Mobile Operating Systems

technology · smartphones · software

Powers your devices. A mobile operating system is the special software that runs smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, and smartglasses. It's like the brain that controls everything your device does when you tap, swipe, or talk to it.

Different from laptop software. Mobile operating systems are different from the software on laptops or desktop computers because they were designed specifically for small, portable devices that need to work without being plugged in. Laptop software wasn't originally made to be portable and mobile-friendly.

The line is getting fuzzy. It's becoming harder to tell the difference between mobile and regular computer software because new devices are getting smaller and more portable. Tablets, lightweight laptops, and hybrid 2-in-1 devices (that are both tablet and computer) have blurred the old categories.

Built for touch and motion. Mobile operating systems have special features that regular computer software didn't need in the past. They're designed to work with touchscreens, sensors that know which way you're holding your device, and apps you can tap with your finger.