4 ms·

The process (for SPDY and nginx) is called disemvowelment[1], and I always thought it mostly had to do with securing short domain names. Scvngr comes to mind a

by ghayes 13y ago

The process (for SPDY and nginx) is called disemvowelment[1], and I always thought it mostly had to do with securing short domain names. Scvngr comes to mind as an example of this. S-C-A-V-E-N-G-E-R. [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disemvoweling http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disemvoweling

laumars 13y ago
It is mostly about securing short domain names. If I'm honest, I started getting sidetracked with my rant at that point. Though, to be fair, even the domain name argument is increasingly becoming moot as more and more TLD's are become available (eg .io). And personally I'd rather not have product names dictated by what URL looks prettier in someone's tweet (if they're that bothered, then why not have speedy.io and a Twitter friendly one that redirects)
- kyrias 13y ago
  > ... increasingly becoming moot as more and > more TLD's are become available (eg .io) "Becoming available"? Most TLDs don't have any second-level requirements, and AFAIK .io has never had any.
  - laumars 13y ago
    I'm wasn't talking about second level domains (though you're right that -where available- second level domains do widen the scope for TLD usage). But what I meant was that ICANN periodically releases new gTLDs for public use and even offers a program for companies to sponsor new gTLDs. With regards to .io, technically that's a country code (ccTLD) that's been re-purposed as a gTLD by many organisations in recent years.
- randomsearch 13y ago
  > It is mostly about securing short domain names. Slightly off topic observation: do we really care about domain names anymore? I mean, is it so important for a web start-up called "yourbooks" to own "yourbooks.com"? It seems to me that decisions as important as selecting a product name are often being made on the availability of domain names. I think this doesn't make sense - most people will use Google if they're looking you up on the web, and apps are the dominate delivery channel, so who cares? Focus on your business idea, not some arbitrary domain name issue... the world does not need another urbkly.com or another $100k ransom for a domain name.
  - laumars 13y ago
    Interesting point, and eventually things may move that way. It may become as transparent to the users as changing channels on the radio. But for now we're still at the stage where there isn't enough device cross-talk to afford us the luxury to do away with meaningful / memorable domain names (much like how many new radios still need to be tuned in to our preferred stations). We print website addresses and place a great significant on the address bar - so it makes sense that a domain name should fit the product. While QR codes, mobile apps and search engines are mitigating the need for domain names - I don't think we're quite there yet.
HNLogInShit 13y ago
This reminds me of Rolling Stone's review of GTR's album (a band whose name was derived by removing the vowels from "guitar"): Sht.
michaelmior 13y ago
I'm not sure it's so much about short domain names as it is available domain names. Think of securing scvngr.com vs scavenger.com. Plus, is a short domain really that valuable if so many people have trouble spelling it?
lttlrck 13y ago
I first heard this called "vowel decimation" which IMO sounds better :) but I've only seen it called this in one product: Zoom Player[1]. It is used to shorten the length of media file tags (song titles etc) to fit available UI space while keeping them readable. It is very effective and I haven't seen any other media player use this. [1] http://www.inmatrix.com/zplayer/options_interfacedisplay.shtml http://www.inmatrix.com/zplayer/options_interfacedisplay.sht...

by ghayes 13y ago

laumars 13y ago

It is mostly about securing short domain names. If I'm honest, I started getting sidetracked with my rant at that point. Though, to be fair, even the domain name argument is increasingly becoming moot as more and more TLD's are become available (eg .io). And personally I'd rather not have product names dictated by what URL looks prettier in someone's tweet (if they're that bothered, then why not have speedy.io and a Twitter friendly one that redirects)

kyrias 13y ago
> ... increasingly becoming moot as more and > more TLD's are become available (eg .io) "Becoming available"? Most TLDs don't have any second-level requirements, and AFAIK .io has never had any.
- laumars 13y ago
  I'm wasn't talking about second level domains (though you're right that -where available- second level domains do widen the scope for TLD usage). But what I meant was that ICANN periodically releases new gTLDs for public use and even offers a program for companies to sponsor new gTLDs. With regards to .io, technically that's a country code (ccTLD) that's been re-purposed as a gTLD by many organisations in recent years.
randomsearch 13y ago
> It is mostly about securing short domain names. Slightly off topic observation: do we really care about domain names anymore? I mean, is it so important for a web start-up called "yourbooks" to own "yourbooks.com"? It seems to me that decisions as important as selecting a product name are often being made on the availability of domain names. I think this doesn't make sense - most people will use Google if they're looking you up on the web, and apps are the dominate delivery channel, so who cares? Focus on your business idea, not some arbitrary domain name issue... the world does not need another urbkly.com or another $100k ransom for a domain name.
- laumars 13y ago
  Interesting point, and eventually things may move that way. It may become as transparent to the users as changing channels on the radio. But for now we're still at the stage where there isn't enough device cross-talk to afford us the luxury to do away with meaningful / memorable domain names (much like how many new radios still need to be tuned in to our preferred stations). We print website addresses and place a great significant on the address bar - so it makes sense that a domain name should fit the product. While QR codes, mobile apps and search engines are mitigating the need for domain names - I don't think we're quite there yet.

HNLogInShit 13y ago

This reminds me of Rolling Stone's review of GTR's album (a band whose name was derived by removing the vowels from "guitar"): Sht.

michaelmior 13y ago

I'm not sure it's so much about short domain names as it is available domain names. Think of securing scvngr.com vs scavenger.com. Plus, is a short domain really that valuable if so many people have trouble spelling it?

lttlrck 13y ago

I first heard this called "vowel decimation" which IMO sounds better :) but I've only seen it called this in one product: Zoom Player[1]. It is used to shorten the length of media file tags (song titles etc) to fit available UI space while keeping them readable. It is very effective and I haven't seen any other media player use this. [1] http://www.inmatrix.com/zplayer/options_interfacedisplay.shtml http://www.inmatrix.com/zplayer/options_interfacedisplay.sht...