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sebastianatol

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Nov 24, 2020
13
8
Should apple resurect the iBook brand for potentially upcomming foldables?

It wouldn‘t be the first time apple reused it‘s trademarked names for another produvt category (MagSafe).

Apple always tries to differentiate itself from competitors by calling a product differntly than established names (Vision Pro).

iBook could be fitting for either a foldable iPad or iPhone. It‘s more Apple than simply calling it iPhone Fold.

What do you think?
 

Pakaku

macrumors 68040
Aug 29, 2009
3,273
4,844
No, it would be too easy to confuse with the Books app.

"Magsafe" being repurposed as the name for iPhone wireless charging was also a mistake. It's not a breakaway cable, it makes no sense to include "safe" in the name.
 

sebastianatol

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Nov 24, 2020
13
8
No, it would be too easy to confuse with the Books app.

"Magsafe" being repurposed as the name for iPhone wireless charging was also a mistake. It's not a breakaway cable, it makes no sense to include "safe" in the name.
Apple could still do it.
Their streaming service is called Apple TV+, which could have been confused with their Apple TV hardware.
 

StudioMacs

macrumors 65816
Apr 7, 2022
1,133
2,272
iBook could be fitting for either a foldable iPad or iPhone. It‘s more Apple than simply calling it iPhone Fold.
Not really. Apple stopped using the “i” prefix a while ago.

Apple Watch would have been the iWatch if that was still the naming convention.

If they don’t use “Apple” as the prefix (Apple Vision Pro, Apple Music), they tend to camel case two words together (HomePod, MacBook, FineWoven).

Apple BenDee would be more on brand these days than iBook for new hardware.
 

sebastianatol

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Nov 24, 2020
13
8
Not really. Apple stopped using the “i” prefix a while ago.

Apple Watch would have been the iWatch if that was still the naming convention.

If they don’t use “Apple” as the prefix (Apple Vision Pro, Apple Music), they tend to camel case two words together (HomePod, MacBook, FineWoven).

Apple BenDee would be more on brand these days than iBook for new hardware.
That‘s true for new product categories.

I‘m curious tho how they deal with line extensions in their iOS universe. Still a pretty strong branding. And iPhones account for over 50% of Apples revenue.
 

JPack

macrumors G5
Mar 27, 2017
13,568
26,262
"If it's not an iPhone, it's not an iPhone."

There's huge product recognition value. Chances are, they'll just add a letter or word to iPhone.
 

eyoungren

macrumors Penryn
Aug 31, 2011
29,659
28,433
Should apple resurect the iBook brand for potentially upcomming foldables?
Most already know my opinion on foldables and Apple so I will leave that lie and just speak to the iBook.

OP, you may or may not be aware that there is an active PowerPC Mac subforum here on MacRumors and that many of us old PowerPC owners use both our iPhones and iBooks daily. For everyone else the iBook may be ancient history but it, along with a lot of other old PowerPC Macs, are still in frequent use.

Go ahead, confuse the hell out of us PowerPC users then. ;)
 

Rainshadow

macrumors 6502a
Feb 16, 2017
648
1,426
Certainly not going to be an iBook. Thats silly.

That’s bad branding because that implies that’s what it’s good for is reading and Apple will tout how it’s a creative device etc etc. Not just a kindle device.

It makes sense they start the fold devices on iPad because of lower sales volumes. As they get it figured out, they will go to phones. In each case, it will be a word added to iPad or iPhone.

You maintain the recognition of the “i” and can focus marketing and use case better than a whole new category which would lack direction if it was midsized between iPhone and iPad.

I’m sorry, OP. I like the thinking, but there are about 20 reasons I can think of not to use iBook, and I’m not even Apple.
 

dantay

macrumors 6502
May 11, 2006
469
364
UK
Apple FlexPad or FlexBook maybe…..who knows.

Looking forward to seeing their implementation of this hardware though.

I have a Z Fold5 and Z Flip5 at the moment and as much as I love the ability to fold the device’s screen in half the crease and Samsung’s slightly cheesy software do grate a little.
 

sebastianatol

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Nov 24, 2020
13
8
Certainly not going to be an iBook. Thats silly.

That’s bad branding because that implies that’s what it’s good for is reading and Apple will tout how it’s a creative device etc etc. Not just a kindle device.

Maybe it‘s silly. 🤷‍♂️
Following your logic the original iBooks and MacBooks now are basically intended for reading? ;)
 

sebastianatol

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Nov 24, 2020
13
8
Apple FlexPad or FlexBook maybe…..who knows.

Looking forward to seeing their implementation of this hardware though.

I have a Z Fold5 and Z Flip5 at the moment and as much as I love the ability to fold the device’s screen in half the crease and Samsung’s slightly cheesy software do grate a little.
Only time will tell. Maybe iPhone Flex?

I also thing existing foldables are not quite there jet. Also curious about what Apple might has in store for us.
 

sebastianatol

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Nov 24, 2020
13
8
OP, you may or may not be aware that there is an active PowerPC Mac subforum here on MacRumors and that many of us old PowerPC owners use both our iPhones and iBooks daily. For everyone else the iBook may be ancient history but it, along with a lot of other old PowerPC Macs, are still in frequent use.


Go ahead, confuse the hell out of us PowerPC users then. ;)

Thanks for the insight! No, I wasn‘t aware of that. I am an Apple user of the „new“ generation. (like most Apple users today presumably).

Wouldn‘t be the first time Apple dumps on their long time customers, while cannibalising their own products tho (RIP iPod).
 
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eyoungren

macrumors Penryn
Aug 31, 2011
29,659
28,433
Thanks for the insight! No, I wasn‘t aware of that. I am an Apple user of the „new“ generation. (like most Apple users today presumably).

Wouldn‘t be the first time Apple dumps on their long time customers, while cannibalising their own products tho (RIP iPod).
Allow me to 'enlighten' you. :)


Oh…and the Early Intel Macs subforum here as well, LOL!

 
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mandopicker101

macrumors member
Mar 21, 2022
84
67
Should apple resurect the iBook brand for potentially upcomming foldables?

It wouldn‘t be the first time apple reused it‘s trademarked names for another produvt category (MagSafe).

Apple always tries to differentiate itself from competitors by calling a product differntly than established names (Vision Pro).

iBook could be fitting for either a foldable iPad or iPhone. It‘s more Apple than simply calling it iPhone Fold.

What do you think?
iPad Folio? iPad Nano? MacBook Pilates (seeing as Lenovo snagged ‘Yoga’)? Mac Pocket?

Seriously, what problem does it solve though? An iPad that isn’t light enough? An under powered Mac with a less capable keyboard?

My iPad 9 with the Smart Keyboard cover gives me a highly portable computing device. An even more breakable Mac? ‘My Mac weights 8oz but the case is 2lbs…’

Other than Apple getting into folding tech, just because Samsung and Google are there…I don’t see it.
 
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