Module 1.4: Software
Choosing the right software
Wide variety of applications available for smartphones. The following describes options that 1
needs to consider when choosing application software.
Computer program designed to
The purpose of the software help people perform an activity
You need to think carefully about what you want to do
before choosing software for a task.
Facebook & Gmail
Web-based applications vs. installed applications are web apps. Any
Apps can be web or cloud based and installed entirely on and web pg. that allows
run directly from a server on the internet. You simply browse to you to enter data &
a website and run such an app from the website. Gmail, which processes
Google’s free email service, is a well known example of this that data is a web
kind of web-based application app
Advantages can
provide you with off-site backup of data ‘on
• You are able to use the software anywhere
the cloud’.
in the world, as long as you have a stable
connection Disadvantages
• Software is always up to date
• You cannot use the software if you don’t
• You don’t have to download or install the
have an internet connection
software – which saves storage
• The performance of the software will be
• Compatibility issues are not a problem, as
affected by the speed & quality of the
the software isn’t being installed and run on
internet connection
the local device – “it is ‘on the cloud.”
• The software might not have all the features
• Online apps also provide some free online
of traditional desktop versions of the
storage space, e.g. OneDrive for Office 365.
software
Files stored there can be synchronised with
• Web applications may have slower
those on other devices you have, that make
performance than desktop applications, bc
use of the same shared online storage. This
data must be sent via internet
Lists of well-known web-based applications:
Webbased application Function
G Suite apps:
• Google Calendar Allows you to create & schedule events. Schedules can be
shared so that meeting times can be coordinated & schedule
for any no. of people
• Google Hangouts Allows online chats & video conversations with multiple
participants
• Google Drive Online storage & synchronization service, which gives access
to web-based word process, spreadsheets etc.
• Google forms Allows you to quickly set up forms to conduct online surveys or
online testing & saves the results in a spreadsheet
, • Google Maps A web-mapping application that provides directions & shows
maps, satellite imagery & even ‘street views’ of locations
Webbased application Function
These are the web-based office suites from Microsoft &
Office 365 & Google Docs Google respectively. You create, edit & store documents,
spreadsheets & presentations on the web & even collaborate
with others on the same file @ the same time
Apps written specially to work within Facebook. Ranging from
Facebook apps games apps to apps that allow you to listen to music with
friends
This is a web-based image editing app from Adobe, which can
Adobe Photoshop Express be used to edit photos on blogs & social networking sites
directly
Subscription-based software
With the subscription software, the user pays a monthly/yearly subscription for the use of the
software. Office 365 is an example of this approach.
Compatibility
Compatibility refers to the ability of your software to work with the hardware & software installed on
your computer.
Compatibility with operating system
When you want to install an app on your computer, make sure that it can work with your operating
system, e.g. Android 7 (Nougat) or Windows 10.
Vendors produce software to work with various specific sets or ‘families’ of operating systems.
They have to have platform-specific versions of apps to sell via various online stores, e.g. Google
Play Store (Android) & Apple App Store (IOS).
Compatibility btw versions of the same application
Most software applications are ‘downward/backward compatible’ they are able to open & use files
created in previous versions. They are almost never ‘upward/forward compatible’ & older versions
usually cannot open or use files created in a newer version.
1 can usually save files in previous formats for compatibility (e.g. by using the Save As option).
Some of the older versions may not support features of the newer versions
System requirements
Vital you check hardware & software specifications needed for the new software to run properly. If
your system doesn’t meet the required specifications to run the software, you might find that you
are unable to use the software effectively.
Specifications are listed as minimum or recommended requirements. Minimum requirements are
the bare minimum requirements needed to install & use the software. Stick to the recommended
requirements to ensure that the software runs effectively. Typical system requirements – for a
specific version of Photoshop.
Choosing the right software
Wide variety of applications available for smartphones. The following describes options that 1
needs to consider when choosing application software.
Computer program designed to
The purpose of the software help people perform an activity
You need to think carefully about what you want to do
before choosing software for a task.
Facebook & Gmail
Web-based applications vs. installed applications are web apps. Any
Apps can be web or cloud based and installed entirely on and web pg. that allows
run directly from a server on the internet. You simply browse to you to enter data &
a website and run such an app from the website. Gmail, which processes
Google’s free email service, is a well known example of this that data is a web
kind of web-based application app
Advantages can
provide you with off-site backup of data ‘on
• You are able to use the software anywhere
the cloud’.
in the world, as long as you have a stable
connection Disadvantages
• Software is always up to date
• You cannot use the software if you don’t
• You don’t have to download or install the
have an internet connection
software – which saves storage
• The performance of the software will be
• Compatibility issues are not a problem, as
affected by the speed & quality of the
the software isn’t being installed and run on
internet connection
the local device – “it is ‘on the cloud.”
• The software might not have all the features
• Online apps also provide some free online
of traditional desktop versions of the
storage space, e.g. OneDrive for Office 365.
software
Files stored there can be synchronised with
• Web applications may have slower
those on other devices you have, that make
performance than desktop applications, bc
use of the same shared online storage. This
data must be sent via internet
Lists of well-known web-based applications:
Webbased application Function
G Suite apps:
• Google Calendar Allows you to create & schedule events. Schedules can be
shared so that meeting times can be coordinated & schedule
for any no. of people
• Google Hangouts Allows online chats & video conversations with multiple
participants
• Google Drive Online storage & synchronization service, which gives access
to web-based word process, spreadsheets etc.
• Google forms Allows you to quickly set up forms to conduct online surveys or
online testing & saves the results in a spreadsheet
, • Google Maps A web-mapping application that provides directions & shows
maps, satellite imagery & even ‘street views’ of locations
Webbased application Function
These are the web-based office suites from Microsoft &
Office 365 & Google Docs Google respectively. You create, edit & store documents,
spreadsheets & presentations on the web & even collaborate
with others on the same file @ the same time
Apps written specially to work within Facebook. Ranging from
Facebook apps games apps to apps that allow you to listen to music with
friends
This is a web-based image editing app from Adobe, which can
Adobe Photoshop Express be used to edit photos on blogs & social networking sites
directly
Subscription-based software
With the subscription software, the user pays a monthly/yearly subscription for the use of the
software. Office 365 is an example of this approach.
Compatibility
Compatibility refers to the ability of your software to work with the hardware & software installed on
your computer.
Compatibility with operating system
When you want to install an app on your computer, make sure that it can work with your operating
system, e.g. Android 7 (Nougat) or Windows 10.
Vendors produce software to work with various specific sets or ‘families’ of operating systems.
They have to have platform-specific versions of apps to sell via various online stores, e.g. Google
Play Store (Android) & Apple App Store (IOS).
Compatibility btw versions of the same application
Most software applications are ‘downward/backward compatible’ they are able to open & use files
created in previous versions. They are almost never ‘upward/forward compatible’ & older versions
usually cannot open or use files created in a newer version.
1 can usually save files in previous formats for compatibility (e.g. by using the Save As option).
Some of the older versions may not support features of the newer versions
System requirements
Vital you check hardware & software specifications needed for the new software to run properly. If
your system doesn’t meet the required specifications to run the software, you might find that you
are unable to use the software effectively.
Specifications are listed as minimum or recommended requirements. Minimum requirements are
the bare minimum requirements needed to install & use the software. Stick to the recommended
requirements to ensure that the software runs effectively. Typical system requirements – for a
specific version of Photoshop.
