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For those unfamiliar with the concepts of open source software, you may be wondering what the differences are between open and closed source software. While the argument about which is better can become heated, knowing the differences between the two will help organizations to make the right decisions about the type of program that is best suited to your organization’s needs.
Open Source
Open source software refers to a type of program that allows the source code of the software to be readily accessible to a variety of people. Under a license agreement, which often has very few restrictions, the source code can be used, modified, and redistributed within a group of people. While open source software was initially started in the 1980s, it has continually developed into an incredibly useful tool for individuals and companies alike.
The benefits include:
- Access to the source code
- Ability to find and fix any problems quickly
- Less vulnerable to hackers and viruses
Free Software
Although many people may confused open source with free software, there are several differences. Unlike the term open source, the word free simply means that something is given without any charge. Unlike open source, free software does not always allow developers to access the source code. This is the most important difference to understand between true open source and free software.
Free software is rarely as flexible and accessible as open source software, making it difficult for developers to utilize for the benefit of their organization.
Closed Source Software (Proprietary Software)
Proprietary software differs from open source software in that there are many more restrictions placed on the use, modification, and redistribution of the software. The proprietors often enforce these restrictions by the use of copyrights and patents, and also may restrict access to the source code. While propriety software is not the same as commercial software due to the ability to distribute propriety software without any cost, the two have many similarities.
An example of propriety software is best seen in companies like Microsoft. These proprietors often argue that the cost of their software allows for further development and research of the software. Propriety software does not allow the same type of flexibility as open software, so it is not often a good choice for many organizations.
To learn more about how open source software may be helpful to you or your organization, contact a leading provider of constituent relationship management software [http://www.mpoweropen.com/products.shtml] today.
Monthly archives for December, 2011
Differences Between Open, Free, and Closed Source Software
Photo Editing Software For Mac
In this article, you can read a review of the some of the most popular Photo Editing Software for Mac.
iPhoto is photo editing software application and the best part of it all is that comes with your MAC. Even the pros take photos that need a bit of extra work done on them. And Mac developers have done all their best so that with iPhoto, editing images is as simple as taking them. There is a whole pallete of retouching tools available at your disposal and an array of effects to play with. When you use the Crop tool, automatic guides help you follow the classic “rule of thirds.” Adjusting shadows and highlights in a photo is also easily done. With separate controls, now you can lighten a face that was lost in shadow without affecting the brighter parts of your photo. Use noise reduction to minimize dots and speckles in low-light photos. Use edge sharpen to create a crisper photo. And use white balance to optimize colors with a click. The latest version is iPhoto ’08 and has plenty of new features like unified search, theme-based home printing, new calendars and books.
GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is one of the most popular low cost Mac photo editing software applications. It was originally developed for UNIX, so it’s an open source program with a Mac. It has customizable brushes and patterns that add-up on its drawing functionalities while the growing library supports more and more filters and effects.
Apple Aperture 1.5.4 is compatible with iPhoto ’08, including the ability to import images directly from the most current version of iPhoto and the ability to share Aperture images with other iLife ’08 and iWork applications using the iLife Media Browser. Powerful, Aperture features a RAW-focused workflow from capture to output that makes working with RAW files as easy as JPEG. No need to convert your RAW files before doing anything with them. Aperture automatically creates “versions” of your “master” images to preview, crop, color correct, sharpen, and apply other modifications to. And with the most powerful image processing in the world, Aperture is fast – whether you’re working with RAW, JPEG, or TIFF images.
Pixelmator is a beautifully designed, easy-to-use, fast and powerful image editor for Mac OS X has everything you need to create, edit and enhance your images. The official website of this software is http://www.pixelmator.com/.
Free Satellite TV On PC Software For Abundant Television Fun
Years back it would’ve been just your imagination that Technology would some day advance to a point where you can watch satellite TV programs on your PC or Laptop. Then a few years ago, two types of PCTV cards became available, one to be installed in your PC while the other was an external USB plug-in device. Now there is a new way to watch TV on your PC or Laptop without any hardware.
PCTV cards are hardware that allow users to access satellite signals on their PCs or Laptops. The sophisticated types of PCTV cards are capable of the dual functions for watching both satellite and terrestrial television programs simultaneously.
To be able to use a PCTV card, your PC must have a USB port and should not be less than Pentium II, with a functional CD Rom drive. A lot of other complicated connections will then follow, either via a dish, Internet cable, satellite signal decoder or a media player.
Satellite TV On PC Software
All these hassles of the PCTV cards have now been blown away by the arrival of Internet television software. You can purchase Internet television software online, download and install it in either your PC or Laptop, and in seconds be hooked up with thousands of satellite TV programs from around the world, irrespective of where you are, so long as you are connected to the internet.
Internet television software is even more beneficial, because you have no need for extra gear; all you need is a broadband internet connection for a life time of satellite television viewing from thousands of TV stations around the world.
Note: As with every innovation, the rush has since begun for both manufacturers and consumers, be sure to purchase a popular Internet television software, because if it is popular, that means that it works without bugs.