Related topics: microsoft , google , windows 7 , iphone , software
Operating system
hideAn operating system (commonly abbreviated to either OS or O/S) is an interface between hardware and user; an OS is responsible for the management and coordination of activities and the sharing of the resources of the computer. The operating system acts as a host for computing applications that are run on the machine. As a host, one of the purposes of an operating system is to handle the details of the operation of the hardware. This relieves application programs from having to manage these details and makes it easier to write applications. Almost all computers (including handheld computers, desktop computers, supercomputers, video game consoles) as well as some robots, domestic appliances (dishwashers, washing machines), and portable media players use an operating system of some type. Some of the oldest models may however use an embedded operating system, that may be contained on a compact disk or other data storage device.
Operating systems offer a number of services to application programs and users. Applications access these services through application programming interfaces (APIs) or system calls. By invoking these interfaces, the application can request a service from the operating system, pass parameters, and receive the results of the operation. Users may also interact with the operating system with some kind of software user interface (UI) like typing commands by using command line interface (CLI) or using a graphical user interface (GUI, commonly pronounced “gooey”). For hand-held and desktop computers, the user interface is generally considered part of the operating system. On large multi-user systems like Unix and Unix-like systems, the user interface is generally implemented as an application program that runs outside the operating system. (Whether the user interface should be included as part of the operating system is a point of contention.)
Common contemporary operating system families include BSD, Darwin (Mac OS X), GNU/Linux, SunOS (Solaris/OpenSolaris), and Windows NT (XP/Vista/7). While servers generally run Unix or some Unix-like operating system, embedded system markets are split amongst several operating systems.
For more information about Operating system, read the full article at
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This text uses material from Wikipedia and is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.
News tagged with operating system
Google's Chrome OS to be ready for 2010 holidays (Update)
Nov 19, 2009 |
4.6 / 5 (5) |
0
(AP) -- Consumers will have to wait until next year's holiday shopping season to find out if Google Inc.'s new operating system can deliver on its promise to make low-cost computers run faster.
Inventor Demonstrates Humanoid Robot's Latest AI Abilities (w/ Video)
Technology / Computer Sciences
Aug 25, 2009 |
4.7 / 5 (31) |
26
(PhysOrg.com) -- In August 2007, Le Trung invented Aiko, a Yumecom, or "Dream Computer Robot." Although it took only a month and a half to build Aiko's exterior, the artificial intelligence software has been ...
Apple to unleash Snow Leopard on August 28
Aug 24, 2009 |
3.7 / 5 (13) |
4
Apple announced on Monday that its next-generation Snow Leopard operating system tailored for the California company's Macintosh computers will be unleashed on the market on Friday.
Google's operating system escalates Microsoft duel (Update)
Jul 08, 2009 |
4.4 / 5 (9) |
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(AP) -- Google Inc. is hoping to gain greater control over how personal computers work with its plans to develop a free operating system that will attack Microsoft Corp.'s golden goose - its long-dominant ...
Review: Dazzling Palm software beats the iPhone
Electronics / Consumer & Gadgets
Jun 04, 2009 |
3.3 / 5 (16) |
12
(AP) -- Move over, iPhone. You've had two years on top of the smart phone world. Now there's a touch-screen phone with better software: the Palm Pre.
Microsoft Incorporates Virtual WiFi Technology into Windows 7
May 18, 2009 |
1.7 / 5 (11) |
5
(PhysOrg.com) -- Virtual WiFi will enable Windows 7 and future operating systems to see a single WLAN adapter as multiple WLAN adapters by the operating system. This feature is available in Windows 7 RC1, ...
China deploys secure computer operating system
May 12, 2009 |
3.9 / 5 (24) |
27
China has installed a secure operating system known as "Kylin" on government and military computers designed to be impenetrable to US military and intelligence agencies, The Washington Times reported on Tuesday.
World gets to put Windows 7 software to the test
May 04, 2009 |
1.9 / 5 (17) |
8
A nearly-final version of Windows 7 is making its world debut, giving people a chance to tell Microsoft what they love or hate about the new-generation operating system.
Windows 7 to make public debut May 5
May 01, 2009 |
1.8 / 5 (22) |
5
Microsoft said Thursday that a nearly-final version of its next-generation Windows 7 operating system will be publicly released on May 5.
Conficker worm hits hospital devices
Apr 30, 2009 |
5 / 5 (3) |
10
A computer worm that has alarmed security experts around the world has crawled into hundreds of medical devices at dozens of hospitals in the United States and other countries, according to technologists monitoring the threat.
HP exploring using Android software in computers
Mar 31, 2009 |
not rated yet |
0
Leading US computer maker Hewlett-Packard said Tuesday it is studying the possibility of building machines based on Google-backed Android operating systems.
New homeland security tool to detect Conficker worm
Mar 30, 2009 |
4 / 5 (6) |
5
The US Department of Homeland Security released a tool on Monday to detect whether a computer is infected by the Conficker worm.
Stolen-data trove offers look inside a botnet
Mar 15, 2009 |
4.8 / 5 (5) |
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(AP) -- Getting hacked is like having your computer turn traitor on you, spying on everything you do and shipping your secrets to identity thieves.
Apple to unveil next-generation iPhone software
Mar 12, 2009 |
4.5 / 5 (2) |
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Apple plans to give the world a peek next week at its next-generation operating system for iPhones.
Microsoft to let Europeans pick browser in EU deal
Dec 16, 2009 |
3.5 / 5 (6) |
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(AP) -- More than 100 million Europeans will get to pick a Web browser after Microsoft agreed to offer Internet users a choice to avoid fresh fines - a move that could represent a real thawing of long-standing ...
