4 ms·

I knew they'd lost it when they rebranded Hotmail as Outlook. Now I have to use extra words when I want to clarify whether it is the desktop program or the web

I knew they'd lost it when they rebranded Hotmail as Outlook. Now I have to use extra words when I want to clarify whether it is the desktop program or the web service. Or Xbox One, which previously meant 'the first Xbox', but stuff continuity right? Or using a restyled Internet Explorer icon for the original Edge browser, when what they really needed to do was distance their new browser from IE. 'Visual Studio Code' never clicked with me. And slapping the word 'Xbox' on to anything to do with their entertainment offerings is just silly. Renaming 'Xbox Live' to something else was unnecessary and makes me feel old when I bring it up. Other names are good and mean one unique thing, while also tying in with the item's purpose. Like Word, PowerPoint, Windows, DirectX, Surface. But these are increasingly the exceptions.

GuB-42 4y ago
DirectX is not obvious. DirectX is a collection of libraries, mostly for game programming, they all used to start with "Direct": Direct3D, DirectPlay, DirectSound, DirectDraw,... Now, DirectX is mostly just Direct3D, for other components, is a bit of a mess, especially since it overlaps with the Xbox branding and components.
gcau 4y ago
I have an issue with ".net", it really seems like someone was asked to pick the worst possible name and did a good job.
- HeckFeck 4y ago
  Maybe they were trying to troll everyone with a name that didn't work when said aloud like "slashdot"?
hyperman1 4y ago
Word and Windows used to be controversial names. Remember that they were created when there was still an ecosystem of word processors and windowing environments. So there are 10 windowing environments, and MS has the arrogance to take the generic word windows for theirs, implying there is only 1 real choice. Same with word. Then they asked to de-generify these terms, as they had troubles using them as trademarks.
- hammyhavoc 4y ago
  At least with Word and Windows, we quickly learned to prefix them with Microsoft for clarity.

GuB-42 4y ago

DirectX is not obvious. DirectX is a collection of libraries, mostly for game programming, they all used to start with "Direct": Direct3D, DirectPlay, DirectSound, DirectDraw,... Now, DirectX is mostly just Direct3D, for other components, is a bit of a mess, especially since it overlaps with the Xbox branding and components.

gcau 4y ago

I have an issue with ".net", it really seems like someone was asked to pick the worst possible name and did a good job.

HeckFeck 4y ago
Maybe they were trying to troll everyone with a name that didn't work when said aloud like "slashdot"?

hyperman1 4y ago

Word and Windows used to be controversial names. Remember that they were created when there was still an ecosystem of word processors and windowing environments. So there are 10 windowing environments, and MS has the arrogance to take the generic word windows for theirs, implying there is only 1 real choice. Same with word. Then they asked to de-generify these terms, as they had troubles using them as trademarks.

hammyhavoc 4y ago
At least with Word and Windows, we quickly learned to prefix them with Microsoft for clarity.