Filed under: WWDC, Internet Tools, .Mac, MobileMe
Apple's worst logo ever?
I'm eager to test out Apple's upcoming MobileMe service, the .Mac replacement scheduled to launch in a few weeks. Unfortunately for many, my enthusiasm is matched by disdain for the MobileMe logo.Gawker says "...it should be on a package of Japanese soap." Paul Thurrott notices a similarity between MobileMe and Microsoft WindowsME and Manhattan Offender asks flat-out: "Is 'MobileMe' the worst logo in the history of Mac?"
First of all, Manhattan Offender, Apple is the company that produced MobileMe and its graphic representation, not "Mac."
Remember, Apple is pushing this (get it?) as "Exchange for the rest of us." It's not a corporate product, but a consumer service with corporate-like features. We think the logo is airy and fun.
What's your take? Decent enough or utter garbage?
[Via Geek & Mild]
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 10)
AJB said 9:08AM on 6-11-2008
it's terrible--completely inappropriate for any business environment. no logo should ever contain a cloud of any type.
Reply
Aron T said 9:52AM on 6-11-2008
The point of the cloud is to, quite literally, show the concept of things being in the 'cloud' (as in the interwebs, ya dig?)
Ps, This isn't for corporate users, so it down and shut up.
NNTPgrip said 10:43AM on 6-11-2008
Agreed, if it is indeed Exchange "for the rest of us", the logo should have been an aluminum pole.
The whole thing should have been introduced by Jerry Stiller...
mathue said 11:27AM on 6-11-2008
AJB wrote: no logo should ever contain a cloud of any type.-
Other than Cloud Computing or companies who produce weather metrology products mayhaps.
Personally I can't say I care too much for the logo myself but it's not my look-after.
Thomas Schneider said 9:11AM on 6-11-2008
I think that it's decent enough... nothing to complain about. It remains consistent with the theme that it is a "cloud"
I think that analogy is somewhat stupid and overly dumbed down, the average consumer can understand exchange without having to implement the all powerful "cloud" into it
but that's just my $0.02
Reply
mark said 5:00PM on 6-11-2008
"the average consumer can understand exchange without having to implement the all powerful "cloud" into it"
Really? I can't tell you how many times I've heard someone say, "I'll download it to you." Or even worse -- "I'll mp3 it to you" (when they're not even talking about a music file).
The "average person" does *not* have a grasp on uploading vs. downloading, servers, and the like. It doesn't make sense to people like us, but Apple's not marketing exclusively to people like us.
It's just a name, folks. It's neither brilliant nor offensive. It's like a rock band or whatever -- the first couple of times you hear the name "The Puking Seagulls" (or whatever), it's amusing. But if you like their music, the name becomes completely benign, and you concentrate on their *work*.
The same will happen with MobileMe.
Sir. Poopy Pants said 9:11AM on 6-11-2008
Unlike a lot of people here, I don't grit my teeth, and clinch my butthole in a vain attempt to hold back the nervous shits about what a logo looks like.
Reply
Martin said 11:14AM on 6-11-2008
That's the funniest thing I've read today. Thx.
CaptSaltyJack said 11:52AM on 6-11-2008
Oh man! I had to work hard to keep myself from busting out into laughter and disturbing my co-workers. Thanks for that :)
Pepe said 12:44PM on 6-12-2008
Yea, thanks. Sometimes I forget why I scroll through the comments. - Now I remember :-)
Nevertheless, for the record, I don't like the "me" bit - even though it is reminiscent of the "hello iMac" from a while back. The logo seems more like a depiction, as in "a picture is worth a thousand words" rather than a logo. Then again, yea, who cares.
d said 9:12AM on 6-11-2008
can't say I like it either. The screenshots of the web apps seem kind of dark as well. I love gmail's white background and light (dare I say aqua?) colored mail list. If apple added a way to create your own themes for MobileMe, I'd be happy.
Reply
5cents said 9:14AM on 6-11-2008
garbage
Reply
Lisa Hoover said 9:16AM on 6-11-2008
I lean toward utter garbage. It's too cutesy and pastel for my taste but, hey, if the service works as well as it sounds like it's going to, the logo could be an image of a dead yak and I wouldn't care.
Reply
Andrew Rush said 10:20AM on 6-11-2008
I agree! I just want to use the service!
bigMACattack said 3:04PM on 6-12-2008
"Dead yak!"
I'm a huge BR fan.
Buckingham said 9:17AM on 6-11-2008
This is one of the best logos I've ever seen. It captures the whole idea about the product. I don't think most consumers will notice the Windows Me similarities, or even remember what Windows Me is.
It looks professionally designed, and although it doesn't follow the previous Apple-style logo designs, it really works well. And even if I don't agree with the logo, I don't think that will decide whether I will use the product or not.
Reply
Hawkman said 10:08AM on 6-11-2008
Agreed. I don't love it, but I recognise that it's a pretty good attempt at logoifying a concept that by its nature has no physical representation... I challenge anyone to come up with a better idea!
Frank said 10:22AM on 6-11-2008
yes, it really does get across a difficult concept pretty well. i don't have any ideas that are better, that's for sure. but i still don't like it. : P
quandmeme said 10:56AM on 6-11-2008
It does not work for me, but I have to think that I don't like the name either. Mobileme seems unMac as well. So maybe the logo is great, and they are marketing to Apple's users who know iPods and iPhones, but not Macs.
The logo is like a well-acted villain in a movie, don't like him, but you can say it is well done.
jay said 10:58AM on 6-11-2008
I made the connection immediately and I never even used it. I only saw the Windows Me a few times, but it stuck enough for me to look at the logo and saw oh Microsoft. I will even suggest it might have been purposed that way for switchers to make a connection that they will still have the "exchange" aspect with Apple. Apple is just making connections.