IOS vs. Android battle

OS

1 Read this text. Learn the words underlined.

(Find the answers to the following questions and get ready to answer them in the classroom:

1. What difference is there between applications software and operating system?

2. Why is the supervisor program the most important operating system program?

3. What is the difference between resident and non-resident programs?

4. What are the main functions of an operating system?)

Operating Systems

Closest to the user are applications programs – software that helps a user compute a payroll or play a game or calculate the trajectory of a rocket. The operating system is the set of programs between the applications programs and the hardware.

When a brand new computer comes off the factory assembly line, it can do nothing. The hardware needs software to make it work. Are we talking about applications software such as wordprocessing or spreadsheet software? Partly. But an applications software package does not communicate directly with the hardware. Between the applications software and the hardware is a software interface – an operating system. An operating system is a set of programs that lies between applications software and the computer hardware.

The most important program in the operating system, the program that manages the operating system, is the supervisor program, most of which remains in memory and is thus referred to as resident. The supervisor controls the entire operating system and loads into memory other operating system programs (called non-resident) from disk storage only as needed.

An operating system has three main functions: (1) manage the computer’s resources, such as the central processing unit, memory, disk drivers, and printers, (2) establish a user interface, and (3) execute and provide services for applications software. Keep in mind, however, that much of the work of an operating system is hidden from the user. In particular, the first listed function, managing the computer’s resources, is taken care of without the user being aware of the details. Furthermore, all input and output operating, althoughinvoked by an applications program, are actually carried out by the operating system.

Text 2 Read this text. Learn the words underlined.

iOS vs. Android battle

If you've owned a smartphone, you probably already prefer one operating system over another. Both Android and iOS, the two most popular mobile platforms, have great strengths and pronounced weaknesses. Despite what some might tell you, however, one isn't inherently better than the other. We tend to prefer what we're comfortable with, and for many of us, whichever OS we tried first became our OS of choice.

For those who haven't made a decision, though, here's a brief overview of what iOS and Android are particularly good at. There might not be a perfect mobile OS, but chances are, there's a perfect mobile OS for you.

Three Reasons to Buy iOS:

Apple's iOS powers its entire mobile product line: iPods, iPads and of course, iPhones. The platform is known for being bright, powerful and easy to use, but it's also notorious for its lack of customization. You can change your background and rearrange your icons on iOS, but that's about it.

As an operating system, iOS tends to appeal to those who want reliability, ease of use and a bevy of top-quality third-party applications to pick from. This is because:

o iOS always just works. Apple's trademark polish permeates its operating system, and while occasional bugs might appear, they're quickly fixed. Unlike Android applications, apps on iOS can't access the operating system directly, which means if they crash, your phone still works fine – you just have to restart the app. On Android, an application crash could take down the entire phone, forcing it to reboot.

o You get better quality apps, sooner. Although the majority of developers will try to release their apps on both iOS and Android, many release on iOS first because it's easier to develop for. Android is a fragmented operating system – most phones that have it installed aren't running the latest version, which can make development harder. On the other hand, iOS is consistent (compatible) across all Apple devices, and easy to update when a new version comes out.

o iOS is a more secure operating system. There are two reasons for this. First and foremost, Apple employees manually inspect and validate every single application posted to the iOS App Store before they're made available to the public. When combined with the restrictions preventing apps from accessing the operating system directly, this essentially keeps any virus or malware from infect ing your phone. Additionally, Apple has integrated theft prevention software into the operating system, which makes it easy to track where your iPhone goes if it's stolen, and impossible to wipe it or turn off the GPS tracker without entering your password.

Дата добавления: 2015-11-14