What do you mean by "now"? It's been the case for 15 years at least (I didn't code before that).
You're making it seem like "releasing" is more accurately describing what happens when a feature is deployed in production than "shipping" but it's not the case.
Yes? Since at least the 90s.
I could see it in the 90s since things were actually mailed. Perhaps I have a mental block picturing the rolling release cycle of an internet app as shipping.