CMS Author MikeRivers Posted December 19, 2012 CMS Author Share Posted December 19, 2012 Is there an accepted generic name or term that covers things like iPads, iPhones, or iPods that aren't necessarily Apple products? I've used "iGadget" when, for instance, I'm talking about the platform for a software app that will run on any of them, but what about Androids and their derivatives, and anything else? An example is if I want to write "This could be controlled by an iPad," when there's an Android version of the controller app as well. That would come out in the details, but I'm looking for a term that I can use in a forum post, or in a descriptive summary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members tedmich Posted December 19, 2012 Members Share Posted December 19, 2012 They're all computers, technically. Marketing people have been calling newer smaller versions by names that imply they are something other than newer, smaller computers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members elsongs Posted December 19, 2012 Members Share Posted December 19, 2012 Originally Posted by MikeRivers Is there an accepted generic name or term that covers things like iPads, iPhones, or iPods that aren't necessarily Apple products? I've used "iGadget" when, for instance, I'm talking about the platform for a software app that will run on any of them, but what about Androids and their derivatives, and anything else? An example is if I want to write "This could be controlled by an iPad," when there's an Android version of the controller app as well. That would come out in the details, but I'm looking for a term that I can use in a forum post, or in a descriptive summary. I don't think there's a generic term that covers all of them. A non-Apple touchscreen device is a tablet, a non-Apple iPhone is simply a cell phone or a smartphone (nearly all cellphones today have the same touchscreen form factor) and a non-Apple iPod is a digital music player or an MP3 player. The only thing that ties them together in the Apple realm is the IOS operating system. You have tablets and smartphones run on Android, but no digital music players. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CMS Author MikeRivers Posted December 19, 2012 Author CMS Author Share Posted December 19, 2012 I've heard the term "mobile device" but heck, at least most of the time my car is a mobile device. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Lee Knight Posted December 19, 2012 Moderators Share Posted December 19, 2012 Tablets and smart phones, or the airline preferred, "electronic devices". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members UstadKhanAli Posted December 19, 2012 Members Share Posted December 19, 2012 Smart devices? Mobile touchscreen devices? Portable touchscreen devices? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members CTStump Posted December 19, 2012 Members Share Posted December 19, 2012 Originally Posted by MikeRivers I've heard the term "mobile device" but heck, at least most of the time my car is a mobile device. This unfortunately IS the term your trying to find as per a "Generic" Label. Example:" I am developing an App for a "Window's Mobile Device""I don't think any one would confuse that with your car however it is a rather bland description. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members scarecrowbob Posted December 19, 2012 Members Share Posted December 19, 2012 Generally, either "tablet devices" or "mobile devices" are the terms. Mobile devices includes smart phones, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Kelly Sexton Posted December 19, 2012 Members Share Posted December 19, 2012 this thread is intertesting! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MargeHowel Posted December 19, 2012 Members Share Posted December 19, 2012 Originally Posted by MikeRivers I've heard the term "mobile device" but heck, at least most of the time my car is a mobile device. I wouldn't get too hung up, heck a horse-drawn buggy is a car (actually originally I think the word referred to chariots anywy)and an airplane is an automobilethink about how many things are actually computers even people! (it was used that way before electronic computers)so we could stop using those too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Anderton Posted December 19, 2012 Members Share Posted December 19, 2012 Originally Posted by Lee Knight Tablets and smart phones, or the airline preferred, "electronic devices". This, and "portable music players" for iPods.For a blanket term describing iOS devices, I use "iThingie" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gus Lozada Posted December 19, 2012 Share Posted December 19, 2012 I use "iDevices" or simply "iOS Devices" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members CTStump Posted December 19, 2012 Members Share Posted December 19, 2012 A fiery Debate we got going here, I'm Partial to controversy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Lee Knight Posted December 20, 2012 Moderators Share Posted December 20, 2012 Originally Posted by CTStump A fiery Debate we got going here, I'm Partial to controversy. No debate as much as a search for a new "best practices". It does seem quite worthwhile to me.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CMS Author MikeRivers Posted December 20, 2012 Author CMS Author Share Posted December 20, 2012 Originally Posted by Gus Lozada I use "iDevices" or simply "iOS Devices" What do you suppose Mr. Google (Android) would say when accused of having an iOS? I have no problem with "iDevice" when I'm talking about something that's for Apple only, but I'm looking for a generic term here.I realize that if you don't have an iDevice you might as well crawl back under your rock. I feel left out myself much of the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members philbo Posted December 20, 2012 Members Share Posted December 20, 2012 Hmmm.... How about iJunk? It'll all be in a landfill in 3 years anyway... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CMS Author MikeRivers Posted December 20, 2012 Author CMS Author Share Posted December 20, 2012 Originally Posted by philbo Hmmm.... How about iJunk? It'll all be in a landfill in 3 years anyway... Agree with the junk, but I'm trying to avoid the "i" when it doesn't have to be an Apple device. But I suspect that it's already been attached, like now that every sort of political scandal seems to be some sort of a "gate." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Goobers Posted December 20, 2012 Members Share Posted December 20, 2012 "mobile device" sounds like what you want Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Lee Knight Posted December 20, 2012 Moderators Share Posted December 20, 2012 Originally Posted by Goobers "mobile device" sounds like what you want Isn't that a car? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Hush Posted December 20, 2012 Members Share Posted December 20, 2012 Originally Posted by Lee Knight Isn't that a car? Have you ever called your car a mobile device? It could be described that way, but I don't think anyone today would think you were referring to a car when you say "Mobile Device". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members tedmich Posted December 20, 2012 Members Share Posted December 20, 2012 they're small computers! Ignore the meaningless marketing terms! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members CTStump Posted December 20, 2012 Members Share Posted December 20, 2012 iGadget, mobile device, electronic devices, Smart devices, Mobile touchscreen devices, Portable touchscreen devices, tablet devices, iThingie, iDevices, iOS Devices, iJunkBeing a "Groupthink"(at least accused of being) Forum what have we decided the term is(I've emphasized my preference). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members blue2blue Posted December 20, 2012 Members Share Posted December 20, 2012 Originally Posted by Gus Lozada I use "iDevices" or simply "iOS Devices" I like the term, iOS [and Android, of course] devices.Because, among iPods, only the iPod Touch can run iOS apps and such, so iDevices or iGadgets might well be misapplied, depending.The reason Mike needs a specific term is that he writes usage documentation and the like. So he needs to be able to refer to highly specific subsets of mobile gadgets, I'm thinking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CMS Author MikeRivers Posted December 20, 2012 Author CMS Author Share Posted December 20, 2012 Originally Posted by blue2blue The reason Mike needs a specific term is that he writes usage documentation and the like. So he needs to be able to refer to highly specific subsets of mobile gadgets, I'm thinking. Yes, that's what I was thinking about. "iOS and Android devices" isn't too bad, but I wanted to avoid an awkward list, particularly when it's repeated a few times in the article. I suppose I could write "iOS and Android devices, hereafter referred to as iJunk for brevity." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MargeHowel Posted December 20, 2012 Members Share Posted December 20, 2012 sounds like "mobile device" or "mobile computing device" is about what you want, but CTS brings up some alternatives. Personally, I'd stay away from the OS specifics -- I mean there's Win 8 RT now, Windows phone, all the proprietary stuff like from RIM and Samsung....and it could get more complex as these devices proliferate Then you've got the trademark issue where you have the overhead of disclaiming which just complicates things here's the wikipedia entry on Mobile Device (not that it's some big overarching authority, but it does speak to popular conception which is what you are aiming at)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_device I'm probably an outlier, but I started with Diamond Rio for DAP (PMP these days), DAP was what I think they used in the court documents...so players were never "i" anything for me since the language solidified before that Johnny come lately Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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