Earlier this week, Apple sent invitations to popular media outlets asking them to be part of the January 27 media event when the company will unveil their "latest creation".
While we all know what the creation is going to be, we are still unsure about what it will look like and what it shall be actually called.
One of the popular names doing the rounds till now was 'iSlate'. This was a name that Slate Computing LLC, Apple's purported shell company trademarked back in 2007. However, it now appears that Apple has different plans on how it should call its Tablet device.
Folks at MacRumors are now reporting that another trademark application filed by Slate Computing LLC at the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) as recently as July 2009 indicates that the Apple Tablet could be named 'iPad'. Interestingly, two other companies had filed for the 'iPad' trademark at around the same time in July of last year in two other places: UK and Hong Kong. While the filing in UK was made by a law firm, it was filed by a company named 'IP Application Development' in Hong Kong. This company has also filed the trademark application for IPAD in New Zealand and Australia earlier this week.
There is no clear evidence that these firms are dummy corporations set up by Apple. However, it is interesting that both Slate Computing LLC and IP Application Development LLC are based out of Delaware, USA. Also, of interest is the fact that the trademark for IPAD in the US currently belongs to Fujitsu. It is to be seen how Apple, assuming the rumors are true, plans to tackle this trademark issue in US. As MacRumors points out, even the "iPhone" trademark belonged to Cisco at the time the phone was launched.
Considering that so many virtually unknown firms have filed for the IPAD trademark in about the same time, it is likely that the Apple Tablet could be christened 'iPad' after all. How do you like the name? Please tell us in the comments.
[via MacRumors]
Hmm, personally, I think 'iPad' is too close to 'iPod', which has a lot of potential to be confusing to some people.
I thought iSlate sounded much cooler.
I think iTablet would be the perfect name, but like you said, iSlate sounds a lot better than iPad.
C'mon, iPad? I can just see it now, SNL will do a spoof commercial featuring Apple's new ipod for women, the "iPad". No thank you.
I Always thought islate was a ugly name for the tablet. Ipad sounds alittle better but not the best. I would call it iswipe x, naa that's stupid to. Well what ever the name is going to be apple will make it a common name that everyone will no and except. Will u will have to except it's how apple rolls
"Everything 'they' dont, iDo."
lol
Especially if you're on the east coast.
"I said i want an iPAD"
"Touch screen or classic?"
"No! iPAD"
how about the iTab?
Franky j you are an illiterate idiot. I'm surprised you were able to spell the URL to this site correctly.
calm down what did he even do?
iTablet, or iSlate would be my vote
ya i agreee with u its like your talking with freinds and your talking about ipod and they think ipad so ya its waaaay better to call it iSlate or iTablet
Relax karate kid. No one threw anything at anyone here. Anyways…. ipad sounds like a tampax product. Plain ol "tablet" sounds fine to me. Its been said that verizon may sell them at an estimate price of 600buks with a 2 year contract of 60bucks per month. Doesnt sound bad to me.