The last days have become very rich in the major events in the field of operating systems. Mac users have received a long-awaited update OS X Mountain Lion, but Microsoft has officially announced the release date for Windows 8, which is scheduled for 26 October.
It is worth noting that with Apple's and Microsoft time operating systems are becoming more and more differences between them. Perhaps to compare already left and only the OS soon to be released can be a bit annoying, but the finished Windows 8 is unlikely It will be very different from the Release Preview in terms of functionality and appearance, so we can already draw some results.
One goal, different approaches
In general, both operating systems are aimed at one - maximum unification process of user interaction with the system as on the desktop and mobile device.
Apple has followed the introduction of the most popular functionality of its mobile operating system iOS in the form of desktop versions of applications for OS X, not forgetting some other important features first appeared on mobile devices (AirPlay Mirroring).
Microsoft came to the matter more thoroughly, creating a single operating system, which is suitable for use on desktops and laptops, and mobile devices.
However, regardless of the ways to solve the problem, and the problem still remains the same - to provide users ecosystem to fully meet their most important needs without the need to go beyond ecosystem. These needs can be divided into 4 categories:
- exchange
- apps
- Photo
- cloud services
Before starting the comparison should once again be recalled that Mountain Lion is already released, while Windows 8 can still be changed by the time of the official release.
1. Exchange
In the case of exchange of Mountain Lion is integrated directly into the operating system that allows you to share links, videos, etc. directly from the application. A good example is Safari, which the user can use the pop-up menu with several options card sharing (Twitter, email, and soon, and Facebook).
More works best bunch of mail Apple application in conjunction with Safari. Sharing links when the application will prompt the user to share only the link, the page entirely, version of the page for the reader as well as a PDF file.
exchange system in Windows 8 looks and works great. While in any application, the user «Share» just select the option, then the list of applications through which you can share files, links, photos and so on.
Currently CS is a tool in Windows is fairly limited and provides only for the exchange option through the Outlook, however, the release version will be added and other services (Twitter, Facebook, and etc.). Moreover, the most frequently used applications will be placed in the top of the list.
Obviously, both systems have a fairly powerful functionality for users to be able to share with each other the different content. The only difference is that in the case of OS X application developer can create and add himself button or the pop-up list for CS, while both Windows goes rigid binding interface system.
2. apps
Both systems feature a suite of applications for communication, interaction and organization of their daily activities.
Apple service called Messages, replaces iChat, allows you to store received messages on various devices in one place. Reminders app works similarly, Calendar, and Contacts.
Windows 8 is also not deprived of such services, however, there are significant differences in the mechanism of their work. Service called People, which is an analogue Contacts, integrates directly with Facebook and displays all events associated with the people with whom you interact.
It is worth noting that at this point a messenger in Windows 8 can only work with Windows Live Messenger and Facebook. Most likely, the services list will be more by the time of release.
In any case, in this aspect of Apple wins due to the well thought-out system integration with mobile devices.
3. Photo
Windows 8 gives users the ability to manage your photos using the application Photos. In addition to storing photos on the computer or mobile device, Photos perfectly integrates with Facebook, Flickr and cloud service Microsoft SkyDrive.
In the case of Apple, we have the iPhoto, which is not only an organizer for photos, but also a graphical editor. Thanks to iCloud is also possible to synchronize pictures with mobile devices. It is possible to process the photos is a pretty big advantage of iPhoto. At that time, as the Photos is simply a hub for storage and card sharing photos, the iPhoto is more like a collection of photos control center.
Winning again for Apple.
4. cloud services
At the time, as SkyDrive provides users visible storage structure and allows to upload and download any type of data, iCloud is more like a service to sync, making it possible to view a particular type of content on all connected devices.
SkyDrive is also ideal for storing documents. In particular, Office 2013 uses it as a place to store the default documents. SkyDrive also integrated with many of the basic Microsoft applications
Despite the fact that iCloud can also sync documents, photos, contacts, calendars, it also has serious limitations. It is still not supported by video timing and synchronization features of calendars hinder the integration of the service. And, of course, lack of access to the file structure is not very happy.
Of course, related to a particular service depends on the user's philosophy. There are people who like to self-organize their own data without restrictions. However, there are those who do not want to keep track of such things, and they prefer to put all the work to organize the data on the system.
Total
For a long time, the computer is a fairly self-contained device that provides user access to its digital aspect of life. That is why the difference between the operating system was not felt so much. Mobile devices are forced to evolve desktop operating systems, and in this case the slogan of Apple «Think Different» justly attributed to Microsoft, because Apple's approach is more conservative, and implies the transfer of a functional of a single OS to another. Microsoft has approached the issue much more thoroughly, creating a single operating system, is equally comfortable for both conventional computers and mobile devices. Even the old interface support along with the Metro can be called a plus Windows 8 because users, negatively perceived the new interface will work quite comfortable in a familiar their environment.
Negative reviews of Windows 8 can be connected with an abrupt change in the appearance of the operating system, because everything new is often perceived more acutely. Mountain Lion does not contain such a radical change, and therefore the reaction to it softer and more predictable.
What do you think about the confrontation of these systems? Which of the implementations seem more successful and promising?
[via mashable]
I choose