Time to Play the Apple Name Game [u]
Artist's Depiction of Apple Tablet
It’s been fun and frustrating trying to sift through the hype and hysteria surrounding Apple’s forthcoming tablet device. I’ve got some ideas about what I’d like to see — and what I think we will likely see — from Apple. Maybe I’ll throw some predictions into my next post. This post is about names.
Most guesses at the name have hinged around recent Apple trademark activities. Specifically, iSlate and iPad keep popping up.
Evidence points to Apple’s ownership of iSlate.com domain
Most people are assuming the device will be named as if it were in the iPod/iPhone family of devices. I’m not so sure. OK, it will likely run the “iPhone OS”, and it will likely look a lot like an iPhone, but that doesn’t mean it has to have a name starting with an “i”.
You may remember that the AppleTV was originally names iTV, but Apple switched the name just before its release due to trademark issues. The “i” meme is just a fad, imho. I think Apple is ready to move on.
Ever since Apple discontinued the white and black MacBook lines, I thought it looked like they were making room for a new product. Later, I’d find I was right: the forthcoming tablet device is that new product. Placing it squarely between the iPhone/iPod and the MacBook is a clever and obvious way to expand the iPod “halo” effect. So why not name the device after the MacBook line to solidify the expected upgrade path?
iPod –> tablet –> Mac
So here are some of my guesses:
MacBook Me (my favorite)
MacBook Slate (obvious)
MacBook Pad (obvious)
MacBook Tablet (ditto)
MacBook Nano (hybrid iPod/Mac)
MacBook Touch (hybrid iPod/Mac)
MacBook Slice (sounds like a soda)
MacBook Vibe / iVibe (too retro)
MacBook Neue
Do you have a good name?
Updated 2010-01-25:
MacBook Palette / iPalette
MacBook Prism / iPrism
Apple Personal TV (PTV)
