Sunday, October 14, 2012

Lecture Post: Operating Systems

My entrepreneurial idea is one for an app that would run on both Apple and Android products, particularly smartphones, iPads and tablets.  The app, called “Connected” is one that allows you to stay in touch with your friends easily no matter where you are.  Using Apple and Android integrated software, this app automatically shows the location of your closest friends via GPS right on your mobile device.  You will never lose your friends again!


There are a multitude of operations systems in today’s market.  However, the major operating systems that the majority of people use are Windows created by Bill Gates, Apple by Steve Jobs and lesser used Unix by Ken Thompson and Linuk by Linus Torvalds. An operating system provides many very critical functions for a computer.  It sits between the hardware and the user.  A GUI or graphical user interface is what really differentiates the look of an OS that users see.  Many people prefer a certain type of GUI over another and therefore will choose that OS. 

An operating system does more than provide a GUI that allows users to easily do commands and functions. An operating system starts up and shuts down the computer, manages programs and memory, monitors system performance, configures input and output devices, establishes internet connection and acts as a security center.  Windows 7 and Mac OSX are both standalone operating systems which most independent PC users use.  Microsoft and Apple also have server operating systems specifically for company servers.  Mobile phones also use operating systems that are usually embedded OS.

An operating system is critical to providing easy access to apps on a phone.  Since our main form of sale is through direct sales of the app itself, it is vital to have an easily accessible app through a mobile OS.  Our target audience is Apple devices such as the iPhone and iPad as well as Android phones and tablets.  These two companies each have their own form of mobile device OS.  Our app will have to be created to comply with each of these operating systems.  We want to have our app work flawlessly with both operating systems to provide a smooth and beneficial experience to our users.  In order to do this we have to learn how exactly each mobile OS works and how to best apply our app to each OS’s strengths. 



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