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App — the Most Abused Word In Tech?

Posted by timothy on from the I-remember-calling-them-programs dept.

Barence writes "PC Pro has a blog exploring the misuse of the word 'app'. Until the iPhone came along, the word 'application' largely meant a self-contained piece of software installed on a PC or Mac. Then Apple took ownership, trimmed it to three letters, and within months the word 'app' became synonymous with small widgets of code for smartphones. Now, Google's pushing the boundaries of the 'app' definition even further. Google Chrome users will have seen a new addition to their browser recently: the Chrome Web Store. Here, you'll find dozens of 'apps' to install and run directly from a handy icon on the browser's home screen. Except, these aren't 'apps' at all. They're websites. Google's idea of 'apps' are what we quaintly referred to in the good old days as 'bookmarks.' Does the word 'app' mean anything at all any more?"

2 of 353 comments (clear)

  1. You want to know what an "app" is? by Chris+Mattern · · Score: 5, Funny

    There's an app for that.

  2. Pedantry and Nothing More by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Then Apple took ownership, trimmed it to three letters, and within months the word 'app' became synonymous with small widgets of code ...

    Perhaps you would take care to avoid abusing words like 'widgets' and 'code' when tearing down the misuse of 'app'?

    What does "widgets of code" mean here? What does "Tech" mean in the title?