Introduction to Operating Systems

Vocabulary flashcards covering core operating systems concepts, families, and milestones for Microsoft Windows, Apple iOS, and Google Android based on the lecture notes.

Operating System (OS)

A system software that manages computer hardware and software resources and provides general services for computer programs, acting as an intermediary for hardware functions such as input, output, and memory allocation.

Microsoft Windows

A group of several proprietary graphical operating system families developed and marketed by Microsoft, originally introduced on November 20, 1985, as a graphical operating system shell for MS-DOS.

Active Microsoft Windows Families

Current families developed by Microsoft that include Windows NT and Windows IoT, which encompass subfamilies such as Windows Server and Windows Embedded Compact (Windows CE).

Traditional Microsoft Windows Families

Legacy Microsoft operating system families that include Windows 9x, Windows Mobile, and Windows Phone.

iOS

A proprietary mobile operating system created and developed by Apple Inc. specifically for its hardware (formerly named iPhone OS); it was unveiled in 2007 for the first-generation iPhone and serves as the foundation for iPadOS, tvOS, and watchOS.

iPadOS

The operating system developed by Apple for iPads, established when the name was introduced with version 13 in 2019 for versions previously running under the iOS name.

iOS 15

The stable version of Apple's iOS mobile operating system released to the public on September 20, 2021.

Android

A mobile operating system based on the Linux kernel and other modified versions of open source software, designed primarily for touchscreen mobile devices, developed by the Open Handset Alliance, and commercially sponsored by Google.

Open Handset Alliance

A consortium of developers, commercially sponsored by Google, that develops the Android mobile operating system.

HTC Dream

The first commercial Android device, launched in September 2008 following the unveiling of Android in November 2007.

Android Open Source Project (AOSP)

The free and open-source source code of the Android operating system, primarily licensed under the Apache License.

Google Mobile Services (GMS)

A collection of dedicated applications pre-installed on most Android devices, including core applications like Google Chrome, the Google Play Digital Delivery Platform, and related development platforms.

Android 12

The version of the Android mobile operating system released on October 4, 2021.