Since the debut of the first iMac in the 1990s, the "i" prefix has been a symbolic element of Apple. However, since the launch of the first iPad in 2010, Apple seems to have moved away from using this prefix.
Indeed, names like iPhone and iPad still carry the "i," but we haven't seen terms like iWatch or iTV, let alone iVision Pro. Following the huge success of the iMac in 1998, Apple gave around 30 products names with the "i" prefix, spanning across hardware, software, and services.
Although it's just a letter, it's closely associated with the Apple brand to the point that even today, some people habitually refer to the Apple Watch as the iWatch.
Despite Apple's last use of the "i" prefix for new products being in 2011 with iCloud and iAd, the influence of this naming convention has persisted. The last new hardware product to start with "i" dates back to the iPad in 2010.
When Apple started to move away from "i"
It may be just a coincidence, but the iPad also happened to be the last new hardware product personally introduced by Steve Jobs. Jobs' fondness for the "i" prefix is undeniable, as the originator of this creative concept himself acknowledged.
Marketing guru Ken Segall once joked in an interview, "I did my best to make this 'i' a hit for a long time. It was me who proposed the concept of 'i' on the first-generation iMac, which got people interested in the stories I told."
He also mentioned, "Now it's time for the 'i' to step aside... It has lost its original meaning." Segall explained that initially, Jobs reshaped the Apple brand around the letter "i" and the name iMac, but now, too many companies are imitating and using this prefix.
Siegel also stated that it is not possible to trademark or protect the prefix "i" in any other way. This is likely one of the reasons Apple gradually abandoned it.
In 2006, Apple made a rare advance announcement about the future of its television box product, which was temporarily named "iTV." However, this name did not last long as the long-established British television network ITV expressed its protest. Eventually, the product was introduced under the name Apple TV. Given ITV's operating history of over half a century in the UK, it would have been quite easy to legally prove its prior use of the name, so Apple had little ground to stand on.
Of course, when choosing product names, Apple often doesn't mind if they conflict with others. For example, with the iPad, Apple initially acquired the name directly from Fujitsu before spending years defending it in legal battles.
Recently, a similar situation has arisen with the Apple Vision Pro, which seems to still be unresolved. Before this product can be launched in China, Apple must address the trademark dispute related to its name, but the current solution remains unclear.
So, will the "i" disappear?
While Apple still has products like the iPhone, iPad, iMac, iCloud, and iMessage, the iPod and iSight have been gradually phased out. The name iBook was first used for Apple's consumer laptops, then became an app for buying and reading books on the iPad, and eventually evolved into Apple Books, leading to the renaming of the iBooks Store.
Products like iTools, iDisk, iWeb, iChat, iSync, iCal, and the iMix feature hidden within iTunes, which you may not have noticed, have all faded into history. Although iTunes is occasionally mentioned, it has actually been replaced by a new app called "Music," as Apple focuses on promoting its Apple Music streaming service over individual song sales.
iOS and iPadOS still retain their old names, iMovie is still around, but iPhoto has evolved into "Photos," as for iDVD, it now sounds almost like a nostalgic term.
The above three applications are still technically part of the "iLife" suite of software, while Numbers, Pages, and Keynote appear to still be part of the "iWork" series. However, the "iLife" series has not been updated since 2010, and although "iWork" has performed slightly better, it also ceased physical packaging sales after 2011.
When Segall created the name "iMac," he probably did not anticipate the profound impact it would have. Today, despite his proposal that Apple should gradually abandon the "i" prefix, in reality, Apple has been quietly implementing this strategy for many years.
Of course, products are not just about naming; more importantly, Steve Jobs' spirit of innovation still deeply ingrained in Apple.
To change or not to change?
Segall mentioned: "Perhaps some marketing experts may think that Apple's abandonment of the 'i' prefix is too radical, after all, it was once one of the greatest brand identifiers in history. But this prefix is difficult to legally protect, and for a long time, many companies have touted their internet connectivity features around the 'i,' which is undoubtedly a problem for Apple, known for its innovation."
He also realizes that Apple may now be less willing to easily change product names, just as it did in 2006 when it renamed "PowerBook" to "MacBook." As a large-scale company, Apple is more cautious when making any changes, as a wrong decision could potentially impact more job positions.
Furthermore, the iPhone has become the most successful product in history. If Apple were to change its name, it would definitely need a compelling reason. Just the decline in the popularity of the letter "i" is not enough motivation to alter such a deeply ingrained brand identity.
