On January 6th the Mac App Store was released in Apple's 10.6.6 Software Update. The Mac App Store adds a single location for everyone on a Mac to access a growing library of application that range from free to over a hundred. The store brings games to the mac such as the popular iPhone game, Angry Birds, as well as apps for social networking, like Socialite. All though we still desire a larger library of applications, the Mac App Store makes it easier for Mac users to get a wide range of software and easily sync them among computers and update them.
Interface:
The interface of the Mac App Store is a simple Apple-style layout. The store resembles the App Store in iTunes and only consists of a few parts. The top of the screen consist of a forward and back button as well as Featured, Top Charts, Categories, Purchased, Updates, and across from that is the search bar. The Featured tab gives you access to some of the most popular apps, new apps, and staff favorites. You are brought here when you open up the store and it allows you to see most of the apps you want to look at. The Top Charts tab allows you to view the most popular free and paid apps and Categories allows you to browse through the applications by different selections, such as Games or Productivity. Updates and Purchased allow you to make sure all your apps are up-to-date and what you have bought. Along with the five buttons at the top of the screen is a simple, Apple styled search bar that allows for easy browsing throughout every app, allowing you to find what you want, faster. Although very simple, they layout of the Mac App Store is easy to navigate while doing what it was made to do.
Features:
The Mac App Store is not full of an abundant amount of features, but does ge the job done. Apple built this program for what they intended it to do, download a large amount of apps. A user can sign into the Mac App Store with the same account as their iTunes account and use their itunes gift cards with it as well. There is a simple Buy or Free button to download the applications, almost identical to the iTunes Store. The Mac App Store allows for syncing of apps between computers which is a nice feature to have when you have multiple macs. Having to repurchase apps constantly can be tedious and expensive so the syncing of apps is a very useful feature. The Mac App Store is a pretty basic place at the moment but we look forward to more in the future, hopefully with automatic syncing and updating or even a genius, suggestion, feature like in iTunes. Although we do wish to see more out of the store, the first version is a good start for something that could grow to be great.
Wrap Up:
Overall the Mac App Store is a great place for Mac users to download their applications, if they can find them. There is still room for more applications and development of the actual store, but it is a good first start. The UI is simple, yet neat and allows for easy access to what you need to find. The app store is a great start to this new part of Apple's operating system, destin to grow into something great.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Ubuntu, a Fast OS Packed Full of Features
Ubuntu, introduced in 2004 to be a easy-to-use linux desktop, has grown into a feature-rich operating system that could easily replace its Mac or Windows competitors. Ubuntu has a number of unique features such as the Ubuntu Software Center, Broadcast, Ubuntu One, and Empathy IM. The simple user interface allows you to easily travel about the os, so you can get where you need to go with hassle. Ubuntu is a great os to check out and offers a ton of features and intuitive user interface.
Interface:
The interface of Ubuntu has a clean and simple layout. The interface consists of two bars on the screen, one on the top and one on the bottom. The top gives you access to features such as your applications, places (to locate files, drives, etc.), system and other information such as your internet connection and time and date. The application section allows you to access all your applications sorted into different categories that lets you easily find what you are looking for. Next to that are the places button that allow you to get to all your files and folders, like the Windows start menu. Along side it is system which lets you change anything in the system; the UI is very customizable with different themes, backgrounds, and some amazing 3D effects.
Features:
Ubuntu's vast collection of features makes this a great operating systems. The Ubuntu Software Center makes this os one of the best available. The Ubuntu Software Center allows you to easily search, browse, and find every type of software to install on your computer, such as Skype or Calibre. One of the most outstanding features that is incorporated into Ubuntu is Ubuntu One. Ubuntu One is an amazing feature that allows you to sync almost everything on you computer, from Firefox bookmarks to files, to the cloud. Everything sync to the cloud allowing for access anywhere from another Ubuntu computer or even right off the internet. Along with the software center and Ubuntu One, Ubuntu has a very fast start up time, faster than I've seen from my Macs, as well as a bunch of social communication aspects that keeps everything built in.
Ubuntu has built-in features that allow you to easily access email, chat, and broadcast. It's included email client, Evolution Mail, allows for easy step-by-step email setup with support for almost any email client you can think of. The chat feature, Empathy IM, comes a long list of different clients that allow you to chat with almost anyone. Empathy includes choices such as Facebook Chat, Google Talk, Jabber, AIM, and more. One of my favorite social features is Broadcast, which allows you to connect to social networking sites such as Facebook and views your status, messages, and more.
Wrap Up:
Ubuntu 10.10 is one of the most feature-rich operating systems currently available, and, since it's a free one, it is certainly worth checking out. Since I have been using this operating system, it has continued to impress me with its features and customization. Ubuntu started out as an easy-to-use linux desktop and has developed into a fast, easy-to-use os that really stands out.
Interface:
The interface of Ubuntu has a clean and simple layout. The interface consists of two bars on the screen, one on the top and one on the bottom. The top gives you access to features such as your applications, places (to locate files, drives, etc.), system and other information such as your internet connection and time and date. The application section allows you to access all your applications sorted into different categories that lets you easily find what you are looking for. Next to that are the places button that allow you to get to all your files and folders, like the Windows start menu. Along side it is system which lets you change anything in the system; the UI is very customizable with different themes, backgrounds, and some amazing 3D effects.
The bottom of the screen contains a minimize button and trash button as well as all the open windows currently running. The interface allows a lot of customizable features as well as simple icons and easy navigation buttons.
Features:
Ubuntu's vast collection of features makes this a great operating systems. The Ubuntu Software Center makes this os one of the best available. The Ubuntu Software Center allows you to easily search, browse, and find every type of software to install on your computer, such as Skype or Calibre. One of the most outstanding features that is incorporated into Ubuntu is Ubuntu One. Ubuntu One is an amazing feature that allows you to sync almost everything on you computer, from Firefox bookmarks to files, to the cloud. Everything sync to the cloud allowing for access anywhere from another Ubuntu computer or even right off the internet. Along with the software center and Ubuntu One, Ubuntu has a very fast start up time, faster than I've seen from my Macs, as well as a bunch of social communication aspects that keeps everything built in.
Ubuntu has built-in features that allow you to easily access email, chat, and broadcast. It's included email client, Evolution Mail, allows for easy step-by-step email setup with support for almost any email client you can think of. The chat feature, Empathy IM, comes a long list of different clients that allow you to chat with almost anyone. Empathy includes choices such as Facebook Chat, Google Talk, Jabber, AIM, and more. One of my favorite social features is Broadcast, which allows you to connect to social networking sites such as Facebook and views your status, messages, and more.
Wrap Up:
Ubuntu 10.10 is one of the most feature-rich operating systems currently available, and, since it's a free one, it is certainly worth checking out. Since I have been using this operating system, it has continued to impress me with its features and customization. Ubuntu started out as an easy-to-use linux desktop and has developed into a fast, easy-to-use os that really stands out.
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