What is App: Definition and 132 Discussions

A mobile application, also referred to as a mobile app or simply an app, is a computer program or software application designed to run on a mobile device such as a phone, tablet, or watch. Apps were originally intended for productivity assistance such as email, calendar, and contact databases, but the public demand for apps caused rapid expansion into other areas such as mobile games, factory automation, GPS and location-based services, order-tracking, and ticket purchases, so that there are now millions of apps available. Apps are generally downloaded from application distribution platforms which are operated by the owner of the mobile operating system, such as the App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store. Some apps are free, and others have a price, with the profit being split between the application's creator and the distribution platform. Mobile applications often stand in contrast to desktop applications which are designed to run on desktop computers, and web applications which run in mobile web browsers rather than directly on the mobile device.
In 2009, technology columnist David Pogue stated that smartphones could be nicknamed "app phones" to distinguish them from earlier less-sophisticated smartphones. The term "app", short for "software application", has since become very popular; in 2010, it was listed as "Word of the Year" by the American Dialect Society.

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  1. F

    Medical Cancer detection via smartphone app

    http://www.scientiaweb.com/2011/02/28/smartphone-app-that-helps-doctor-detect-cancer/ Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston have developed a system to detect cancer in a patient that will save them from many painfully long tests needed otherwise.
  2. B

    Electroscope App Homework: Measuring Cloud Charge & Estimating Plane Field

    Homework Statement As you are lying on the beach this past summer, you watch in awe as a super huge strato-nimbo-cummulus storm cloud roll in. You pull out your iphone and use the "electroscope" App allowing you to measure the charge on the storm cloud. It reads +40C. You tell your bf/gf...
  3. J

    VB app to calculate velocity of a golf club head

    Hi guys, i have read and read and read all this stuff about x=vt(cosA), y = vt(sinA)-1/2gt^2 now i am not a pyhsics guy and never claimed to be, i am a programmer. This is what i am trying to accomplish. I am trying to write a small VB app to calculate velocity of a golf club head. I and...
  4. Pengwuino

    Donate $.99 to Local Food Banks with App

    I'm sure a lot of you are aware of the competition Wal-Mart is hosting where you 'like' a city on facebook in need of food bank donations. The winning city gets $1.5 million for food banks. Now, as people on the internet love to do, there have been hostilities and name calling all around with...
  5. alemsalem

    Showing Determination & Leadership for Physics App: Strategies

    Should I mention for example hiking to demonstrate my determination, or describe my experience in being a member of organizations such as AIESEC, which might demonstrate my team and leadership skills but has nothing to do with physics.
  6. E

    Understanding Water Flow in a Leaky Container Using Differentiation

    Homework Statement dV/dT = 0.15(300-V) V is the volume of water in a container at time T. The rate of water flowing into the container is constant at 45 units^3/s. The rate of water leaking is proportional to the volume of water currently in the container. Find the volume of water in the...
  7. J

    C# C#, FileSystemWatcher Closing App on Second Iteration

    I have a FileSystemWatcher, that moves excel data to a database when ever an excel sheet is made. But it keeps closing on the second iteration, and I can't understand why. Can someone please help. Here is the code. private void StartWatcher() { // Create a new...
  8. M

    Difference Between Array & Tuple for Large App

    I am wondering if anyone can describe to me the correct use of a couple words. I am programming a very large application, and I like to name my variables so that they are very descriptive. Before I begin, I would like to know what is the difference between an array and a tuple? Are they the...
  9. GRB 080319B

    .exe file not a valid Win32 app

    I've tried to open several different .exe files, and keep getting the same error. I've gone to several Windows help/ troubleshooting sites to no avail. My OS is Windows XP SP3 and browser is Firefox Ver. 3.5.9. I'm not able to install any other browsers on my system to test if this is Firefox...
  10. R

    Is Mylar Necessary for Preventing Heat Leak in Low Temperature Apparatus?

    Dear all, i noticed in all low temp. apparatus like cryo...usually all the internal parts are wrapped with few thin mylar sheets in order to avoid heat leak (heat from surrounding is transferred to cryo)..also some ppl. told me it is for radiation (or thermal) shield.. Even though the cryo is...
  11. A

    Bundle of tiny randomly orientated magnets through a Stern-Gerlach app

    When I would send a bundle of tiny randomly orientated magnets through a Stern-Gerlach apparatus I don’t think I would expect the pattern as obtained with silver atoms, displaying two separated spots. So how exactly does the electron spin effect the path of the atoms in this experiment?
  12. P

    Making a grad app look good if you can't stand working in a lab?

    So I posted similar thread a while ago, and it ended in me giving working at this lab a go. I've worked there two times a week since the start of the summer, and I can barely bring myself to go in. Next to my systems admin job, there is practically no reason to go to the lab. When I go to the...
  13. C

    Adv. Math for Engineers and Scientists or App. Complex Analysis?

    I'm a physics major and I have space for one more class the coming fall semester: either advanced mathematics for engineers and scientists or applied complex analysis. Advanced Mathematics for Engineers and Scientists- Vector analysis, Fourier analysis and partial differential equations...
  14. W

    PDF App for Linux: Ubuntu-8.10

    I am looking for an application to not only view pdf's but also type side notes and highlight sections. This application must be compatible with my platform: Linux - Ubuntu-8.10. Thanks
  15. V

    Need help with windows app functions in C

    Hello folks, Ok, I've been doing windows application tutorials, and I can make a mean dropdown list and dialog box, but I have no idea how to get the windows app to use a function. Say I just want a dialog box to pop up and use the function: int myFunction () { int i = 1; return i...
  16. U

    Programs Is taking to many classes bad for app. to PHd?

    Somebody told me recently that taking too many class looks bad because "it seems" that taking fewer classes shows that the student is concentrating more in depth. I want to take 5 this coming semester. I naturally would think that this is helping me become more qualified (taking a harder...
  17. B

    Elevator Problem w/ app. Weight

    Homework Statement Henry gets into an elevator on the 50th floor of a building and it begins moving at t = 0 s. The figure shows his apparent weight over the next 12 s where w1 = 520, w2 = 720, and w3 = 920. The graph: Begins at t=0 at w1 and goes in a horizontal straight line until...
  18. C

    Input/Output of Console from Win32 App

    Hello. I am writing a simple application which allows you to run shell commands. This is the method I used: void run(std::string cmd, HWND hDlg) { cmd = cmd + " >> ctoutput.txt"; system(cmd.c_str()); LoadFile(GetDlgItem(hDlg, IDC_EDIT_OUTPUT), "ctoutput.txt"); } The user...
  19. E

    Navigating Grad School App: Math vs. Physics Focus at School

    I am a second-year student and I go to a school with a not-so-strong theoretical physics department but a very strong math department. I am planning on going to grad school in theoretical physics. I will have completed the physics major at the end of this semester and I am deciding which...
  20. S

    How Do Linear Approximations Differ from Tangent Lines in Calculus?

    what is the difference between a linear approximation and a tangent line? my understanding is that the linear approximation is that it uses the tangent line at (a, f(a)) as an approximation to the curve y = f(x). my question really is, then why in calculus I do they make an entirely separate...
  21. DaveC426913

    Get a server running locally to run a Struts app

    I need to get a server running locally so I can run my 'Hello World' Java Web app. http://benmira.free.fr/en/j2ee/struts1.htm" I'm using. Unless I misunderstand, all I really need to do is copy all the code into flat files with the appropriate filenames - and then compile it with Ant. But...
  22. M

    Schools Writing College App Essays: Tips to Get You Started

    I'm killing myself over these essays. Seriously, GRRRR I cannot seem to be able to start any of these essays because I can't think of anything to write about. Does anyone have any advice on writing these? If you're curious, these are my app essays for Cornell and UMich Cornell: This...
  23. M

    Vote on My Dream App - iVlog for Mac Users

    The name may still need to be changed, but iVlog is my idea currently being voted on at http://www.mydreamapp.com. Don't worry, I'm not spamming the board asking for your vote. :) This is a chance for every Mac user to share what they think would be in an ideal vlogging app. If the app makes...
  24. H

    Looking for some app to capture audio from video

    Hello guys, I'm looking for an application to capture audios from videos, best if into .mp3 format. It'd also be great if I can modify quality by myself. I'd rather prefer it to be free, but doesn't have to. Thanks,
  25. Considering

    Can Citrix Metaframe App Server Support Adobe Applications for Local Users?

    Any Citrix/Terminal Services gurus around? In an effort to cut costs and boost ROI, I'm thinking about introducing a Citrix box (or just using Windows TS) to load a few applications on for our LOCAL users to access - as in they will have a connection to the box at GigE speeds. The applications...
  26. C

    Thermodynamics problem; App of 1st law, work, adiabatic processes, and enthelpy

    The question is as follows: the partial derivative (given as a partial, but i don't know the notation, so letter d is really little delta for the partial) (du/dT)p = Cp - P(Beta)v where Beta = expansivity coefficient = 1/v (dv/dT)p again, all the "d's" are lowercase delta's for the...
  27. F

    Program to Detect Games Over Network

    Is there a program that can detect games running over a network? Kind of like the "Find LAN games" option you'll find in a network game, only to find any games at all?
  28. H

    Scholarship Essay Length: Tips for Writing a 250-Word Response

    I want to apply for this scholarship and they want a 250-word essay on why I'm choosing this field (biomedical engineering). My question is should I make sure its 250 word + or - a couple words or is it typically OK to go bigger? I've never applied for one of these things before so I don't know...
  29. C

    Fixing OpenGL App: Black Background & White Triangle

    I'm having trouble getting the basic OpenGL app running properly. When it opens the window is entirely white when it should have a black background and white triangle. I will explain the code in bold bellow #include <OpenGL/gl.h> #include <OpenGL/glu.h> #include <GLUT/glut.h> int...
  30. A

    Calculators Online app to replace Online TI-83?

    Hello everyone. My graphing calculator recently died on me, and I need it over Easter weekend to finish up some work. Is there any applet online or free program that I can use to temporarily replace the TI-83? I need it to be able to perform quadratic regression from plotted points. Thanks...
  31. G

    Language suggestions for writing an app

    I'm curious about writing a graphical plotting program to suplement an existing program. I've been working on a Zeta function root finder for a few months now, and I'd like to be able to graph some aspects of the Zeta function as well as many more functions. I'm contemplating what language to...
  32. turin

    Printing on a comp. w/o the app.

    Is there a way that I can print a file on a computer that doesn't have software to read the file? I have a very specialized font installed for MS word on my computer, but no printer. I have access to a computer lab with excellent printing resources, but these computers will not have the...
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