Application Software

Outline the use of a range of applications software (picture, description, and examples)

Discuss the common features of applications with the help of OS

Manual and auto updates

Patches, updates, upgrades, and releases (with examples)

Application software is the ones that run on the operating system, there are many types of application software. Again, refering to the hierarchy of software: 

The first major category is general-purpose software: Those software are designed to perform a variety of tasks as desired by the user. Pages is an example of this general purpose software, it can edit text, importing photos. It does not aim for professional users that specify niche functions.

The second type is specific software. Software of this kind performs specific tasks as designed. This can include Final Cut, which is designed for video editing. Logic Pro is designed for sound editing. Software of this kind targets on specific users, and they usually have a higher barrier to entry, the time of user training can be long.

Bespoke Software

Those software are designed for specific individual. For example, my IA that I tailored for my client.

Software for military purposes are usually bespoke software, as it requires to do very special tasks, and it also requires a very high level of security that is usually not achieved by commercial softwares.

The “Nuclear Button” Kim Jong Un threats Mr. Trump is also an example of bespoke software (and hardware).

 

GUI

For most modern application softwares, they use GUI, graphical user interface. GUI is a A program interface that takes advantage of the computer’s graphics capabilities to make the program easier to use. Well-designed graphical user interfaces can free the user from learning complex command languages.

So for me, who is not very smart, I do not need to remember all those complex instructions in the command line interface, and I only need to click click and click, which is convenient.

However, for geeks, they prefer command line interface, because first it is cool. They can show off and get girls. Besides, command line interface usually provides more functions, as it is hard to put some not frequently used functions to GUI given its limited space.

Mr. Pete’s presentation concludes the advantages and disadvantages very well.

 

And below are some basic components of GUI, which is referred from Webopedia.com

Pointer: A symbol that appears on the display screen and that you move to select objects and commands. Usually, the pointer appears as a small angled arrow. Text -processing applications, however, use an I-beam pointer that is shaped like a capital I.

Pointing device: A device, such as a mouse or trackball, that enables you to select objects on the display screen.

Icons: Small pictures that represent commands, files, or windows. By moving the pointer to the icon and pressing a mouse button, you can execute a command or convert the icon into a window. You can also move the icons around the display screen as if they were real objects on your desk.

Desktop: The area on the display screen where icons are grouped is often referred to as the desktop because the icons are intended to represent real objects on a real desktop.

Windows: You can divide the screen into different areas. In each window, you can run a different program or display a different file. You can move windows around the display screen, and change their shape and size at will.

Menus: Most graphical user interfaces let you execute commands by selecting a choice from a menu.

Software Update

 

Software update is important, and it can take several forms depending on the purpose.

There are two ways for update, manual update or auto update, and they each have their ad/dis.

 

For automatic updates, it helps people who do not have much time or skill to update the software, letting them enjoy bug fix or new features. However, some users might want to stay in the older version and they get pissed off when finding their software being forcefully updated. For example, some iPhone users want to stay in older version of IOS to enjoy higher speed.

 

For manual update, it gives users the freedom to choose to update or not. However, they might miss an update fixing security issues or might not know how to install the update. This is very important for some major security bug fixes. If users do not pay enough attention to this, and automatic updates are not provided, users might be easily exposed to computer viruses that exploits those bugs, and users’ data security is at stake; data loss can occur.

 

For example, for the recent Spectre and Meltdown viruses that nearly affect every computational device, if automatic update is not turned on, then user is exposed to serious security threats.

 

 

Patches: it usually fixes bugs. Like the patches for newly-discovered buges on windows (as shown in the previous picture)

Upgrades: It include new functions, and it is usually paid. (Windows7 – Windows 8, new features, new GUI, very expensive for me to update)

Updates:  improvements and fixing known bugs (usually free) (Like ios10.1-ios10.2)

Releases: final and working version, new (after α&β testing) or updated software