Computer software (or simply software) is the programs and procedures that enable a computer to perform a specific task, as opposed to the physical components of the system (hardware). This includes application software such as a word processor, which enables a user to perform a task, and system software such as an operating system, which enables other software to run properly, by interfacing with hardware and with other software.

The term "software" was first used in this sense by John W. Tukey in 1957. In computer science and software engineering, computer software is all information processed by computer systems, programs and data. The concept of reading different sequences of instructions into the memory of a device to control computations was invented by Charles Babbage as part of his difference engine. The theory that is the basis for most modern software was first proposed by Alan Turing in his 1935 essay Computable numbers with an application to the Entscheidungsproblem. Hally, Mike (2005:79). Electronic brains/Stories from the dawn of the computer age. British Broadcasting Corporation and Granta Books, London. ISBN 1-86-207663-4.

Relationship to hardware

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Computer software is so called in contrast to computer hardware, which encompasses the physical interconnections and devices required to store and execute (or run) the software. In computers, software is loaded into RAM and executed in the central processing unit. At the lowest level, software consists of a machine language specific to an individual processor. A machine language consists of groups of binary values signifying processor instructions (object code), which change the state of the computer from its preceding state. Software is an ordered sequence of instructions for changing the state of the computer hardware in a particular sequence. It is generally written in high-level programming languages that are easier and more efficient for humans to use (closer to natural language) than machine language. High-level languages are compiled or interpreted into machine language object code. Software may also be written in an assembly language, essentially, a mnemonic representation of a machine language using a natural language alphabet. Assembly language must be assembled into object code via an assembler.

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L.A. Times - Technology News

Icahn launches bid to take Yahoo board
Fri, 16 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700
The proxy battle is on as the billionaire investor backs an alternative slate of directors aiming to revive merger talks with Microsoft. San Francisco
Interpol data analysis bolsters Colombia claim
Fri, 16 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700
Electronic files that Bogota says prove Venezuela offered aid to FARC rebels are found to be unaltered. Interpol on Thursday vouched for the integrity of electronic files downloaded from a dead rebel leader's computer equipment, data that Colombia says strongly indicate that Venezuela offered to aid this nation's largest insurgent group.
CBS agrees to buy Internet media firm CNET
Fri, 16 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700
The network hopes the deal will greatly expand its advertising reach on the Web. Critics say the broadcaster's $1.8-billion offer is too high. In its biggest and boldest move onto the Web, agreed Thursday to buy the Internet media company CNET Networks Inc. for $1.8 billion in a deal that drew flak from critics for its high price and its daunting management challenges.
Boeing loses GPS satellite contract to Lockheed Martin
Fri, 16 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700
The defeat could mean fewer jobs at Boeing's El Segundo facility, which would have made the satellites. In another blow to Boeing Co.'s battered defense business, the U.S. Air Force on Thursday tapped rival Lockheed Martin Corp. for a contract potentially worth more than $3.5 billion to build a new generation of global positioning satellites.
Music download case may be retried
Fri, 16 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700
A Minnesota woman ordered to pay $222,000 in the nation's first music download trial may get another chance with a jury.
SEC accuses Broadcom co-founders of fraud
Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700
The agency says in a civil complaint that Henry Nicholas and Henry Samueli backdated stock options. Samueli steps down as chairman amid allegations. Seeking the best and brightest during the tech boom, Broadcom Corp. founders Henry T. Nicholas III and Henry Samueli tossed out millions of stock options to attract and reward favored employees, whose Porsches and Lamborghinis gleamed in the parking lot as they worked late into the night.

Googling Google

Google about to launch Flash API for Maps
Garett Rogers Wed, 14 May 2008 15:36:51 -0000
Google just published a page detailing how Flash developers can now use the Google Maps ActionScript API. Unfortunately, as of right now all the samples still don’t work, but based on the documentation from a guy who has never made anything in Flash, it looks pretty easy to use. This API lets Flex developers embed [...]
Google accidentally enables ratings on some Blogger accounts
Garett Rogers Wed, 14 May 2008 13:49:56 -0000
Some blogger users may have noticed their blog suddenly started showing star ratings — a feature that appears to be in the works, and according to Blogger, was given by accident to some unsuspecting bloggers. The feature hasn’t been released yet, and they have “fixed” the problem. Some users may be seeing star ratings on [...]
Google launches Friend Connect with mixed reviews
Garett Rogers Tue, 13 May 2008 14:24:03 -0000
Google announced last night that it will be launching Friend Connect — a tool that website owners can use to give their site a more social feel. Don’t worry if you have a website but you are not comfortable integrating with advanced APIs, integrating couldn’t be easier. Visitors to any site using Google Friend Connect [...]
Google releases Reader BETA for iPhone
Garett Rogers Tue, 13 May 2008 04:08:22 -0000
Google Reader is one of the most active projects at Google as far as adding new features and creating interfaces that work well on other devices. They even have Google Reader designed specifically for the Wii. Now they have released a brand new interface for the iPhone for us to play with. Reader already [...]
Google accepting donations to aid Myanmar relief efforts
Garett Rogers Sun, 11 May 2008 16:14:15 -0000
After the devastating typhoon that struck Myanmar, their government is being extremely difficult by not letting the world help. This nightmare will hopefully end soon — but in the mean time, Google has started accepting donations for Unicef and Direct Relief International on this special page to help the victims. Google has said they will [...]
Gmail can be used as “Spam Bazooka”
Garett Rogers Fri, 09 May 2008 14:46:29 -0000
INSERT, the Information Security Research Team, has sucessfully created a proof of concept exploiting the “trust hierarchy” that exists between mail service providers. Taking advantage of the way Gmail forwards messages, the team was able to send 4000 messages in a short period of time from a single account without any countermeasures taken by [...]

Computer Companies - Google News

Tech companies launch long-shot bids for your stimulus dollars - Jackson Clarion Ledger
Fri, 16 May 2008 06:10:59 -0000
Tech companies launch long-shot bids for your stimulus dollarsJackson Clarion Ledger, MS - 2 hours agoBut just in case you are in the market for a computer, with your rebate check in hand, Dell and other computer companies are vying for your business with ...
IT services firms cut down on foreign visits, recruitment - Sify
Fri, 16 May 2008 05:13:39 -0000
IT services firms cut down on foreign visits, recruitmentSify, India - 3 hours agoGirish Mundada, head of training and placement at the Pune institute of computer technology (PICT), had also said the enthusiasm among IT companies seem to ...
Satyam to appeal against UK verdict - Hindustan Times
Thu, 15 May 2008 16:43:27 -0000
MSN IndiaSatyam to appeal against UK verdictHindustan Times, India - 16 hours agoSatyam Computer Services said on Thursday it plans to appeal in the United States against a UK appeals court verdict that went against it in a case of ...Satyam loses appeal in Upaid Case Business StandardNot more than 6% downside in Satyam: JP Sinha Moneycontrol.comSetback for Satyam in Upaid Case Equity BullsTimes of India - domain-Ball 47 news articles

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