Operating Systems
Windows 8 Gaining Popularity!
Jan 11th
Critics surround the latest touch screen friendly Operating System Windows 8 and consider it and less user friendly but the customers have a different say to the issue! Recent sales of the Operating System show that the sales of the Windows 8 OS have grown incredibly in the past quarter and specially in the last month. Two months back only five percent of the computer software and hardware shares were dominated by Windows 8 OS however in the last month this percentage increased to twenty percent.
The image below is quoted by ITJobswatchUK to show:
The chart provides the 3-month moving total of permanent IT jobs citing Windows 8 within the UK as a proportion of the total demand within the Operating Systems category.
Windows 8 demand trend: Image courtesy ITjobswatch.co.uk
Windows 8 Usability Criticized!
Nov 20th
For a layman ‘Usability’ is the synonym for the ease of use associated with something. The more user friendly a utility is, the greater is its usability. With respect to software and Operating systems usability is the Key to success. The recently launched and highly lauded Windows 8 OS is being critically assessed by experts for its usability drawbacks. For the common user currently planning a shift from their old Windows 7 this may come as a setback.
Multimedia File System
Nov 11th
The File Systems in Multimedia Operating Systems are said to have extended the File System Structure of the Unix Operating System. As characteristically notified above, the file types that are relative to the multimedia operating system require quite a number of adjustments. This basically is because of the massiveness of the files, their need for runtime instructiveness with the server, the continuity of retrieval of data and synchronization.
The handling and organization of these specific file types was a cumbersome task when the original and conventional file systems was arranged to accommodate them. With the increasing trends of graphical and media files embedded e-mail windows the handling of multimedia files has become inevitable. Their performance often comes at stake if their implementation is done using the conventional file system.
Overview
MMFS is a Multimedia File System. It extends the UNIX File System (UFS). Specifically designed for multimedia applications that may be interactive in nature, MMFS is characteristically supportive of the real-time and faster environments of the Multimedia file types. It supports single-medium editing and multiple-media playback environments. It does so by getting implemented in a file structure which is two dimensional in nature. More >
Multimedia Operating Systems
Nov 8th
“Multimedia support in operating systems is one of the crucial prerequisites for a successful multimedia system”, quotes Steinmetz and Nahrstedt (2004) in their well-researched book Multimedia Systems. Multimedia Operating Systems are characteristically different from the traditional systems that work behind traditional applications. Some noticeable characteristics of multimedia operating systems may be narrated as follows:
• Increased File Sizes, thus Storage Spaces
The file sizes of Multimedia systems may be quite large in size. For example a MPEG file of about a hundred minutes may need approximately a storage space of 1.125GB. Similarly, a High Definition Television or HDTV file may need up to about fifteen GB of storage space. With the said file size proportions imagine a server that has to store several media files of similar and more sizes. Such a server would definitely need terabytes of storage space.
• Faster Data Transfer Rate Required
The media that are continuous in nature such as audio and video files need to execute at a relatively faster data rate than that for normal non- media file types. For example, considering digital video, it is observed that a digital frame of the video is displayed at a conventional resolution of 800×600. If the resolution of 24 bits is used for the representation of each pixel (which permits the formation of roughly 16 million different colors) the amount of data that needs to be stored for a single frame of the video is about 800x600x24 = 11,520,000 bits. Similarly, if the rate at which the frames are displayed is around 30 frames per second, then an around 345 Mbps of bandwidth is needed to run the file.
• Playback Timing Delays
Timing delays during playback are a critical factor when it comes to multimedia applications. Even after a media file has been sent to the client the process of that file’s playback requires continued delivery of the file. If this continuity of interaction is disrupted during playback then the viewer will have to face disruption in the running of the media. (Silberschatz, Galvin, Gagne, 2011).
What Cloud Computing does for a common man
May 19th
Cloud computing has burst on scene as the next big thing, but it is important to know whether cloud computing is right for you. There are several advantages and disadvantages offered by this burgeoning technology. One of the advantages offered by Cloud Computing to common man is financial advantage. You don’t need a high powered and high priced computer to run cloud computing’s web based applications. This is because the application runs in the cloud not on the desktop PC. PC will run with improved performance as no software programs need to be installed as the applications run from the cloud. Hence computers in a cloud computing system will boot up faster and run faster, because they’ll have fewer programs and processes loaded into memory.
Who is going to buy a Nokia without a Windows Phone now
Jul 5th
Nokia has seen its share of the smartphone market slide as its handsets based on the Symbian operating system (OS) went from being top dogs to struggling contenders. There was talk that the Finnish firm would be partnering with a different OS developer for its future projects, a rumour which proved to be true when it recently announced a deal with Microsoft to bring Windows Phone 7 to its next array of smartphones. However, Nokia does not seem to be abandoning its other platforms outright as Symbian is being kept alive in the short term on models like the X7 and E6. The announcement of the Nokia N9, a smartphone based on the MeeGo OS, caused even more speculation that Nokia might not be putting all its eggs in the Windows Phone 7 basket.
Spice up Windows 7 with Kung Fu Panda 2
Apr 13th
One thing we know about Microsoft is that it constantly updates its Windows 7 themes collection. What’s the latest theme Microsoft has uploaded on their official Windows site? Well, it’s the one Kung Fu Panda fans will love. An immersive Kung Fu Panda 2 theme has gone live, the download link of which you can find after the jump.
Windows 8 wallpaper leaks out
Apr 1st
Windows 8 Milestone 3 build recently became available for some Microsoft Connect members. And once that happens you know that leaked bits and pieces of Windows 8 will appear for your viewing and reading pleasure. We have one such event to share with you folks. ZDNet have gotten their hands on the first official Windows 8 wallpaper, and as you can tell from the first look it’s beautiful.
Final build of Gingerbread for Galaxy S leaks out (Video inside)
Mar 28th
What will the smartphone world do without leakages? I will love to hear your replies in the comment section. Coming back to the business end, the alleged final build (I9000XXJVK) of Gingerbread for Galaxy S has leaked out and is available for download at the one and only XDA.
HTC Thunderbolt getting Gingerbread in 2nd quarter of 2011
Mar 27th
A loyal reader of Droid Life has received an email response from HTC according to which the 4G enabled phone will receive Gingerbread update in the second quarter of 2011.
