The 'i' of it all

Posted:
in General Discussion edited January 2014
iMac, iApps, iPod... notice a trend?



And not just at Mac either, I have noticed other companies putting an 'i' in front of other products as well.



From memory I think that the iMac was the first, and I was told that the i stood for Internet... is this true? And if so, why has it been put in front of everything else since?



And if Mac did do it first, could they not sue others for brand infringement, or something of other?



And since Microsoft copy everything Mac does, should we be expecting iWindows next?



Basically what I am asking is: Does anyone know the evolution of the 'i'?



Les.
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 22
    iDunno
  • Reply 2 of 22
    Quote:

    Originally posted by les t

    iMac, iApps, iPod... notice a trend?



    And not just at Mac either, I have noticed other companies putting an 'i' in front of other products as well.



    From memory I think that the iMac was the first, and I was told that the i stood for Internet... is this true? And if so, why has it been put in front of everything else since?



    And if Mac did do it first, could they not sue others for brand infringement, or something of other?



    And since Microsoft copy everything Mac does, should we be expecting iWindows next?



    Basically what I am asking is: Does anyone know the evolution of the 'i'?



    Les.




    Yes, "i" originally stood for "internet". Then the iMac was a hit and now it's iThis and iThat. With a possible exception for Apple (cause they started it), it's just marketing departments trying to capitalize on a perceived trend. Therefore, I try to avoid buying anything not from Apple that has an iName. Kinda like how if a product has "E-Z" is it's name you know it's crap.
  • Reply 3 of 22
    placeboplacebo Posts: 5,767member
    i stood for internet, but now it stands for intuitive, in my opinion.
  • Reply 4 of 22
    murbotmurbot Posts: 5,262member
    It doesn't stand for anything. They're stuck using the damn thing.
  • Reply 5 of 22
    It's a brand thing. Who cares. Eventually (maybe already) it will become tired...like fruit colored computers (and eventually the white will be too).
  • Reply 6 of 22
    emaneman Posts: 7,204member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Chris Cuilla

    It's a brand thing. Who cares. Eventually (maybe already) it will become tired...like fruit colored computers (and eventually the white will be too).



    I really hope so.
  • Reply 7 of 22
    cosmonutcosmonut Posts: 4,872member
    Well, if you still believe it stands for "internet" and you look at all the iNamed things at Apple that connect to the internet in one form or another, it's still mostly appropriate:
    • iMac - Connects to the net.

    • iBook - Connects to the 'net.

    • iTunes - Connects for the iTunes Music Store.

    • iMovie - Just now (in v. 4) connects to upload movies to .Mac from the app.

    • iDVD - This one DOESN'T connect to the 'net...yet.

    • iPhoto - Connects to upload photos to .Mac or to buy prints or books.

    • iCal - Connects to upload your calendar to .Mac.

    • iSync - Connects to .Mac to sync between Macs.

    • iChat - Chattin' across the 'net.

    • iSight - Video chattin' across the 'net.

    • iPod - Loosely works with the 'net to hold songs from the iTMS.

    So where Apple's products are concerned, really iDVD and iPod don't live up to their names in having SOMETHING to do with the internet. I don't mind the names, but it'd be good for them to come up with something else after a while. Maybe GarageBand signals the beginning of the trend moving away from the iNames.
  • Reply 8 of 22
    I say 'i' stands for integrated





    or was it innovative :cool:
  • Reply 9 of 22
    Must be a really slow news day for this discussion to have come up again. Possible to put this thread out of our misery?
  • Reply 10 of 22
    'i' stood for "interim" when Steve Jobs was first brought back.



    He was the iCEO for a long while before becoming the official CEO.
  • Reply 11 of 22
    crusadercrusader Posts: 1,129member
    I prefer the "x" trend. 'xServe' is sooo much cooler that 'iMac'.
  • Reply 12 of 22
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Crusader

    I prefer the "x" trend. 'xServe' is sooo much cooler that 'iMac'.



    Except that you and most other people out there get it wrong.



    It's Xserve.



    Not xServe.

    Not XServe.

    Not x-Serve.

    etc.



    Xserve.



    People used to bitch and moan whenever someone said I-Mac or IMAC. Kids these days are getting too complacent.
  • Reply 13 of 22
    The i stood for internet and innovation.



    I prefer innovation.
  • Reply 14 of 22
    "I" stands for ME as in I want this for me, myself and I
  • Reply 15 of 22
    Quote:

    Originally posted by murbot

    It doesn't stand for anything. They're stuck using the damn thing.



    It means 'I' as in "myself" or "me."
  • Reply 16 of 22
    Quote:

    Originally posted by CosmoNut

    Well, if you still believe it stands for "internet" and you look at all the iNamed things at Apple that connect to the internet in one form or another, it's still mostly appropriate:iMac - Connects to the net.
    iBook - Connects to the 'net.
    iTunes - Connects for the iTunes Music Store.
    iMovie - Just now (in v. 4) connects to upload movies to .Mac from the app.
    iDVD - This one DOESN'T connect to the 'net...yet.
    iPhoto - Connects to upload photos to .Mac or to buy prints or books.
    iCal - Connects to upload your calendar to .Mac.
    iSync - Connects to .Mac to sync between Macs.
    iChat - Chattin' across the 'net.
    iSight - Video chattin' across the 'net.
    iPod - Loosely works with the 'net to hold songs from the iTMS.
    So where Apple's products are concerned, really iDVD and iPod don't live up to their names in having SOMETHING to do with the internet. I don't mind the names, but it'd be good for them to come up with something else after a while. Maybe GarageBand signals the beginning of the trend moving away from the iNames.




    I think the fact that apps like Address Book and Calculator didn't get iNames may also signal a trend away from iNames
  • Reply 17 of 22
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Brad

    Except that you and most other people out there get it wrong.



    It's Xserve.



    Not xServe.

    Not XServe.

    Not x-Serve.

    etc.



    Xserve.



    People used to bitch and moan whenever someone said I-Mac or IMAC. Kids these days are getting too complacent.




    Well "X" Apple for doing that! .
  • Reply 18 of 22
    Quote:

    Originally posted by ryaxnb

    I think the fact that apps like Address Book and Calculator didn't get iNames may also signal a trend away from iNames



    Stand-alone apps such as Keynote and GarageBand may be better examples.
  • Reply 19 of 22
    a_greera_greer Posts: 4,594member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Placebo

    i stood for internet, but now it stands for intuitive, in my opinion.



    unless its not apple most of the iCandy at bestbuy/cc/comp usa, and so on is crap that could just as easily be called iCrap
  • Reply 20 of 22
    a_greera_greer Posts: 4,594member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Crusader

    I prefer the "x" trend. 'xServe' is sooo much cooler that 'iMac'.



    which came first, Xserve or xBox and what about x-Games
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