Software is an integrated set of instructions and information that tell a particular computer how to perform a certain task. Usually, this is compared to physical hardware where the machine is constructed and in actuality performs the actual work itself. A good analogy would be to compare a car to a car engine. Software is what actually allows cars to move and function normally and software is what allows the car’s computer to run efficiently. The same analogy works for an organization as software is what enables the organization to function effectively as well.
A number of companies offer various examples of applications software. One of these is Apple. In their annual iPhone guidebook, they provide several examples of computer software ranging from the simplest to the most complex in scope. Each example highlights different elements such as memory size, type of media accessed, input devices, output devices, web services, graphic libraries, user interface, and network services among others.
Apple also offers a number of applications as part of their application software. This would include the iWork template, GarageBand virtual instrument, Numbers virtual instrument, and Numbers Composer. All of these are examples of computer software specifically developed for the making of apps, or “apps” as they are also known. Apps are computer applications that provide users with additional functionality that can easily be downloaded from the iTunes store on a Mac computer or through other means.
On the other hand, there are companies that offer computer systems and software specifically designed for operating system platforms. For example, Apple offers the Mac OS X operating system for the Apple Macintosh computer system. Microsoft offers the Windows operating system on the Microsoft XP operating system. The manufacturer of the Windows operating system, Microsoft, offers its own application software product called Microsoft Office. Thus, even on a smaller scale, software can serve a variety of purposes in businesses.
Computer software, being a type of programmable material, can enable computer systems to perform different tasks. It can help in performing more specific tasks than could be accomplished by use of hardware. In this regard, application software can replace hardware drivers in computer systems. As such, this technology has become very important to computer science teachers and researchers who need to conduct scientific experiments using complex equipment like supercomputers and laptops.
Of course, application software can be used on a desktop. But it is often much easier and less costly to use such technology on a laptop, especially if the laptop is used for more than just surfing the Internet. There are many examples of such software packages that have been specially designed for use on laptop computers. Examples of such examples include Xento, ZenCart, Joomla!, and Drupal. These examples are just a few of many low-level examples that are available for use on laptops and other portable electronic devices. Thus, the combination of hardware and application software makes possible the development of applications that are more efficient and powerful on laptops.