From 65438 to 2006, Apple used the prefix "I" to name revolutionary products, such as iMac and iPad. Apple Watch will end this traditional naming method.
The name "iWatch" has been widely used by major media and technology critics long before Apple released its products, but Apple did not name the new wearable product "iWatch".
John Gruber, a well-known Apple reporter, tweeted: "I'll name it, rest in peace." It can be seen that the traditional naming method of Apple products may become history.
Why is Apple like this? There are indications that if Apple names its wearable products after "iWatch", then Apple will face trademark disputes.
In May this year, Nick Hayek, CEO of Swatch, the world's largest watch manufacturer, said that Swatch had registered the trademark "iWatch" in some countries. Swatch has informed the relevant state departments that Apple's "iWatch" name will have an impact on the iSwatch brand. ISwatch is a digital watch owned by Swatch.
Previously, Apple showed great interest in the "iWatch" brand, and the company applied for the "iWatch" trademark in Japan, South Korea and other countries. In fact, Apple once broke away from the naming method of the "I" prefix, and the entire MacBook product line was not named after the "I" prefix.
In 2006, Jobs announced the TV set-top box product, which is now called "Apple TV". At that time, Jobs said that Apple called this device "iTV". The following year, this product was officially launched, but Apple quietly renamed it "Apple TV", and Apple did not explain the reason for the name change.
In recent years, the industry is rumored that Apple will launch brand-new TV products, and the media and Wall Street analysts have once again mentioned "iTV". 20 10 An executive of British TV station iTV said that the company opposed any attempt by Apple to use the "ITV" brand.
However, Apple has never been ashamed to get involved in product name disputes with other big companies. In 2007, Apple officially released the iPhone. Soon, Cisco sued Apple for trademark infringement, claiming that it owned the iPhone trademark as early as 2000. At that time, an Apple spokesperson claimed that the lawsuit was "stupid". About a month later, the two sides settled the dispute through secret terms.
1998, Apple named its products with the prefix "I" for the first time. At that time, Jobs, who had just returned to the company, launched the candy-colored computer iMac, which revived Apple's product strength. At the press conference, Jobs told the enthusiastic audience that the "I" in iMac represents many things, including the Internet (network), individuals (individuals), instructions (instructions), information (information) and inspiration (inspiration).
Ken Segall, the former creative director of Apple Advertising, once participated in the choice of iMac name. Siegel said on his personal website that the name has a wide range of meanings, which is part of the reason for its popularity.
Siegel wrote: "This name looks lovely. It has individuality and conciseness, and can evolve into a new product name. With these good beginnings, iMac easily succeeded. "
For more than a decade, Apple has named many products in this way, such as iTunes, iWork, iPhone and iCloud. During his tenure as interim CEO of Apple, the media and analysts also named Jobs "iCEO", and Jobs once said that he liked the name.
In the end, Jobs abandoned his "temporary" title and officially became the CEO of Apple. With the appearance of Apple Watch, Apple once again abandoned the letter "I".