD), and xD-Picture Cards.

A popular series of "stealth" video game titles created and directed by Hideo Kojima for the Konami game company. The series, which just reached its completion with the release of the new "Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots" game for Sony Playstation 3, follows retired solider Solid Snake as he battles renegade special forces operatives and confronts the Metal Gear fighting machine, which is sort of a tank with legs that's capable of launching nuclear weapons.

MicroSD is a format for very tiny removable flash memory cards that are typically used in cell phones and smart phones.

A program from Microsoft that helps you organize all of your personal and business information including email, a calendar, tasks, contacts, and web browsing. Also sometimes referred to as "Outlook," the full name of the program is Microsoft Office Outlook.

MiniDV (Digital Video) tapes were once the standard format for recording digital video. About three inches long and capable of recording up to 90 minutes of footage, MiniDV tapes first emerged in the mid-1990s but have begun to wane in popularity as DVD camcorders have become to dominate the market.

MiniDVDs are an increasingly popular format for recording digital video. About three inches in diameter, miniDVDs can record up to 30 minutes of footage in the highest quality setting. Camcorders that record to miniDVD have grown increasingly popular in recent years.

Standard 1/8" jack/plug commonly used to connect headphones or audio components.

Short for Mini Laboratory, a minilab is used in photographic processing to create prints from negatives, slides, or digital media.

The main circuit board of a computer.

A hand-held device for moving the cursor or pointer on the computer screen.

A popular audio format for digital music which uses compression to create CD-like sound quality in a relatively small file size. MP3 stands for MPEG Audio Layer-3.

A music player, such as an iPod, that plays digital audio files. MP3 is a popular audio format for digital music which uses compression to create CD-like sound quality in a relatively small file size. MP3 stands for MPEG Audio Layer-3.

A multi-media digital file format which contains both audio and video.

A free Internet service in which users create and customize their own profiles in order to interact with each other online. Sometimes called a social networking interface, MySpace offers photo and video sharing, music, blogs, email, bulletin boards, and groups, as well as other media-rich features.

A free peer-to-peer online music sharing service created by Shawn Fanning. Legal challenges from the music industry regarding copyright violations eventually shut Napster down. The Napster name was purchased by Roxio in 2002 and turned into a paid subscription music service.

A shortened, slang term for "Navigation Bar." A Nav bar is the tool bar often found on the side or top of a website which helps you navigate through a site's various features and sections.

A small, inexpensive and highly portable laptop computer designed for performing simple tasks such as checking email and surfing the Internet.

A slimmed down version of the Nintendo DS handheld gaming console. The DS Lite, released in 2006, was replaced by the Nintendo DSi in 2009.

A popular hand-held gaming system from Nintendo. The console -- released in 2004 -- has a clamshell design with dual screens which gives the system its DS model name. It's been succeeded by the Nintendo DS Lite (2006) and by the Nintendo DSi in 2009.

Nintendo Wii Fit works directly with your Wii console and new Wii Balance Board accessory to bring health and balance back into your life, offering fun and exciting activities that everyone can enjoy! Get fit with over 40 activities including strength training, aerobics, yoga and balance games.

That ugly digital fuzz that turns up in your photos when you try to take a picture in low-light without a flash. While digital cameras have gotten better in reducing noise -- which results from not enough light getting to the imaging sensor -- it is still a problem in some cameras, particularly small point-and-shoot models.

Headphones which use "active noise control" technology to reduce external ambient sound. Noise-cancelling headphones typically employ an external microphone near the ear to sample external sound and then produce an anti-noise signal to let you better hear the music in your headphones and not the hum of your surroundings.

A decade-old subscription service from GM that lets drivers make hands-free calls, track a stolen car, or receive driving directions.

A program with a source code that's made available to the general public to tinker with at no cost.

A free web browser and Internet suite developed by the Opera Software company. Opera, the fourth most popular web browser behind Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Safarai, includes many cutting-edge features that have been borrowed by competing browsers including fast overall performance, tabbed browsing, page zooming and built-in security functionality including anti-phishing and malware protection.

An automatic adjustment that physically shifts an element in a camera or a camera lens to compensate for hand shake, preventing image blur.

The eyepiece on a camera you look through to see your subject before you take a picture. Many compact digital cameras are getting rid of optical viewfinders in favor of just LCD viewfinders.

To magnify an image, an optical zoom will adjust the lens either manually or automatically. By contrast, a digital zoom will crop the digital image to get closer which degrades the quality of the picture.

Apple Inc.'s current operating system for all its latest Macintosh computers. OSX was launched in 1999 and is now on Version 10.5, also known as Leopard.

A fictitious island found online at Panwapa.com where kids can learn how to become better global citizens. Panwapa.com is an educational site created by Sesame Workshop.

PCMCIA is an acronym for Personal Computer Memory Card International Association, a trade group that has created a standard size for small expansion cards – such as to gain wireless internet access – for laptops. The PCMCIA slot (also known as PC slot) is the port on your laptop where you fit these PC cards.

Portable Document Format (PDF) is a file format developed by Adobe Systems that can be viewed without needing the original application software, hardware, or operating system that was used to create the document.

– A self-service machine, about the size of an ATM, for making prints. Typically found in a photo or drug store, photo kiosks accept memory cards, CDs and other media. They have built-in printers and make your prints while you wait.

A popular professional image editing, enhancement and design program from Adobe.

PictBridge is an industry open standard that allows images to be printed directly from a digital camera to a printer, without having to go through a computer. It was created by the Camera & Imaging Products Association (CIPA).

A plasma display panel (PDP) is a type of flat panel display commonly used for large TV sets -- typically above 32 inches. Plasma display technology uses many tiny cells between two panels of glass to hold an inert mixture of noble gases (neon and xenon). The gas in the cells is electrically turned into a plasma which then excites phosphors to emit light.

A list of songs.

A handheld gaming console from Sony that was introduced in 2006.

A program that adds a specific function or service to a larger software system. The most popular plug-in applications are used to add further image editing functionality to Adobe Photoshop.

An audio or video file posted on the Internet that can be played on a website or downloaded and listened to and/or watched later.

An instant camera from Polaroid that printed photos on 1.5" x1" strips of pull-out paper. One of the distinctive features of photo paper from an i-Zone camera was its sticky back which let you mount your pictures on a variety of surfaces. The simple i-Zone cameras, which were discontinued in 2006, were very popular among children and teens.

Short for Post Office Protocol 3, POP3 is a standard protocol for collecting e-mail from a mail server on the Internet.

A way to create a home network by using the electrical wiring in your house.

An electronic devices that processes an audio signal before it reaches the amplifier to improve sound quality.

Also known as the Central Processing Unit (CPU), the processor is the part of the computer that works with data and runs programs. The processor is sometimes referred to as a computer’s “brain.”

An advanced photographer, one step below a professional. Prosumer is a combination of the words pro and consumer.

RAM (Random Access Memory) is used by a computer to juggle multiple programs. The more RAM a computer has, the “faster” it will run when it’s multi-tasking between, for example, word processing, watching videos on YouTube, and editing images in Photoshop.

An unprocessed digital image file. RAW files are also sometimes referred to as a digital negative because they contain the full amount of image information. On the downside, RAW image files are typically 2 to 4 times larger than "compressed" file formats such as JPEGs.

A cable commonly used for connecting audio components – such as a CD player – to a receiver in a typical stereo.

A plug common for connecting audio components – such as a CD player – to a receiver in a typical stereo.

In a rear projection TV, an image is projected and reflected onto the screen from behind, unlike traditional video and film projection in which the projector itself is placed in front of the screen, such as in a movie theater.

Image resolution in a digital photo is measured by the number of pixels it has. Higher resolution images have more pixels, or more picture detail.

Customizable sounds on a cell phone to indicate an incoming call.

A way to get quick, up to the minute information from various news-based web sites. When you "subscribe" to a particular website's RSS feed you will get "live" updates of breaking news or information directly to your browser. Subscribing to an RSS feed is typically free. RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication.

To convert text, a photo, or artwork into a digital image by using an electronic scanner.

A device which converts text, a photo, or artwork into a digital image. The most common type of scanner is a "flatbed" scanner which lets you lay your document or photo flat on the device's glass to be scanned and then digitized.

A popular hobby for recording and preserving family history by filling albums with a collage of photographs, drawings, decorations, graphics, printed media and other personal items and memorabilia.

A popular type of flash-based memory cards used, primarily, in digital cameras.

A slot on a digital camera, computer, television set or other electronic device that accepts Secure Digital (SD) Cards. The advantage to having an SD Card slot is that it allows you to easily transport and transfer digital content – such as images or videos – from one device to another.

A common type of memory card used in digital cameras. Also known as a Secure Digital Card. Memory cards are small removable chips that use "flash memory" to store image files.

A high capacity version of an SD (Secure Digital) memory card.

Short for "Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory," SDRAM is faster than standard DRAM because it operates in sync with the clock speed of the computer's CPU (Central Processing Unit).

An acronym for Search Engine Optimization, which is a way to get your blog or website highly ranked by Internet search engines, specifically Google, by using strategically placed keywords.

Similar to a cable box, a Set-top box (STB) receives, converts and sends a signal to your television. If your HDTV-ready TV has no built-in HDTV tuner you must connect it to a compatible HDTV STB first.

Software that can be used for free on a trial basis for evaluation purposes.

That annoying delay in digital cameras between pressing the shutter release button and actually taking the picture.

The amount of time the shutter is open in a camera. The faster the shutter speed, the more clearly a moving object can be shot.

An online service for processing, organizing, editing, and archiving your digital images. Shutterfly is similar to other online digital photo sites such as Snapfish and Kodak EasyShare Gallery, and will allow you to print your images in photo books or on unique items such as mugs, magnets and tote bags.

A digital hearing aid made by Siemens.

A U.K.-based technology company that has been in business for over 160 years. Siemens manufacturers everything from digital hearing aids to home appliances.

In a single-lens reflex (SLR) camera, light passes through the lens and is reflected by a mirror onto the optical viewfinder, giving the user a clear image of their subject. When the shutter button is pressed in a film camera, the SLR’s focal plane shutter opens, and the image is projected onto film.

One of two satellite radio services in the United States and Canada. The other is XM Satellite Radio.

Customized digital graphics allowing users to change the look of their computer desktops, Internet browsers, or web pages without changing their functionality.

Skype is a free VOIP (Voice-Over-Internet Protocol) service that lets users have voice conversations over the Internet with the help of software. Skype also offers a fee-based service that lets users communicate with traditional phones.

A flash technique, often offered in an automatic mode, that fires the flash in conjunction with a slow shutter speed. When used correctly, slow sync flash can expose both subject and background for a natural-looking result. Slow sync flash can also be used to create surreal light trails in an image to suggest motion.

A cellular device that combines the calling features of a cell phone with the organizational and Internet based communication features of a PDA. The main difference between a smart phone and a cell phone is the existence of a “QWERTY” keyboard or a touch screen which allows smart phone users to access the Internet and check email. Most cell phones can, at best, just send text messages to other cell phones.

SMS (Short Message Service) allows short text messages to be sent to a mobile phone.

The interacting of a group of people, typically online, over a shared topic of interest.

A software program that allows you to make phone calls over the Internet. A softphone program typically looks and behaves like a regular phone and often uses an image of an actual phone as its interface.

Though it's the most expensive mainstream gaming console on the market, the Sony Playstation 3 has the best graphics and boasts some impressive extras including a built-in Blu-ray player for playing high-defintion DVDs; built-in wireless networking; a 60GB hard drive; HDMI output, and free online gaming.

A circuit card in a computer that allows it to produce sounds through internal or external speakers.

Malicious software which sends information about your web habits to its website. Spyware is often unwittingly installed by a user as the result of a free download of another file or program.

Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) is a protocol developed by Netscape to encrypt and protect data that is sent over the internet, particularly as it relates to Credit Card numbers, passwords, and other sensitive user information. URLs that use SSL encryption start with "https."

Either transmitting or receiving to music or video over the Internet without storing it.

A special speaker designed to recreate deep booming bass notes that is usually placed on the floor.

A Super CCD (charge-coupled device) is an imaging sensor designed by Fujifilm that uses octagonal, rather than rectangular, pixels. This design allows a higher horizontal and vertical resolution (at the expense of diagonal resolution) to be achieved than a traditional sensor of an equivalent pixel count.

A special filter in Olympus cameras designed to shake the dust off the imaging sensor through high-speed vibration.

A factory-installed entertainment/navigation system in Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury automobiles that lets drivers connect cell phones or digital media players into their vehicle and operate them using voice commands, the vehicle’s steering wheel, or radio controls.

A small lens that mounts behind a lens and increase its reach. A 2x will double a lens’ magnification at a modest cost.

Designed to take close-up images of faraway subjects, a telephoto lens has a longer-than-normal focal length and the ability to magnify images. Telephoto lenses also have a narrow angle of view and a relatively shallow depth of field which enlarges distant planes and makes them seem closer to the foreground.

A terabyte is equal to 1,000 gigabytes or 1,000,000 megabytes.

A short message of letters or numbers sent via a cell phone.

A cellular service that allows you to send short text messages via your cell phone.

Slang for to write and send a text message. See also "Text messaging."

Voice prompts typically used on GPS tracking units which will speak out the directions along with the name of the street you should be turning onto.

A low-cost printer that produces text or images by applying heat to special heat-sensitive paper.

Short for Tagged Image File Format, a Tiff is a digital image file which does not lose any image quality when it is saved and compressed. The high image quality of Tiffs appeal to professional photographers though Tiff image file sizes can be quite large.

A popular brand of Digital Video Recorders (DVR).

A dry ink powder which has been electrically charged and is used in printers, fax machines and copiers.

– An adjustable, three-legged supporting stand used to hold a camera steady. Especially useful when using slow shutter speeds and/or telephoto lenses.

A device that receives radio or television broadcast signals. Also known as a receiver.

Light from regular room lamps and ceiling fixtures, not fluorescent. Incandescent household lighting.

A small speaker used to reproduce high frequencies, such as treble.

An increasingly popular micro-blogging service in which users post short write-ups called "tweets" of up to 140 characters.

To transfer a file or program from a personal computer to a larger computer, a server, or a website.

A web page's address on the Internet. URL stands for Uniform Resource Locator.

USB (Universal Serial Bus) 2.0, also known as high-speed USB, is the newest standard connection to most computers. It is also commonly used on a variety of consumer electronics products such as digital cameras and camcorders, video game consoles, cell phones, PDAs, and portable media players. USB 2.0 is an extension of USB 1.1 and offers transfer rates of 400 megabytes per second.

A USB (Universal Serial Bus) is a standard cable used to connect to most computers. While it was originally designed for personal computers, it is now commonly used on a variety of consumer electronics products such as digital cameras and camcorders, video game consoles, cell phones, PDAs, and portable media players.

A device with a USB port and cable for transferring images from a memory card to your computer.

A small piece of hardware that connects to a computer by its USB port.

A portable flash memory storage device with a USB (universal serial bus) interface for easy access to other electronic devices such as computers. Also known as a jump drive, thumb drive, or key drive.

Digital Camera Glossary - Digital Definitions

Demystifying Digital Glossary