Ever since an excerpt from Steve Jobs biography revealed that he felt that he had finally cracked integrated Television sets, the chatter about Apple possibly releasing Televisions sets has got louder.
According to recent rumors, Apple could launch the Siri enabled Television as early as this year. While we haven't called Apple's rumored Television set - iTV, a number of news channels and tech blogs have ignored what happened last time round and have been calling Apple's rumored television product - iTV.
According to The Telegraph, bosses at ITV - a UK based TV network are again getting worked up about it. They have sent an email to Apple warning them not to use the name "iTV" for its upcoming television product.
insiders fear that the world’s biggest company might take a different stance under Tim Cook, who replaced Steve Jobs as chief executive shortly before Mr Jobs died in August last year.
It is worth noting that the first generation Apple TV was in fact known as iTV back in 2006 before it was relaunched as Apple TV in January 2007. When Apple launched the second generation Apple TV, it had given assurances to ITV that it wouldn't use the name again after receiving a similar warning from them.
But it won't be the first time Apple has used a name for their product that was owned by some other company. Even the "iPhone" trademark belonged to Cisco at the time the phone was launched. Cisco had also agreed to license the iOS trademark to Apple for use as the name of Apple’s mobile operating system for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad.
Based on the trouble it is facing in China for using the "iPad" name, we're quite sure Apple won't call their rumored television set iTV.
Update:
In a statement to The Verge, ITV has denied warning Apple:
"The Telegraph's piece is entirely speculative, and there has been no communication between ITV and Apple. ITV has no further comment on the matter."
Would it be confusing if Apple called it Apple TV with the current generation Apple TV, which is like a set-top box? or should Apple call it something else like say iTelevision?
[via The Telegraph]
iTelevision? REALLY?
IF they want to go with iTV, they’ll buy it from them… Just like that… They can afford it. OR, they’ll buy the whole company. Money talks.
Agree Victor. If you can’t beat them, buy them
iBox.
iScreen.
uScreen.
weallScreen for iScreen.
iMmersion (T)
Your total entertainment experience.
Even apple couldn’t buy itv! It’s massive in the uk. What’s wrong with calling it apple tv? Surely people know the difference when looking at a tv and a set top box?
I wonder if the city of New york has a trademark on the saying “The Big Apple” That could be a fun name for it.
They wont use iTV, its a generic name.
iVision
ITV and iTV are two different things. Patent and trademarks has to do with name and design of product. One letter change is not infringement. It’s all rediculous. It needs to be “iTV” to continue with the whole “i” thing. Who’s gonna sue all the companies for using “TV”?
Fanboy logic?
Can’t wait to see apples response when a manufacturer starts producing an Iphone instead of an iPhone. A double letter change therefore twice as less an infringement on a trademark as iTV. Hmmmm hope Samsung are reading this. Galaxy Iphone sounds cool. I want one lol.
Why does it have to be iTV? iPhone is the only real generic. By that logic the others should be iTablet (iPad), iMusic or iCD (iPod), iComputer (iMac), iLaptop (MacBook).
Why can’t they just stick to the set top Boxes? I’ve got ATV2 running ATVFlash and hooked up to my projector, won’t be able to do this with the LemonBox. With the set top boxes you are not restricted to the screen sizes and the mega $$ the LemonBox would cost.
iTube
i-TV
MONEY
Even the “iPhone” trademark belonged to Cisco at the time the phone was launched
“iOS” not “iPhone” sir.
iCTV – i Cracked Television
Steve Jobs quote
rTV for restricted, just like everything else apple does, or INJTV for i need jailbreaking tv
iRevolution
I don’t get the obsession with having a TV locked in by Apple. It will be a neat thing to play with, but it will be SO overpriced. I just bought a 55″ LCD for $600 and I can do anything I want with it because I have a computer hooked to it. Apple will probably make only two or three sizes so I’ll be restricted to those which will probably be 46 and 60″ LEDs which will cost a minimum of $2K for the small one. For that price I get locked into what Apple wants me to do with their TV which is buy content strictly from them at their ridiculous prices. $3 for an HDTV TV episode? No thanks.
Call it I- Television, no copyright issue and everyone will just call it i-TV
it will be iCinema