Purpose of different software utilities

How software utilities can improve the performance of computer systems:  Virus Protection (Anti-virus)– software which prevents and stops malware on the computer. It has a dictionary of codes.  Firewall - Monitors and analyses the data that comes through and filters out unwanted malware which can be harmful to one’s computer.  Clean-up tools – for removal of internet cookies, internet history,  Defragmentation - a process which organizes the contents of the mass storage.  Drive Formatting - is the process of preparing a data storage device such as a hard disk drive, solid-state drive, floppy disk or USB flash drive for initial use. In some cases, the formatting operation may also create one or more new file systems. The first part of the formatting process that performs basic medium preparation is often referred to as "low-level formatting".  Cookies – small packets of data which store the user’s data from websites. These packets take up memory and can slow down the processes of your computer.

Dependent and Independent Platform Dependant When software/applications, run on a specific platform and cannot work on another. Platform Independent When software/applications are able to run on multiple different operating systems or machines e.g. Xbox, PS3 and PC.

Platform Types Game platform examples: Mobile, hand-held (e.g. PSP, DS), PC, consoles (e.g. Xbox, PS3) OS types break-down: PC/Mac – Windows, Linux, Mac OS. Hand-held – Win CE, Palm OS Mobile – Symbian OS, BREW, Mophun.

PC

List of computer Operating Systems Windows Linux Mac OS Windows is the most common OS. The first windows was released as a text based OS called DOS made available in 1981. In the year 1985 Microsoft released the first Windows to use GUI. Game developers release their games on windows as that’s where the biggest community is. Not only games, but nearly all released software is available on Windows.

Mobile and Java Common mobile platforms: • • • •

Android iOS Blackberry Windows Phone

Symbian • Popular with Nokia phones • Supports 48 languages

Java Java is used in a wide variety of computing platforms from embedded devices and mobile phones on the low end. Java is a computer programing language made to have as few “implementation dependencies” as possible which means that the software is not tied down to one kind of platform so Java can/is used on desktops to mobile.

Hand-held Palm OS or Garnet OS It is a mobile operating system designed by Palm Inc. It is designed to be easy to use on a touchscreen device.

Some key features:

Simple user-friendly GUI Resolutions up to 480x320 pixel

Windows CE: Officially known as Windows Embedded Compact, is an operating system made by Microsoft for embedded systems. Windows CE is designed/aimed at devices that have minimal storage (Windows CE was designed for handheld devices such as PDA’s and Windows own made device the Pocket PC.) a Windows CE kernel may run in under a megabyte of memory. The Windows CE graphical user interface (GUI) is very similar to Windows 95 so devices running Windows CE should be easy to operate for anyone familiar with Windows 95.