WWDC 2010: iPhone OS 4 now "iOS 4"

If something's all-new, it's gotta have a snappy new name. Among the technical innovations announced today during Steve's keynote at WWDC was one branding update -- the operating system formerly known as "iPhone OS" will now be known as "iOS," with version 4 in golden master now.

We hate to bring the buzzkill, Steve, but remember how the iPhone trademark was actually owned by another technology company when you introduced the product? Guess what. Cisco's router operating system... uh... well, it's already called IOS. Apparently the first new feature of iOS 4 is "pays for trademark lawyers' summer homes." Update: Our loyal reader DocRock suggests this licensing deal is already done. Update #2: Yep, Cisco PR confirms that a deal was done.

photo courtesy Engadget

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If something's all-new, it's gotta have a snappy new name. Among the technical innovations announced today during Steve's keynote at WWDC...

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macserv

It WOULD be a perfect naming scheme... all devices prefixed with "i" run iOS; all "Mac" machines run Mac OS.

So what does the iMac run? :D

June 09 2010 at 12:29 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Ray

Didn't Apple license the name iOS from Cisco too? Apple could have just renamed the thing OS X Mobile and saved a couple million bucks.

June 08 2010 at 12:11 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Big Al

iDon't see what the problem iS. iThink iT's just fine the way iT is. iReally think people find some of the stupidest things to complain about. iWould like to see people try coming up with real complaints. iNstead of making up problems. The naming system has been being used at Apple since at least 1997-1998. So iT's no mystery that they might have other things they wanted to use the name system for without having to go and register every word and acronym with an 'i' iN front of iT.

June 07 2010 at 7:09 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Twist

Wow that is just a bad name. I think they needed to change it but I also think they should have taken a page from their classic playbook and named this OS after a type of apple.

June 07 2010 at 4:54 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to Twist's comment

Big Al

what, like Gala, or iGala? Or maybe Granny Smith, or iGranny?

June 07 2010 at 7:11 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Allingby

Can we get some full PNG screens of it all? I wanna make wishful mockups of OS 4.1

June 07 2010 at 4:50 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

grandpag

Mine shall be re-named the iFourne. Who cares? Call it an iPhone, because it is. Call it your cell phone, because it is. Call it your Mobile, if you are in England, because it is. Just call it yours and be happy you have one, or will.

June 07 2010 at 4:17 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

no name

I dont know about you guys, but i am disappointed. Yes, new hardware is nice. Yes it is $100 cheaper and yes, I am going to get one.

The iOS 4? Yes, that sounds like new AppleTV may use it, but the whole "update" is a disappointment.

Multitasking? Great. About time too.
VideoChat? WiFi only.... hm... i wonder why... /s
Unified Mailbox? bleh. really.
Home Screen wallpaper? wow... what a novel idea
iPod widget.... right about time too...

I wish they would finish porting Android to iPhone already

June 07 2010 at 3:49 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

3 replies to no name's comment

silas

So, can anyone see the GM on the dev site yet?

June 07 2010 at 3:20 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

We would expect nothing else to be honest

June 07 2010 at 3:14 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Bastian Nutzinger

I think they naming scheme is perfect now.
iOS sums it all up and I much prefer iPhone + Incremental number over any 3G (S) HD nonsense

June 07 2010 at 3:10 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply