The Name Game Goes On for Apple Tablet

[Michael Essany]

Now that the arrival of an Apple tablet is apparently a foregone conclusion, the name game has begun for what exactly the device will be called.

With the amount of speculation surrounding domain names allegedly purchased by Apple, you would think the British Government has personally assigned James Bond to the case. Indeed, all patience has apparently run out when it comes to anything related to this yet to be released Apple tablet.

Coverage from the Washington Post puts it best:

If correct, that means we can add a rumor to a rumor: that the unconfirmed, unannounced but most definitely coming (maybe) Apple tablet device will be named iSlate.

On the heels of reports that Apple has owned iSlate.com since 2007, some are logically wondering if the tablet will bear that particular moniker. Others, however, believe "magic slate," which is also believed to have been registered by Apple, is a more likely name for the device. Of course, there is no shortage of insiders who feel both titles miss the mark by not towing the line with familiar Apple product titles. For this reason, plenty of folks maintain that Apple would be best suited to call their tablet an iPad to nicely flow with other popular products like the iPod and iPhone.

Perhaps if not for an October speech given by Bill Keller, executive editor at the New York Times, we wouldn't be having this discussion about the "iSlate" this weekend. In his talk, Keller now famously referred to the "impending Apple slate." Of course, I am yet to read on any blog that Keller may simply have been referring to the "Apple slate" as in a project on the company's slate. The word "slate" after all, means to schedule or designate. A dictionary example gives the following illustration: "Our professor has slated the art history lecture for Thursday afternoon."

There's a lot of islate-related domain names with different TLDs that Apple most definitely does not own (islate.org, islate.net, islate.be, islate.nl, islate.es, and so on)

Despite the fact that none of us will know for sure what the tablet will be called until it is actually unveiled - most likely next month - that isn't going to stop many from investigating. But, chances are, even James Bond won't be able to crack this case ahead of time. As some have speculated, its possible that even Apple is yet to formally decide on a name for the tablet.

[iLaw-One]

I think it'll be called 'iTab'.
Now apple has to pay me to use that name....

[RonHC]

iTablet

.....plain an simple

[ty22]

MacTablet..... not saying I like it, just saying it makes sense..... MacBook.......MacTablet. iTablet would have made more sense back in the day of iBooks.

[feidhlim1986]

My Monies on MacBook Touch.

[whereswaldo]

My Monies on MacBook Touch.

same

[torturedsoul802]

My Monies on MacBook Touch.

But it's a tablet...kinda defies the "Book" part of that, as it doesn't fold.

I'd say that MacTablet would be more likely

[rhekt]

iHOPe it would just finally be released allready....jeez

[hollow0]

It'll be called iTouch! ...oh wait...

[FCF650]

Apple can name it whatever they want... I just want them to make it affordable so I can buy one :-) (and have enough for the upcoming new iPhone!)

[f3nd3rmus1c]

Doesn't the naming scheme have to be two syllables?

iPhone, iPod, iMac, MacBook...

iTablet would be out of their usual pattern, I would think. Also, with the news that www.islate.com is owned by Apple could indicate similar rumors.

I've seen stuff like iPad and iSlate around the web

[Fodd1337]

I think MacinTOUCH or tAPPLEt (Tapplet) would be cool.

[norfskate]

MacBook touch

defos

[steve-z17]

iTablet

.....plain an simple

That's what I've been thinking too, "iTablet" is easy, simple, and smooth, all characteristics that go with Apple!

[larzkaz14]

I think it'll be called 'iTab'.
Now apple has to pay me to use that name....

I'm thinkin iTab as well, or something similar.

(Then again, apple has surprised before and could again.)

[SnowLeo]

its the macslate (:

[uunnzz]

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