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 9:12 AM
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Commodore 64 Brand Naming Officially Back from the Dead

Some names never die. Like the Commodore 64.

Commodore USA is going to release a new computer that is a souped up clone of the trusty old 80's era computer. This has been a long time in the making: according to ZDNET:

Commodore USA announced in March that it was reviving the much-loved Commodore brand, but ran into problems when it transpired that company chief executive Barry Altman had negotiated a licensing agreement with a company -- Commodore Gaming -- that was itself a licensee of the brand. The actual holder of the rights to the brand was Commodore Licensing BV, itself a subsidiary of Asiarim Corp.

In fact, the original Commodore went bankrupt in 1994. This is a true "zombie brand" that refuses to die simply because it has wonderful name recognition.

Some of the old software has lived on via Nintendo's virtual console and Commodore USA is obviously trying to ride a wave that is now over twenty five years old.

The new PC64 (vs the old C64 naming), will be fairly slick.

It "will be powered by an Intel Atom processor while boasting up to 4GB of DDR3 RAM, a SATA 1TB hard drive, with an HDMI output to cater to those who want to hook it up to a HDTV, an optical drive with the choice of DVD/CD or Blu-ray among others."

The Register gives us a lowdown on the history of the computer and the brand name.

The Commodore 64 was supposed to be the computer for "the masses." This reincarnation looks to be more of a niche offering than anything else.

Nonetheless, they claim there has been an "overwhelming demand" for this for users across the world.

Hmmm. I do think there is room for a retro machine like this, but I have to wonder if the new version of the Commodore 64 really bears much of the brand essence of its predecessor.

I think it will enhance the Commodore 64 Brand Equity.

Technorati Tags: Commodore 64, Commodore 64, Nintendo, PC64, Brand Naming

Posted by William Lozito at 8:09 AM
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Is the iPod Brand Name Ending Tomorrow?

Could the iPod name be on its way out?

It's hard to think of a brand name that has so much resonance could be abandoned, and yet there are some interesting reasons why Apple may drop it.

For one, Beatweek Magazine points out that the brand name is nine years old. Its not "hot" and trendy anymore.

This might even spell the end of the click-wheel, which PC Mag predicts may only exist on the iPod Classic, which will hang on "until the day Flash memory is affordable enough to make a 128GB iPad touch."

Tomorrow, when Apple has its "special event" at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater in San Francisco, we may see them addressing the iPod and it's naming.

If Apple is going to make the new iPods - which have not been redesigned for some time - with feature touch screens (leaked photos indicate this is so), then we may have to say good-bye to some really classic names.

But all that said, I still have trouble believing that the end of the iPod name is at hand.

Technorati Tags: iPod, iPod Brand Name, MP3 Brands, Apple Brands, iPad, iPad, iPhone, Technology Brands, Technology Naming

Posted by William Lozito at 9:53 AM
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Posted to Brand Architecture | Brand Naming | Branding | Consumer Electronics | Industry | Naming | Product Naming | Retail | Technology

Facebook Will Have to Face that It Doesn't Own Face Naming and Branding

Last Friday I noted that Facebook was trying to own the word "book."

Now it seems they want to own the word "face" in light of a new app called FaceCash developed by one of Facebook's "original founders", Aaron Greenspan.

And while they probably will keep the word "book" off limits to people in the social networking arena, it is more doubtful that they will manage to protect the word "face."

Greenspan already has been granted an extension from the USPTO to give him time to respond to the trademark opposition by Facebook, and this story should pick up again around Sept. 22 when the extension winds up.

Trademark holders are advised to aggressively defend their marks but people are dubious about trying to defend "face," as well as Facebook's claim to the word "like" (people can "like" things posted by others by pressing a button on Facebook).

TechCrunch broke this story but Apple may end it.

Apple's new FaceTime feature on the iPhone 4 could wind up in Facebook's crosshairs.

And in that vein, I think Facebook is doomed: the term Face Time is a well known colloquial term.

I think Facebook will protect, successfully, the name book. Face? Like? Not so much.

As Chris Matyszczyk on CNET says: "Will there be a face-off? Might a lawyer perform a face-plant? The possibilities are, let's face it, fascinating."

Technorati Tags: FaceBook, FaceCash, Aaron Greenspan, Apple, FaceTime, Naming, Trademark Conflict

Posted by William Lozito at 8:01 AM
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Posted to Trademarking

Can Facebook Prevent its Brand Name from Becoming Generic?

Facebook is trying to limit the use of the word "book" by other social networking sites, and has filed suit against Teachbook.com, which is an online community for teachers.

Facebook argues that while it doesn't have rights to the word "book," its trademark applies when book is used in a name for social media.

They argue "If others could freely use 'generic plus BOOK' marks for online networking services targeted to that particular generic category of individuals, the suffix book could become a generic term for 'online community/networking services' or 'social networking services.'"

All "throwing the book" jokes aside, Teachbook plans on fighting back despite the fact that a company called Travelbook learned the hard way that Facebook is pretty "intractable" about this.

The point is that Facebook does not want the term "book," which has no relevance to the Teachbook offering, to become a generic term for social networking.

CNET reports that there is a company called Poolhouse Enterprises that has a bunch of apps that run on Facebook that use the "book" term (Dogbook, Catbook, Ferretbook, etc).

The term "facebook," of course, has been around longer than social networking - it comes from the common name of the book given out to Harvard freshman featuring portraits of their classmates.

Many other schools - and boarding schools - offer the same kind of book.

CNET's description of the petition to have the Facebook trademark revoked is worth the read.

My feeling is that Facebook is doing the right thing here and may or may not prevail.

There is no doubt that if other companies use the term "book" it would sow a likelihood of confusion in the marketplace and be disastrous for Facebook.

As I have written before, Google, Xerox, Granola, Margarine and Zipper (to name a few) have walked this path before, now it's Facebook's turn.

Technorati Tags: Facebook, Teachbook, Trademark Conflict, Travelbook, Naming, Branding

Posted by William Lozito at 8:54 AM
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Posted to Naming Rights

Pepsi Max Drops Diet From Naming, Aims for Coke Zero

Pepsi Max was launched in the USA in 2007 and has been through a name change, packaging updates and two re-launches.

They are now trying to reposition the product by dropping "diet" from the name and adding the tagline "Zero calories, maximum taste" .

This is a direct shot at Coke's rival drink, Coke Zero. But will it work?

Coke Zero, which came out five years ago, is one of the most successful beverages in the companies history, the 12 largest cola brand and four times bigger than Pepsi Max.

The Cola Wars are on (again) it seems.

Or at least according to Ad Age.

Coke has acknowledged that there is "baggage" in the word "diet", which is why they distanced Coke Zero from it. The new ads actually rehash an old 1995 spot that features a Pepsi truck driver and a Coke driver sampling the competition.

The really interesting thing here is how Pepsi responded to Coke's "Zero" with the word "Max".

It seems to me that Pepsi Max (despite having the black trade dress that seems to indicate zero-calories now-a-days) does not really connote, well, zero.

Pepsi Max, to me, sounds like it is a jacked up version of the regular drink--sort of a Pepsi "Jolt", while "Zero" is pretty clear.

I think that the word "diet" and indeed the word "light" both are no-go areas for the colas, but I'm curious as to why Pepsi choose this paradoxical name.

On the other hand, both colas focus on the male demographic. Pepsi Max started as Diet Pepsi Max and the ads were targeted to both genders, but since they have gone to the Max naming the focus has been on men.

And men really hate that word diet. They seem to appreciate black cola packaging, however. And a good look at the packaging shows "MAX" in large letters beside a "0", making it look more like "Max 0".

Still, it does seem to me that the name "Max" might be sowing some confusion out there. Max means "the most", and this stuff is supposed to have "the least"... of pretty much everything.

Technorati Tags: Pepsi, Pepsi Max, Coca Cola, Coke, Coke Zero, Namingn, Cola Wars

Posted by William Lozito at 8:00 AM
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Posted to Naming

Bad Acronyms in the World of Naming

Every so often we do what I am herby calling the Bad Acronym Round-Up or BARU.

Sooner or later, every year, we have to stand back and look at some of the horrible acronyms that have been inflicted on us and decide which ones have to go.

So, here is a (far from definitive) hit list of the worst of the worst from recent times, IMHO.

First of all, Businessweek brings us "Ten Ridiculous New Tech Acronyms" that include GAPE (Google Apps Premier Edition), SAP (System Analysis & Programming), and IaaS (Infrastructure-as-a-Service).

If you doubt whether this one is really ridiculous, try to say it.

They also threw in VFAT, which sounds like "Something you can become if you sit in front of a computer for too long." I agree.

But the list really only starts there.

HDTV Magazine bemoans the horrible acronyms that have plagued that industry, using as an example a TV that is also a "3D BD HD player with WiFi, DLNA, and HDMI 1.4 support". This is just horrible. Translated:

The "BD" stands for Blu-ray disc, so this player can play HDTV discs in 1080p high definition (the HD part, but you probably knew that).

And the 3D means that it can do so in stereoscopic splendor. WiFi is the familiar wireless network connection. (It supports 802.11b/g/n, but only /n is recommended for video streaming.)

DLNA lets you play media files that you have stored on your network, and HDMI 1.4 is the latest version of the high-speed serial connection which includes support for 3DTV. Oh, and this is a portable device that will play for up to three hours on a single charge.

Well, of course. :)

The Huffington Post has some ideas about what LA's new Eli Broad Museum could be called, most of which should be stopped in their tracks.

They offer BAM ( Broad Art Museum) and DOGMA ( Downtown On Grand Museum of Art) and COPACABANA (Center Of Permanently Accessible Contemporary And Broad Acquired New Art).

Um, well, no.

Netorama also had a great post called When Acronyms Go Bad which brings up the howler of the decade - WTF, which used to stand for Wisconsin Tourism Federation.

I blogged on this one last year and managed to keep a straight face while doing it, mentioning that the new acronym is TFW (Tourism Federation of Wisconsin).

Mental Floss really hits it this month, mentioning Iowa's ill-fated DOA (Dept of Aging), which was swiftly changed to IDA (Iowa Dept. of Aging).

The FAA hurt the Sioux City Gateway Airport by giving it the acronym SUX and then offered to change it to GAY (Gateway). They declined, and you can now get T-Shirts that say, playfully, Fly SUX.

SUX kind of...well, you know.... but it's better than what Fukuoka, Japan was saddled with.

Technorati Tags: Naming, Acronyms, Bad Acronyms

Posted by William Lozito at 8:36 AM
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Posted to Naming