SCL2: Computer Software - Answer Question 1

·        What is Open Source Software?

o   Open source software refers to software which the source code is made available for use or modification as users or other developers see fit. It is usually developed as a public collaboration and made freely available.

·        Why people prefer open source software over proprietary alternative nowadays?

o   As open source software is usually developed as a public collaboration and made freely available, user can download the open source software from the internet for free of charge. There are no license fees for an open source software, reducing annual license fees cost to zero. Unlike proprietary software, the company that developed the software owns the software, so no one may duplicate it or distribute it without the company permissions. In other words, users have to pay to the software company if they want to use the proprietary software.

o   Open source software also gives you the power to control your software's code. You have the right to modify the code to suit your requirements and control the budgets that you want to spend towards it. Unlike proprietary software where the vendor controls your code, upgrades and budgets, the users cannot modify the software as the users only receive binary version of the program, not the code as the code is the manufacturer’s trade secret.

o   With open source software, you control the upgrade process and can choose to decide which bugs to fix and when. Meanwhile, proprietary software required users to spend a long time to downloading and installing security patches to fix bugs announced by the manufacturer.

·        Name top five most popular open source software and compare them with similar proprietary software.

o   Open Office versus Microsoft Office

Open Office	Microsoft Office
Both are suites application that have almost  similar functions.
·        User can download Open Office software freely from the Internet	·        User need to pay to the company in order to use Microsoft Office software
·        User can modify the software by using the available source code to make it better.	·        User cannot modify the software at all.
·        Open Office can be installed in as many computers as the users want	·        Each copy or license for Microsoft Office that is purchased from Microsoft can only be installed at most  three computers
·        The use of Open Office Software is by the user’s on risk as there is no warranty that the software is safe as anyone can modify it	·        The software is guaranteed to be safe from dubious  treats like programming bugs and viruses
·        OpenOffice is completely cross platform (Windows, Mac, Linux)	·        MS Office runs on Windows and Mac only

o   GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP) versus Adobe Photoshop:

GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP)	Adobe Photoshop
GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP) and Adobe Photoshop are example of graphic software which allows user to edit, enhance and retouch graphic. The look of the GIMP is similar to Photoshop. Both employ toolboxes with understandable symbols.
·        User can download Gimp software freely from the Internet	·        User need to pay to the company in order to use Adobe Photoshop software
·        User can modify the software by using the available source code to make it better.	·        User cannot modify the software at all.
·        GIMP can be installed in as many computers as the users want	·        Each copy or license for Adobe Photoshop CS that is purchased from Adobe can only be installed on one primary computer and one secondary computer.
·        The features in GIMP is limited	·        Have more features

o   Mozilla Firefox versus Google Chrome

Mozilla Firefox	Google Chrome
Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome are both web browser that can freely downloaded by the user. They both provided almost similar basic features for the user such as auto update.
·        The sources code is made available to the users and they have the right to modify it.	·        Modifying the software is nearly impossible as the code is manufacturer’s trade secret.
·        The browsing speed for Mozilla Firefox is slower	·        The browsing speed for Google Chrome is faster
·        Firefox has a better add-on (extensions)	·        Chrome has an impressive gallery of extensions, but not as good as Firefox
·        For the Linux user, Firefox usually get jammed easily in opening of multiply tabs	·        Chrome is more stable in opening multiplying tabs in all platforms and does not get jammed easily

SCL3: Computer Software - Answer Question 2

1.) The difference between a Windows phone and an Android phone is that a Windows phone uses the Windows Operating System and an Android phone uses the Android Operating System. In my opinion, an Android phone is better because it has advanced features and is also popular among many mobile users.

2)The biggest difference between the two operating systems at this time is the number of available apps. There are many more apps available for the Android operating system than there are for Windows Phone.

3)Android is open source and is made by almost all phone manufacturers. There are currently 7 Android operating systems with Ice Cream Sandwich being the latest and currently waiting for the 8th, Jellybean. Most developers strive to create apps that work with 80% of Android phones. If you go high end this should not be a problem. Download apps from developers you trust and keep an antivirus installed on your Android phone.That being said a high security version of Android is being developed for U.S. Government use.

4)Windows Phone 7 live tiles instead of icons allow the user to find all their information quickly. The only customization available is pinning as many live tiles as you would like to your home screen that move and change to show you information or entertainment. All apps are listed in alphabetical order on the app screen and may be found by search, alphabet touch, or scrolling. Dedicated hardware makes for a very smooth and easy experience regardless of manufacturer.

5)ANDROID - better features WINDOW - better security windows phones have to use ZUNE software (similar to iTunes) to connect to computer as opposed to android seamless connection as any kind of USB stuff.

Android is an open type of system that is generally a Linux based platform, and the 4.1 and 4.2 Jelly Bean versions are no exception. One of the biggest advantages this Android version has going for it, and that Android in general holds, is that it is extremely and very easily customizable. Each smartphone that runs on the operating system comes with a specific user interface that is generally easy to use and allows you to customize the look of your device with a variety of skins or themes, wallpapers and the ability to create widgets based on the apps you have on your phone.

The notification bar on the Jelly Bean operating system has also been redesigned so that it is more noticeable and attractive. You no longer need to swipe over the top bar to bring the screen down, which is what longtime Android users have had to do. In addition, Jelly Bean has support for more languages in its keyboard. Some of the newest supported languages include Arabic, Hindi and Persian.

Google Now is included in Android’s Jelly Bean powered smartphones. This app is generally like the Siri voice assistant feature that has appeared in Apple devices since the iPhone 4S. It does everything Siri does and more.

Windows Phone 8 has advantages as well. The user interface is simple and clean and boasts a great metro look that includes live tiles and the ability to customize your home screen with apps of your choice and making them the size of your choice from small, medium and large. Windows Phone 8 is easy to use and a refreshing change from the other, older operating systems found in smartphones.

Another advantage Windows Phone 8 holds over Android’s Jelly Bean is that phones that run on it consume considerably less battery power. In general, Windows Phone provides enough juice to last the user all day and sometimes into the next. This is largely due to the fact that it is easy to close apps that are running in the background and the phones run on a dual-core processor instead of quad-core processors that have to work twice as hard.

While the Windows Phone Store still has a great ways to go before it can compete in terms of the number of apps available – it currently has 125,000 while Android’s Google Play is home to 650,000 – all of the most essential apps are already available. Apps like Facebook, Skype, WhatsApp Messenger, Evernote and Angry Birds are all in the Windows Phone Store.

Windows Phone 8 also integrates its People Hub with the most popular social networking websites and email hosts. The integration is quite gorgeous and installation of apps such as Facebook, for instance, are not necessary as it is already built into the phones. All of your updates are updated on the home screen, which is something that cannot be done in Jelly Bean.

In the end, knowing what your priorities are in a smartphone tend to be deciding factors in which platform is right for you. 

Android	Windows 8
Using  the Android Operating System	Using  the Windows Operating System
Open source software	Version of Microsoft Windows
Made by almost all phone manufacturers	Made by nokia company only
Better feature	Better security
Allows users to pick their own applications on Google Play	Allows users to pick their own applications on the Window Store
Many application available	Less application available
Android camera faster than ever, and has a fast review system making editing and removing images simpler.	Windows 8 camera getting a new simple, clean look, with a small menu button that accesses the camera's various settings

How Does Operating System Works?

1. Managing the hardware and software resources.

Operating system play an important role as a parent to organize various programs and input methods compete for the attention of the central processing unit (CPU) and demand memory, storage and input/output (I/O) bandwidth for their own purposes. Operating system also make sure that every applications gets the necessary resources while playing nicely with all the other applications, as well as husbanding the limited capacity of the system to the greatest good of all the users and applications.

2. Providing a consistent application interface

It is very important if more than one computer uses the same operating system or the hardware is up for a change. A consistent application program interface (API) help the developers to create an application on one computer and have a high level of confidence that it will run on another computer of the same type, even if the amount of memory or the quantity of storage is different on the two machines.

SCL3: Computer Software - Answer Question 1

Advantages	Operating Systems	Disadvantages
ü  Low cost ü  Provides persistent high performance on workstations and on networks. ü  Fast and easy installation. ü  Most secure operating system. ü  Most Linux applications are open source. ü  Multitasking- designed to do many things at the same time.	Linux	ü  Many window’s programs will not run in Linux ü  · There is a smaller selection of peripheral hardware drivers for Linux due to the fact that not all Linux distros work with all set of computers hardware ü  · Learning curve for people who is new to Linux. Becoming familiar with Linux requires a lot of patience and times ü  · A little bit backwards when it comes to brand new hardware compatibility. ü  · There are still some applications that exist on Windows that have no equivalent Linux applications.
ü  Provides true multi-user, multi-tasking and protected memory operation while using a minimal amount of memory. ü  Provides solid user security via its account validation and authentication. ü  Everything is file including terminal and all devices which simplifies input/output operations. ü  Very portable which can run on a number of different hardware platforms, making it easy for users to install on whatever hardware they choose to use.	Unix	ü  Is not a very user-friendly operating system. ü  Commands required by the command line interface often make use of cryptic naming schemes, and do not give much information to notify a user of what they are doing. ü  System is not simple to use and might be overwhelming for some users. ü  The traditional command line interface is user hostile designed for the programmers, not the casual user. ü  ·
ü  Takes up less system resources. ü  Has better security. ü  Has simple easy-to-use interface.	Mac Os X	ü  · No software compatibility available for Mac OS. No Window applications can work on this Mac Os X. ü  ·  Has limited compatibility. The most compatible hardware is Apple’s laptop which is only a few can afford. ü  · Not customized and its programming and modification lies entirely in the hands of the company.
ü  Improved Graphical User Interface (GUI), the Aero. ü  Surf the net without much worry about security. ü  Parental controls- deny access certain programmes especially games. ü  Play multimedia contents using the latest media player. ü  Attractive windows appearance.	Window Vista	ü  · Requires high-tech computers to install. ü  · Consumes more resources than its predecessor  Window XP. ü  · High-priced which is not suitable for the market. ü  · compatibility issues of its drivers since not all are released by hardware manufacturers.
ü  Improvements for the recognition of “Black Hole” modems. ü  A Network Access Protection client. ü  A completely new Security Company referred to as Credential SSP (CredSSP). ü  Enhanced security recommendations for your administration and repair records. ü  Activation of Windows operating system installations without having to enter a license key. ü  More descriptive information explaining security related options inside Security options. ü  Improvements for XP’s integral Microsoft Cryptographic Module.	Window XP	ü  · Cannot be installed on multiple computers because product activation is  limited to just one computer. New license and a key code  needed to have multiple computers installed which is very costly. ü  · Features support for only up to 4 GB (gigabytes) of system memory. Not suitable if disadvantage if you want to run applications that require a lot of system memory to function properly. ü  A prime target for malware creators. Therefore, surfing the Internet without anti-virus software can be very dangerous, because viruses made for Windows XP can collect your personal information or cause irreparable damage to the operating system.
ü  Improved performance. ü  Enhanced searching capabilities. ü  Virtual hard disk support. ü  Simple device management. ü  New remote access methods (BranchCache, Direct Access). ü  Expanded security (BitLocker-to-Go, App-Blocker, Windows Access Center)	Windows 7	ü  Needs RAM capacity of at least 1 GB. ü  Cannot be easily upgraded from Window XP. ü  Learning curve for unfamiliar uses. Only convenient for the advanced users. ü  Not compatible for some old hardware and motherboard thus disabling some of the Window 7 applications. ü  Can only run in high end computers and can be used only in high configures systems.
ü  Ability to boot faster. ü  Higher security. ü  Not need high specifications. ü  Close to field communications capabilities. ü  Internet application store - Windows Store.	Windows 8	ü   No antivirus for the windows 8 only windows firewall and internet security. ü  Metro multitasking. Multitasking means the screen will display two applications in a row. That's it which is not suitable for advanced users. ü  Very difficult to move between screens. Not given functions such as Alt-Tab while working with the desktop and the keyboard to switch from one app to another app
ü  Lightweight. ü  Allows direct access to most hardware. ü  Not have the overhead of a multitasking operating system.	DOS	ü  Only few modern programs available. ü  Does not have attractive graphic. ü  Not compatible with current browsers and internet.
ü  Provides better system responsiveness and smoother background processing. ü  Graphical interface is efficient and more customizable. ü  Provide more efficient file and print support. ü  Simplify switching among multiple programs by means of the task bar. ü  Support better network connectivity.	Window 95	ü  System protection against buggy applications is weak that it is limited in the software you can load. Most new software requires at least windows 98 if not XP. ü  There is a security hole with File and Printer sharing for NetWare networks which may affect data security for corporate users. ü  Items dragging and dropping works on most folders except the Control Panel, Printers, or Dial-Up Networking folders. This inconsistency in the interface may confuse some users
ü  Not easily affected by virus. ü  High performance with stunning speed. ü  User friendly- attractive look of Graphic User Interface (GUI).	Mac Os	ü  Not suitable for gamers. Only small numbers of games are produced for Mac Os. ü  Mac could not be assembled on its own because Apple does not give license to other companies to create hardware that can use the Mac OS. ü   Highly-priced.