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How 10 Iconic Tech Products Got Their Names

Posted by timothy on from the slash-dev-slash-random dept.

lgmac writes "Think Windows Azure is a stupid name? Ever wonder how iPod, BlackBerry and Twitter got their names? Author Tom Wailgum goes inside the process of creating tech product names that are cool but not exclusionary, marketable, and most of all, free of copyright and trademark gotchas. Here's the scoop on ten iconic tech products and how they got their monikers, plus a chat with the man responsible for naming Azure, BlackBerry, and more. (What's the one he wishes he'd named but didn't? Google.)"

17 of 247 comments (clear)

  1. I bet... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...it involved a lot of pot.

    1. Re:I bet... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      and then there is Apple

      it's a phone, what should we call it? iPhone

      it's a new Mac, what should we call it? iMac

      it handles all your tunes, what should we call it? iTunes

      great, boys, we're done here

    2. Re:I bet... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      iPot?

      How about the "iForOneWelcomeOur...".

      On second thought - nah...

    3. Re:I bet... by sorak · · Score: 4, Funny

      So, what kind of names do their children have? Did they spend months obsessively trying to determine a name that conveys "don't beat me up, now, please hire me later"?

    4. Re:I bet... by No-Cool-Nickname · · Score: 5, Funny

      it's a toilet, what should we call it? iShit

      it's an intravenous drug, what should we call it? iNject.

      it's an Apple fan boy, what should we call it? iDiot.

      (just a little joke, Macaniacs..)

    5. Re:I bet... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      "it's a toilet, what should we call it? iShit"

      In the Health care industy, a shit is callws a 'BM' (stands for bowel movement)

      So an Apple toilet would be called... oh wait, you think big blues lawyers would have an iSue with that?

    6. Re:I bet... by Logic+Bomb · · Score: 4, Funny

      Mitch Hedberg had a bit on one of his comedy CDs about product naming. Paraphrasing: take whatever the product does and add "er."

      "What's this thing do?"

      "It keeps things fresh."

      "Then that's a fresher. I'm goin' on break."

    7. Re:I bet... by cheater512 · · Score: 3, Funny

      Hey if there was a patchy helicopter with me in its cross hairs I would be running pretty fast - not that running would do me much good. :P

  2. Quick, someone mail this article... by Fallingcow · · Score: 5, Funny

    ... to the GIMP devs.

  3. Re:MSFT by Mateo_LeFou · · Score: 5, Funny

    "If you want to keep us secure, take a page from Linux and open up your OS to public scrutiny so that people can perfect it. What are you afraid of?"

    You must be new here

    >mfh (56)

    or not

    --
    My turnips listen for the soft cry of your love
  4. Re:what about the one that concerns us all... by Amazing+Quantum+Man · · Score: 4, Funny

    RTFFAQ.

    http://slashdot.org/faq/slashmeta.shtml#sm150

    --
    Fascism starts when the efficiency of the government becomes more important than the rights of the people.
  5. German naming process... by zappepcs · · Score: 5, Funny

    A couple decades back there was a German man with his own branding/naming company. A Japanese company, not satisfied with their experience for English speaking markets, called him up and asked him to help out with a new car. Naturally, he inquired as to the project timeline, due dates etc.

    Nervously, the Japanese marketer replied that they needed something for the following Monday.

    After a few moments pause, the German replied "Dat Soon? eh?"

    Later that same year he took a trip to London on business. While eating at a local steakhouse, he asked "what's dis here sauce?"

    --
    Support NYCountryLawyer RIAA vs People
    1. Re:German naming process... by AdamWeeden · · Score: 4, Funny

      I have mod points, but I can't seem to find the "-1 Groan" or "-1 Throw a Tomato" mod options.

      --
      I was quoted out of context in my autobiography...
  6. Re:His explanation of Google's name is BS by chibiace · · Score: 4, Funny

    man those last ones you said are really from the past, im having trouble remembering them too. when was the last time you heard of yahoo?

    --
    he who controls the spice controls the universe
  7. Microsoft "Innovates" a lot by jonaskoelker · · Score: 3, Funny

    Who cares if we find out that you people at Microsoft haven't done any real work since 1990... we ALREADY KNOW THAT.

    Nah, their consumer OSes have seen the addition of memory protection. Beore then, Microsoft did some real doesn't-work.

  8. Re:the new way: by Lars+T. · · Score: 5, Funny

    Hint: it'll probably be spelt strangely.

    What do you know? http://www.speltstrangely.com/ is available!

    Finally a name for my OSS speech recognition project!

    --

    Lars T.

    To the guy who modded me down from perfect to terrible Karma - Apple haters still suck

  9. Re:the new way: by dubl-u · · Score: 5, Funny

    Yes, by all means someone should start selling a Skami Computer, hopefully via infomercial! I'd recommend filling out the product line with a "Do!Be!Us!" smartphone, a "Krapee" monitor line, the "De-Funk(t)" music player, the "Borkt" series of printers, and the "InnerFierce" wireless networking gear.

    But please, if you do this, make sure you set up your "world headquarters" in a semi-abandoned strip mall, and move it every time the landlord kicks you out for non-payment. (And no, you can't ever pay rent when running a scam. A penny stolen is a penny earned.)

    The good news is you'll be able to sell Vista on this stuff without increasing your complaint load. Heck, given the target audience, you could probably charge them for two copies and call it Double Vista.