"No child in India shall be deprived of education because of hunger."
An initiative started 10 years ago by India's largest non profit organisation "The Akshaya Patra Foundation" has really proved to be a boon for about 1,253,266 children daily.
The foundation has worked to transform dreams of these children into reality, giving them food and education: The 2 basic needs for survival.
The foundation introduced and worked hard for the mid-day meal scheme with following Objectives:
- avoid classroom hunger
- increase school enrolment
- increase school attendance
- improve socialization among castes
- address malnutrition
- empower women through employment
You are just a click away from being a part of this great initiative.
http://www.akshayapatra.org/online-donations
DONATE, HELP THEM EDUCATE AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Thursday, August 26, 2010
The Sixth Sense
'SixthSense' is a wearable gestural interface that augments the physical world around us with digital information and lets us use natural hand gestures to interact with that information.
We've evolved over millions of years to sense the world around us. When we encounter something, someone or some place, we use our five natural senses to perceive information about it; that information helps us make decisions and chose the right actions to take. But arguably the most useful information that can help us make the right decision is not naturally perceivable with our five senses, namely the data, information and knowledge that mankind has accumulated about everything and which is increasingly all available online. Although the miniaturization of computing devices allows us to carry computers in our pockets, keeping us continually connected to the digital world, there is no link between our digital devices and our interactions with the physical world. Information is confined traditionally on paper or digitally on a screen. SixthSense bridges this gap, bringing intangible, digital information out into the tangible world, and allowing us to interact with this information via natural hand gestures. ‘SixthSense’ frees information from its confines by seamlessly integrating it with reality, and thus making the entire world your computer.
The SixthSense prototype is comprised of a pocket projector, a mirror and a camera. The hardware components are coupled in a pendant like mobile wearable device. Both the projector and the camera are connected to the mobile computing device in the user’s pocket. The projector projects visual information enabling surfaces, walls and physical objects around us to be used as interfaces; while the camera recognizes and tracks user's hand gestures and physical objects using computer-vision based techniques. The software program processes the video stream data captured by the camera and tracks the locations of the colored markers (visual tracking fiducials) at the tip of the user’s fingers using simple computer-vision techniques. The movements and arrangements of these fiducials are interpreted into gestures that act as interaction instructions for the projected application interfaces. The maximum number of tracked fingers is only constrained by the number of unique fiducials, thus SixthSense also supports multi-touch and multi-user interaction.
The SixthSense prototype implements several applications that demonstrate the usefulness, viability and flexibility of the system. The map application lets the user navigate a map displayed on a nearby surface using hand gestures, similar to gestures supported by Multi-Touch based systems, letting the user zoom in, zoom out or pan using intuitive hand movements. The drawing application lets the user draw on any surface by tracking the fingertip movements of the user’s index finger. SixthSense also recognizes user’s freehand gestures (postures). For example, the SixthSense system implements a gestural camera that takes photos of the scene the user is looking at by detecting the ‘framing’ gesture. The user can stop by any surface or wall and flick through the photos he/she has taken. SixthSense also lets the user draw icons or symbols in the air using the movement of the index finger and recognizes those symbols as interaction instructions. For example, drawing a magnifying glass symbol takes the user to the map application or drawing an ‘@’ symbol lets the user check his mail. The SixthSense system also augments physical objects the user is interacting with by projecting more information about these objects projected on them. For example, a newspaper can show live video news or dynamic information can be provided on a regular piece of paper. The gesture of drawing a circle on the user’s wrist projects an analog watch.
The current prototype system costs approximate $350 to build.
We've evolved over millions of years to sense the world around us. When we encounter something, someone or some place, we use our five natural senses to perceive information about it; that information helps us make decisions and chose the right actions to take. But arguably the most useful information that can help us make the right decision is not naturally perceivable with our five senses, namely the data, information and knowledge that mankind has accumulated about everything and which is increasingly all available online. Although the miniaturization of computing devices allows us to carry computers in our pockets, keeping us continually connected to the digital world, there is no link between our digital devices and our interactions with the physical world. Information is confined traditionally on paper or digitally on a screen. SixthSense bridges this gap, bringing intangible, digital information out into the tangible world, and allowing us to interact with this information via natural hand gestures. ‘SixthSense’ frees information from its confines by seamlessly integrating it with reality, and thus making the entire world your computer.
The SixthSense prototype is comprised of a pocket projector, a mirror and a camera. The hardware components are coupled in a pendant like mobile wearable device. Both the projector and the camera are connected to the mobile computing device in the user’s pocket. The projector projects visual information enabling surfaces, walls and physical objects around us to be used as interfaces; while the camera recognizes and tracks user's hand gestures and physical objects using computer-vision based techniques. The software program processes the video stream data captured by the camera and tracks the locations of the colored markers (visual tracking fiducials) at the tip of the user’s fingers using simple computer-vision techniques. The movements and arrangements of these fiducials are interpreted into gestures that act as interaction instructions for the projected application interfaces. The maximum number of tracked fingers is only constrained by the number of unique fiducials, thus SixthSense also supports multi-touch and multi-user interaction.
The SixthSense prototype implements several applications that demonstrate the usefulness, viability and flexibility of the system. The map application lets the user navigate a map displayed on a nearby surface using hand gestures, similar to gestures supported by Multi-Touch based systems, letting the user zoom in, zoom out or pan using intuitive hand movements. The drawing application lets the user draw on any surface by tracking the fingertip movements of the user’s index finger. SixthSense also recognizes user’s freehand gestures (postures). For example, the SixthSense system implements a gestural camera that takes photos of the scene the user is looking at by detecting the ‘framing’ gesture. The user can stop by any surface or wall and flick through the photos he/she has taken. SixthSense also lets the user draw icons or symbols in the air using the movement of the index finger and recognizes those symbols as interaction instructions. For example, drawing a magnifying glass symbol takes the user to the map application or drawing an ‘@’ symbol lets the user check his mail. The SixthSense system also augments physical objects the user is interacting with by projecting more information about these objects projected on them. For example, a newspaper can show live video news or dynamic information can be provided on a regular piece of paper. The gesture of drawing a circle on the user’s wrist projects an analog watch.
The current prototype system costs approximate $350 to build.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Google Nexus One
Cost of Google Nexus vs. iPhone, Droid and PalmPre
 The front view of the Google Nexus One, as unveiled on January 5th, 2010. | |
| Manufacturer | HTC Taiwan(Designed and branded by Google) |
|---|---|
| Type | Candybar smartphone |
| Release date | January 5, 2010 |
| Introductory price | $529 unlocked $179 with 2 year contract[1] |
| Operating system | Android 2.1 (Eclair) |
| CPU | 1 GHz Qualcomm QSD 8250 Snapdragon |
| Storage capacity | Flash memory: 512 MB microSD (Class 2) slot: 4 GB included, expandable up to 32 GB |
| Memory | 512 MB DRAM |
| Display | 480 x 800 px, 3.7 in (94 mm), 252.15 ppi, 3:5 aspect ratio, WVGA, AMOLED with 100,000:1 contrast ratio and 1 ms response rate [2] |
| Input | Capacitive touchscreen display, trackball, headset controls, proximity and ambient light sensors, 3-axis accelerometer, digital compass |
| Camera | 5.0 megapixel with video (720 x 480 px at 20 fps or higher), geotagging, LED flash and auto focus [2] Audio - 20 hours Video - 7 hours Idle - 290 hours (2G), 250 hours (3G) Talk time - 10 hours (2G) or 7 hours (3G) |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n), Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, Micro-USB, A-GPS Quad band GSM 850 900 1800 1900 MHz GPRS/EDGE and Tri band UMTS 900 1700 2100 MHz HSDPA/HSUPA[2][3] |
| Online services | Android Market |
| Dimensions | 119 mm (4.7 in) (h) 59.8 mm (2.35 in) (w) 11.5 mm (0.45 in) (d) |
| Weight | 130 g (4.6 oz) with battery, 100 g (3.5 oz) without battery |
Google, Purveyor Of The Nexus One Smartphone
The Nexus One is an important milestone in the smartphone market. This is a software company, frustrated with making compromises with hardware manufacturers, that has taken the product bull by the horns. HTC makes the phone, but the branding is mostly Google and it’s clear that they directed every aspect of the development of this phone. It’s Google’s vision of the perfect Android device, from the huge and beautiful screen and massively fast Snapdragon processor to the software elegance of Google Navigation, Live Wallpaper and the Voice Keyboard. When combined with Google Voice there is no phone on the market today that can touch the Nexus One.
Unlike previous Android phones, and I’ve used most of them, the Nexus One has no obvious flaws or compromises. The phone is the state of the art in mobile, and I will use it happily. Until, as I always say, something better comes along.
Google Nexus One Problems: Support Forums Failing?
Google is struggling to provide adequate customer service for the Nexus One (aka Google phone), according to reports. The Google Mobile forums are brimming with unanswered queries and problems, as customers turn to Google itself for support.
One recurring issue in the forums is a problem with the phone either not switching to 3G or switching back and forth between 3G and EDGE too frequently — it’s not clear if this is a significant issue or if the complaints are just a symptom of Google’sGoogleless-than-stellar customer support.
Google appears to be only accepting e-mail customer queries, to which it pledges to reply in one to two days — far too long, say most people who are complaining online.
Many people are also turning to T-Mobile and HTC, but getting little help there. T-Mobile is often referring people back to either Google or HTC for answers to questions. HTC is often referring people back to T-Mobile, according to complaints online.
Google appears to acknowledge the issue. Google Android lead Andy Rubin admitted in an interview at CES: “We have to get better at customer service.”
Saturday, January 2, 2010
. NET Platform
The Microsoft .NET Framework is a software framework that can be installed on computers running Microsoft Windows operating systems. It includes a large library of coded solutions to common programming problems and a virtual machine that manages the execution of programs written specifically for the framework. The .NET Framework is a Microsoft offering and is intended to be used by most new applications created for the Windows platform.
The framework's Base Class Library provides a large range of features including user interface, data access, database connectivity, cryptography, web application development, numeric algorithms, and network communications. The class library is used by programmers, who combine it with their own code to produce applications.
Programs written for the .NET Framework execute in a software environment that manages the program's runtime requirements. Also part of the .NET Framework, this runtime environment is known as the Common Language Runtime (CLR). The CLR provides the appearance of an application virtual machine so that programmers need not consider the capabilities of the specific CPU that will execute the program. The CLR also provides other important services such as security, memory management, and exception handling. The class library and the CLR together constitute the .NET Framework.
Version 3.0 of the .NET Framework is included with Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista. The current stable version of the framework, which is 3.5, can also be installed on Windows XP and the Windows Server 2003 family of operating systems.[2] Version 4 of the framework was released as a public Beta on 20 May 2009.[3]
The .NET Framework family also includes two versions for mobile or embedded device use. A reduced version of the framework, the .NET Compact Framework, is available on Windows CE platforms, including Windows Mobile devices such as smartphones. Additionally, the .NET Micro Framework is targeted at severely resource constrained devices.
The framework's Base Class Library provides a large range of features including user interface, data access, database connectivity, cryptography, web application development, numeric algorithms, and network communications. The class library is used by programmers, who combine it with their own code to produce applications.
Programs written for the .NET Framework execute in a software environment that manages the program's runtime requirements. Also part of the .NET Framework, this runtime environment is known as the Common Language Runtime (CLR). The CLR provides the appearance of an application virtual machine so that programmers need not consider the capabilities of the specific CPU that will execute the program. The CLR also provides other important services such as security, memory management, and exception handling. The class library and the CLR together constitute the .NET Framework.
Version 3.0 of the .NET Framework is included with Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista. The current stable version of the framework, which is 3.5, can also be installed on Windows XP and the Windows Server 2003 family of operating systems.[2] Version 4 of the framework was released as a public Beta on 20 May 2009.[3]
The .NET Framework family also includes two versions for mobile or embedded device use. A reduced version of the framework, the .NET Compact Framework, is available on Windows CE platforms, including Windows Mobile devices such as smartphones. Additionally, the .NET Micro Framework is targeted at severely resource constrained devices.
Principal design features
- Interoperability
- Because interaction between new and older applications is commonly required, the .NET Framework provides means to access functionality that is implemented in programs that execute outside the .NET environment. Access to COM components is provided in the System.Runtime.InteropServices and System.EnterpriseServices namespaces of the framework; access to other functionality is provided using the P/Invoke feature.
- Common Runtime Engine
- The Common Language Runtime (CLR) is the virtual machine component of the .NET framework. All .NET programs execute under the supervision of the CLR, guaranteeing certain properties and behaviors in the areas of memory management, security, and exception handling.
- Language Independence
- The .NET Framework introduces a Common Type System, or CTS. The CTS specification defines all possible datatypes and programming constructs supported by the CLR and how they may or may not interact with each other. Because of this feature, the .NET Framework supports the exchange of instances of types between programs written in any of the .NET languages. This is discussed in more detail in Microsoft .NET Languages.
- Base Class Library
- The Base Class Library (BCL), part of the Framework Class Library (FCL), is a library of functionality available to all languages using the .NET Framework. The BCL provides classes which encapsulate a number of common functions, including file reading and writing, graphic rendering, database interaction and XML document manipulation.
- Simplified Deployment
- The .NET framework includes design features and tools that help manage the installation of computer software to ensure that it does not interfere with previously installed software, and that it conforms to security requirements.
- Security
- The design is meant to address some of the vulnerabilities, such as buffer overflows, that have been exploited by malicious software. Additionally, .NET provides a common security model for all applications.
- Portability
- The design of the .NET Framework allows it to theoretically be platform agnostic, and thus cross-platform compatible. That is, a program written to use the framework should run without change on any type of system for which the framework is implemented. Microsoft's commercial implementations of the framework cover Windows, Windows CE, and the Xbox 360.[4] In addition, Microsoft submits the specifications for the Common Language Infrastructure (which includes the core class libraries, Common Type System, and the Common Intermediate Language),[5][6][7] the C# language,[8] and the C++/CLI language[9] to both ECMA and the ISO, making them available as open standards. This makes it possible for third parties to create compatible implementations of the framework and its languages on other platforms.
Microsoft Visio
Microsoft Visio (pronounced VIZ-ee-oh), marketed as Microsoft Office Visio, is a diagramming program for Microsoft Windows that uses vector graphics to create diagrams. It is currently available in two editions: Standard and Professional.
The Standard and Professional editions both share the same interface, but the latter has additional templates for more advanced diagrams and layouts as well as unique functionality that makes it easy for users to connect their diagrams to a number of data sources and display the information graphically.[1][2]
Microsoft acquired Visio Corporation in 2000. Visio 2007 was released on November 30 2006. Also released alongside version 2002 were Enterprise Network Tools, an add-on product enabling automated network and directory services diagramming, and the Visio Network Center, a Web site where users could locate the latest network documentation content and exact-replica network equipment shapes from 500 leading manufacturers.[3] The former has been discontinued, while the latter's shape-finding features are now integrated into the program itself.[4]
Microsoft has revealed that the next version of Microsoft Visio will feature the ribbon user interface.[5]
Versions
Visio began as a standalone product produced by the Visio Corporation; as of Visio 2000, Microsoft acquired it and branded it as a Microsoft Office application, like Microsoft Project; however, it has never been included in any of the Office suites. Microsoft included a Visio for Enterprise Architects edition with some editions of Visual Studio .NET 2003 and Visual Studio 2005.[6]
• Visio 1.0 (Standard, Lite, Home)
• Visio 2.0
• Visio 3.0
• Visio 4.0 (Standard, Technical)
• Visio 4.1 (Standard, Technical)
• Visio 4.5 (Standard, Professional, Technical)
• Visio 5.0 (Standard, Professional, Technical)
• Visio 2000 (6.0; Standard, Professional, Technical, Enterprise), later updated to SP-1 and Microsoft branding after Visio Corporation's acquisition
• Visio 2002 (10.0; Standard, Professional)
• Visio Enterprise Network Tools, Visio Network Center
• Visio for Enterprise Architects 2003 (VEA 2003) (based on Visio 2002 and included with Visual Studio .NET 2003 Enterprise Architect)
• Office Visio 2003 (11.0; Standard, Professional)
• Office Visio for Enterprise Architects 2005 (VEA 2005) (based on Visio 2003 and included with Visual Studio 2005 Team Suite and Team Architect editions)
• Office Visio 2007 (12.0; Standard, Professional).
• Office Visio 2010 (14.0; Upcoming Version, Currently in Beta)
Native File formats
• VSD - Diagram
• VSS - Stencil
• VST - Template
• VDX - Visio XML Diagram
• VSX - Visio XML Stencil
• VTX - Visio XML Template
• VSL - Visio add-on
The Standard and Professional editions both share the same interface, but the latter has additional templates for more advanced diagrams and layouts as well as unique functionality that makes it easy for users to connect their diagrams to a number of data sources and display the information graphically.[1][2]
Microsoft acquired Visio Corporation in 2000. Visio 2007 was released on November 30 2006. Also released alongside version 2002 were Enterprise Network Tools, an add-on product enabling automated network and directory services diagramming, and the Visio Network Center, a Web site where users could locate the latest network documentation content and exact-replica network equipment shapes from 500 leading manufacturers.[3] The former has been discontinued, while the latter's shape-finding features are now integrated into the program itself.[4]
Microsoft has revealed that the next version of Microsoft Visio will feature the ribbon user interface.[5]
Versions
Visio began as a standalone product produced by the Visio Corporation; as of Visio 2000, Microsoft acquired it and branded it as a Microsoft Office application, like Microsoft Project; however, it has never been included in any of the Office suites. Microsoft included a Visio for Enterprise Architects edition with some editions of Visual Studio .NET 2003 and Visual Studio 2005.[6]
• Visio 1.0 (Standard, Lite, Home)
• Visio 2.0
• Visio 3.0
• Visio 4.0 (Standard, Technical)
• Visio 4.1 (Standard, Technical)
• Visio 4.5 (Standard, Professional, Technical)
• Visio 5.0 (Standard, Professional, Technical)
• Visio 2000 (6.0; Standard, Professional, Technical, Enterprise), later updated to SP-1 and Microsoft branding after Visio Corporation's acquisition
• Visio 2002 (10.0; Standard, Professional)
• Visio Enterprise Network Tools, Visio Network Center
• Visio for Enterprise Architects 2003 (VEA 2003) (based on Visio 2002 and included with Visual Studio .NET 2003 Enterprise Architect)
• Office Visio 2003 (11.0; Standard, Professional)
• Office Visio for Enterprise Architects 2005 (VEA 2005) (based on Visio 2003 and included with Visual Studio 2005 Team Suite and Team Architect editions)
• Office Visio 2007 (12.0; Standard, Professional).
• Office Visio 2010 (14.0; Upcoming Version, Currently in Beta)
Native File formats
• VSD - Diagram
• VSS - Stencil
• VST - Template
• VDX - Visio XML Diagram
• VSX - Visio XML Stencil
• VTX - Visio XML Template
• VSL - Visio add-on
Microsoft Office
Microsoft Office is an office suite of interrelated desktop applications, servers and services for the Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X operating systems. Microsoft Office was introduced by Microsoft in 1989 for Windows,[2] with a version for Windows in 1990.[3] Initially a marketing term for a bundled set of applications, the first version of Office contained Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft PowerPoint. Additionally, a "Pro" (Professional) version of Office included Microsoft Access and Schedule Plus. 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 (OBA) brand.
The current versions are Office 2007 for Windows which was released on January 30, 2007,[4] and Office 2008 for Mac OS X, released January 15, 2008. Office 2007/Office 2008 introduced a new user interface and new Office Open XML document formats (docx, xlsx, pptx). Consequently, Microsoft has made available, free of charge, an add-on known as the Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack to allow Office 2000-2003 for Windows and Office 2004 for Mac editions to open, edit, and save documents created under the new formats for Office 2007.
According to Forrester Research, as of June 2009, some version of Microsoft Office is used in 80% of enterprises and the latest Office versions hold roughly 80% of those installations.
Desktop applications
Microsoft Word
Microsoft Word is a word processor and was previously considered to be 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 standardized by Ecma International as Office Open XML and its SP2 update will support ODF and PDF.[35] 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 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 one was not required. The following spring Apple introduced the Mac, and Microsoft released Word for the Mac, which became the most popular Mac application and which, like all Mac apps, required the use of a mouse.
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Excel is a spreadsheet program. It was originally a competitor to the dominant Lotus 1-2-3, but it eventually outsold it. It is available for the Windows and Mac platforms. The current Mac version (Office 2008) has removed Visual Basic functionality so macros cannot be used and those generated in previous iterations of Office no longer work. Microsoft announced in May 2008, that Visual Basic would be returning to Excel in future versions.
Outlook/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+ (Plus) starting in Office 97, it includes an e-mail client, calendar, task manager and address book. Although historically it has been offered for the Mac, the closest to an equivalent for Mac OS X is Microsoft Entourage, which offers a slightly different feature set. Office 2010 for Mac will reintroduce Outlook, replacing Entourage.[36]
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. This is convenient for school or work presentations.Office Mobile for Windows Mobile 5.0 and later features a version of PowerPoint called PowerPoint Mobile. Movies, videos, sounds and music, as well as Wordart and Autoshapes can be added to slideshows.
Publisher
Microsoft Publisher is a program mostly used for designing brochures, labels, calendars, greeting cards, business cards, newsletter, and postcards.
Other desktop applications (Windows version only)
* Microsoft Access – Database manager.
* Microsoft Publisher – software for creating newsletters, business cards, flyers, greeting cards or postcards.
* Microsoft InfoPath – an application to design rich XML-based forms.
* Microsoft OneNote – Note-taking software for use with tablet PCs or regular PCs.
* Microsoft Office SharePoint Designer – a WYSIWYG HTML editor and web design program for customizing SharePoint applications, it replaces Microsoft Office FrontPage (it is not bundled in any Office 2007 suite).
* Microsoft Project – Project management software to keep track of events and to create network charts and Gantt charts (it is not bundled in any Office 2007 suite).
* Microsoft Visio – Diagram and flowcharting software (it is not bundled in any Office 2007 suite).
* Microsoft Office Accounting – a tool for managing business finances (it is not bundled in any Office 2007 suite, except for the aa Express edition).
* Microsoft Office Communicator – Integrated communications client for conferences and meetings in real time (it is bundled with Office 2007 Professional Plus and Enterprise 2007.[37]).
* Microsoft Office Document Imaging – an application that supports editing scanned documents.
* Microsoft Office Document Scanning – a scanning and OCR application.
* Microsoft Office Groove – a proprietary peer-to-peer collaboration software leveled at businesses.
* 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.
The current versions are Office 2007 for Windows which was released on January 30, 2007,[4] and Office 2008 for Mac OS X, released January 15, 2008. Office 2007/Office 2008 introduced a new user interface and new Office Open XML document formats (docx, xlsx, pptx). Consequently, Microsoft has made available, free of charge, an add-on known as the Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack to allow Office 2000-2003 for Windows and Office 2004 for Mac editions to open, edit, and save documents created under the new formats for Office 2007.
According to Forrester Research, as of June 2009, some version of Microsoft Office is used in 80% of enterprises and the latest Office versions hold roughly 80% of those installations.
Desktop applications
Microsoft Word
Microsoft Word is a word processor and was previously considered to be 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 standardized by Ecma International as Office Open XML and its SP2 update will support ODF and PDF.[35] 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 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 one was not required. The following spring Apple introduced the Mac, and Microsoft released Word for the Mac, which became the most popular Mac application and which, like all Mac apps, required the use of a mouse.
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Excel is a spreadsheet program. It was originally a competitor to the dominant Lotus 1-2-3, but it eventually outsold it. It is available for the Windows and Mac platforms. The current Mac version (Office 2008) has removed Visual Basic functionality so macros cannot be used and those generated in previous iterations of Office no longer work. Microsoft announced in May 2008, that Visual Basic would be returning to Excel in future versions.
Outlook/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+ (Plus) starting in Office 97, it includes an e-mail client, calendar, task manager and address book. Although historically it has been offered for the Mac, the closest to an equivalent for Mac OS X is Microsoft Entourage, which offers a slightly different feature set. Office 2010 for Mac will reintroduce Outlook, replacing Entourage.[36]
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. This is convenient for school or work presentations.Office Mobile for Windows Mobile 5.0 and later features a version of PowerPoint called PowerPoint Mobile. Movies, videos, sounds and music, as well as Wordart and Autoshapes can be added to slideshows.
Publisher
Microsoft Publisher is a program mostly used for designing brochures, labels, calendars, greeting cards, business cards, newsletter, and postcards.
Other desktop applications (Windows version only)
* Microsoft Access – Database manager.
* Microsoft Publisher – software for creating newsletters, business cards, flyers, greeting cards or postcards.
* Microsoft InfoPath – an application to design rich XML-based forms.
* Microsoft OneNote – Note-taking software for use with tablet PCs or regular PCs.
* Microsoft Office SharePoint Designer – a WYSIWYG HTML editor and web design program for customizing SharePoint applications, it replaces Microsoft Office FrontPage (it is not bundled in any Office 2007 suite).
* Microsoft Project – Project management software to keep track of events and to create network charts and Gantt charts (it is not bundled in any Office 2007 suite).
* Microsoft Visio – Diagram and flowcharting software (it is not bundled in any Office 2007 suite).
* Microsoft Office Accounting – a tool for managing business finances (it is not bundled in any Office 2007 suite, except for the aa Express edition).
* Microsoft Office Communicator – Integrated communications client for conferences and meetings in real time (it is bundled with Office 2007 Professional Plus and Enterprise 2007.[37]).
* Microsoft Office Document Imaging – an application that supports editing scanned documents.
* Microsoft Office Document Scanning – a scanning and OCR application.
* Microsoft Office Groove – a proprietary peer-to-peer collaboration software leveled at businesses.
* 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.
Windows 7
Windows 7 is the latest public release version of Microsoft Windows, a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, netbooks, tablet PCs, and media center PCs.[3] Windows 7 was released to manufacturing on July 22, 2009,[4] and reached general retail availability on October 22, 2009,[5] less than three years after the release of its predecessor, Windows Vista. Windows 7's server counterpart, Windows Server 2008 R2, was released at the same time.
Unlike its predecessor, which introduced a large number of new features, Windows 7 was intended to be a more focused, incremental upgrade to the Windows line, with the goal of being fully compatible with applications and hardware with which Windows Vista is already compatible.[6] Presentations given by Microsoft in 2008 focused on multi-touch support, a redesigned Windows Shell with a new taskbar, referred to as the Superbar, a home networking system called HomeGroup,[7] and performance improvements. Some applications that have been included with prior releases of Microsoft Windows, including Windows Calendar, Windows Mail, Windows Movie Maker, and Windows Photo Gallery, are not included in Windows 7;[8][9] most are instead offered separately as part of the free Windows Live Essentials suite
Unlike its predecessor, which introduced a large number of new features, Windows 7 was intended to be a more focused, incremental upgrade to the Windows line, with the goal of being fully compatible with applications and hardware with which Windows Vista is already compatible.[6] Presentations given by Microsoft in 2008 focused on multi-touch support, a redesigned Windows Shell with a new taskbar, referred to as the Superbar, a home networking system called HomeGroup,[7] and performance improvements. Some applications that have been included with prior releases of Microsoft Windows, including Windows Calendar, Windows Mail, Windows Movie Maker, and Windows Photo Gallery, are not included in Windows 7;[8][9] most are instead offered separately as part of the free Windows Live Essentials suite
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