iPhone announced - not Apple
LinkSys announced its iPhone today.
This, of course, sent the Hardcore Mac Faithful into fits today, wailing about what Apple might do next now that the name of its next product has been taken so cruelly from it.
Whoa, back up there a bit! Apple has never publicly said they were working on a phone. It’s no doubt coming, as the business trade magazines are running well-sourced stories on it now. But to assume that “iPhone” has been anything but an internet shorthand to refer to the device is an act of pure hubris. And as has been previously discussed, Apple couldn’t lay claim to that trademark if they wanted to. They have to come up with something different. (”The PodPhone?” “iTalk?” “iPodChat?” Who knows?)
At least with the iTV, the Mac Faithful have had an announcement from Apple to mull over. Even then, Steve Jobs said up front that “iTV” is just the behind the scenes code name for the project. It won’t be named that when it comes out. Besides which, eyeTV might have something to say about that.
So just calm down. It’s almost Christmas. Then MacWorld starts. THEN you can get excited for all the new announcements. Take the holiday off.
December 18th, 2006 at 3:13 pm
They’ll probably go for “MacPhone” although I’d prefer something like “Macintalk”. Although I’m sure a lawsuit is currently being drafted somewhere at Apple.
December 18th, 2006 at 4:59 pm
I say they should use “MacYak”. It’s easy to say, it rhymes, and… well, okay, that’s about it.
December 19th, 2006 at 8:54 am
I just read that Apple owns iphone.org. Whoops, I guess there is SOME reason to associate Apple with iPhone, then.