What does the 'i' in iPhone stand for?
12th March, 2023 at 4:24 am by Flynn
Image credit: Apple Inc.
- The ‘i’ prefix in Apple products dates back to 1998 with the iMac computer.
- Steve Jobs explained that the ‘i’ stood for the “excitement of the internet” and the “simplicity of Macintosh” combined.
- The ‘i’ also represents individuality, instruction, inform, and inspire, according to Jobs.
- The ‘i’ prefix has become a recognizable brand identifier for Apple.
- Other naming conventions have also come into play, such as ‘SE’ in the iPhone SE originally standing for ‘speed,’ but later referring to Siri.
Apple’s i-products have revolutionized the technology industry, and their popularity has shown no signs of slowing down. These products include the iPhone, iPad, and iPod, which are widely recognized for their unparalleled function and design. However, have you ever wondered what the ‘i’ in these products stands for?
Image credit: 9to5Mac
The origin of the ‘i’ dates back to 1998 with the release of the iMac computer, the first product from Apple to bear the prefix. The iMac was a full-fledged Macintosh, but it was marketed as a device that could access the internet with ease. When Apple co-founder Steve Jobs introduced the iMac, he explained that the ‘i’ stood for the “excitement of the internet” and the “simplicity of Macintosh” combined, hence ‘i’ for internet and ‘Mac’ for Macintosh.
Image credit: 9to5Mac
However, the ‘i’ in Apple products doesn't stop at just the internet. Jobs also said that the ‘i’ represents individuality, as the iMac was a personal computer; instruct, as it was intended for educational purposes; inform; and inspire. According to Jobs, the ‘i’ in iMac was a tribute to the device's individuality, as it could be used for both personal and educational purposes.
Since the release of the iMac, Apple has continued to create products with the ‘i’ prefix, including the iPod, iPhone, and iPad. Although these devices do not necessarily access the internet, they still carry the iconic ‘i’ prefix. For example, the iPod’s primary function was to play music, while the iPhone was marketed as a phone that also had internet capabilities.
Image credit: Wall Street Journal
It’s not just the ‘i’ prefix that has become a recognizable brand identifier for Apple; other naming conventions have also come into play. For instance, the ‘SE’ in the iPhone SE originally stood for ‘speed,’ but later, Tim Cook said it referred to Siri, the virtual assistant for the iPhone.
In conclusion, the ‘i’ in Apple products does not represent a single word, but rather a memorable brand identifier that has been used for the past three decades. While the prefix originated from the internet, it has come to represent other meanings such as individuality, instruction, inform, and inspire. Whether it is an iPhone, iPad, or iPod, the ‘i’ in Apple products has become a universal symbol of innovation and design.
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