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It’s perhaps one of the most important letters in the world — but nobody’s entirely sure what it means.
The i at the start of iPhone is one of its defining features. And it mostly refers to “internet”, though not entirely, and the story of how it got there is slightly more complicated.
The naming convention was first introduced with the iMac. Launched in 1998, the computer marked the beginning of the modern Apple.
Introducing that computer, Steve Jobs said that the computer was targeted at the “number one use that the consumers say they want to use the computer for”: the internet. It was launched just as the internet was catching on and was made central in the computer’s advertising.
“Even though this is a full-blooded Macintosh, we are targeting this for the number one use that consumers tell us they want a computer for, which is to get on the Internet -- simply, and fast,” he said at the time. “And that is what this product is targeted for.”
But that was far from the only meaning of the “i”, Mr Jobs said. During the launch, he showed a slide with a number of different headings: internet, individual, instruct, inform, inspire.
“’i' also means some other things to us,” he said. “We are a personal computer company, and although this product is born to network, it also is a beautiful stand-alone product. We are targeting it also for education. They want to buy these. And it is perfect for most of the things they do in instruction.”
The company would go on to brand almost all of its products with the little letter. Software such as iTools and hardware including the iPod all talk on the name. (It still isn’t entirely clear where the rest of the iPod name originated from.)
It would eventually find its place in the name of the iPhone, a product that had a similar effect for Apple as the iMac.
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It would prove a slightly controversial name, leading to legal proceedings with Cisco, since it had a product with the same name.
The prefix has perhaps lost some of its shine in recent years. Many of Apple’s recent products — including the Apple TV and the Apple Watch — have picked up a new naming convention, dropping the i entirely and opting instead for their generic name on its own, sometimes accompanied by Apple’s half-eaten logo.
FAQs
“Steve Jobs said the 'I' stands for 'internet, individual, instruct, inform, [and] inspire,'” Paul Bischoff, a privacy advocate at Comparitech, explains. However, while these words were an important part of the presentation, Jobs also said that the “I” “didn't have an official meaning,” Bischoff continues.
Where does the I come from on an iPhone? ›
From the iPod to the iPhone, the 'i' stands for Internet, Steve Jobs said in 1998. Apple has created a brand of i-products that are arguably unparalleled in function and design. These include the iPhone, the iPad and the iPod.
What does the Apple on an iPhone stand for? ›
The apple represented knowledge, as in the biblical story of Adam and Eve, or referenced the falling fruit that led Sir Isaac Newton to the concept of gravity. Supporters of the latter theory note the name of Apple's handheld PDA, the Newton, but that was more than a decade after the creation of the logo.
What does the N iPhone stand for? ›
N – Replacement device, meaning the originally bought device was replaced by this model likely due to a service request. P – Personalized device with engraving, meaning the device was customized with an engraving on purchase.
Why is iPhone called I? ›
Steve Jobs also referred to himself as the iCEO. “i” products were part of Apple's branding strategy (they also had “iWork” and “iLife”). So Apple called their phone “iPhone” because it fit very nicely into their branding strategy to do so. The "i" prefix started with the original iMac.
What is the full meaning of iPhone? ›
According to Jobs in 1998, the "i" word in "iMac" (and thereafter "iPod", "iPhone" and "iPad") stands for internet, individual, instruct, inform, and inspire.
What is the iPhone I have? ›
Go to Settings > General > About. To the right of Model Number, you'll find the part number. To find the model number, tap the part number.
What does iPad stand for? ›
iPad does not officially stand for anything, but according to Apple, it is simply a name for their tablet computer. However, many people speculate that the “i” in iPad may stand for “internet”, as was the case with other Apple products like the iMac and the iPhone.
What is the full name of the iPhone? ›
The full form of iPhone is “Internet Phone,” a term that accurately reflects the primary function of this device. The iPhone was first introduced by Apple Inc. in 2007 and quickly became a game-changer in the world of technology.
Why is Apple's symbol a bitten Apple? ›
Rob Janoff , the graphic designer who created the logo in 1977, has mentioned that the bite was added to the apple simply to avoid any confusion with a cherry. The colourful, friendly logo was designed to make computing more approachable and less intimidating.
Steve Jobs, a co-founder of Apple and a former CEO, declared during the iMac's introduction that the device was created to allow users to fully utilise the internet's boundless potential. Because of this, 'I' stood for "internet," while "Mac" was for "Macintosh."
Why is the Apple logo half bitten in the Bible? ›
Theories about what the Apple logo means
In the biblical story of genesis, Eve takes a bite of the forbidden fruit from an apple tree despite the warnings of God. Eating from the tree of knowledge was to be the greatest transgression against God and humanity is cast out of Eden. For Catholics this is the original sin.
How long do iPhones last? ›
iPhones last for a long time if used with reasonable care. Most users use their iPhones for three to four years before upgrading to a new one. With battery replacements, you can extend this timeline to as much as five to six years.
What does the O stand for in iPhone? ›
The original use was for the very first device named with a proceeding . Definition. iOS stands for “iPhone Operating System.” It is the operating system software that runs on Apple's iPhone and iPad devices.
What's the meaning of I in iPhone? ›
'I' in Apple products stand for 'internet, individual, instruct, inform and inspire', according to a report by Readers Digest. This was explained by Steve Jobs during the iMac launch in 1998.
Why is Apple called I? ›
Steve Jobs, a co-founder of Apple and a former CEO, declared during the iMac's introduction that the device was created to allow users to fully utilise the internet's boundless potential. Because of this, 'I' stood for "internet," while "Mac" was for "Macintosh."
What is the I icon on Apple? ›
You'll see the i icon in the lower-right corner of the Apple Watch during the pairing process. Typically, you'll tap Start Pairing on the watch to guide you through an automatic pairing. However, if the automatic process is not working, tap the i icon to manually pair your iPhone and watch.
Does Apple own the i prefix? ›
Apple has been dealt a severe blow having been told that it no longer has a monopoly on the letter "i" as part of the name for its products.
What do the letters in iPhone mean? ›
Currently, there are four known possible choices: " F ": refurbished unit. " M ": retail unit. " N ": replacement unit. " P ": personalized (engraved) unit.
