Jargon Buster! Lesson No. 3

Techies use jargons so often that they sometimes forget that we aren't as fluent in their language. So here's a few words that might come in handy the next time you visit "Tech-land".

AAC (Advanced Audio Coding)
A popular compressed digital audio format similar to MP3 but offering superior quality and DRM support. Music sold on iTunes is encoded as AAC with the file extension '.m4a'. Typical AAC file size is about 4MB.

Audibile
A company that sells a variety of audio content from its website and through iTunes Music Store. Audibile files have the extension '.aa', have mild DRM and are compatible with various portable players including the iPod.

Autofocus
To make sure a photo's not blurred, cameras need to shuffle their lens about until is subject is sharp. Non-autofocus cameras - as on many mobile phones - have a set focus distance and rely on a wide-angle lens for maximum depth of field.

AVCHD (Advanced Video Codec High Definition)
A hi-def MP4 video recording format used in Sony and Panasonic HD camcorders. It can be played directly through most Blu-ray players, including PS3.

Biometrics
A security technology that measures physical characteristics to authenticate user identity. Fingerprints are the most common characteristic measured by biometric scanners.

Here's something extra that we've got for you:

Panasonic HDC-SD1
This dinky hi-def camcorder records AVCHD video on SD cards - and it even captures 5.1 surround sound.




With these words in hand, you can now enter the tech world with more confidence!