Google Chrome
Google Chrome is a freeware web browser developed by Google that uses the WebKit layout engine. It was first released as a beta version for Microsoft Windows on September 2, 2008, and the public stable release was on December 11, 2008. As of January 2012, Google Chrome has approximately 25–28% worldwide usage share of web browsers, making it the second or the third most widely used browser, according to different estimates.[1][2][3][4] According to StatCounter,[2] Chrome overtook Firefox in November 2011, and is the most popular browser in India[5], Pakistan,[6] Russia,[7] and South America.[8] As of March 2012, Chrome is 3.8% of the market away from overtaking Internet Explorer in worldwide market share.[9]
In September 2008, Google released a large portion of Chrome's source code as an open source project called Chromium.[10][11] This move enabled third-party developers to study the underlying source code and to help port the browser to the Mac OS X and Linux operating systems. Google also expressed hope that other browsers would adopt the V8 JavaScript engine to improve web application performance.[12] The Google-authored portion of Chromium is released under the permissive BSD license,[13] Other portions of the source code are subject to a variety of open source licenses.[14] Chromium implements a similar feature set as Chrome, but lacks built-in automatic updates, built-in PDF reader and Google branding, as well as built-in Google tracking and has a blue-colored logo instead of the multicolored Google logo.[15][16]
On February 7, 2012, Google launched Google Chrome Beta for Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) devices.[17]
In March 2012 Google announced it was working on a version of Chrome for both the Metro and desktop versions of Windows 8.[18]
In September 2008, Google released a large portion of Chrome's source code as an open source project called Chromium.[10][11] This move enabled third-party developers to study the underlying source code and to help port the browser to the Mac OS X and Linux operating systems. Google also expressed hope that other browsers would adopt the V8 JavaScript engine to improve web application performance.[12] The Google-authored portion of Chromium is released under the permissive BSD license,[13] Other portions of the source code are subject to a variety of open source licenses.[14] Chromium implements a similar feature set as Chrome, but lacks built-in automatic updates, built-in PDF reader and Google branding, as well as built-in Google tracking and has a blue-colored logo instead of the multicolored Google logo.[15][16]
On February 7, 2012, Google launched Google Chrome Beta for Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) devices.[17]
In March 2012 Google announced it was working on a version of Chrome for both the Metro and desktop versions of Windows 8.[18]
Microsoft Office
Microsoft Office is a proprietary commercial office suite of inter-related desktop applications, servers and services for the Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X operating systems, introduced by Microsoft on August 1, 1989. Initially a marketing term for a bundled set of applications, the first version of Office contained Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft PowerPoint. Over the years, Office applications have grown substantially closer with shared features such as a common spell checker, OLE data integration and Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications scripting language. Microsoft also positions Office as a development platform for line-of-business software under the Office Business Applications brand.
The current versions are Office 2010 for Windows, released on June 15, 2010;[3] and Office 2011 for Mac OS X, released October 26, 2010.[4]
Desktop applications Word Main article: Microsoft Word Microsoft Word is a word processor and was previously considered the main program in Office. Its proprietary DOC format is considered a de facto standard, although Word 2007 can also use a new XML-based, Microsoft Office-optimized format called .DOCX, which has been controversially standardized by Ecma International as Office Open XML and its SP2 update supports PDF and a limited ODF.[5] Word is also available in some editions of Microsoft Works. It is available for the Windows and Mac platforms. The first version of Word, released in the autumn of 1983, was for the MS-DOS operating system and had the distinction of introducing the mouse to a broad population. Word 1.0 could be purchased with a bundled mouse, though none was required. Following the precedents of LisaWrite and MacWrite, Word for Macintosh attempted to add closer WYSIWYG features into its package. Word for Mac was released in 1985. Word for Mac was the first graphical version of Microsoft Word. Despite its bugginess, it became one of the most popular Mac applications.
Excel Main article: Microsoft Excel Microsoft Excel is a spreadsheet program that originally competed with the dominant Lotus 1-2-3, but eventually outsold it. It is available for the Windows and Mac platforms. Microsoft released the first version of Excel for the Mac in 1985, and the first Windows version (numbered 2.05 to line up with the Mac and bundled with a standalone Windows run-time environment) in November 1987.
Outlook/Entourage Main articles: Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft Entourage Microsoft Outlook (not to be confused with Outlook Express) is a personal information manager and e-mail communication software. The replacement for Windows Messaging, Microsoft Mail and Schedule+ starting in Office 97, it includes an e-mail client, calendar, task manager and address book.
On the Mac, Microsoft offered several versions of Outlook in the late 1990s, but only for use with Microsoft Exchange Server. In Office 2001, it introduced an alternative application with a slightly different feature set called Microsoft Entourage. It reintroduced Outlook in Office 2011, replacing Entourage.[6]
PowerPoint Main article: Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft PowerPoint is a popular presentation program for Windows and Mac. It is used to create slideshows, composed of text, graphics, movies and other objects, which can be displayed on-screen and navigated through by the presenter or printed out on transparencies or slides.
Other desktop applications (Windows version only)
The current versions are Office 2010 for Windows, released on June 15, 2010;[3] and Office 2011 for Mac OS X, released October 26, 2010.[4]
Desktop applications Word Main article: Microsoft Word Microsoft Word is a word processor and was previously considered the main program in Office. Its proprietary DOC format is considered a de facto standard, although Word 2007 can also use a new XML-based, Microsoft Office-optimized format called .DOCX, which has been controversially standardized by Ecma International as Office Open XML and its SP2 update supports PDF and a limited ODF.[5] Word is also available in some editions of Microsoft Works. It is available for the Windows and Mac platforms. The first version of Word, released in the autumn of 1983, was for the MS-DOS operating system and had the distinction of introducing the mouse to a broad population. Word 1.0 could be purchased with a bundled mouse, though none was required. Following the precedents of LisaWrite and MacWrite, Word for Macintosh attempted to add closer WYSIWYG features into its package. Word for Mac was released in 1985. Word for Mac was the first graphical version of Microsoft Word. Despite its bugginess, it became one of the most popular Mac applications.
Excel Main article: Microsoft Excel Microsoft Excel is a spreadsheet program that originally competed with the dominant Lotus 1-2-3, but eventually outsold it. It is available for the Windows and Mac platforms. Microsoft released the first version of Excel for the Mac in 1985, and the first Windows version (numbered 2.05 to line up with the Mac and bundled with a standalone Windows run-time environment) in November 1987.
Outlook/Entourage Main articles: Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft Entourage Microsoft Outlook (not to be confused with Outlook Express) is a personal information manager and e-mail communication software. The replacement for Windows Messaging, Microsoft Mail and Schedule+ starting in Office 97, it includes an e-mail client, calendar, task manager and address book.
On the Mac, Microsoft offered several versions of Outlook in the late 1990s, but only for use with Microsoft Exchange Server. In Office 2001, it introduced an alternative application with a slightly different feature set called Microsoft Entourage. It reintroduced Outlook in Office 2011, replacing Entourage.[6]
PowerPoint Main article: Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft PowerPoint is a popular presentation program for Windows and Mac. It is used to create slideshows, composed of text, graphics, movies and other objects, which can be displayed on-screen and navigated through by the presenter or printed out on transparencies or slides.
Other desktop applications (Windows version only)
- Microsoft Access — database manager
- Microsoft InfoPath — an application to design rich XML-based forms
- Microsoft OneNote — note-taking software for use with both tablet and conventional PCs
- Microsoft Project — project management software to keep track of events and to create network charts and Gantt charts (not bundled in any Office suite)
- Microsoft Publisher — desktop publishing software mostly used for designing brochures, labels, calendars, greeting cards, business cards, newsletters, and postcards.
- Microsoft SharePoint Workspace (formerly known as Groove) — a proprietary peer-to-peer collaboration software leveled at businesses
- Microsoft Visio — diagram and flowcharting software (not bundled in any Office suite)
- Microsoft Office InterConnect — business-relationship database available only in Japan
- Microsoft Office Picture Manager — basic photo management software (similar to Google's Picasa or Adobe's Photoshop Elements), replaced Microsoft Photo Editor
- Microsoft SharePoint Designer — a WYSIWYG HTML editor and web design program for customizing SharePoint applications, it replaces Microsoft FrontPage (not bundled in any Office suite)
- Microsoft Lync — Integrated communications client for conferences and meetings in real time (known as Microsoft Office Communicator in Office 2007, bundled with Professional Plus and Enterprise editions[7])
- Microsoft SharePoint — collaboration server
- Microsoft Lync Server (formerly Office Communications Server and Live Communications Server) — real time communications server
- Microsoft Office Forms Server — lets users use any browser to access and fill InfoPath forms. Office Forms Server is a standalone server installation of InfoPath Forms Services.
- Microsoft Office Groove Server — centrally managing all deployments of Microsoft Office Groove in the enterprise
- Microsoft Office Project Server — project management server
- Microsoft Office Project Portfolio Server — allows creation of a project portfolio, including workflows, hosted centrally
- Microsoft Office PerformancePoint Server — allows customers to monitor, analyze, and plan their business
- Office Web Apps — Web-based companions to Microsoft Office applications to view, create, and edit documents.
- Office Live
- Office Live Small Business — Web hosting services and online collaboration tools for small businesses.
- Office Live Workspace — Online storage and collaboration service for documents, superseded by Office Web Apps and SkyDrive
- Live Meeting — Web conferencing service.
- Microsoft Office product web site — Provides support for all Microsoft Office products.
- Microsoft Update — Web site. Patch detection and installation service for Microsoft Office.
- Microsoft Office 365 - Cloud-based version of office, available for purchase since early 2011.