which course should i opt for if i am interested in computers and cell phones

YogeshCopper

Broken In
I am interested both in computers and cellphones.I wanted to join computer engineering since I already have some experience in C++ and java but now computer market seems to be down(14% decline in sales) IMO it has lost it to smartphones and tablet industry.Is a degree in computer science and engineering useful in smartphone industry too??If so in which the hardware part or the software part??especially the tablets and hybrid computers are confusing me.My friends say electronics and communication engineering is more related to Sphones and other gadgets and it involves diodes and capacitors,there was a lesson on that in +2 grade and i didnt like it struck me not all people who love briyani can make good briyani :cry:.In Tamil Nadu ECE is all rage but i read an article on Hindu newspaper in which an experienced ECE guy who claimed to be famous in his field said that there arent many manufacturing companies in india they import most of electronics and many graduated work in other fields due to this.

So am i to follow my gut instincts that i can overcome the difficulty of ECE out of passion for Smartphones?(first of all is ECE related to smartphones and tablets?) and it would suck if i overcome all the hardships and dont get a job in smartphone industry:-( what if i hate it ?? +2 grade was already excruciating:-x is there any way to know if i will like it before college ??
or is computer science and engineering enough to get into smartphone industry??(well all smartphones are themselves mini computers right??and they are both hardware right ??)

If i choose Computer since I have experice and passion in it (computer is the only subject i am good at i mean very good)
and i am confident I can be good at it
ECE is rather new degree and even IIT doesnt have it so does it means ECE itselves is computer engineering specifically for electronics?? and the first generation of ECE course was taught by computer engineers???

I am not getting into a good college (cant change it ):-( most of my studies are gonna be on my own, I am gonna use lots of online stuff(suggest me some) so i think computer engineering is more suitable considering not much ECE material is available online
and also ECE and CSE graduates tell how hard it was, failure and success stories etc..
Please guide me TDF members computer market is falling i dont want to be jobless or do non engineering jobs I dont feel after 20 years that i missed the train by not studying ECE I am scared.ECE and CSE guys if you are there please tell me what your course is all about ,I appreciate reply from anybody.
 

Extreme Gamer

僕はガンダム!
Vendor
What do you want to do with cellphones? make applications? Design phones? Work on the circuit design? Or something else?

Each has a different answer. Be specific about your interest in computers and cellphones, or it will be difficult to suggest something.
 
Computer Science isn't just about desktops :twisted:. Check the definition of computer; it isn't just laptop or desktop, cell phones and tablets are computers too and so is a calculator and a set-top box.
 

Renny

Padawan
If you're interested in learning android do some courses from Lynda.com. Download a few sample videos and see if you can learn the stuff on your own.
 
OP
Y

YogeshCopper

Broken In
What do you want to do with cellphones? make applications? Design phones? Work on the circuit design? Or something else?

Each has a different answer. Be specific about your interest in computers and cellphones, or it will be difficult to suggest something.
Can you give an answer for each??

Computer Science isn't just about desktops :twisted:. Check the definition of computer; it isn't just laptop or desktop, cell phones and tablets are computers too and so is a calculator and a set-top box.

Yeah but do they teach about cell phone and tablets, set top box and calculator in computer science engineering (indian colleges) I dont think so correct me if I am wrong.I would be the happiest person if you are right.

If you're interested in learning android do some courses from Lynda.com. Download a few sample videos and see if you can learn the stuff on your own.

Are courses from Lynda value during job interviews?? or are they only for amateur apps
 
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Extreme Gamer

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Vendor
If you want to design circuits and whatnot, take EECS. For application development take CS (not necessarily engineering). To design a phone you're looking at art, CS and entrepreneurship courses.
 
OP
Y

YogeshCopper

Broken In
If you want to design circuits and whatnot, take EECS. For application development take CS (not necessarily engineering). To design a phone you're looking at art, CS and entrepreneurship courses.
how exactly CS and entrepreneurship courses(eg??) help in designing mobiles??
 

Extreme Gamer

僕はガンダム!
Vendor
how exactly CS and entrepreneurship courses(eg??) help in designing mobiles??
Entrepreneurship will help you assimilate your ideas into the design. CS will help you be familiar with the tech you're implementing into your design. Art will help you make it look good ;)

Obviously you need to have a really good imagination.
 
OP
Y

YogeshCopper

Broken In
Entrepreneurship will help you assimilate your ideas into the design. CS will help you be familiar with the tech you're implementing into your design. Art will help you make it look good ;)

Obviously you need to have a really good imagination.

So you imply under CSE you study things that are used in mobiles too ??
And what are the other courses you would like me to take??

what is ECE about??
 

AcceleratorX

Youngling
YogeshCopper said:
ECE is rather new degree and even IIT doesnt have it so does it means ECE itselves is computer engineering specifically for electronics?? and the first generation of ECE course was taught by computer engineers???

IIT doesn't have ECE because Electronics is a made-up branch, it's not really engineering. It was made in India to satisfy a market demand for "engineers", however it serves that purpose well. In IIT, Electronics and Communication is fulfilled by the department of Electrical Engineering as you can take ECE as a minor, or cover up with equivalent electives there.

CSE works for the software part as well as certain aspects of hardware (microprocessor architecture) for even handheld devices. So, it's not necessary that only ECE can do that work. On the other hand, ECE can actually design the circuits; but this isn't really done a lot in India and most of the big ticket money is in the architecture design and software application end. So, if you feel better with CSE, just do that. CSE grads can get into embedded systems market without too much of an issue :)

ECE said:
what is ECE about??

Electronics is about semiconductor devices and circuits that utilize the flow of current. As such, you'll be studying a lot of maths and circuitry in electronics. With respect to mobiles; an ECE engineer will develop things like the radio frequency transmitter (i.e. mobile signal transmitter/receiver), the internal circuitry ("chips"), et cetera.
 

Extreme Gamer

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Vendor
AcceleratorX is correct.

Keep this in mind always:

As a software developer for cellphones, you will be spending most of your time working within the limits of existing or upcoming cellphones, so you will focus on working within the limits of what features and resources are available to you.

As an engineer designing circuits and whatnot for phones, you will look for ways to make conceptual designs a reality.

As a designer, you will try to envision what you want the phone to be in your hands.
 
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Y

YogeshCopper

Broken In
What i want to do in mobile industry is like tell samsung or maybe micromax I will not approve your design without a camera button or any other company for that matter and other similar ideas. I dont want to design the chips to fit that way just make them listen to me (I got lots of ideas and phone designs in my mind)I only want to plant that idea in their company and some one design chips according to it (am I talking about Product Manager here or CEO??)Is that possible with CSE??

Extreme Gamer could you be specific,software developer ,engineer ,designer are all job titles!?
AcelleratorX you know a lot man thank you.
I went through syllabus of ECE and CSE and I am more inclined to CSE.Besides after finishing ECE if I didnt get to design cellphone that would suck.
whats your opinion on decline in computer sales?
is it possible to do Bachelors in CSE so that I get a taste of hardware and software and then choose to do masters in ECE or some sotware course??
 
What i want to do in mobile industry is like tell samsung or maybe micromax I will not approve your design without a camera button or any other company for that matter and other similar ideas. I dont want to design the chips to fit that way just make them listen to me (I got lots of ideas and phone designs in my mind)I only want to plant that idea in their company and some one design chips according to it (am I talking about Product Manager here or CEO??)Is that possible with CSE??

If you are interested in software, choose CSE. if you are interested in hardware, choose ECE.
 

Extreme Gamer

僕はガンダム!
Vendor
What i want to do in mobile industry is like tell samsung or maybe micromax I will not approve your design without a camera button or any other company for that matter and other similar ideas. I dont want to design the chips to fit that way just make them listen to me (I got lots of ideas and phone designs in my mind)I only want to plant that idea in their company and some one design chips according to it (am I talking about Product Manager here or CEO??)Is that possible with CSE??

Extreme Gamer could you be specific,software developer ,engineer ,designer are all job titles!?
AcelleratorX you know a lot man thank you.
I went through syllabus of ECE and CSE and I am more inclined to CSE.Besides after finishing ECE if I didnt get to design cellphone that would suck.
whats your opinion on decline in computer sales?
is it possible to do Bachelors in CSE so that I get a taste of hardware and software and then choose to do masters in ECE or some sotware course??

As a designer you will literally design the appearance and functionality of a phone, using 3D rendering software

As a software developer you will make apps like Shazam, games like Angry Birds etc.

As an engineer you will design the circuits (PCBs and components present) inside the phone a designer designs.

As a CSE student you "could" work with hardware but then you would have to choose your course offerings in that manner. I don't think you will go beyond basic circuits in the PCB level, but logical circuits and microcontroller programming should be covered in CSE.

Also look at EECS, if you can find it. It is more of a middle ground than CSE and ECE. There is also CS (without the E annd usually a BSc, not BTech, which isn't a bad thing btw) but in that your hardware level studies will be limited.
 

Extreme Gamer

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Vendor
You over here refers to you, YogeshCopper. I was telling you what you would generally be doing in either of those fields.

No need to PM me after every one of my responses. That doesn't help, and it can be considered rude. You should allow time for the other person to respond :)
 

Extreme Gamer

僕はガンダム!
Vendor
Extreme gamer you imply a CSE graduate can design,develop software and chips for mobs.Did I get it right??

Not quite. They can develop software, yes. But as far as designing chips go, you know the basics, and you can program at the hardware level, but I don't think you can make a full chip.
 
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