iPhone, iTunes...what's in (or not in) a name..

Sometimes a product name just fits. Like the iMac for instance. Yes, that works. But lets take a closer look at iTunes and iPhone. If there are two product names that do not work it is these two. Everyone is throwing around the name iPhone like it was the greatest thing since sliced bread (which it is by the way), but has anyone stopped to really think about the name? The iPhone's phone features are about number five down the list of what the device is really best at, which is the web. (These take up the first three slots, then maps). Yes, the iPhone is a very nice phone. Visual voicemail is great. Love how the phone numbers on websites can be touched and you can call from the browser. Great! But the iPhone is so much more and the platform promises so much more. I think the iTouch is much better as product name. So while iPhone is catchy (and I like it), it misses the mark a little in terms of what the iPhone really is about. Maybe they could call it the iDon'tKnowWhattoCallit. But then again that makes package labeling sort of awkward.

And then there is iTunes. If there is a product that has expanded well beyond its name, its iTunes, the venerable music jukebox software that is rapidly becoming a personal media browser. How long will it be called iTunes? Hmmm.... I am open to taking bets. It might never change, but one thing for sure is that the way we use iTunes and what it does goes far beyond audio these days.

Just some observations. What do you think?

Keene