The Man who named the Kindle (& TiVo) has died

daffy4u · 01-06-2013, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Michael Cronan, a San Francisco-based graphic designer and marketing executive who placed his stamp on popular culture when he created the brand names TiVo and Kindle, died on Tuesday in Berkeley, Calif. He was 61.

Quote:

When Amazon prepared to introduce its first electronic reader in 2007, it turned to Mr. Cronan, who envisioned imagery reflecting the reading experience as an embryonic but rising technology.

Ms. Hibma said in an interview on Friday that in pondering a brand name, Mr. Cronan “wanted to create something small, humble, with no braggadocio,” while choosing an image that “was about starting something, giving birth to something.” He found the name, she said, by likening use of the new e-reader to “starting a fire.”

rah68 · 01-06-2013, 12:15 PM

Quote: He found the name, she said, by likening use of the new e-reader to “starting a fire.” end quote

and what a fire it has turned out to be !! A very apt name.
R.I. P. Mr Cronan

poohbear_nc · 01-06-2013, 12:36 PM

Thank you for this post. I was under the mis-apprehension that Mr. Bezos had named the Kindle. I hope Mr. Cronan was well compensated for his brilliance. RIP

sneakyspider · 01-06-2013, 02:10 PM

I've always liked the name, though I, too, had always credited it to Mr. Bezos.

RIP Mr. Cronan.

graycyn · 01-06-2013, 04:23 PM

I've always wondered a bit about the name of the Kindle. One would think that fire and books best be kept separate, so I always found it odd for that reason. Reminds me too much of burning books!

But it has worked for Amazon. And it's certainly easier for people to remember than something like the Sony numbers.

jersysman · 01-06-2013, 05:40 PM

Now we also know where the name "Fire" came about. I never gave that much thought as well. Thanks for the info.

Fluribus · 01-06-2013, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by graycyn

I've always wondered a bit about the name of the Kindle. One would think that fire and books best be kept separate, so I always found it odd for that reason. Reminds me too much of burning books!

The illuminating flame of knowledge and the warming fire of love.

dreams · 01-07-2013, 12:26 AM

I always wondered where the name came from and the reasoning behind it. Thanks for the post.

R.I.P. Mr. Cronan

ucfgrad93 · 01-07-2013, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dreams

I always wondered where the name came from and the reasoning behind it. Thanks for the post.

R.I.P. Mr. Cronan

As did I. A very interesting read. Thanks for sharing, OP.

VaultBoy · 01-07-2013, 02:27 AM

Like others, I was under the impression that Bezos was the name master.

This news is both surprising and sad at the same time.

graycyn · 01-07-2013, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fluribus

The illuminating flame of knowledge and the warming fire of love.

I do like this interpretation better!

aarons510 · 01-07-2013, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by graycyn

I've always wondered a bit about the name of the Kindle. One would think that fire and books best be kept separate, so I always found it odd for that reason. Reminds me too much of burning books!

In a sense, these e-readers are 'burning' printed books. And they're doing it without putting more CO2 into the atmosphere.

GA Russell · 01-07-2013, 10:07 PM

The NY Times obit cited in the OP notes that he opposed selling the naming rights to ballparks. I agree with him there.

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01-06-2013, 12:15 PM	#2
rah68 readaholic Posts: 28 Karma: 87602 Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Connecticut Device: Kindle Fire, Kindle Paperwhite, Kindle Fire HD 8.9	Quote: He found the name, she said, by likening use of the new e-reader to “starting a fire.” end quote and what a fire it has turned out to be !! A very apt name. R.I. P. Mr Cronan

01-06-2013, 12:36 PM	#3
poohbear_nc Bah! Humbug! Posts: 63,065 Karma: 135239851 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Durham, NC Device: Every Kindle Ever Made & To Be Made!	Thank you for this post. I was under the mis-apprehension that Mr. Bezos had named the Kindle. I hope Mr. Cronan was well compensated for his brilliance. RIP

01-06-2013, 02:10 PM	#4
sneakyspider Ereader Addicts Anonymous Posts: 329 Karma: 1071692 Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: USA, FL. Device: (2)KO2, PW7thGen., KT2, iPadMini1	I've always liked the name, though I, too, had always credited it to Mr. Bezos. RIP Mr. Cronan.

01-06-2013, 04:23 PM	#5
graycyn Wizard Posts: 1,585 Karma: 11380098 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: NE Oregon Device: Kobo Sage, Pocketbook Era, Kobo Forma, Kindle Oasis 2	I've always wondered a bit about the name of the Kindle. One would think that fire and books best be kept separate, so I always found it odd for that reason. Reminds me too much of burning books! But it has worked for Amazon. And it's certainly easier for people to remember than something like the Sony numbers.

01-06-2013, 05:40 PM	#6
jersysman Wizard Posts: 1,747 Karma: 3761220 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Pennsylvania Device: T1 Red, Kindle Fire, Kindle PW, PW2, Nook HD+, Kobo Mini, Aura HD	Now we also know where the name "Fire" came about. I never gave that much thought as well. Thanks for the info.

01-07-2013, 12:26 AM	#8
dreams It's about the umbrella Posts: 25,110 Karma: 56250158 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: Sony 505\| K Fire \| KK 3G+Wi-Fi \| iPhone 3Gs \|Vista 32-bit Hm Prem w/FF	I always wondered where the name came from and the reasoning behind it. Thanks for the post. R.I.P. Mr. Cronan

01-07-2013, 02:27 AM	#10
VaultBoy Addict Posts: 206 Karma: 1683142 Join Date: Nov 2012 Device: Kindle of many shapes, PIPBoy 3000	Like others, I was under the impression that Bezos was the name master. This news is both surprising and sad at the same time.

01-07-2013, 10:07 PM	#13
GA Russell Argos win Grey Cup! Posts: 7,679 Karma: 31487351 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Raleigh, NC Device: Paperwhite, Kindles 10 & 4 and jetBook Lite	The NY Times obit cited in the OP notes that he opposed selling the naming rights to ballparks. I agree with him there.

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