Welcome to Tech Talksat Expanding Horizons

Glen Maxson

Seniortechadvisor.com

April 12th -Session 2B (10:30am)

What we’ll cover in 4 weeks

1) Computers & Operating Systems

2) Applications & The Cloud

3) Security & Privacy

4) Tips and Tricks, Q&A

Today’s Topic

Applications & The Cloud

But before we begin, a definition

and a brief history lesson about ‘software’

Software. What is it?

• Computer software, or simply software, is a part of a computer system that consists of data or computer instructions, in contrast to the physical hardware - software is usually written in high-level programming languages

• Software examples include application software, system software, and malicious software or malware

Where did Software come from?

• Ada wrote the first piece of software (an algorithm) in the 19th century for Babbage’s Analytical Engine

• Alan Turing wrote his theory about software in 1936 (Computable numbers with an application to the Entscheidungsproblem*)

• Programs stored in memory of digital computers became possible after 1948 –very limited

*Entscheidungsproblem - German for "decision problem") is a challenge posed by David Hilbert in 1928.

Charles Babbagecredited with inventing the first mechanical computer

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37

19

36

18

43

Where did Software come from?

• The advent of ‘personal computer’ software made the hardware ‘useful’, starting with the BASIC interpreter written by Gates and Allen for the Altair 8800, allowing users to create their own programs – this effort launched the PC software industry! The year was 1975…

• 1979 - Dan Bricklin - “The Father of the Spreadsheet” – co-invented VisiCalc with Bob Frankston, available on Tandy TRS-80… for $100 – awarded a patent for VisiCalc in 1981

Dan BricklinCreates VisiCalc

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Software Yesterday and Today

• When network speeds were slow, software was sold on ‘physical media’ – floppy disc, CD, DVD

• When network speeds improved, it was more cost effective to have users download software ‘over the Internet’

• Today, software publishers are moving to a rent vs. buy ‘subscription’ model which has 2 primary benefits:• Supplier – increased revenue since subscriptions need to be renewed and

distribution costs are reduced

• End user – new versions and updates available to subscribers immediately

Apps

• Aka Software, Programs, Applications

Application Software (source)

An application program (app) is a computer program designed to perform a group of coordinated functions, tasks, or activities for the benefit of the user. Examples of an application include a word processor, a spreadsheet, an accounting application, a web browser, a media player, a flight simulator, a console game or a photo editor. The collective nounapplication software refers to all applications collectively. This contrasts with system software, which is mainly involved with running the computer.

Applications may be bundled with the computer and its system software or published separately, and may be coded as proprietary or open-source.

Top paid/proprietary apps for PCs and laptops

• Office 365 – office applications from Microsoft (subscription)• Adobe Creative Cloud – everything Adobe (subscription)• WinZip – file archiver• Kaspersky Lab – antivirus• Malwarebytes (paid version) – malware detection

Top 10 ‘free’ apps for PCs and laptops

• LibreOffice – office applications• Firefox – browser*• Google Chrome – browser*• VLC Player – media player• GIMP – photo editor• Adobe Reader – PDF reader• 7-Zip – file archiver (like WinZip, but free)• Avira Free Antivirus - antivirus• Malwarebytes (free version) – malware detection• Google Hangouts – video chat and voice call service (like Skype)

Making your Tablet or Smartphone useful

• ‘Essential’ Apps (top 10)

• App Store • Email• Contact list• Browser• Weather• Music• Maps• Calendar• Photos• Voice Assistant

Apple App Store (Apple) Mail(Apple) ContactsSafari, Chrome(Apple) Weather(Apple) Music(Apple) Maps(Apple) Calendar(Apple) PhotosSiri

(Google) Play Store Gmail(Google) ContactsChromeThe Weather ChannelPandora(Google) Maps(Google) Calendar(Google) PhotosGoogle Assistant

Apple (+ iCloud) Android (+ Google Drive)

More Making your Tablet or Smartphone useful

• ‘Nice to Have’ Apps (top 10)

• Note-taker• Document Scanner• File Manager +• Video-calling• Wireless File Transfer• Social Media• Hands-Free Auto• VLC Media Player• Keyboard Mod• Level

(Apple) iNote, EverNoteCamScanner(Apple) Files(Apple) FaceTimeAir TransferFaceBook, Instagram, You (Apple) CarPlayVLC Media PlayerSwiftKeyBubble Level +

ColorNote, EvernoteCamScanner*ES File Explorer*(Google) HangoutsWireless File TransferTube, Twitter, LinkedIn… Android Auto*VLC Media PlayerSwype (default)*Clinometer*

Apple Android

Demo

Switching Gears…

• What is a Browser

• What is the Cloud

• Putting it all together

A word about Browsers

A web browser is a software application for retrieving, presenting and traversing information resources on the World Wide Web. An information resource is identified by a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI/URL) that may be a web page, image, video or other piece of content. Hyperlinks present in resources enable users easily to navigate their browsers to related resources.

The most popular web browsers are Chrome, Edge (preceded

by Internet Explorer), Safari, and Firefox.

Chrome

IE/Edge (Microsoft)

Firefox

Safari (Apple)

May2012

Dec2008

June2016

A word about the ‘Cloud’

The cloud refers to software and services that run on the Internet instead of locally on your computer. Apple iCloud, Dropbox, Netflix, Google Drive, Microsoft Office 365, Adobe Creative Cloud, Gmail are all examples of cloud services, and there are many more.

The cloud consists of large groups of remote servers that are networked to provide centralized data storage, and online access to computer services or resources.

Classes of cloud services we’re interested in include Cloud Storage (Google Drive, iCloud), Cloud Back-Up (Carbonite), Cloud Utilities (Netflix, Pandora), Cloud Apps (Google Docs, Microsoft Office Online)

A word about Chrome OS (source)

Chrome OS is an operating system designed by Google that is based on the Linux kernel and uses the Google Chrome web browser as its principal user interface. As a result, Chrome OS primarily supports web applications.

Google announced Chrome OS on July 7, 2009, describing it as an operating system in which both applications and user data reside in the cloud.

And why do we care? Lower cost, less complex, medium functionality, good portability & battery life, nice keyboard, larger screen size than tablets.

Devices that run Chrome OS

Chromebit - a dongle running Google's Chrome OS operating

system. When placed in the HDMI port of a television or a monitor, this device turns that display into a personal computer.

Chromebox - a personal computer running Google's Chrome

OS operating system. The device is a desktop variant of the Chromebook laptop.

Chromebook - a laptop running the Linux-based Chrome OS as

its operating system. The devices are primarily used to perform a variety of tasks using the Google Chrome browser, with most applications and data residing in the cloud.

$84

$205

$290

And this…

• HP Announces First Detachable Chromebook (only $599)

Top 10 ‘free’ apps for Chromebooks

• (Microsoft) Office Online – cloud based Office apps*• Gmail Offline – sync and read e-mail offline• Overdrive – eBook and audio book reader • Evernote – cloud note-taking• LastPass – password manager• Kindle Cloud Reader – eBook reader• Weatherbug – weather• Pandora – music• Polarr – photo editor• VLC for Chrome OS – media player

• Another source: 30 Best Chrome Apps

Demo

Useful articles:

My PC backup dilemma

What’s the best way to back up your data? Physical back-up or

the ‘cloud’?

RoboForm 7 – what is it and why do I care?

Free Microsoft Office! Check out Office Web Apps…

Convert your files in the Cloud – cloudconvert.org (beta)

Google Cloud Print – a cool new capability from Google

Microsoft Office Apps for iPad – I’m not so sure…

Adobe’s Creative Cloud – a really good idea!

It’s Time to Consider a ChromeBook

ChromeBook Power Tips – a PCWorld article