Sometime in the next 24 hours or so Apple will announce a tablet device. What name will Apple give to their latest creation? Dan Frakes:
Perhaps it’s because Apple’s product names are such a part of our technological culture: Mac, iMac, iPod, iPhone, and MacBook have all become everyday words; the same can’t be said about the names of products from many other companies. Or maybe it’s because few companies generate fierce debate simply by the choice of a product name—remember when “MacBook” replaced “PowerBook”? Whatever the reason, I’ve found myself more curious about what Apple’s going to call this rumored new product than about the size of its screen.
The front runners: iTablet, iSlate, iPad, Canvas, Palette, iPod (something), iBook. All have a healthy list of negatives. Tablet is a failed PC product. Slate is ancient. iPad has been skewered on TV as a feminine hygiene product. Canvas is anything but high tech. iBook is ancient, and the tablet isn’t a book.
I’m going with ‘touchPad.’