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Does anyone else find it annoying how Apple referrs to it as 'iPhone'

OrlandoTragic

OrlandoTragic

macrumors 68000
Original poster
May 13, 2007
1,517
380
Orlando, FL
As in, a proper noun. I mean, I know that's what it is... but to hear them speak about it as if its a person sounds stupid...

"To make a phone call on iPhone, tap the 'Phone' button"

Not "to make a phone call on THE iPhone"....

Grr... it just gets on my nerves. Maybe its because I'm a nerd, idk.
 
Actually they probably do that to make the item sound like a name, thus creating more emotional ties to the product.

Ex: 'If you want to listen to music, let iPhone be your personal DJ' ... or some such thing. It makes it sound like more of a person then a product.
 
hahaha i guess since it turned ipod into a household name why not try it with iPhone hahaha notice the lack of "the"
 
Calling it iPhone (without the use of "the") isn't as bad as coining the new iPod touch the "funnest" iPod, which by the way isn't even technically a word.
 
milani said:
Calling it iPhone (without the use of "the") isn't as bad as coining the new iPod touch the "funnest" iPod, which by the way isn't even technically a word.
Click to expand...

Technically, if something is understood, it's a word.

And for all you technical-types who don't like it, I don't think "the iPhone" is right either. Wouldn't it be more proper to say "this iPhone?" Try that out for a minute. It feels far more awkward to me than to just say "iPhone."
 
I remember when "geeks" used to say Internet (myself included) instead of THE Internet. Kinda the same thing to me
 
Small White Car said:
Technically, if something is understood, it's a word.

And for all you technical-types who don't like it, I don't think "the iPhone" is right either. Wouldn't it be more proper to say "this iPhone?" Try that out for a minute. It feels far more awkward to me than to just say "iPhone."
Click to expand...

I disagree with that one. Just because something is understood does not mean it's a word; that's called a colloquialism. Whether colloquialisms become words or not is another story (see d'oh in Oxford). At the very least, it's a term that ought not be used to sell a product.

And no, it's not this phone, because in the context of the example given, Jobs was referring to any and all iPhones. As such, he would say the iPhone, and not this iPhone, since the latter would suggest that the iPhone in his hand was unique, and was the only one controlled in the manner he described. By either saying the iPhone, or simply iPhone, Jobs makes clear that he's speaking about all iPhones.
 
milani said:
And no, it's not this phone, because in the context of the example given, Jobs was referring to any and all iPhones. As such, he would say the iPhone, and not this iPhone, since the latter would suggest that the iPhone in his hand was unique, and was the only one controlled in the manner he described. By either saying the iPhone, or simply iPhone, Jobs makes clear that he's speaking about all iPhones.
Click to expand...

Actually, wouldn't that also suggest a vague similarity? Not just any iPhone...THE iPhone. :p

I vote for "an iPhone"..."to make a call on an iPhone..."
 
wow

people i would like to say that you have way to much free time to be complaining about something so meaningless and dumb. if you ask me about what i think of apple calling it iphone and not the iphone is just publicity and making it sound greater than other products but it shouldn't affect you. unless if you buy a product for publicity or an ad. for me publicity and ads are ways to attract people thats why the best type of publicity is comedy and you know using famous people is also a good one too, but you should definetly not take it serious or let yourself get caught in it. also i think one way or another every company does stuff that are as arrogant as this at the end what you want is to make your product look like the best in the market right?
 
Seriously guys, take a look outside your window. Look! There's people... Things to do, things to discover, interract, etc... :D
 
xavierserranoa said:
people i would like to say that you have way to much free time to be complaining about something so meaningless and dumb.
Click to expand...
This is an Internet forum. Complaining about meaningless and dumb things is one of the funnest™ things you can do on the Internet. It's not like it takes up that much time, either. Besides, you probably spent more time on your post than pretty much anyone else who posted in this thread.
 
BergerFan said:
Seriously guys, take a look outside your window. Look! There's people... Things to do, things to discover, interract, etc... :D
Click to expand...

Well go get to it bud. No one's stopping you!
I'm actually on a train right now on my iPhone, not much else to do than post here.
 
milani said:
Whether colloquialisms become words or not is another story (see d'oh in Oxford).
Click to expand...

Yes, let's look at that. When something is used by people widely enough (such as d'oh), then it becomes a word.

D'oh became a word because people used it. It's as simple as that. It my not have happened with 'funnest' yet, but it's sure on its way.

So this pretty much proves what I was saying. If you understand it, and people keep using it, then it's a word.
 
xavierserranoa said:
people i would like to say that you have way to much free time to be complaining about something so meaningless and dumb. if you ask me about what i think of apple calling it iphone and not the iphone is just publicity and making it sound greater than other products but it shouldn't affect you. unless if you buy a product for publicity or an ad. for me publicity and ads are ways to attract people thats why the best type of publicity is comedy and you know using famous people is also a good one too, but you should definetly not take it serious or let yourself get caught in it. also i think one way or another every company does stuff that are as arrogant as this at the end what you want is to make your product look like the best in the market right?
Click to expand...

yet you have the longest post in this thread and have spent the longest time talking about it haha

it's a forum and really if you dont like the topic dont reply. i mean really, its not like your post here is going to stop people from talking about random things like this so better just accept it
 
Using "the" has nothing to do with whether or not something is a proper noun.

NFL is a proper noun, but you still use the in front of it. You still say "the thames", "the Rockies", etc.
 
Small White Car said:
Yes, let's look at that. When something is used by people widely enough (such as d'oh), then it becomes a word.

D'oh became a word because people used it. It's as simple as that. It my not have happened with 'funnest' yet, but it's sure on its way.

So this pretty much proves what I was saying. If you understand it, and people keep using it, then it's a word.
Click to expand...

Perhaps, but the day funnest becomes a word is the day I'm adopting a new language.
 
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