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September 2, 2010
Apple Adds the Ping Brand Name and Drops the CD Logo
Apple gave us a few interesting naming decisions yesterday.
Firstly, they did not ditch the iPod name, as some pundits suggested they might. They also did not embrace the iTV name, sticking with Apple TV, which means that the similarly named UK broadcaster can ask its legal team to stand down for the moment.
On the other hand, we do have an interesting new name that has come from the "Special Event" held yesterday at the Yerba Buena Center. Ping (which sort of sounds like bing, as in Microsoft's search engine) is the new part of iTunes 10 that "allows you to share with your friends what you're listening to and even share information on concerts and events."
The name reminds me of the way we use the word in common parlance: I "ping" you when I want your attention, the way a submarine "pings" an underwater object using sonar technology.
This is a logical mashup of iTunes and social networking technology and I'm a bit surprised it hasn't come sooner. Even Steve Jobs voiced what probably everyone was thinking when the announcement was made: this is "like Facebook and Twitter meets iTunes."
The appearance of yet "another social network" has been met phlegmatically by some. But the really interesting part about this is how Ping golf clubs came to an agreement with Apple for an undisclosed sum. Ping's parent company even issued a friendly statement assuring us all that there's a synergy here of sorts: "Like Ping, Apple carries a reputation for innovation and quality."
I should also note that the iTunes logo no longer features a CD, which puts an end to a very recognizable image that has been with us for almost a decade.
I think this is a logical reflection of a change in the way we purchase music. Jobs even joked about the "looming obsolescence" of the CD, something that he is largely responsible for.
Technorati Tags: Ping, Ping Social Network, iTunes Ping, iTunes New Logo, Apple Branding
Posted by William Lozito at September 2, 2010 9:12 AM
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