What’s in a name?

People try too hard to come up with names. From celebrities making a mockery out of their offspring by naming them as if they were racehorses, to marketers who clearly named their products on a whim.

Not that there aren’t any good names around, but must names really be special? Why can't more effort be channelled into something else?

One brand I know, has certainly went all out to develop some of the best gadgets the world has ever seen and at the same time, came up with some of the cutest but simplest naming conventions for their products.

This brand is one other than Apple. The name of the company is already proof above all else. Why not some weird name like..

COOLANGATTA? (I got that from my phone dictionary)

Okay, it's a suburb in Gold Coast, Australia.

How about naming it, Steve Jobs & Co.?

No, cause Apple was enough.

No fancy pantsy complicated word that does not even exist in the dictionary.

Just something as humble as the fruit that keeps the doctor away.

In the past, everyone knew the apple as the fruit.

At the present, everyone knows Apple as the company. Even my grandmother knows Apple!

In the future, the word "apple"might never be a fruit anymore.

Let's take a look at some of their best products and simplest names.

Back in the 1970s - 1980s, they named their products:


Apple I
Apple II

Apple III and so forth. I suppose they knew that they can't use that naming convention forever or else it would be Apple VVVVVVVVIIIIIIIIIIIII (too many excellent Apple products!)

Next came the Apple Lisa. Simply named after Steve Job's daughter.


Next was the powerbook. It wasn't hard to guess what kind of an electronic it was just by looking at its name.


And by the way, this design lay the foundations for the modern form of the laptop.

Fastforwarding, by the time Apple started to name a multitude of products starting with the letter "i", they were already regarded as one of the most inventive and innovative electronics-maker in the world.

From the very first transclucent shell iMac to the revolutionary iPhone, almost every product that started with an "i" in its name was a success.


iMovie, iDVD, iPhoto, iTunes, iWeb, iLife, iPod, iSight, iWork, iSync, iChat, iCal, iBook.......

The iPod line can be considered as the best testimony.


Don't you just like how it sounds? when you have an iPod, you know it's yours cause there is an "i". At least that's what i feel. There is a sense of belonging and you know you are in the Apple community.


And not forgetting a series which continues the legacy of Apple not with the letter "i" but with the word "mac".

Macbook

MacBook Pro
as well as the new and improved iMac, the Mac Pro and Mac Mini.

And then came along MacBook Air.. When they first announced the name, you would have already guessed what it's all about.....

Once again, like the humble origins of the brand name, they didn't need bombastic product names to propel them into this modern golden age. All they needed was a combination of product genius and simple yet catchy naming conventions to send the world into a frenzy.

My personal favourite is the iPhone.

When I first got wind of Apple venturing into the mobile phone market with the launch of a phone, I knew the phone can only be called iPhone and I was spot on.

(Even a consumer can guess the name of a product way before it's launched, that's how powerful Apple's simple naming convention is)

Simple name, but this gadget packs a punch.

Here's how:

okay wait, i'm sure everyone knows about the specs like INSIDE OUT cause this phone is just HOT to the maximum. It's just as hot as Sunny Singapore.

I'll try going a different way..

Ever heard of how Anti-Mac or just plain old jane criticising the iphone? It seems that whenever a new Apple product is launched, people want to crticise it because they know just how good it is. It's almost like a competition to see who can dig out the ONE bad point about Apple product. However, their “undying” efforts are always furtile and will get them nowhere. Let me look at how i can counter each of them with my own opinion.

1: The iPhone only got 2 mega-pixel camera leh!

Well, you are right, it's 2 mega pixel. But, why would you need those 5 mega-pixels or more phones when their screen is so freaking small?! I don't even think their quality is that good anyway. 5 mega pixels just means that you will get to see the flaws in the pictures and you have to resize them. Damn troublesome!

iPhone has a 3.5 inch (diagonal) widescreen interface. Which means, if you are 1.9m tall, i would not have to like run 3km away from you just to snap a picture! (cause my screen is so big, i can capture the full length easily. get it?)

See, i countered it so easily.

2. What? 8GB and 16GB. Good Luck to you! Your phone is going to be super laggy.

Come on, what era are you living in?

Everyone knows that if you store full to the brim for ANY memory card, be it 1GB or anything, it will slow down a little. What's more, 8GB and 16GB are huge huge huge. I'm sure there are plenty of space for you to put songs, videos and etc. If you finish watching a video, don't be lazy.. just take it out. that is simple logic. isn't it.

3. the iPhone.. err, has no 3G!

Now it does, you kuku.
4. Long queue to get the iPhone!! Wimp.

Oh please, dont give me this kind of BS.

5. There is no keyboard!!

Well, as you can see, even though it has no keyboard, you can still see what numbers you are keying and what you are typing in your sms right? I don't get why people have to feel it physically. troublesome people. tsk.

6. It has got only one button.

That's the coolest thing about the iPhone. Nothing but one button and that's enough! You operate the phone through the touchscreen which switches from numbers to letters and to any other commands you need seamlessly. No more complicated or hard to reach buttons, just one flat surface. That simple! And the touchscreen is unlike any other. Join two fingers together in a pinching motion and the screen actually zooms in!

Let's compare the steps we use for any normal phones:

Select picture -> Options -> Scroll down till you find the “ZOOM” button -> Zoom in once or twice.

Now the iPhone

Select picture -> put 2 fingers in pinching motion -> Zoom in any-o-how you like (you have complete control of the zooming in!)

Thats like 4 steps (+ alot of scrolling down) vs 3 steps!

IMHO, people are just too demanding. iPhone is like the best thing on earth so far, be it looks or quality, i think it is GOOD!!

You can download fun widgets...

Like This!!!



OR THIS!!



OR EVEN THIS!!



there are just too many!!

Seriously, what more can you ask for?

ADD ON:

Just a little conversation between my friend and I sometime ago..


Apple story from screamer on Comiqs

What can i say? Apple has such advanced technology that anything that seems impossible, can be deemed as possible!

credits of southpark comic: http://images.southparkstudios.com/games/create/

Visit Apple for more information on the products and of course, purchase an Apple product and join the community! :D


Right now, they are having a promotion for all students, parents and teachers!

Buy a Macbook and get a iPod for free! This offer is really TO DIE FOR.

I don't understand.. what are you waiting for!! Hurry visit the website now! :D