The Competition Between Apple and Android

it's real :)

Image via Wikipedia

There are several competitors in the mobile technology field, but Apple and Android are the clear leaders of the pack. They both have comprehensive app markets and high cell phone sales. There are some differences, however, that might eventually make one do better than the other.

Apple

One reason why Apple has done so well in the cell phone industry is because of their iPod. For a long time, the iPod was the best device for listening to music. Apple combined the concept of their iPod with a cell phone to create the iPhone. To date, the iPhone is still the best smartphone for listening to music.

Apple’s app market is another reason why they are able to compete so well. Every one of their apps is tested before it is released to the market, making them have one of the most secure platforms for users.

Android

Android may have entered the competition late, but they are now strong competition. Their app market is growing at a phenomenal rate, and you can find pretty much any app on Android that you can find on Apple.

One reason why Android is so popular is because they have a huge selection of phones. This is because their operating system is open-source, making it easier for developers to launch new phones. For instance, you can buy an LG Android phone, an HTC Android phone, and more. This is a huge advantage for Android because they may beat out Apple based on their large selection of phones.

The competition between Android and Apple is still raging, and it will be interesting to see which competitor comes out on top. Will it be a battle between app markets, phone options, or something else?

Filed Under: Computer, General, Software Tagged With: , ,

Making Your Desktop More Efficient

Your computer is your lifeblood. It’s a strange thing to say, but these days it’s true. You are on your computer all the time. Whether it’s for work, school or just for fun you spend an enormous amount of time working on your laptop or PC. So, since you are on your computer so much it’s imperative to have it as organized as possible. You want to make sure that you can be at your most productive on your computer. Here are a couple of applications that can really streamline your computer.

The first thing you need is a top notch web browser. The best one on the market is Google Chrome. This fantastic browser allows you to see your favorite web pages on neat and clean tabs. Opening multiple tabs will never looked cluttered and it’s got easy to reach bookmarks. This is monumentally important to how you surf the web.

If you are someone who participates in the world of social media(and let’s face it, most of you do) then you might want to look into going with a program like Tweet Deck for your social media interests. This program allows you to both send and receive your social media updates and tweets all from one time. It will flash a box when a new Tweet or status update arrives. It’s the best way to absolutely streamline your efficiency on the computer.

These tools and programs are there to make things easier on you. Do your best to get them today.

 

Filed Under: Computer, General, Software Tagged With: , ,

Will my software run on Linux?

Will my software run on Linux?

One of the biggest questions to answer when pondering switching your operating system is whether the software you use will work on the new one. And the answer for Linux depends on several factors: Did the company make a Linux compatible version of the software, is there a Linux compatible piece of software available that does the same thing as that software, and is it compatible with one of the programs out there that can run programs made for other operating systems on Linux.

First off, you are going to want to check to see if your software does have a developer supported Linux version, most of the major web browsers have versions for most of the operating systems available. If it is a piece of commercial software you may need to pay for a Linux version. This is probably the best result you can hope for, as this means that the developer is supporting the Linux version directly.

Next option is to see if you can find comparable software that is Linux compatible. There is a wide selection of software out there for Linux operating systems that can do what many commercial software programs do. Open Office provides a wide suite of office programs including word processing, spreadsheets, calculations, and presentation creation. The GIMP is a feature rich image editing program.

Finally, there are the programs out there that are going to be able to run some applications that are native to other operating systems in Linux. The most well known program for running Windows programs under Linux would be Wine. This program will run a large number of Windows applications, including many games, but it is not a perfect solution, not all programs will run under it properly. If you are thinking of switching and this seems like a good solution for you, check their database to see how well your applications run under Wine.

Filed Under: Linux, Software Tagged With: ,

What is Open Source?

What is Open Source?

Open Source is a term that refers to software where the programmers have left the source code openly available, although there may be some licensing agreements that need to be adhered to if someone wants to use it for their own project. Source code is the language that is written by the programmer before it is run through a compiler that translates it into a form that the computer will recognize.

According to the Open Source Initiative to be considered open source the software must meet some requirements. Some of the major requirements are:

- The source code needs to be included

- No restrictions on who can modify the code

- Modified versions of the code are allowed to be distributed

- The program must be freely distributed (However, this does not prevent programs from being sold commercially)

- The license cannot require other programs to be excluded or interfere with how other software operates.

- The license cannot require any specific technology or interface type

Often, large open source projects are handled by groups of programmers who volunteer their time to work on the projects they feel are worth their time. This can have benefits and drawbacks. A popular program will often have many people working on it at any given time, this allows fast reaction to user feedback, this will often quash bugs and security holes much faster than commercial software may be able to. On the other hand, a smaller more niche product may not get much attention so that issues may not be resolved for a long time.

Some of the largest examples of Open Source Software would be all the various distributions of Linux, and the very popular Firefox web browser. While Linux is still a small share of the market in operating systems, Firefox is actually the most widely used browser out there, first surpassing Internet Explorer’s share in the beginning of 2009.

Filed Under: Operating System, Software Tagged With: ,

Use Software to Build a Better Resume

If you’ve been in the same job for a number of years and suddenly find yourself unemployed you’re going to need a resume. If you haven’t updated your resume in a while, things have changed and you need the competitive advantage of a professional, yet contemporary resume to highlight your career experience.

There are now resume maker software applications that help you wade through the process of putting together what today’s hiring executives are looking for. One of the great things about today’s resume software is they typically show professional examples of what looks good as it pertains to the field you are in. Typically, it’s a good idea to see how things have changed before you start putting things down on paper.

Resume software acts almost like a wizard that sets things up for a new e-mail account, meaning the software takes you through the steps, one by one, that help you ensure a quality and thorough resume. Not sure what font to use or what size font to use, the wizard will guide you through your various options.

Not sure what to write? The examples section within a good software will come with pre-written phrases for just about every career. It’s always a good idea to personalize your resume with your own wording, but if you haven’t put one together in a while, having a few phrases at your fingertips will be a good starter.

Most hiring executives don’t want to see gaps in your employment history. Having a good resume software at your fingertips will help mask these gaps and answer questions about length, education and special skills sections.

With tough economic times out there today, your resume is more important than ever as executives get hundreds of applications for every job opening. Give yourself a competitive advantage with the purchase of resume software.

Filed Under: Software Tagged With: ,

Let Computer Software Help do Your Taxes

It’s almost tax season and many people across the country are going to be avoiding their tax situation like the plague because doing their taxes is just way too complicated.

There are numerous tax preparation software programs that take the headache out of tax preparation and put you in the driver’s seat towards getting the most money back from your hard working year.

For many, using Turbo Tax software has simplified their tax preparation, all without the use of an expensive specialist to do the work for them.

Why should you use Turbo Tax?

Turbo Tax is simple and poses questions to you in a manner that doesn’t take an English degree to decipher. Sometimes directions are hard to follow, but Turbo Tax offers real solutions and step-by-step direction on what you need to do to get your maximum refund.

Not everyone works one job, owns a home or does business from their home. When you have an income tax return that requires extra care and patience, it’s wise to have a program like Turbo Tax that meets your needs.

The Home & Business, Premier and Deluxe editions of Turbo Tax asks you questions that helps decipher what’s changed since the last time you filed taxes. Upon deciphering the new information, this software fills in the blanks for you, and avoids those never-ending questions that always come up during tax season.

One of the great advantages of tax software is the ability to get your W-2 information directly from the company you work for. Many companies now allow your software to log into their system, get the W-2 and get you on the way to tax preparation.

Don’t let tax season drive you crazy with questions and unanswerable dilemmas. Computer software like Turbo Tax is a great way to expedite your return and get back the most money possible.

Filed Under: Software Tagged With: ,

Software for Your Computers Health

Before you give up on that aged computer you’ve been nursing along for the past few years, it is definitely worth looking into the purchase of software to alleviate the problems that you may be having.

A great purchase for your personal computer health is that of PC system utilities. The cost will be significantly less than that of a new computer and ultimately could extend the life of your computer for five to ten years.

So how does it work?  PC system utilities is a computer software that helps you maintain the health of your computer. It will scan your computer for viruses and make sure you aren’t running spyware that you aren’t aware of. PC system utilities helps you make the most of your computer’s memory and clears your hard drive form many of the junk files that are probably slowing you down. Lost files? PC system utilities can help you recover what you thought was lost.

Have a system that’s acting sluggishly, there are a number of things you can do. The worst thing you can do is run out and buy a new computer before looking at the relatively cheap options that you have at your fingertips. Having PC system utilities in your back pocket will likely isolate the problem, find what you need to do to fix it, and have your computer back to normal in a matter of minutes.

With heavy internet use on all of our computers, spyware has a way of creeping into the system to slow you down. PC system utilities finds it and helps you get rid of the problem before it becomes a real problem. Staying away from internet sites that are of pornographic nature is a great way to keep your computer running smoothly.

The next time you’re browsing the internet, take a few moment and look around for the software that will keep your computer running up to speed.

Filed Under: Software Tagged With: ,

Computer Software has Taken Over the Cell-Phone

Long gone are the days when your phone was simply used for making phone calls. For most people, especially young people, their cell phone has multiple software applications that are running the show.

How often do you look over at someone playing a game on their phone? Pretty often these days as mobile downloads of Super Mario Brothers and Angry Birds are pretty common. The amount of games that are available to download to your phone are mind-boggling. Go to any internet software application site and you are going to be inundated with hundreds of choices of games for your phone.

It’s not just games that have changed the landscape of the everyday phone. Mobile software applications like Bing have revolutionized the way phone users have access to date today. Bing is essentially a search engine for your phone.

Some software applications for phones deal specifically with airport search and hotel accommodations, a great thing for the busy traveler who needs to check reservations while on the run.

For the busy traveler, the music applications and the new book applications are a great way to pass the time during that layover of multiple hours in a new city.

Traveling through Montana and not sure if you’ve taken the correct road, there are software applications that act as GPS units to guide you back onto the path and safely to your final destination.

The cell phone has become so much of our everyday lives. Many people have gone away from having that old-fashioned land line and instead have opted for cell phone service for the entire family. And why wouldn’t they, the cell phone does so much more than the land line, providing music and entertainment to those who have downloaded the proper software applications.

Have an old outdated phone and jealous of everyone having so much fun, it’s time to look into a new phone.

Filed Under: Software Tagged With: ,

Software Engineers will be in High Demand

If you’re looking for a career that will grow with the times, one that will give you job security, and one that is high paying, a Software Engineer could be a good option.

What can you expect?

1.    Software Engineers are expected to be in high demand as the field is projected to grow dramatically through the year 2020 and beyond.

2.    Computer programmer jobs are expected to decline through 2018 meaning software engineers will likely be in high demand.

3.    By getting a bachelor’s degree or higher, software engineer jobs will likely be readily available as you progress through your career.

If you’re a person that likes to spend time working on computers, analyzing how to improve things and have a high ability to learn math and science, the software engineering field might be for you. Software engineers develop and test the software applications that make your computers work.

For those interested in the gaming world, there are many good software engineering jobs in the gaming field. As the gaming world continues to explode with new products, that particular regime within the software field will also continue to grow.

Before you make any plans of being a software engineer, understand that a four-year degree in college will require a host of math and science classes. Most programs require that a student take multiple match classes beyond the calculus series in order to receive their degrees. Physics and chemistry are also required before you can even get into your field of choice.

The average software engineer makes close to $90 thousand dollars per year, with some that specialize making slightly more than that.

A strong background in computer programming is expected and most hiring executives will look for programming as a background along with systems analysis and of course great interpersonal skills.

Filed Under: Computer, Software Tagged With: ,

Advanced Learning for Kids With Computer Software

You’re kids deserve every learning advantage they can get when it comes to finding the best method for them to learn. Not everyone does well with a teacher standing in front of the room giving a lecture. Some do so much better learning in an environment that meets their needs and keeps them interested.

It’s important to keep tabs on your kids during the early years of their learning experience to make sure they aren’t falling behind. If they do fall behind, there are some computer software options out there that could be just the tool you are looking for.

If you have a little girl that loves dolls and dressing up, Disney Princess – Cinderella Castle might be just the tool you are looking for. While learning within this environment, your child will be building a castle, decorating their own royal bedroom and designing other rooms, all in an environment where they are learning.

Another great computer software out there for children that are a bit more advanced is JumpStart 5th Grade and JumpStart 6th Grade. The game takes your child on an adventure or field trip while they are skateboarding, skiing or mountain biking. While they are doing these extreme activities, they are learning about history, math, science and spelling.

There are learning games out there that meet the needs of just about every child. As unique as your child is, there is something in the computer software that will tweak their interest in learning and help them get a jump on the never-ending process that is learning.

If your child seems to be struggling or falling behind make sure you visit with their teacher about what areas they need improvement. Most teachers can offer some recommendations of good computer software games but you can also find just about anything on the internet.

Happy Learning!

Filed Under: Computer, Software Tagged With: ,
« Older Posts