Stuff that really bugs me

derf · 09-14-2010, 12:38 AM

The word 'app'. Its a damn program, an application designed for a specific use or reason. I was talking to my father earlier today, about phones and every other word out of g his mouth was app. Then I lay down for bed and there is afriggin show about the 'app'.

The word app was conceived in a room filled with marketing executives.

101lifts2 · 09-14-2010, 12:45 AM

Why can't an application run several programs?

Avatard · 09-14-2010, 01:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by derf

The word 'app'. Its a damn program, an application designed for a specific use or reason. I was talking to my father earlier today, about phones and every other word out of g his mouth was app. Then I lay down for bed and there is afriggin show about the 'app'.

The word app was conceived in a room filled with marketing executives.

The term "app" is quite old, and the term "killer app" was historically used to describe the single "must have" application program that effectively "sold" a given platform. Like it or not, the word is neither new, nor dreamed up by some marketing dweeb. It's as old school as the PARC.

Homeslice · 09-14-2010, 01:24 AM

"app" wasn't used until the 90's, if I recall correctly. Before then, people said program.

Avatard · 09-14-2010, 01:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Homeslice

"app" wasn't used until the 90's, if I recall correctly. Before then, people said program.

When I started playing with computers, they were called apps. That was around DOS 4.1. I had a 386SX 16 with 4 megs of RAM and a 20 MB hard drive.

It cost $3600

Homeslice · 09-14-2010, 01:36 AM

But back then, nobody in programming said "I'm writing an app", they said "I'm writing a program", and then you followed up by saying what language it was being written in.

Avatard · 09-14-2010, 02:29 AM

"App" as in "Killer App" dates back to VisiCalc on the Apple II, as a term:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killer_application

Particle Man · 09-14-2010, 07:48 AM

Annoyed? There's an app for that.

Papa_Complex · 09-14-2010, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Avatard

When I started playing with computers, they were called apps. That was around DOS 4.1. I had a 386SX 16 with 4 megs of RAM and a 20 MB hard drive.

It cost $3600

We were using the term back in the DOS 2.1 days

Quote:

Originally Posted by Particle Man

Annoyed? There's an app for that.

OTB · 09-14-2010, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Papa_Complex

We were using the term back in the DOS 2.1 days

...with an IBM 8088 processor running at 4.77 mhz and 16K of RAM and 2- 5.25 inch floppies...no hard drive. You loaded the boot floppy into A, fired it up, and proceeded to swap floppies till the OS was loaded.

The OS floppies you kept in your OS box....then you went to your APPS box and proceeded to get the 8-10 floppies so you could load LOTUS 1-2-3......or Word.........it usually took about 15 minutes to get your computer so you could use it......kinda like Vista today

09-14-2010, 12:38 AM	#1
derf token jewboy Join Date: Nov 2008 Moto: CBR 900, KLR ugly ass duckling, Gas Man Posts: 10,799	Stuff that really bugs me The word 'app'. Its a damn program, an application designed for a specific use or reason. I was talking to my father earlier today, about phones and every other word out of g his mouth was app. Then I lay down for bed and there is afriggin show about the 'app'. The word app was conceived in a room filled with marketing executives. __________________

09-14-2010, 12:45 AM	#2
101lifts2 WSB Champion Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Anaheim, CA Moto: 2009 Kawi ZX6R Posts: 5,570	Why can't an application run several programs? __________________ Train Hard Ron Paul - 2012 Mark of Excellence GM

09-14-2010, 02:29 AM	#7
Avatard Crotch Rocket Curmudgeon Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Here to integrity Moto: Li'l red baby Ninja Posts: 7,482	Application Programs have been called "app" for short forever "App" as in "Killer App" dates back to VisiCalc on the Apple II, as a term: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killer_application __________________ Insert free thought here. Last edited by Avatard; 09-14-2010 at 02:32 AM..

09-14-2010, 07:48 AM	#8
Particle Man Custom User Title Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Central NY Moto: 2003 SV650S Posts: 14,959	Annoyed? There's an app for that. __________________ I'm not "fat." I'm "Enlarged to show texture." Handle every stressful situation like a DOG: If you can't eat it or hump it, pi$$ on it & walk away.

09-14-2010, 01:24 AM	#4
Homeslice Elitist Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: SF Bay Area Moto: Gix 750 Posts: 11,351	"app" wasn't used until the 90's, if I recall correctly. Before then, people said program.

09-14-2010, 01:36 AM	#6
Homeslice Elitist Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: SF Bay Area Moto: Gix 750 Posts: 11,351	But back then, nobody in programming said "I'm writing an app", they said "I'm writing a program", and then you followed up by saying what language it was being written in.