The Origins of Apple's Top-Selling Products' Names

Most of Apple's top-selling products begin with an "i" and there are several reasons why this naming scheme began. This phenomenon started in the late 1990s when the internet exploded in popularity and became the number one selling point of computers. Apple planned to capitalize on this trend by creating a computer that would connect to the internet quicker and easier than its competition.

Steve Jobs wanted the machine to exude personality and friendliness in every way possible from its inviting, colorful design, user-friendly built-in handle, and convenient all-in-one design. However, the name of the product also had to be just as personable and appealing. Steve Jobs suggested the name "MacMan," although it wasn't well received by the company's marketing team.

So, they went to work on a different name hoping that Jobs would like it better than the one he'd suggested. The team settled on "iMac" as their new name. Interestingly, Jobs initially rejected this name but later warmed up to it after seeing it printed on a prototype when pitching the iMac name. The marketing team explained that the lowercase "i" primarily stood for internet since quickly connecting to the internet was the product's main selling point.

However, the letter also stood for individual since Apple wanted customers to see their personalities expressed by the computer's unique design and instruct to emphasize the product's purpose as a learning tool for the classroom. The marketing team aimed to inform users about how much they could learn from simply sitting in front of a computer and finally inspire them to communicate how the iMac's powerful operating system could inspire users to create digital projects like never before.

The iMac went on to become a huge success, and many of its signature features became synonymous with the Apple brand. For example, its colorful translucent shell and the lowercase "i" in its name were iconic symbols that have been associated with Apple ever since. The company leveraged the iMac's popularity when creating other products like the iBook, which was marketed as an "iBook to Go," reinforcing the lowercase "i" as signature Apple branding in consumers' minds.

This trend of using the "i" prefix has continued through software with the introduction of iMovie and even extended to MP3 players named iPod. In the beginning, the lowercase "i" simply stood for internet; however, as the iMac became popular, it transformed into a brand association tool that has become an integral part of Apple's identity.

Interestingly, some products like the Apple Watch do not use the "i" prefix. If you're wondering why this is, Greg from Apple explained it in a previous video linked to in the comments section.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enmost of apple's top selling products begin with an eye and there's several reasons why this naming scheme began which i'll explain right now so it all started in the late 90s when the internet exploded in popularity and became the number one selling point of computers apple planned to capitalize on this trend by creating a computer that would connect to the internet quicker and easier than its competition steve jobs wanted the machine to exude personality and friendliness in every way possible from its inviting colorful design user-friendly built-in handle and its convenient all-in-one design but its name also had to be just as personable and appealing job suggested the name macman although it wasn't well received by the company's marketing team so they went to work on a different name hoping jobs would like it better than the one he'd suggested the team settled on imac a name jobs initially rejected but later warmed up to after seeing it printed on a prototype when pitching the imac name the marketing team said the lowercase i primarily stood for internet since quickly connecting to the internet was the product's main selling point but the letter also stood for individual since apple wanted customers to see their personalities expressed by the computer's unique design and instruct to emphasize the product's purpose as a learning tool for the classroom also inform to highlight how much kids could learn from simply sitting in front of a computer and finally inspire to communicate how the imac's powerful operating system could inspire users to create digital projects like never before the imac went to become a huge success and many of its signature features became synonymous with the apple brand for example its colorful translucent shell and the lowercase i in its name apple leveraged the imac's popularity when creating other products like the ibook which was marketed as an imac to go and reinforce the lowercase i as signature apple branding in the minds of consumers this trend was carried through to software with the introduction of imovie and when apple created an mp3 player it was named ipod so in the beginning the lowercase i simply stood for internet but as the imac became popular it transformed into a brand association tool and if you're wondering why products like the apple watch don't use the iprefix i'll link to a previous video i made in the comments explaining why this is greg with apple explained thanks for watching till the end and i'll see you in the next videomost of apple's top selling products begin with an eye and there's several reasons why this naming scheme began which i'll explain right now so it all started in the late 90s when the internet exploded in popularity and became the number one selling point of computers apple planned to capitalize on this trend by creating a computer that would connect to the internet quicker and easier than its competition steve jobs wanted the machine to exude personality and friendliness in every way possible from its inviting colorful design user-friendly built-in handle and its convenient all-in-one design but its name also had to be just as personable and appealing job suggested the name macman although it wasn't well received by the company's marketing team so they went to work on a different name hoping jobs would like it better than the one he'd suggested the team settled on imac a name jobs initially rejected but later warmed up to after seeing it printed on a prototype when pitching the imac name the marketing team said the lowercase i primarily stood for internet since quickly connecting to the internet was the product's main selling point but the letter also stood for individual since apple wanted customers to see their personalities expressed by the computer's unique design and instruct to emphasize the product's purpose as a learning tool for the classroom also inform to highlight how much kids could learn from simply sitting in front of a computer and finally inspire to communicate how the imac's powerful operating system could inspire users to create digital projects like never before the imac went to become a huge success and many of its signature features became synonymous with the apple brand for example its colorful translucent shell and the lowercase i in its name apple leveraged the imac's popularity when creating other products like the ibook which was marketed as an imac to go and reinforce the lowercase i as signature apple branding in the minds of consumers this trend was carried through to software with the introduction of imovie and when apple created an mp3 player it was named ipod so in the beginning the lowercase i simply stood for internet but as the imac became popular it transformed into a brand association tool and if you're wondering why products like the apple watch don't use the iprefix i'll link to a previous video i made in the comments explaining why this is greg with apple explained thanks for watching till the end and i'll see you in the next video\n"