The operating system is the playground.
If you have the two descriptions and you want to make a summary or an conclusion about them then here you go:
The operating system is the playground, the application are the toys. We have to go to the playground to use the toys.
The operating systems are providing the basic input output for the programs, they are general and extensible. Programs are more function focused and limited. Here's a dilema, operating system can be loaded as a service - program (virtual OS localy or on the web).
BTW if you are writing about OS, then you could mention also the Web OS like EyeOS and iClouds (I think that this will be the future of OS).
Cheers