TechRadar set out on a quest to find the meaning of 'i'. In other words they asked Apple and Nintendo, respectively, what the 'i' in iPod and DSi stand for. Apple told them it was just a brand name, while Nintendo offered the following explanation.
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With regards to the 'i' in DSi, our original guess was that it stood for something startlingly obvious such as 'interactive', with Nintendo keen to impress upon gamers the fact that its latest handheld is considerably more than a simple toy for gaming.
However, we were wrong. A Nintendo rep told us that the i in DSi means two things:
· The "i" is symbolic of the subject "I" and its personal aspect.
· Plus, the addition of two cameras gives the system its own "eye" on things.
"Nintendo hope that the Nintendo DSi becomes more than a game system and more of a personal tool to enrich our daily lives," the Nintendo rep added.
Makes sense from a branding point of view, I suppose. Given their explanation of the Wii name (we), with it being a home console, and the I for the individual playing on his/her portable.
Still, we all know it's because it looks nifty, right? The i is in.
Crap like this turns me off so much. Not enough to stop playing GAMES on my DS Lite though.
Meh, it's not just something Nintendo says, though, it's what they've been doing. It's much more true in Japan than here, but, for instance, there's Brain Training which is premised on helping keep your mind sharp, there's English trainers for the DS in Japan, there's various other utility-type programs - it's not just games in Japan, there's a lot more. I'm sure they'd love to do the same here. They have, largely, with the Wii, but not as much with the DS. The Wii is being used for things like rehabilitation for those whom are recovering from injuries, and put in old age homes for the elderly to do things now impossible like bowl, etc. I've even heard of the Wii being put onto cruise ships as an entertainment center.
So, while we 'hardcore gamers' scoff at such a statement, we eventually need to embrace a larger view of the utility and relevance of gaming within society.
the "i" in iMac etc. did originally mean Internet. Just how the Windows XP originally stood for "experience." Times change, neither means that anymore.
Anybody ever see an "i" product that didn't access or utilize the Internet?
Yes, I have.
There are plenty of knockoff products that attempt to poorly emulate Apple's products, either in design or name. I've seen cheapo $10 pocket radios shaped like an iPod...it was called something to the effect of iRadio. It was just a standard, everyday radio with a cheap iPod-esque case.
There are also a high number of third-party iPod products with "i" slapped at the beginning, most of which don't access or utilize the internet.
To be fair, even the iPod doesn't really access nor utilize the internet. You can acquire things for it online, but it only indirectly uses it.
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Just saw someone in a fur coat walking a dog. "I love to take care of animals AND wear them!" If only they were holding a burger.
