Apple to Amaze with...

[frahse]

Originally Posted by Fluribus

I wonder if they knew anything about the holy icons. I know that, in recent years, icons have had some bit of popularity outside the Eastern Orthodox, but I doubt that many outside the EO know. I suspect that they were going with the definition of 'icon' as a pictorial representation of something.

As for latest and greatest phones, I'm still rolling with an ancient and crusty Razr flipper.

If Apple dropped prices to decent levels, that would amaze and astonish me. I'd actually look at an iPad. Despite the massive and manifold evils of iTunes.

Continuing the religious theme,

"Amen, Brother!"

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Fluribus

I wonder if they knew anything about the holy icons. I know that, in recent years, icons have had some bit of popularity outside the Eastern Orthodox, but I doubt that many outside the EO know. I suspect that they were going with the definition of 'icon' as a pictorial representation of something.

According to the OED, the earliest recorded use of the word "icon" to mean a representation or image of something dates back to 1565, whereas the religious meaning of the word to refer to a sacred image dates only from 1833.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by HarryT

According to the OED, the earliest recorded use of the word "icon" to mean a representation or image of something dates back to 1565, whereas the religious meaning of the word to refer to a sacred image dates only from 1833.

And if I'm not mistaken the Greek word just means "image.". Nonetheless, I'd venture that most folks had only ever heard the term used with far more significance than a simple pictogram. Like a "cultural icon."

[HarryT]

Yes, exactly; it's from the Greek "eikon", the most common meaning of which is an image in the sense of a painting or a statue of someone or something. Until the 19th century the English word was most commonly spelt "ikon".

[Fluribus]

Originally Posted by WillysJeepMan

It's not like in the history of human communication, words have ever been repurposed.

The word hasn't even been repurposed. An icon on a computer is still a pictorial representation of something. In this case, a program or an application.

I never said that the word needed to be restricted to the holy icons. I was simply saying that I didn't think that the people who chose to use the word "icon" stole it from the holy icons.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Yes, exactly; it's from the Greek "eikon", the most common meaning of which is an image in the sense of a painting or a statue of someone or something. Until the 19th century the English word was most commonly spelt "ikon".

I thought I just made some clever connection between the camera brand "Nikon" and the word "ikon."
I thought "how clever of a camera company to make use of the Greek word for 'image' in their name! Why did never notice such an obvious thing before?!"

But, according to all the company history I can Google, "ikon" had nothing to do with it. Hm. It should have.

[petermillard]

Originally Posted by ApK

But, according to all the company history I can Google, "ikon" had nothing to do with it. Hm. It should have.

I think it was camera maker Zeiss Ikon AG (as oppose to lens-maker Carl Zeiss Jena) who made that connection when choosing the name for the then-new company formed by the merger of four German camera companies in the 1920s...

[frahse]

Originally Posted by ApK

I thought I just made some clever connection between the camera brand "Nikon" and the word "ikon."
I thought "how clever of a camera company to make use of the Greek word for 'image' in their name! Why did never notice such an obvious thing before?!"

But, according to all the company history I can Google, "ikon" had nothing to do with it. Hm. It should have.

Still, someone could claim it was at least a subconscious "stroke of genius."

Who hasn't been lauded for some detail, and smiled and said "why yes, that did work out well, didn't it?"

[Fluribus]

Originally Posted by frahse

Still, someone could claim it was at least a subconscious "stroke of genius."

Who hasn't been lauded for some detail, and smiled and said "why yes, that did work out well, didn't it?"

That should be:

Who hasn't been lauded for some detail, and smiled and said "why yes, I am a genius, aren't I? A towering colossus amongst men. Feel free to bask in the glory, o lowly one, feel free to bask."

[Yamada]

I'm starting to think I'm the only guy in the world (aside from the primary designer of iOS 7) that actually liked the new design.

[rdfry]

I can't wait to see how long it takes Apple to sue claiming they patented this new look that they stole from Google.

[HansTWN]

Apple managed to amaze me twice. Once with "you're holding it wrong!" and once by pushing the publishers to setup the agency system.

[elcreative]

Originally Posted by Yamada

I'm starting to think I'm the only guy in the world (aside from the primary designer of iOS 7) that actually liked the new design.

Naaa, you're probably one of the few people who doesn't want Apple to vanish AND is on Mobileread... and now I duck for cover...

[pl001]

I think the look is ok and it's good to see them opening the platform up a bit more. But overall I find it disappointing. They aren't really pushing the competition at all anymore. I'm not like some people and do not expect Apple to come out with something new and amazing every year. But iOS is pretty far behind at this point.

[elcreative]

Originally Posted by pl001

I think the look is ok and it's good to see them opening the platform up a bit more. But overall I find it disappointing. They aren't really pushing the competition at all anymore. I'm not like some people and do not expect Apple to come out with something new and amazing every year. But iOS is pretty far behind at this point.

???? I use both Android and iOS... like both, prefer iOS except on phone so pleaase enlighten as to the "pretty far behind..."