Application names

[billynoah]

I just want to take a moment to complain about the new app names in recent versions of OS X: Calendar & Messages.

The problem is that generic app names like these make it incredibly difficult for search engines to generate relevant results, which is especially frustrating when you need help and your search generates all kinds of unrelated links. try googling for help on "messages". good luck with that.

ichat & ical might not be a slick but they are UNIQUE and that makes a world of difference in a web search.

"Mail" and "Contacts" (or Address Book for that matter) although not newly renamed, are just as bad.

durr apple. maybe they should change the name of the macbook pro to "book".

[DeltaMac]

If I search in Google for messages.app (not just messages) - that seems to give a variety of results, and some (not all!) are for the Mountain Lion messages app.

Also, the help files in OS X (Open those apps, and go to the help menu) has a variety of helpful user tips for those apps.

And, you can post your questions here about those OS X apps. Someone may give you a quick answer, but you have to ask first! And the more detailed your question, then the answer is more likely to help you.

[Old Toad]

Didn't you search for Messages.app for Mac? That gets a whole host of sites: http://www.google.com/search?q=messa...utf-8&oe=utf-8

[DeltaMac]

Just like most searches - if you use a term that is TOO generic, then you get generic results.
You have to change your search terms to be more specific (more details)

[billynoah]

Quote: Originally Posted by DeltaMac If I search in Google for messages.app (not just messages) - that seems to give a variety of results, and some (not all!) are for the Mountain Lion messages app. Also, the help files in OS X (Open those apps, and go to the help menu) has a variety of helpful user tips for those apps. And, you can post your questions here about those OS X apps. Someone may give you a quick answer, but you have to ask first! And the more detailed your question, then the answer is more likely to help you.

thanks delta & others. the kinds of things i tend to have problems with are rarely if ever addressed in the help menu. usually it has to do with some bug, quirky behavior, or a problem with a change in feature set in a newer version.

searching for Messages.app does indeed provide more relevant search results, unfortunately it misses a lot since many people don't write "message.app" in their forum posts. searching for ichat however captures everything you'd hope for.

i guess i'm just complaining that something which used to be easy is now more difficult and i can't think of a good reason to make it so. why change your branding to something LESS unique and more difficult to Google? marketing these days is VERY dependent on search results.. i think they're doing something stupid here with these name changes. just my opinion and it's really pointless to gripe, i know.

[DeltaMac]

I can't say if it is always pointless to gripe -
But, it helps nothing if you don't at least mention some specifics about what you are struggling with.
I'm thinking that you came here for help, and not just to complain about Apple's "interesting" naming conventions. I have seen lots of threads about that, maybe since before Apple started using i-Names.
You would be surprised about the kinds of info that _is_ addressed in the help files. You didn't mention looking in the help files, so I just thought I should mention that.
Does "Help" always "help"? No, but surely not if you don't give it a check first.
What is an example of your "bug, quirky behavior, or a problem with a change in feature set..." that brought you here this time?

[billynoah]

yeah delta, since upgrading i've had several problems, some of which are solved, some not. the specific issues i need help with are addressed in other threads. sorry.. guess this wasn't the right place to post generally useless & unconstructive chatter. i do appreciate your response and sorry my intent was misconstrued, i really did just make this post to complain. lol. sorry for wasting your time...

and yes, i do read help files. once in a blue moon i find something useful but not usually.

[hayne]

Google searching hint:
Add "OS X" (in quotes) to your search terms.
This should help to eliminate a lot of the unwanted matches.
E.g.instead of googling for:
Messages
use:
Messages "OS X"

[billynoah]

Quote: Originally Posted by hayne Google searching hint: Add "OS X" (in quotes) to your search terms. This should help to eliminate a lot of the unwanted matches. E.g.instead of googling for: Messages use: Messages "OS X"

yes... quotes around os x is a great suggestion. lately i've been using the "-" operator as well when a search returns a slew of wrong but results with a common keyword... makes it a bit easier to weed some things out.

[sojourner]

It's true. Having those generic names is really problematic.

Is Keynote's new name going to be "Presentations"?

[billynoah]

Quote: Originally Posted by sojourner It's true. Having those generic names is really problematic. Is Keynote's new name going to be "Presentations"?

lol.. or iPhoto to "Photos", iTunes to... uh... "Songs"?

you know imo, from a branding point of view it seems counterproductive. putting the "i" before everything from devices to application names is what makes people know it's Apple. why abandon a branding association that they've spent so many years building? i'm sure someone is just trying to make a name for themselves by changing everything, and probably getting paid big time for it too.

[benwiggy]

Quote: Originally Posted by billynoah you know imo, from a branding point of view it seems counterproductive. putting the "i" before everything from devices to application names is what makes people know it's Apple. why abandon a branding association that they've spent so many years building?

Well, Mac branding used to be prefixed by ... Mac.
MacDraw, MacPaint, MacWrite and so.

The original iMac was given the "i" prefix because it was hailed as being "Internet ready". Personally, I think they've overdone the iThing. And plenty of other companies use the same prefix. e.g. BBC iPlayer.

Where are all my Apple apps? Oh yes, under I.

[acme.mail.order]

Quote: Originally Posted by benwiggy Personally, I think they've overdone the iThing.

iAgree.

Best combination of function and branding: their password reset.
http://iforgot.apple.com

[hayne]

[moved thread to Coatroom]

[sojourner]

Quote: Originally Posted by billynoah lol.. or iPhoto to "Photos", iTunes to... uh... "Songs"? you know imo, from a branding point of view it seems counterproductive. putting the "i" before everything from devices to application names is what makes people know it's Apple. why abandon a branding association that they've spent so many years building? i'm sure someone is just trying to make a name for themselves by changing everything, and probably getting paid big time for it too.

Probably from the same group which worked so hard on all the incredible changes in iCal from 10.6 to 10.7.

They have a billion dollars. How come iCal can't do recurring tasks?

I have a theory. When Steve Jobs went to Bill Gates for help saving Apple, Bill said, okay, but you have to take a few engineers off my hands. And that's how iCal and Mail were born.