New iPad adopts simple product naming Steve Jobs brought to Apple in 1997 - Page 3

No what's dumb is calling your second version iPad 2 and then not numbering the rest. The sensible thing to do is be consistent that way people understand.

I find a few issues with the name. Firstly does the device actually say 3rd generation on it anywhere? Otherwise when you go to sell it how do you actually find out (this is more an issue in a few years when you have no idea how many versions there's been)

Second, what's it going to say in the compatibility list in iTunes on apps? Rather than iPad, iPad 2, iPad 3 etc its now going to list of 3rd Generation, 4th Generation, which also can't be shortened to 3G as that's something completely different.

So its not like they've got rid of the individual names, there just really really long. E.g
the item listed on my order was a iPad with Wi-Fi 16GB - White (3rd generation.

Thats a false assumption.

Apple is often the company spending the most on advertising.

Hell, even Steves biography states they spent the largest out of all the markets when starting up the ipod brand. On this side of the world, I see constant iphone adverts, ipad adverts, and the occasional macbook air advert. Cant say I really ever see anything out of the competition. When i do, its usually the cell providers advertising android, and occasionally a galaxy SII.

Apple had to change the name sooner or later. Remember those "NOW" music cd's that we all use to buy. What number did you stop at. It just gets ridiculous after some many years and iterations that people just tend to not care about the product anymore. BTW, if you're interested, you can pick up your copy of "NOW 41" here in the US. I also saw that there is a "Now 81" but it appears to be the UK series.

You're the one looking silly and foolish for getting bent out of shape over a harmless comment pointing out the big hole in this naming scheme.

I wonder if this new name is a sign that we should expect an iPad mini.

That's probably going to be the biggest problem next year if they continue to sell the old one. That's one thing that distinguishes the other products from iOS products is that Apple doesn't simultaneously sell the old one and new one together outside the refurb store.

On the other hand, I think they have probably reached the pinnacle of the iPad design so every subsequent model will look identical. Hopefully that won't be the case with the iPhone but you never know.

Saw a Duesey a few years ago, on the street. Would love to have made the owner an offer... \

Dick, please, language!

(You're right though )

Nooooooo!!!

iPad Air...

I must say that it's a sure sign of how great the product is when the only thing to complain about is the name. I guess the Apple haters are really scraping the bottom of the barrel.

Just like the iPhone 4S. The biggest complaint was simply that it didn't have a new appearance. When that's the only major complaint, it shows what a great product it is.

Don't forget that people are complaining that Apple is erroneously calling HSPA+, DC-HSPA, and LTE '4G'.

Oddly we're not hearing too many complaints about the extra thickness or weight.

Exactly.

And while a couple dozen people on these internet forums complained about the name for the last 4 days... Apple had a couple million pre-orders for this nameless iPad over the last 4 days.

Hmmmm.... the name must not be a big deal, after all.

The simplified naming means that people who buy Apple equipment get very different hardware with the same name. So you don't know whether something will work or not just based on the model. When trading used hardware, people have to invent their own names, like a "late 2011 MacBook Air 11''" etc. On the whole, this is typical Apple:make things appear simple when they really aren't, and let someone else deal with the mess.

It's fun to play iSherlock to deduce the most likely path you think Apple will take given the known information but I think most people just want the device to work well. They could call it the Samsung Zune Eee Pad for all I care. I'd still buy the product they demoed.

How did Apple ever survive with just MacBook Pro or MacBook or MacBook Air or Mac Pro or Mac mini or iPod or iPod Nano or iPod Shuffle or AirPort Extreme or AirPort Express without having the year, generation, or some other qualifier appended to it. I bought my MacBook Pro in 2010 but without it officially saying MacBook Pro 2010 on the device I'll never really be sure¡ Is that top still spinning?

"Generations" doesn't refer to speed, it refers to underlying technology. 3G and 4G use different encodings. Calling a 3G standard a 4G standard just because you think it's fast enough makes about as much sense as calling a PC a Mac because you think it's fast enough.

Those theoretical maxima are also irrelevant. Carrier networks are deployed to deliver a maximum of 21Mbps or 42Mbps, but US carriers manage to deliver maybe 7Mbps, which networks in Europe manage to deliver using simple HSPA. That is, actual HSPA+ speeds in the US are firmly in the range usually delivered by 3G networks around the world.

The only reason for the 4G/3G confusion in the US is because carriers are so overloaded and using such outdated technology that 4G has caught up with them before they ever got around to fully deploying 3G. HSPA+ has been deployed in Europe since 2009, and unlike the US, 3G networks in Europe actually deliver close to full speed in many places.

Ha! I was going to write that! But you beat me too it!

Which is fine for backend engineering but, as I stated, as soon as you make this something you market to the average customer the whole thing falls apart. Do you really think the average customer cares about the air interfaces, channel access methods, etc.? Of course not!

Customers care only about how it affects their end user experience so suggesting to a customer that CDMA2000 1X in some backwoods Verizon network is the same as LTE because they are both '3G' is erroneous and pointless. A measure of performance is the only logical method that can be understood by laymen... and the cardinal number followed by the letter 'G' is exactly what they think it refers.

Try asking some random person what's the difference between 3G and 4G? Chances are they will say 4G is faster. Ask them what the difference between CDMA2000 1X and DC-HSDPA and they will have no idea what you're talking about.

edit: How an 'x' scale rating adopted by carriers. Your device will show the least common factor between your cell tower and handset cellular HW based on a standard definition of '1x'. Let's say that's 10Mbit/s. That means if you are connecting to an HSPA+ node with a device that can handle 21Mbit/s HSPA+ your device will show '2x' which denotes double over the baseline max theoretical. If you are connecting to DC-HSDPA at 42Mbit/s it would show '4x'. A user would easily understand that '4x' is better than '2x' is better than '1x'.

Not likely.

They could introduce an iPad mini whether they called this one iPad, iPad 3, or iPad HD. None of those would conflict with an iPad mini.

That's not to say that they might not introduce an iPad mini - I don't know, nor do I care. But I don't think the iPad naming tells you anything one way or the other.

This!!! So right! Apple has been able to get away with generic names for products where the older model is discontinued in favor of the newer model. But in the case of the iDevices the older models is sticking around: The iPhone 3GS and 4 are still being sold new by Apple along with the 4S. Going to fully generic naming with the iPad means that if the previous generation continues to be sold as new by Apple, it's going to be confusing for customers and sales staff:

Joe Customer: "Hi, I'd like to get an iPad."
Apple Salesman: "Great, would you like the new iPad or the iPad?"
Joe Customer: "The iPad or the iPad???"
Apple Salesman: "Yeah, well we give you the choice, you can either get the new iPad with A8Z Processor and Intellitouch technology, or you can get the iPad with A7 Processor and HD+ Graphics. So do you want the new iPad or the iPad?"
Joe Customer: "I don't get the difference. It was easier to understand when they had clearer names."

With the next iPhone, you'll be able to choose the new iPhone, the iPhone 4S or the iPhone 4. Then with the next next iPhone you'll be able to get the new iPhone, the iPhone, the iPhone 4S. . . I understand that the iPhone product iteration numbers/letters are getting long in the tooth and unwieldy, but going ultra-minimalist will also cause problems.

In the car market you have the Ford Mustang as a generic model name, but at least you can figure out what Ford Mustang you're dealing with because the production year information is provided. And cars models are sold first and foremost by model year: 2012 Mustang, 2010 Mustang, etc. The consumer and the seller both can figure out a lot about the car being discussed just by looking at what model year it is. And even then there are different names associated with major features and trim levels (Mustang, Mustang GT, Mustang GT Cobra). I hope Apple considers putting the production year somewhere prominently in the marketing materials for each new iteration if it's going this minimalist naming route. There will have to be a short-hand way to refer to the different iterations going forward, and it seems to me model year is the only sensible way to do so.

I think you're making it out to be more complex than it is especially with your scenario. Why would they say "The iPad or the iPad???" when they can ask which one they wanted. They can say refer to it as new or the 2012 model or the faster one just as they can refer to it as black or white and WiFI-only or WiFi+4G and 16GB or 32GB or 64GB. These are all ways this device would have to be described in order for a customers to buy the 1 of 18 models even if it was called iPad 3 or iPad HD.

What about MacBook Pro and MacBook Air? I don't recall it being called the new MacBook Pro, the new new MacBook Pro or the new new new MacBook Pro.

uber sweet ride!! I'd give up a testicle for a ride around the block in this beauty!!

If they call it an iPad mini, the current one will be nicknamed the MaxiPad, given that maxi is the opposite of mini.

Not likely.

Amen for that.

You only have to read that article and look at the pictures and see there's a chasm between the start and the 'end.'

Jobs gave Apple one hell of a beating to get it into shape.

That last picture of the entire line up on one tiny picture is an awesome legacy.

I'd call it genius.

Lemon Bon Bon.

Nice job clipping a tiny portion of my post to completely distort what I said.....

Ipad hd? Who the hell thought apple would seriously even consider adding the tired, meaningless and boring hd moniker every dime a dozen manufacturer uses to the ipad (other than solipsismX that is)? Seriously, ipad hd would be the most unapple name I could think of.

or tbf even:

"Sprint Samsung Galaxy S II, Epic Touch 4G (Black) Android Smartphone SPH-D710"

According to Samsung

1) Unlike you who demanded Apple to add all sorts of features simply because you wanted them I merely stated that calling it an iPad HD instead of iPad 3 wouldn't be out of the question as noted by the 2nd gen iPhone acquiring the 3G qualifier to help market added functionality.

2) The more vitriol and puerile emotion you exhibit the more pathetic you will look. My suggestion is for you to dial it back a bit but if you insist on instigating a fight I not hesitate to destroy you.

Yay, I can't wait until Apple's entire laptop line is limited to slow low-voltage CPUs, skimpy but expensive SSD storage, two ports and pokey integrated graphics due to space and heat constraints!

The brilliance of this naming move:

With it, Apple is saying: "Here is the iPad [and all that entails] -- a solution to some of your wants and needs... Anything else is, just not an iPad!"

Features, year, model don't matter... It's an iPad -- or it isn't.

Err... Did you happen to watch the games demoing the "pokey" graphics on that new iPad retina display?

Of course they wouldnt. Apple only adds a tired, meaningless and boring moniker to the iphone4s when it connects to at&t network.

Makes perfect sense. Makes you wonder why Apple called the various iPhones "3G," "3GS," "4," and "4S" at all. (And also makes you wonder why Apple named last year's iPad the "iPad 2" at all.)

My guess is that Apple marketing originally thought it was important to differentiate each year's model. Then, I'd imagine that they did another study recently and found that customers just walked into the store and asked for "the new iPhone," like you'd expect them to do. And I'd guess that shoppers search for "new iPhone" on Apple.com when they order iPhones online.

The customer is always right. Why even bother figuring out a new name for each year's iPhone, when simple is best?

I'm thinking they felt the 3G connectivity in the 2nd gen iPhone had to be noted and then got stuck. With LTE coming *hopefully with the MDM9615 there really won't any more generational updates for awhile, just higher capacity and faster performance. I hope they keep it simple.

Interesting-- which side of the world is that? Because I can tell you that in the States, Android advertising sometimes feels like a solid 75% of every ad aired on television. Of course, that includes several different handset makers plus the carriers (particularly Verizon), who love to push big scary Android-as-raygun-from-the-future spots as a way to suggest they're some kind of cybernetic enhancement clinic that gives you superpowers.

Thanks for saving me keystrokes.

Of course, for the number of pixels - not quite 3.14M (it rounds up to 3.15 alas), I still think...

iPad π ...would have been a great marketing name - except it took me 10 minutes to figure out how to get a decent looking rendition on screen, so hard to "viralize".....

...and so, so much for "Apple Pi".......


Maybe the great OS convergence will happen right after iOS 9 and OS X Jaguarundi as.....

iOS X ....or not. Just amusin' myself on a Sunday....

How about πPad.

Apple sold the 2nd and 3rd gen iPod touch at the same time and no one batted an eye. Leads me to believe it'll be just fine calling the iPad and iPhone just 'iPad' and 'iPhone' from here on out.