Slashdot Mirror


iPhoneXsMax, Now That's a Tongue Twister (om.co)

Veteran journalist Om Malik writes: iPhoneXsMax -- When I heard the name and saw it up on the stage, I shuddered. Apple's name for its newest, biggest iPhone made one [Microsoft employee] quip on Twitter: "And I thought we sucked at naming. #AppleEvent iPhone Xs Max September Refresh CTP1"

Microsoft and other technology companies were mocked by Apple veterans for their naming conventions. But now Apple is doing the same -- fighting hard to come up with names that are fighting Samsung, Huawei, and many others when it comes to being tongue twisters. It is pretty sad to see that a company that took pride in its ability to communicate clearly and succinctly about its products, the company that was able to name them with such elan and made them memorable, has come. iPhoneX(s)Max.

167 comments

  1. Indeed by American+AC+in+Paris · · Score: 3, Insightful

    It has a whole zero syllables more than "Galaxy Note 9"

    Great job Apple

    --

    Obliteracy: Words with explosions

    1. Re:Indeed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It has a whole zero syllables more than "Galaxy Note 9"

      Great job Apple

      It's not how many syllables the name has.

      "Galaxy Note 9"

      "iPhone Xs Max"

      It's how shitty the name is.

    2. Re:Indeed by avandesande · · Score: 1

      For that much money I want more syllables!

      --
      love is just extroverted narcissism
    3. Re:Indeed by berj · · Score: 1

      Indeed. And zero more than iPhone 6 s plus or iPhone 7 plus.

      People will find the stupidest things to complain about.

    4. Re:Indeed by Sloppy · · Score: 5, Funny

      Shit, for that much money, I think I'm even entitled to some umlauts.

      --
      As copyright owner of this comment, I authorize everyone to defeat any technological measure which limits access to it.
    5. Re:Indeed by ausekilis · · Score: 2, Funny

      Yes, but "Galaxy Note 9" doesn't have the same ring as "iPhone excess Max". The cherry on top would be the "i'm rich" app with the little gem in the task bar.

      Gluttony and Envy are strong in the ranks of technology.

    6. Re:Indeed by gerald.edward.butler · · Score: 0

      Why not just name it the 2018SUX!

    7. Re: Indeed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Ah, a measurable yard stick! Shittyness. Why didn't they measure their name?

    8. Re:Indeed by michelcolman · · Score: 2, Funny

      What is it with gay people and stringing lots of consonants together anyway?

      Not that I have anything against them, I just don't get that particular fetish.

    9. Re:Indeed by Bodhammer · · Score: 1

      "I'd buy that for a dollar!"

      --
      "I say we take off, nuke the site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure."
    10. Re:Indeed by jellomizer · · Score: 1

      I am not getting the point of the article.
      iPhone - 2
      iPhone 3g - 4
      iPhone 4 - 3
      iPhone 5 - 3
      iPhone 5s - 4
      iPhone 6 - 3
      iPhone 6 plus - 4
      iPhone 6s - 4
      iPhone 6s plus - 5
      iPhone 7 - 4
      iPhone 7 plus - 5
      iPhone 8 - 3
      iPhone 8 plus - 4
      iPhone X - 3 ...
      iPhone Xs Max - 5

      for the most part we just call them, "my phone" (2) or iPhone (2)
      We would never just go Let me take out my iPhone Xs Max without sounding like a complete jerk.

      --
      If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
    11. Re:Indeed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes, but will it work on the Compu-Global-Hyper-Mega-Net network ?

    12. Re: Indeed by peragrin · · Score: 1

      iPhone exmess is easy to say.

      And it sounds like iPhone excess

      --
      i thought once I was found, but it was only a dream.
    13. Re:Indeed by omnichad · · Score: 2

      Now that you've spelled it, I get it. An iPhone X Plus would be an iPhone XP. This is all about Microsoft.

    14. Re:Indeed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I wonder what they'll do for the 50th anniversary. The iPhone L?

      And then the next year the LG and the LGB...

    15. Re: Indeed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What about iMagine X?

    16. Re: Indeed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What no Ultra? guess ill wait for the next version

    17. Re: Indeed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Soon it will be the iPhone LGBT S Ultra Max Mega X Super

    18. Re:Indeed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Galaxy = brand name denoting Samsung's phones
      Note = large form factor with a pen
      9 = model number; newer than 8, older than 10

      iPhone = brand name denoting Apple's phones
      Xs = model number? Is does the s mean small? "second revision"? or is it just "excess"? Is it one better than the Xr? Is it better or worse than the "X"? There's no way to know without looking at the release date/specs, so it fails at its one job of communicating how it relates to other models.
      Max = self explanatory, presumably slightly larger than non-max versions.

      I have no special interest in Apple vs Samsung, but one of these products is obviously more clearly named than the other. Arguing otherwise is just silly; I really don't know why you'd choose that hill to die on.

    19. Re:Indeed by TheCastro1689 · · Score: 1

      Xs = 10 the version, s the second edition since the 3Gs first used the letter.

    20. Re:Indeed by mangastudent · · Score: 1

      While the length isn't good compared to prior iPhone branding, it's the last three syllables being a real tongue twister that's a problem, 'x' is close in pronunciation to 's', and to close, Max of course then ends in 'x'. I take it as a very bad sign of how the company is veering from its long, long history of good branding. Really from the very beginning with the Apple I and Apple ][, names which generally stood out from its competitors back then.

    21. Re:Indeed by Plumpaquatsch · · Score: 1

      It's how shitty the name is.

      Says the guy who has such a shitty name he won't tell us.

      --
      Of course news about a fake are Fake News.
    22. Re:Indeed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Seriously syllable count? Apple fans are getting desperate.

    23. Re:Indeed by Plumpaquatsch · · Score: 1

      Galaxy = brand name denoting Samsung's phones Note = large form factor with a pen 9 = model number; newer than 8, older than 10

      Wrong.
      Galaxy = the Milky Way
      Note = no te (te = the virtue or power inherent in a person or thing existing in harmony with the Tao)
      9 = NINE = Nine Inch Nail Extreme
      So actually a totally mumbo-jumbo name that includes the admittance the device isn't in harmony with the Tao (IOW sucks).

      --
      Of course news about a fake are Fake News.
    24. Re:Indeed by Plumpaquatsch · · Score: 0

      While the length isn't good compared to prior iPhone branding, it's the last three syllables being a real tongue twister that's a problem, 'x' is close in pronunciation to 's',

      Only if you have a severe speech impediment is "ten" close in pronunciation to 's'.

      --
      Of course news about a fake are Fake News.
    25. Re: Indeed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      At first glance I thought it said iPhone Xmas, guessing Apple thought it would have an early Christmas at the expense of gullible customers worldwide. I can't be the only one seeing that way.

    26. Re:Indeed by Lab+Rat+Jason · · Score: 1

      I came here to say this... I'm pretty sure "Xs" is in fact a dog whistle for rich people, and a nod to "excess" and gluttony. Don't be so hard on apple for calling it what it is.

      --
      Which has more power: the hammer, or the anvil?
    27. Re:Indeed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Says the guy whose name sounds like someone taking a huge shit.

      Are you some kind of expert in this domain?

    28. Re: Indeed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      iPhone excess (to the) Max

    29. Re:Indeed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Samsung clearly doesn't know two Germanic languages well. Galaxy Note 9.

      No/Not = English words of negation
      9 = Sounds like the German word for no, nein (pronounced identically to the English word "nine")

      At least Microsoft knew better than to follow up its abysmal Windows 8 with Windows 9 (which has the additional pun of Windows Ate 9).

    30. Re:Indeed by Dragonslicer · · Score: 2

      Only if you have a severe speech impediment is "ten" close in pronunciation to 's'.

      So instead of the iPhone Excess, we have the iPhone Tennis?

    31. Re:Indeed by Plumpaquatsch · · Score: 1

      Only if you have a severe speech impediment is "ten" close in pronunciation to 's'.

      So instead of the iPhone Excess, we have the iPhone Tennis?

      Oh my god, that is so much worse than the Samsung Galaxy ass series.

      --
      Of course news about a fake are Fake News.
    32. Re:Indeed by Plumpaquatsch · · Score: 1

      Yes, but "Galaxy Note 9" doesn't have the same ring as "Samsung Galaxy ASS 9".

      FTFY.

      --
      Of course news about a fake are Fake News.
    33. Re:Indeed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Think the name is okay... I mean its not the most important part of the phone by far...

    34. Re:Indeed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It has a whole zero syllables more than "Galaxy Note 9"

      Great job Apple

      iPhone X S Max... :-) Hilarious! The name is even funnier in Danish.... In Danish you can read like like this... iPhone X Maximum Pee! (I assume it is the users of that phone that gets peed on?) :-) PRICELESS!!

  2. I heard by damn_registrars · · Score: 1

    We gave the iPhone Xs to Xzibit so you can phone with your phone while you phone, dawg. Just wait till you see what we do with your keyboard.

    --
    Damn_registrars has no butt-hole. Damn_registrars has no use for a butt-hole.
  3. Pronunciation guide by blkhawk · · Score: 4, Informative

    its pronounced as "iPhone Excess" or "iPhone Excess Max".

    1. Re:Pronunciation guide by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I prefer "iPhone Ex Smacks"

    2. Re:Pronunciation guide by msauve · · Score: 1, Informative

      Except "X" here is the roman numeral. It's pronounced "iphone ten s." Too bad, because if they'd named it logically, they could have advertised "these go to eleven!"

      --
      "National Security is the chief cause of national insecurity." - Celine's First Law
    3. Re:Pronunciation guide by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Which sounds like a douchebag on steroids talking.

    4. Re:Pronunciation guide by The+Original+CDR · · Score: 1

      According to one rumor, Apple was supposed to introduce the iPhone 9 and iPhone 11 on 9/11. That rumor didn't pan out for some reason.

    5. Re:Pronunciation guide by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And I thought it was "iPhone Smash".

    6. Re:Pronunciation guide by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      We have about 20 years of reference to see how well that "akshually." is gonna do.

      Unfortunately, being that established gives the "wrong" behavior so much traction it grants arguments for what the pronunciation of OSX is in The Real World.

      You won't be authoritatively wrong, friend. But you'll be wrong.

    7. Re:Pronunciation guide by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      IPhone 10-S-Ma-10

      Great job guys.

    8. Re:Pronunciation guide by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      >>Which also sounds like a douchebag

    9. Re:Pronunciation guide by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      7)Copy: http://archive.is/TtDrY [archive.is]

      Mods, please mod down this paste bin crap.

    10. Re:Pronunciation guide by DontBeAMoran · · Score: 1

      No it's not. Watch the keynote, everyone at Apple calls it "iPhone 10 S Max".

      --
      #DeleteFacebook
    11. Re:Pronunciation guide by houstonbofh · · Score: 1

      Sing along...

      My iPhone Ex's live in Texas... That's why I hang my hat in Galaxy!

    12. Re:Pronunciation guide by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Except I don't go out of my way to watch video commercials telling me how to pronounce. I see an "X" I say "X". If Microsoft calls their product "Port-a-Loo" I will also say "Port-A-Loo" even if some lawyer goes on TV and says we have to call it "banana".

    13. Re: Pronunciation guide by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's too bad. "Excess Max" describes the price perfectly.

    14. Re: Pronunciation guide by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Sounds like a promising resume for employment in the Trump Administration.

    15. Re:Pronunciation guide by Lab+Rat+Jason · · Score: 1

      So I'm still unclear. Are you saying its better to pronounce it "iPhone tennis max" rather than "iPhone excess max?"

      --
      Which has more power: the hammer, or the anvil?
    16. Re:Pronunciation guide by Dragonslicer · · Score: 1

      Except "X" here is the roman numeral. It's pronounced "iphone ten s." Too bad, because if they'd named it logically, they could have advertised "these go to eleven!"

      So it really was supposed to be called Mac OS 10?

    17. Re:Pronunciation guide by msauve · · Score: 1

      It is pronounced "OS ten", no supposition involved. Have you been mispronouncing it?

      --
      "National Security is the chief cause of national insecurity." - Celine's First Law
    18. Re:Pronunciation guide by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Get my family friendly Goat C shirt! ~ CaptainDork

    19. Re:Pronunciation guide by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I like to trim excess - excess isn't often used in a positive manner.

    20. Re: Pronunciation guide by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      He is black even though he pretends to be white and a registered Republican. Go figure...

    21. Re:Pronunciation guide by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      you can pronounce it "iphone penis max" if it makes you feel better

    22. Re:Pronunciation guide by Plumpaquatsch · · Score: 1

      So I'm still unclear. Are you saying its better to pronounce it "iPhone tennis max" rather than "iPhone excess max?"

      You are supposed to get your dentures fixed, Mr. President.

      --
      Of course news about a fake are Fake News.
    23. Re:Pronunciation guide by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It is pronounced "OS ten", no supposition involved. Have you been mispronouncing it?

      It is pronounced "taking a huge dump on our customers as always and making it larger and make them pay more for it with each year that passes by".. but X is more compact in writing

  4. Stick a fork in Apple by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I used to buy Apple for their clean UI and easy to understand, straightforward model schema. Now? Stick a fork in them. $1100 for a phone with an ugly ass notch, a shitty subpar Intel modem, and a dozen models to monkey everything up? Fuck it, I'm out. I'll save thousands and buy a simple Android to make calls and just use my old iPad until it dies.

    1. Re:Stick a fork in Apple by anegg · · Score: 1

      You forgot to mention the lack of a 1/8" (3.5mm) headphone jack.

    2. Re:Stick a fork in Apple by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And the fact that owning apple products slowly turns you gay

    3. Re: Stick a fork in Apple by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I havenâ(TM)t plugged a physical headphone plug into a phone in Years. I use Bluetooth.

      The 1/8â jack is about essential as a car cigarette lighter. Itâ(TM)s exactly 0% of my buying decision fir a phone.

    4. Re:Stick a fork in Apple by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      You forgot to mention the lack of a 1/8" (3.5mm) headphone jack.

      Cut them some slack, this ain't about what the iPhone Xs Max lacks, Jack.

    5. Re: Stick a fork in Apple by anegg · · Score: 4, Insightful

      To each their own. I use my wired headphones all the time with my iPhone. Used to have a Bluetooth earpiece; switched to headphones because I prefer them. Better sound quality and no batteries to maintain. I have enough stuff to keep charged up; I need less not more. Oh... I also use the cigarette lighter in my car - to keep my freakin' phone charged up and to run my dedicated nav device (which works in places a phone-based nav doesn't). Used to use it to keep my Bluetooth earpiece charged up, but I switched to wired headphones that don't need battery maintenance. I want to simplify my life, not complicate it.

    6. Re:Stick a fork in Apple by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That seems biologically impossible.

    7. Re: Stick a fork in Apple by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Gay is about anatomy, not biology.

    8. Re:Stick a fork in Apple by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And the fact that owning apple products slowly turns you gay

      That seems biologically impossible.

      It depends how you use it, and where you put it.

    9. Re: Stick a fork in Apple by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's fine, continue pretending your opinion is what matters.

      We'll be over here discussing the collective buying decision and billions of dollars.

    10. Re: Stick a fork in Apple by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I havenâ(TM)t plugged a physical headphone plug into a phone in Years. I use Bluetooth.

      The 1/8â jack is about essential as a car cigarette lighter. Itâ(TM)s exactly 0% of my buying decision fir a phone.

      While I don't smoke, I use car cigarette lighters on a daily basis: power a DVD player for the kids, keep phones charged, etc.

    11. Re: Stick a fork in Apple by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Considering they removed the headphone jack and then went on to be the first Trillion dollar company... I doubt it negatively affected the overall "collective buy decisions and billions of dollars"

    12. Re: Stick a fork in Apple by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Car cigarette lighters don't directly correlate, but if a car didn't have a power outlet the same size and shape as the old cigarette lighters (or nowadays, usb ports) the decision would probably be different. A lot of purchase decisions are based on aspirations. I'd wager 90% of those buying brand new macbooks wouldn't see much performance difference to a much less expensive item, but aspire to use iMovie, garageband, Keynote etc, but then never use them (or use them a few times) or believe the higher cost makes it more valuable (debatable, but apple won't sell you a bit of value, its all or nothing). Take them away, even if they were never used, makes people upset. I'm sure apple's data indicated the vast majority never used the jack, so felt confident getting rid of it wouldn't be an issue. And their track record of selling remains strong, so you be the judge.

    13. Re: Stick a fork in Apple by DontBeAMoran · · Score: 1

      I used Bluetooth exactly two times in the last decade, otherwise it's always disabled.
      But I've used headphones every single day in the last decade.

      See? Everyone can talk about their daily use of technologies.

      --
      #DeleteFacebook
    14. Re:Stick a fork in Apple by DontBeAMoran · · Score: 1

      Wait, are you still talking about Apple products?

      --
      #DeleteFacebook
    15. Re:Stick a fork in Apple by DontBeAMoran · · Score: 1

      When your iPad dies, check out Amazon's Fire tablets. They are of excellent quality for the price. Buy it on sale on "Amazon Prime Day" or whatever the fuck they call it.

      --
      #DeleteFacebook
  5. Not the first time by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Look back at some of the older Macintoshes.You had Performa's, LC series, etc. You had Performa 475's, 476's that were equivalent to LC 475's, which were also Quadra 605's. Apple has had just as bad of naming schemes before. You had Power Macintoshes/Performa/Workgroup Server naming schemes....

    I mean you even had the iPhone SE...

    1. Re: Not the first time by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I run NetBSD on my SE/30.

    2. Re:Not the first time by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      and all of this is ignoring that fact that 99.9% of people saying "i have an iphone" and only occasionally do you get a follow up question "oh, which one?" ... its just a fucking iphone move on

    3. Re:Not the first time by LinuxIsGarbage · · Score: 1

      Look back at some of the older Macintoshes.You had Performa's, LC series, etc. You had Performa 475's, 476's that were equivalent to LC 475's, which were also Quadra 605's. Apple has had just as bad of naming schemes before. You had Power Macintoshes/Performa/Workgroup Server naming schemes....

      I mean you even had the iPhone SE...

      That was during the time after Steve left. When he returned he really cut down and focused the product line to a laptop and a desktop each for both user and professional.

      Now they have desktops shaped like garbage cans, keyboards that break if they are dusty, and phones with ridiculous names.

  6. fragmentation by LynnwoodRooster · · Score: 0

    A few years ago, the rant was against Android fragmentation. There was just one iPhone, one resolution. Well now that THAT is no longer the case, Apple has tossed it all to the wind and gone to name fragmentation... Can't wait for the iPhone Xs Max SE Plus Rose Gold Special Edition!

    --
    Browsing at +1 - no ACs, I ignore their posts. So refreshing!
    1. Re:fragmentation by nine-times · · Score: 2

      In fairness, there's still not much fragmentation among iPhones/iPads. The big difference is basically just screen resolution, and the event yesterday suggests they're pushing toward 3 sizes of the same aspect ratio. It's not even clear you need to worry much about the difference between the iPhone X and the iPhone XR, since the XR seems to be similar in size but lower resolution. Your UI elements can just be displayed at a lower resolution.

      But more importantly, there's basically 1 iOS. There are 50 different vendors struggling to differentiate their own version of iOS. While Android vendors often don't let users upgrade to the latest version of Android, Apple's pretty good at pushing people to keep their devices update, so developers can mostly focus on making sure their app runs on the latest version of iOS.

      And when you complain about the "iPhone Xs Max SE Plus Rose Gold Special Edition", I don't know why the color matters at all.

      There's still things to complain about with Apple, but it still doesn't seem very fragmented, compared to Android at least.

    2. Re:fragmentation by Plumpaquatsch · · Score: 1

      A few years ago, the rant was against Android fragmentation. There was just one iPhone, one resolution. Well now that THAT is no longer the case, Apple has tossed it all to the wind and gone to name fragmentation... Can't wait for the iPhone Xs Max SE Plus Rose Gold Special Edition!

      Oh look, its LynnwoodRooster, the smartiest pant on Slashdot. Tell me how many Galaxy S III there are. Not all Samsung Galaxy phones, just versions of the S III. Heck, not even the S III mini, just the S III.

      --
      Of course news about a fake are Fake News.
  7. Tennis anyone? by The+Original+CDR · · Score: 0
    According to The New York Times:

    But this year, that meant calling it the iPhone XS. Never mind that XS is the abbreviation for extra small — not an adjective Apple wants for its $1,000 phones — but say “XS” out loud. In the age of smartphone addiction and devices that cost as much as some refrigerators, “iPhone Excess” may not be great for branding.

    Instead, the new iPhone XS is pronounced “iPhone 10S,” or as the audience at the Apple event quickly realized, “iPhone Tennis.”

    Add the new iPhone XS Max to the mix and you’ve got “iPhone Tennis Match.”

    No comment on the iPhone XR. Maybe the "iPhone Tennis Rogue - Serena Williams Edition"?

    1. Re:Tennis anyone? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      7)Copy: http://archive.is/TtDrY [archive.is]

      Mods, please mod down this paste bin nonsense.

    2. Re:Tennis anyone? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "No comment on the iPhone XR. Maybe the "iPhone Tennis Rogue - Serena Williams Edition"?"

      That would make no sense, it would be iPhone Tenner going by your naming convention.

    3. Re:Tennis anyone? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Fuck off creimer! You should be modded down!

      No one cares about your personal vendetta. Grow up and stop spamming.

    4. Re:Tennis anyone? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      iPhone Excess Max, and the next one would be the Excess Max Plus...

    5. Re:Tennis anyone? by cascadingstylesheet · · Score: 1

      In the age of smartphone addiction and devices that cost as much as some refrigerators, “iPhone Excess” may not be great for branding.

      It's perfect for branding Apple.

    6. Re:Tennis anyone? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Thanks for calling creimer a pedophile yesterday. His newest video got 150+ views. Keep up the good work in providing free advertising!

    7. Re:Tennis anyone? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Max Plus == 11

      Soooo iPhone XI?

    8. Re:Tennis anyone? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm waiting for the iPhone Mad MaX

  8. LOL ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    My brain parsed it as "iPhone sex max".

    That can't be right.

    1. Re: LOL ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They nearly had a Macintosh SE/x there in a previous naming convention, so....

      Iâ(TM)â(TM)m thinking they should be colloquially the âoeiPhone Tennisâ and âoeiPhone Tennis Matchâ or May just the âoeTennisâ and the âoeWimbledonâ ?

  9. More important to complain about small improvement by Camembert · · Score: 2

    I find it rather petty to complain about the naming convention, Xs Plus would have been more logical to me, but Xs Max isn't really worse, just different.
    The area that does disappoint me however (and I am a longtime generally happy Apple user), is that even by the incremental improvement standard set by the "s" phone releases, this one does seem a particularly timid nano-incremental improvement. Screen, camera and processing are a bit better, and I think that's about it. Nothing really fresh.
    The Apple Watch v4, now that had an interesting and substantial innovation: the ECG/EKG function in a small device for general consumer use. Now that was cool and points to the future of the Apple watch becoming more and more a complete health monitor / coach.
    Sadly, I didn't see anything fresh like that in the current new phones. The XR could be ok to replace my relatively old 6 Plus for price reasons, but I hope that my current phone holds out another year to see what the next generation brings.

  10. Wow by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You know you've hit a low point when Microsoft is mocking you.

  11. Plumage by anegg · · Score: 1

    The iPad Mini survived being called the Mini Pad, and the folks who buy the XS are probably proud of their ability to do so. Think birds with huge displays of plumage to attract mates.

    1. Re:Plumage by zlives · · Score: 1

      thats why i just use and iPad PRO as my cell phone, sure i had to had the pant pockets adjusted for size discrepancy, however now I don;t need to remember to bring a grocery bag with me.

    2. Re:Plumage by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You just have to get some of those super baggy skateboarder pants from that 90s that could easily fit a 40oz beer in the pocket!

  12. People are just gonna call it the "Max" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Better than the "Xir" and the "Xis".

  13. Here are my questions. by OwP_Fabricated · · Score: 1

    1. How bad does Apple have to make the iPhone before people finally just stop buying so many of them?

    2. When will Android manufacturers and Apple stop borrowing the worst things from eachothers designs?

    1. Re:Here are my questions. by iggymanz · · Score: 1

      as for #2, don't underestimate the marketing wanks that need to justify their existence. their influence (and effluence) is a major building block of our society. There is big money in copying instead of innovating, spin, lies and blowing sunshine up peoples' asses

    2. Re: Here are my questions. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Not sure what you mean by âoebadâ. The new phones are objectively better in every metric than a 3 year old phone. Faster. Brighter. More ram. Stronger glass. Better WiFi. Better resolution. Etc.

      Yes they are more expensive than, say an iPhone 5. But they are objectively better.

    3. Re: Here are my questions. by omnichad · · Score: 1

      Yes they are more expensive than, say an iPhone 5. But they are objectively better.

      They have objectively higher performance. That's not necessarily better. We've just about peaked on how much performance I need in a mobile device. I'd rather have less expensive and a replaceable battery. I have a dedicated computer, separate game console - the only thing I need a phone for is decent web browsing and communication apps.

  14. Still better... by SharpFang · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Still better if the manufacturer has too few words to compose names and uses them ALL. Especially when looking for the firmware for *your* model...

    Sony Xperia Pro
    Sony Xperia Mini
    Sony Xperia Mini Pro
    Sony Xperia X10 Mini
    Sony Xperia X10 Pro
    Sony Xperia X10 Mini Pro

    Xiaomi Mi 5
    Xiaomi Mi 5s
    Xiaomi Mi 5s Plus
    Xiaomi Mi 5X
    Xiaomi Redmi 5
    Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus
    Xiaomi Redmi 5A
    Xiaomi Note 5A
    Xiaomi Redmi Note 5
    Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro
    Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 AI Dual Camera

    --
    45 5F E1 04 22 CA 29 C4 93 3F 95 05 2B 79 2A B2
    1. Re:Still better... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Any half competent firmware flasher wannabe will know the codename for his beloved phone eg: Xiaomi Mi 5s is "capricorn" and Xiaomi Mi 5s Plus is "natrium".

      If one can't figure even this out, better not mess with flashing.

    2. Re:Still better... by mccalli · · Score: 1

      It might be, but Apple used to compare themselves to themselves. They used to be better than this at naming.

  15. Windows 10 Long Term Servicing Channel 2018 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    See how that works.

  16. I think most people just use... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ..."iPhone"

    1. Re: I think most people just use... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, the suffix is what makes the bearer leading-edge.

  17. It's a brain teaser too by JoeyRox · · Score: 1

    In terms of how to convince people to justifying paying $1100+ for a Smartphone. Apple's strategy? Use lots of "best", "awesome", fastest", "cool" adjectives during their presentations.

  18. Re: More important to complain about small improve by RaviBrounstein · · Score: 1

    I agree. The biggest challenge for me without looking at the specs... which one do i buy, that is to say which one is like the one I have but newer. I had to actually read tech specs and pricing to know. Previous generations this was unnneeded because the naming conventions matched previous generations. I the âoemachine learning coresâ are good if they actually are dedicated for that, which I would doubt. Really the single biggest improvement is all in iOS and some application launch time improvements. Even the watch, aside from the additional sensor for heart rate really has no new features or battery time to speak of. A larger screen, which is cool, and no physical buttons which I love. All in all apples launch webpages were rushed, disorganized, had clear formatting issues (that were a break from the reason if the website symmmetry). Their livestream was one of the least impressive Iâ(TM)ve seen. Perhaps the speakers, perhaps the vocabulary, but something of the polish seems lost. The product offerings on this release cycle are the worst improvements in a long time. My company usually keeps me updated on hardware, no need this time for a new apple device anytime soon, just not compelling enough until mine break.

  19. Re: More important to complain about small improve by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Iâ(TM)m still rocking my iPhone SE. I donâ(TM)t want t a bigger phone. Iâ(TM)m hoping apple comes out with a new 4â model at some point.

  20. Why not just do it likes cars... by Austerity+Empowers · · Score: 1

    Cars seem like they have it figured out. You have model year, make and mfg. The rest of the options matter only on resale, insurance or maintenance.

    I may buy a 2019 Honda Soulless Touring Elite, and I'm paying a bit because I'm buying the very latest model with the latest features, but after I buy it, it's just my Soulless. The same for my iPhone, the most important part is that it's an iPhone, that says a lot about what it is and can or can't do. The rest is just speaking to features and profile, which for devices like this are either bundled (Xs versus Xr) or are options (Big [Max] or Small, storage size). That's important on the website, but not otherwise. So why not just call it the 2018 iPhone and let the rest be between the purchaser and Apple through a website interface...which is what it actually is anyway, just with more verbiage.

    All of these things seem to have some meaningless numbers after their names "iPhone X" or "Galaxy Note 9", the numbers have no actual meaning and, for reasons, don't necessarily monotonically increase. Or even remain in arabic numerals. Who can keep track, and who cares. All I want to remember is I bought my last phone in 2016, that's the model year I'm working with. The rest is maybe just some stuff in the settings tab I can look up if needed, or break out a ruler and measure.

    1. Re:Why not just do it likes cars... by Plumpaquatsch · · Score: 1

      Cars seem like they have it figured out. You have model year, make and mfg. The rest of the options matter only on resale, insurance or maintenance.

      I may buy a 2019 Honda Soulless Touring Elite, and I'm paying a bit because I'm buying the very latest model with the latest features, but after I buy it, it's just my Soulless.

      Cough. Honda Civic. Sedan, Coupe, or Hatchback? LX, LX-P, EX-T, EX-L, or Touring?

      --
      Of course news about a fake are Fake News.
  21. Re:More important to complain about small improvem by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Uh, did you not see the cameras on the Max? Did you not see the ML accelerator cores that can do 1TFLOP without touching the GPU? Sorry, dude, the XS Max is fuckin' insane.

  22. Solution by Artem+S.+Tashkinov · · Score: 1

    Let's just call it "maximum excess" and be done with. Because it's what it is.

  23. Equation by hcs_$reboot · · Score: 1

    lim t -> oo ( Apple ) = Microsoft

    --
    Slashdot, fix the reply notifications... You won't get away with it...
  24. xxX420SniperPhoneOneMaxXxx by PingSpike · · Score: 1

    [Microsoft employee] quip on Twitter: "And I thought we sucked at naming. #AppleEvent iPhone Xs Max September Refresh CTP1"

    Right, this is wildly different and much worse than a name like Xbox One X.

    1. Re:xxX420SniperPhoneOneMaxXxx by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      > Xbox One X

      Which of course was immediately called the XXX and confused concerned parents.

    2. Re:xxX420SniperPhoneOneMaxXxx by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I am still using a "Radeon X1950XTX" in my old tower (relegated to audio-video streaming, file storage, and a few other things).

  25. Here are my answers by sjbe · · Score: 1

    1. How bad does Apple have to make the iPhone before people finally just stop buying so many of them?

    A lot worse. Apple would really have to shit the bed with a big quality problem or security issue and even then they might still survive one bad product cycle. As long as they remain technologically competitive at a price point people are willing to pay then Apple is going to continue to sell huge numbers. They don't have to lead the pack on features and given the volumes they sell they probably couldn't. The bigger risk is that they fail to continue to improve the devices enough to convince people to "upgrade". For example I have an iPhone X but I'm not really seeing anything about the iPhone XS (or the XSmax or XR) that is a compelling reason for me to care. The XS Max and XR are bigger than I want and the XS doesn't really add much aside from a minor speed bump over what I already have.

    2. When will Android manufacturers and Apple stop borrowing the worst things from eachothers designs?

    Probably never. No one company is going to have a monopoly on all the good ideas or bad ones. Problem is that it's not always clear which are which in advance.

  26. Slashvertisement by Torodung · · Score: 1

    Who gives a fsck?

  27. What the hell does this mean for iphone X buyers by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    with the upgrade program

    do they upgrade to a smaller screen or a larger screen. if they upgrade me to the smaller screen then this is the first and last apple product i will ever buy.

    and no, there is no documentation about this anywhere

  28. Escalation of Buzzwords by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "Plus doesn't have the punch it used to. Time to release the iPhone Xs MAX!"
    "Now max is gettig expected. Time to upgrade! I phone XIVs UNLIMITED!"
    "iPhone XX Infinite!"
    "iPhone XXX Beyond!"
    Maybe it's just me, but seeing "Max" on the end of anything makes me think of off-brand products.

  29. Ten smacks by Kohath · · Score: 1

    It’s not hard to say "ten smacks"

    1. Re:Ten smacks by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Or Tense Max, take your pick.

    2. Re:Ten smacks by Kohath · · Score: 1

      Nah the 3 phones are obviously Tennis, Tenor, and Ten smacks. (Xs, Xr, Xsmax)

  30. Really? by jon3k · · Score: 1

    iPhone Ten Ess Max. What's so hard? Don't get me wrong, I absolutely hate the name, but if you have trouble saying that you might have had a mild stroke.

    1. Re:Really? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The stroke was probably from seeing the price.

  31. They could just name it X2 by Z80a · · Score: 1

    Then X3,X4,X5, zero, legends, battle network..

  32. Name would be fine... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ...if one could plug a headphone into its jack

  33. Why Does A Name Matter? by WankerWeasel · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I find myself saying the name of my phone a whole zero times daily. I'm far more concerned about things like the actual functionality of a phone than the name. If it does what I need it to do, they can name it whatever they like and it really doesn't matter one bit to me.

    1. Re:Why Does A Name Matter? by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      I find myself saying the name of my phone a whole zero times daily.

      No, but I bet you you googled the damn thing before you bought it. Names convey meaning, they always have. Product names most definitely do matter in that regard.

    2. Re:Why Does A Name Matter? by RhettLivingston · · Score: 1

      I have a similar viewpoint though I prefer to put "value" at the forefront as opposed to "functionality". Placing "functionality" at the forefront can put you on a wasteful upgrade schedule where you're paying a lot for "functionality" with very little added "value".

      With all of that in mind, I really feel that "iPhone Excess Max" is very appropriate though "iPhone Maximum Excess" would have been even better.

  34. Apple iPhoneBRAWNDOEditionMAX by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Apple iPhoneBRAWNDOEditionMAX, packed with electrolytes. It's got what Apple customers CRAVE!

  35. What's in a name? by King_TJ · · Score: 1

    There will obviously be plays on words, as the new phones roll out. Xs = Excessively costly, etc. etc.

    And admittedly it's a bit difficult spitting out "iPhone Xs Max". But what usually happens is people shorten up the names to whatever they find comfortable. Pretty sure the new iPhones will start getting called either an Xs or a "Max"?

    At least with Apple, you don't have the problem of them making dozens of variations of a phone for different pre-paid carriers to sell. I can't even remember what the name is of the cellphone I got my kid with a prepaid Simply Mobile plan. She wanted a case for it and it was a huge effort locating the right one to fit it. There are simply too many models that all look roughly alike in photos.

  36. "And I thought we sucked at naming" by DontBeAMoran · · Score: 1

    [Microsoft employee] quip on Twitter: "And I thought we sucked at naming. #AppleEvent iPhone Xs Max September Refresh CTP1"

    So basically, this guy admitted that Microsoft sucks at naming.

    But yes, "iPhone X [s] Max" is a terrible name. Apple painted themselves into a corner by naming last year's model "iPhone X". And then they doubled down on the stupid by going with "Max" instead of "Plus" like the previous years.

    --
    #DeleteFacebook
  37. A little about me by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    My name is Max and I'm getting one for Xmas.

  38. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 0

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  39. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 0

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  40. What matters more, the name or the product? by Angelwrath · · Score: 1

    I was thinking about this yesterday. The phone has become so ubiquitous that almost nobody thinks of their phone's model name / number. It takes me a moment to recall the specific generation / variant I own because it is so constantly referred to as just "iPhone" or "my iPhone". For any phone. The real factor remains "Android" or "iPhone", most details after that are secondary to 99% of the conversations I have about smartphones.

    Perhaps the names are getting so specific because the differentiation between phone generations is now so iterative that companies feel pressure to market those differences increasingly through the brand. Maybe now, if a company comes out with a truly different phone, they should break from brand category names like "Galaxy" or "iPhone" entirely. It's about time for a shakeup. Folding OLED display flip phone?

  41. You mean as opposed... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ...to the Samsung Galaxy S II Epic Touch? That is an actual phone name.

    1. Re:You mean as opposed... by Plumpaquatsch · · Score: 1

      ...to the Samsung Galaxy S II Epic Touch? That is an actual phone name.

      Actually the name is either "Samsung Galaxy S II Epic Touch 4G" or "Samsung Galaxy S II Epic 4G Touch" depending on who you ask. Unless you ask a provider, then the name of the provider in parentheses will be put behind either.

      --
      Of course news about a fake are Fake News.
  42. the real question is... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    why is apple so afraid of the number eleven?

  43. in Italy iPXsMAX/512U$D1975 1689 euros inc tax by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I'm never going to walk around with sixteen hundred euros of new shiny device in my pocket, whatever it is called!

    in Italy the new iPXsMAX-512GB is today about U$D nineteen hundred and seventy five dollars including the local taxes

  44. You think iPhone Max is bad, just wait for the by raymorris · · Score: 1

    If anyone thinks the Max iPhone naming is bad, just wait for the iPad version. The new MaxiPad.

  45. They got nothing on Microsoft by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I remember early smartphones which had opersting systems called things like Windows Mobile 2003 for Pocket PC Phone Edition or wm2k3ppcpe for short.

  46. No Sale. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    No headphone jack, not buying it.

  47. As if the iPad names were any better by rjejr · · Score: 1

    iPad, iPad 2, iPad, iPad Mini, iPad, iPad Air, iPad Mini 2, iPad Air 2, iPad Min 3, iPad Mini 4, iPad Pro, iPad, iPad Pro

    1. Re:As if the iPad names were any better by DontBeAMoran · · Score: 1

      Didn't you forget "The New iPad"? AFAIK it was the official name.

      Apart from that, at least for a while they did follow the 1/2/3/4 naming convention. The Air thing was to differenciate between previous and newer generations and the mini/pro is/was to differenciate between sizes.

      --
      #DeleteFacebook
  48. A company took pride in naming it's models? by thegarbz · · Score: 1

    Like the company that produced the iPhone smartphone without 3G at a time when 3G was being quickly adopted, that proceeded to produce the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS shortly after, and when the world started quickly adopting 4G they produced the iPhone 4 and 4S both of which didn't have any extra GS despite claiming to be cutting edge.

  49. Re:More important to complain about small improvem by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I find it rather petty to complain about the naming convention, Xs Plus would have been more logical to me, but Xs Max isn't really worse, just different.

    It's bad because the name is inelegant, which conflicts with the company's image.

    Many, perhaps most, people buy an iPhone because of its image. A crappy name chips away at that image. This name isnt a large misstep, but continued missteps like this will make competitors more attractive to the image-conscience user base.

  50. Just get the $750 XR by WillAffleckUW · · Score: 1

    Problem solved.

    It also comes in cooler colors

    --
    -- Tigger warning: This post may contain tiggers! --
  51. Mangled nonsensical summary by oldmac31310 · · Score: 1

    Far worse that the name of the phone. Glasshouses, stones>

    --
    http://www.acetonestudio.com
  52. Phone-etically by Hallux-F-Sinister · · Score: 1

    Let me untwist your tongue. I will simply call it the eye phone Smacks The other I will refer to as the eye phone Pixar.

    Not that it really matters what stupid-sounding name Apple slaps on their latest overpriced abominations. They discontinued the last iPhone with a headphone jack! They have now passed the last day I was willing to give them to update (and actually IMPROVE) the Mac Mini. I give up. I am done with them and sick of their shit.

    Apple is dead to me.

    --
    Our reign has gone on long enough. Indeed. Summon the meteors.
    1. Re:Phone-etically by DontBeAMoran · · Score: 1

      Wait at least until the end of october, where they're supposed to be presenting the new Macs.

      Once they truly and properly butcher the Mac mini, then you can be done with them for good.

      --
      #DeleteFacebook
    2. Re:Phone-etically by Hallux-F-Sinister · · Score: 1

      I thought that announcement was supposed to be today, (or well, yesterday, or whatever,) not in another month. (sigh)

      --
      Our reign has gone on long enough. Indeed. Summon the meteors.
  53. XsMax by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Sounds like an off brand energy drink

  54. Seriously? by socalsteve · · Score: 1

    âoeiPhone Ten Ess Maxâ is a tongue twister?! Whatâ(TM)s got your tongue tied in a knot?