Constant Changes in Technology 'Ecosystem' Exciting

There used to be two main camps when it came to research: PC and Mac. These were built around the two competing computers systems, Microsoft's Windows PC operating system and Apple's Mac operating system. Software was written exactly for each of these systems, so you couldn't use PC software on a Mac or Mac software on a PC.

When you bought a computer, you pretty much bought into one of these two types of computers. The PCs and Apple battled it out for years, with PC garnering more than 90 percent of the market and Apple never getting out of single digits.

Now, nevertheless, things have completely changed. With the introduction of the iPhone and the iPad, Apple has soared in popularity. Other large companies have become innovation powerhouses. Google, with its Android operating system, and Amazon have both entered the fray, during Microsoft is struggling to keep up.

Previously, we were only talking about computers, nevertheless now we are talking about smart phones, tablets, and cloud computing. We are talking about entire ecosystems. The choices are mind-boggling. And each of the above mentioned companies is trying to get you to buy into their ecosystem.

Right now, Apple has the largest ecosystem - I call it an ecosystem because it is an entire network or environment where one thing is dependent on another.

Apple's iPhone and iPads run on the iOS operating system. These devices run apps, which are like mini software programs that are purchased from the iTunes App store. There are currently more than 500,000 in Apple's App store. Some are free, however many are sold for a fee. These can only be used on Apple devices.

Google Android phone or tablet

If you switch to a Google Android phone or tablet, you cannot use the Apple products that you may have already purchased. You have to repurchase them from the Android Marketplace, which has apps similar to those found in the Apple iTunes store.

This ecosystem as well extends to storage and services in the cloud. Apple has announced a cloud service called iCloud that lets you store information on Apple's servers and access it from any Internet-connected device.

Amazon, Microsoft and Google as well have cloud storage systems available. Since many of Microsoft's followers use Microsoft Office, Google has as well developed a set of programs that are the equivalent of Microsoft Office programs, nevertheless that can be stored in the cloud and used from any Internet-connected device.

The current ecosystems is expanding

Each of the current ecosystems is expanding. Apple not only has the software in its app store, however it as well has the hardware in their iPhone, iPad devices and Mac computers.

Apple recently announced its new cloud storage system and an app store for its Mac computers. Its new Lion operating system, which is used for its Mac computers, is so similar to the iOS operating system that you have to wonder just how before long the Mac computer and the Apple iPhone and iPads will share an operating system. When that happens, they will have added another component to Apple's ecosystem.

Slightly different story

Microsoft is a slightly different story. It doesn't manufacture smart phones or tablets, however it has a new mobile operating system called Windows Phone 7, which runs on hardware from other manufacturers. Microsoft has an App Marketplace like Apple and Google. It as well has cloud storage.

The phones that run the Microsoft operating system shine at running Microsoft office programs just as Word and Excel. This is a part of its ecosystem. I expect that when Microsoft comes out with Windows 8, it will as well be able to run on tablets, so we will in the near future see tablets running Microsoft software and apps.

Amazon has developed its own app store filled with Android apps. It as well has a cloud storage system called Amazon Cloud Drive. It is already into the hardware business with its Kindle e-reader, and I expect that it will before long release a tablet to compete with the Apple iPad.

It's not that you cannot mix products. To illustrate, my husband has an Android phone, during we as well own an iPad. He clearly can use both, however to do so, he had to learn two different operating systems.

On top of that, if he wants to have a certain app on both his phone and our tablet, we may have to purchase it twice, buying a copy for his phone from the Android Marketplace and buying a copy for our tablet from the iTunes store. So not only is it easier to stay within one ecosystem, it is as well more economical.

Tablet or a new smart phone a little more complicated

Knowing about these ecosystems may make purchasing a tablet or a new smart phone a little more complicated. Aside from this assessing the qualities of the hardware, you as well have to stop and think about the ecosystem you are buying into.

Yet, the number of large companies involved in this rivalry and the constant changes, additions and improvements they make to their lineups makes this a very exciting time in the history of innovation.