ICT BTEC level 3, by Edexcel. Unit 2 M1

2. OS COMPARISON
By George Smith-Moore

3.  Windows 8 was released on October 26th 2012 to the consumer
market. At first the software was only available as an upgrade (but at
a discount price).
 With the release of Windows 8, Windows RT was released, it is the
same but it comes with Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, OneNote),
and can only use windows store apps.
 Windows 8 features a whole new design (metro style).
 It now features a new start screen, and is optimised for touch-input.

4.  The features that windows 8 presents:
 It features connectivity, as long as the computer is connected to the
internet, the next time you sign in on another windows 8 machine,
personalisation is carried through.
 It features a new interface with a start screen, it features live tiles, (one
for pictures, one for the news etc.)
 A tile on the screen allows access to the desktop screen, some apps and
programs will have to be accessed from here.
 Windows 8 now features ‘windows defender’, it’s own anti-virus software,
the windows store is fully functional, and it also has ‘Secure Boot’, this
stops unauthorised programs infecting the device.

5.  Windows 8, has now made a development, it has became windows 8.1. This
change has brought back some of the loved features of windows 7, it brings
back the taskbar, and makes the OS more user friendly for people who do not
have a touchscreen. This is done by adding in the ability to boot to the
desktop, so users can ignore the ‘metro UI’.
 Added support for mouse users has been added, and extra functionality has
been added.
 Windows 8.1 was the first major patch to windows 8, and has been dubbed
the fix for the OS.
 Windows 8/8.1 was designed to have the function of consolidating all
electronic devices, the idea is that all windows tablets can run the same OS
as desktops and so applications will work for all devices, the addition of
windows phone OS, and the Xbox One UI also has the metro style. The idea
behind the metro style feature is that all devices would look similar on the
inside, and would all be compatible with one another.

6.  IOS 7 is the 7th version of the IOS series. It is the successor of IOS 6.
 It is a redesigned user interface and has numerous functionality
changes.
 It was released to the public on 18th September 2013.
 It is available on the iPhone, iPod, and the tablet the iPad.
 IOS 7 is available on
certain devices only.
 It is designed to be more
user friendly, and more
competitive with other
OS’ like windows 8/RT
and Google’s Android.

7.  The features that IOS 7 presents:
 AirDrop, apples wireless sharing device is integrated.
 The App store is much more diverse.
 There are new interfaces for the: camera, control centre, music and radio.
 The design is meant to be simpler, more useful and more enjoyable.
 The control centre is the new add-on that allow the user to see what you want
‘at a moments notice’!

8.  IOS 7 is a mobile OS, it compared to Microsoft’s approach tries to
separate the PC OS with the Tablet and ‘Mobile’ platform.
 Because it is Microsoft and Apple that have the main market share, I
have compared these. I chose IOS over OSX as it is a mobile OS,
similar to what the Metro UI is aimed to be.
 IOS 7 features a full database of apps and games. These apps vary
in price with the majority being free! The ecosystem for IOS is
connected to OSX with features such as airdrop.
 ICloud by Apple allocates you a certain amount of space to store
your data. Also the bones feature of imessage and FaceTime gives
free calls, massages, and face to face communication for all internet
connected apple devices.