“What is Steve Jobs going to pull out of the sleeve of that black turtleneck next? Domination of the Web, if you believe the trademarks Apple Computer Inc. filed at the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office on Oct. 7,” Frank Ahrens reports for The Washington Post. “In three filings, Apple — which made headlines last week by rolling out the next generation of iPod, one that can play video (what a beauty business plan: keep selling the same thing, over and over) — asked for a trademark on something it calls ‘Vingle.'”
Ahrens reports, “According to the filings, Vingle is, well, let’s just give you the company’s language, because it’s pretty sprawling in its scope. Vingle will or could comprise: ‘Telecommunication services, namely, electronic transmission of streamed and downloadable audio and video files via computer and other communications networks; providing on-line chat rooms, bulletin boards and community forums for the transmission of messages among computer users concerning entertainment, music, concerts, videos, radio, television, film, news, sports, games and cultural events; web casting services; delivery of messages by electronic transmission; provision of connectivity services and access to electronic communications networks, for transmission or reception of audio, video or multimedia content…’ and so on, including search engines and a global network.”
Ahrens reports, “But, wait: There’s more! Two other filings say Vingle could include not only hardware (new computers and peripherals) but also a chain of retail stores.”
Full article here.
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Nebulous application indeed.
$x=”F”.”i”.”r”.”s”.”t”;
$y=”post”;
echo $x . $y;
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It does kinda make me wonder why Microsoft suddenly decided to partner with Yahoo a few days ago with their various messaging services (IM immediately and then video chat by the middle of next year). Also makes me wonder why the very next day, Microsoft then decided to settle with Real Networks to to start talks of partnering to deliver real-time content.
I can only assume they know something about Apple’s future products that we don’t.
Umm. “Vingle”?
“VINGLE”??!?!
yeahno.
’nuff said.
I can only assume they know something about Apple’s future products that we don’t.”
I doubt they know anything we don’t – in other words: nothing. Why would Apple give their competition any help competing with them.
If anything, MS and the others might are acting on what they are speculating on what Apple may be coming out with – and I bet it’s scaring the s**t out of them.
Vingle? Jingle? Tingle [tinggel for pinoys]? Web domination? Can’t imagine what it’s all about. MW: looking.
at first by these filings it seemed that vingle is going to be everything under the sun. but after further thought i came to the conclusion that apple just wants to make sure that nobody else use the word “vingle” for anything else anywhere. Such action would avoid the problem that Apple has had with Apple Corp, the music label.
Guessing: Video + Single = Vingle
v = video
i = ipod
n = net
g = google
l = I have no idea
e = entertainment
mdn word is Analysis… as in my analysis of what is going on in steve jobs mind is beyond me.
I surprised that
1) “vingle” is not yet trademarked and thus available, and
2) that Apple had to go to great lengths to describe what it is (though as described it could be anything).
In the 80’s I had heard that there are companies who’s business it was to coin new words and trademark them, then sell those names to companies to use on actual new products. The name “Fiero”, used by Pontiac on a two seat sporty car, as one such word. Supposedly pharmaceutical companies were also big clients, buying names for new drugs.
Does anyone know anything about this?
macnut222, I’m not saying your right or wrong but Apple has to have developers on board for anything to take hold. Remember when Apple wowwed us with OS X and the Aqua user interface. As I recall, one of the only third party applications they demoed that day was Microsoft’s Internet Explorer for the Mac with it’s Aqua GUI that everyone went gaga for. Remember when they released the G2 iPod with all the new capabilities out of the blue – they had like 5 different third-party hardware manufacturers that all had add-ons available that day that would work with the newly enhanced iPods. Remember when Apple dropped the bomb shell that they were switching to Intel. Wolfram Research was right there with a working copy of Mathmatica. They DO work (and share) with developers before actually releasing some products.
Ohhh, and don’t you think that Vingle is a hip way of saying, “give me a jingle” but instead of using a phone you would use their new “video” (video + jingle = vingle) conferencing features with this new patented technology? It just seems like this is the only thing it could be to me. What do you think?
http://www.vingle.com returns a page saying “under construction.” Can one of you guys who knows how look up the ownership? Thanks.
Registrant:
Domains by Proxy, Inc.
Registered through: GoDaddy.com
Domain Name: VINGLE.COM
Domain servers in listed order:
WSC1.JOMAX.NET
WSC2.JOMAX.NET
For complete domain details go to:
http://whois.godaddy.com
Registrant:
Domains by Proxy, Inc.
DomainsByProxy.com
15111 N. Hayden Rd., Ste 160, PMB 353
Scottsdale, Arizona 85260
United States
Registered through: GoDaddy.com (http://www.godaddy.com)
Domain Name: VINGLE.COM
Created on: 30-Apr-03
Expires on: 30-Apr-06
Last Updated on: 22-Jun-05
Administrative Contact:
Private, Registration VINGLE.COM@domainsbyproxy.com
Domains by Proxy, Inc.
DomainsByProxy.com
15111 N. Hayden Rd., Ste 160, PMB 353
Scottsdale, Arizona 85260
United States
(480) 624-2599
Technical Contact:
Private, Registration VINGLE.COM@domainsbyproxy.com
Domains by Proxy, Inc.
DomainsByProxy.com
15111 N. Hayden Rd., Ste 160, PMB 353
Scottsdale, Arizona 85260
United States
(480) 624-2599
Domain servers in listed order:
WSC1.JOMAX.NET
WSC2.JOMAX.NET
Registry Status: REGISTRAR-LOCK
Video single
It’s one of those fad things, like Sherlock. Here today, gone yesterday
a Blackberry-killer. Email on the go, done right.
The VINGLEBERRY !
No, not a wad of hair and feces, that’s a dingleberry.
I welcome the new technology, whatever it is. One glaring thing missing from the Mac world is a Mac-saavy, community-based destination. (chat, message boards, games, etc.). If you go to MSN, you can’t access chat rooms; you go to AOL, you get some but not all; you go to Comcast, things don’t work and text is askew; you go to Yahoo, you get a partial experience. You get my drift. Whatever it turns out to be, “VINGLE” is a horrible choice for a trademark. It’s awkward, forgetful and very unMacintosh. I hope I’ll be pleasantly surprised with something from left field, but in a world where YAHOO and GOOGLE are the names-of-choice, I’m left wondering what the hell is everyone thinking. I still think EXCITE is one of the best labels anyone has ever come up with, but it has faded into obscurity. Just goes to show that the name isn’t everything, but a kewl name always is a good first step. VINGLE? I don’t think so.
VINGLE suggests to me the MINGLING of Video and other Information. It’s an easy word to remember and build a brand association around.
Many things are assembled on a speculative basis…conditions change…and plans evolve. The video iPod and Front Row software are actually VERY conservative moves. If it doesn’t work (but of course it very likely will work more than well enough)…they’ve lost very little. I still have a first gen iPod…battery works great..got it in 2001. I use it for Audio Books. Still a great product. By moving on to another product..did Apple lose anything? The next generation of ipod will likely support higher resolution video and ITMS will have far more content. People who say, “why not just record the show on your VCR or TIVO or DVR?” are misunderstanding the size of the market and the nature of change in consumer electronics. People who don’t absolutely live to set their recorders or who missed the first season of a show or whatever…will buy this stuff like crazy. As someone else pointed out..think Sopranos on ITMS and you have some idea.
By the way…I opened one of the clips of LOST from the ITMS and clicked on it..opened it in Quicktime…enlarged it on my 24 inch monitor and it looks amazingly good…even at 320 x 240…quite impressive…
Turtleneck? Steve never wore turtlenecs…only mock-turtlenecks….and he hasn’t shown up in one of those all year.
In Norwegian “vingle” means “to act indecisively or unpredictable” – not a good name for an Apple product.
Om Malik covers this story:
http://gigaom.com/2005/10/15/apples-new-patents-hint-networked-ipod/
He thinks it s a networked device based on this patent;
http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000790042949/
This will be a true Video device with a 4:3 aspect ratio screen. Movies will be able to be downloaded via hi-speed kiosks at Apple stores and 802.11n ultra high speed networks.
Jim >
Your post reminds me of that fabulous line from Die Hard: WIth A Vengeance…
Scene: McClane driving – for want of a better word – a perturbed Zeus through Central Park.
John McClane (Bruce Willis): “Relax, I know what I’m doing”
Zeus Carver (Samuel L. Jackson): “Not even God knows what you’re doing, McClane”.
Which then leads you the other fabulous joke…
What’s the difference between Steve Jobs and God?
God knows he isn’t Steve Jobs.
What’s the difference between Steve Jobs and God?
One of them ships [product].
The other is vaporware.
This strikes me as a modern revival of the Knowledge Navigator concept Sculley’s Apple floated 10-15 years ago.
Strange name, though.