9o9Tech Blog

Category: 9o9Tech Blog

  • Happy 50th Birthday Apple!

    Happy 50th Birthday Apple!

    Happy Birthday Apple! Formally founded as Apple Computer Company, on April 1, 1976 by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne, the company was formed to bring to market the personal computer, the Apple I. On this day, April 1, 2026 marks the 50th year since the founding and life as we know it today would not be what it is today if not for the innovation birthed through Apple Computer Company (Apple, Inc.). I am literally typing this blog on my MacBook – which happens to be my computer of preference. I love the ease of use and the capabilities of the MacBook. As I work on this blog on my MacBook, this makes me wonder what life would be like without Apple. I compiled a short list:

      • Our only option for a personal computer would be the PC. Unless something better came along after 1976.
      • Music would have probably still been pressed on compact discs.
      • Netflix would still be sending us movies on those compact discs.
      • Blackberry would be the “it” smartphone in competition with Galaxy.
      • Earphones with the strings attached would still be a thing.
      • iTunes, iChat, i…anything would not be a thing.
      • No iPad.
      • No iPod.
      • No Apple TV.
      • Facetime with who? Facetime with what? – what is Facetime?

    I’m sure I can create a longer list of things that would not be if not for Apple. The fact is, Apple has been around for a long as I have existed – and life without Apple just doesn’t seem like it would be possible. One thing I can say is, I’m grateful to have experienced the “genius” (pun intended) of the Apple products. They exceed the measure for greatness. So, on this day, April 1, 2026, I say a huge THANK YOU and WE WISH YOU A HAPPY 50th BIRTHDAY!

    P.S.:While Apple was founded on April 1st, 1976, it was officially incorporated as Apple Computer, Inc. on January 3, 1977 (with the Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak).

  • App vs. Website

    App vs. Website

    Overview

    Are apps and websites the same?  The short answer is no.  While apps and websites can share the same programming languages to create them and both can be called apps, in principle they are different.

    What is an app?

    The word app is short for the term application.  An application is a client-facing software program that is developed to perform a specific task or a series of tasks.  The term app is usually universally used to describe a mobile application whereas the term application is used to describe a desktop application1.

    What is a website?

    A website is a page or pages of information shared on the Internet through a web server.

    Prior to the world wide web (www), applications were built to function natively, either directly on machines or through a local server. An application interacts with a database and performs database related tasks such as calculate numbers or track customers.

    Evolution of the Application

    When the world wide web became mainstream, initially it provided information only.  As it became more widely used, it began to be used to perform application related tasks.  Due to the nature of being able to use the Internet anywhere, the concept to move applications online became widespread.  This is when applications became a part of website development and shifted websites from being information only to containing functionality.

    As time progressed mobile technology became the primary method how society accessed the Internet.  This gave rise to mobile application development.  Mobile application development an application that is explicitly designed to function on mobile devices.

    Website development has grown with the need to keep up with the various types of devices that view websites.  In this effort, the HTML5 standard was released in 20142.  HTML5 and various frameworks, provided a means develop websites that adapt with screen sizes.  This ability is called responsiveness.

    Accessing Apps on Mobile

    Often, people are confused by the ability to access a website through a mobile device and the use of an app on their phone.  The difference is in how you access the resource.  If you visit an app store such as Google Play or Apple App Store to download an app to access the resource – you are using a mobile app.  If you access a website by using a web browser, you are accessing a (hopefully responsive) website.

    Difference Between an App & Website

    A notable difference between apps and websites is that a website can contain an app, but an app cannot contain a website. At the basic level, a website will provide information to a user and at an advanced level, a website can incorporate application features that will perform actions or a series of actions like an app.

    In conclusion applications perform tasks other than displaying information and have the ability to function off and online,  apps are explicitly designed for and used by mobile devices,  and lastly, websites largely function online, can contain application functionality and is viewable on mobile devices.  Mobile applications integrate  application technology solely for the purpose to function on the mobile device.

    I know – this is a lot, but hopefully there is some understanding of the difference that can be learned.

    Footnotes
    1Definition of application, https://techterms.com/definition/application
    2History of HTML5, https://www.c-sharpcorner.com/UploadFile/b5be7f/html5-a-brief-history/