What does the i in iPod and DSi mean?

You will actually never guess...

Now and then you have to stop and wonder what the names of those everyday gadgets we often claim to not be able to live without actually mean?

What, for example, does the 'i' stand for in the Apple iPod and the Nintendo DSi?

A quick office poll drew up blank faces and an even quicker Google search of 'what does the i in iPod mean' suggests that it originally stood for 'internet' in the case of Apple's iMac brand.

However, an Apple rep told us that the i in iPod was just a brand name and not an acronmyn.

[zoydwheeler]

i have pretty much run out of ideas now.. ?

[andyo13]

when i heard DSi was that it was directly related to the cameras, (i, eye). ipod i didnt think the i stood for anything cept meant personal pod/music player, which it is, it's a personal device.

[robertjamespaul]

Who cares, the DSi is far too expensive anyways.

[danarc]

I always thought with the iPod stuff it was "internet." Made sense with iTunes, havent looked into the DSi though.

[ShiftyLookingCow]

I guess on a serious note, i in DSi probably does stand for internet too, since using internet is how you get DSWare titles exclusive to DSi.

[danarc]

I'm gonna stick with my internet theory then :P

[SAiOSiN]

DS(eye).....the camera....

[ShiftyLookingCow]

DS(eye) used by the government to monitor the masses.

[gusto]

Like with the GTi - stands for injection in cars, but in most people's minds just means "faster and better".

[TOSgamer]

The i in DSi stands for inflated. Which is what the price on it is.

[ShiftyLookingCow]

for Apple its not just the price, also inflated ego. Though compared to other Apple products the inflation of the ego caused by iPhone is small since almost everyone and their dog owns one.

[KrazyFace]

I read some place that the name "Wii" is also symbolic. The name Wii as in western language "us" or "we" obviously, but the double "i" symbolizes the silhouette of two people together. Ironic, considering how hard it is to meet and play with people through Ninty's machine.

[Jdoki]

To Apple the 'i' is simply a way of taking smaller companies to court!

They use an 'i' followed by a simple, everyday word, and suddenly they own that word! iLife, iScrewU, etc etc

It probably means... 'i' will take you to court for copyright infringement if you so much as think about putting an i on the front of your product.

To Nintendo it's probably a way to associate the DS with the hip Apple crowd. They just stuck it on the end to appear edgey and disruptive in the marketplace...

[pcz]

i don't agree that this actually makes sense. for that statement to be true, wouldn't the machine have to be self aware? ie- you can only refer to your self as 'i' if you are self aware.

machines are not self aware, so really, it should be - DSU. U= you, the other. because we as humans have attached an identity to it. for it to be an 'i' would mean that it has self awareness and has spoken.

[zoydwheeler]

You've really thought this through, haven't you?

[Calcio]

Brilliant!

[travelguy2k]

as that is the main thing that Nintendo and Apple Impoved upon.

[gumgum99]

the "i" in DSi is simply a nod to the two cameras on board the DS, thus giving it "eyes" to the user.

Nintendo always had a way with names, when it came to highlighting the handheld's features, anyway.

Gameboy color- color screen

Gameboy Light- light screen

GameBoy Micro- micro Gameboy

DS- why, dual screen, of course

the list goes on and on, but I figured to name some of the obvious ones to better illustrate my point.

[PlayStationGamer4eva]

internet? That would mean:

Pod Shuffle
Pod Nano
Pod Classic
iPod Touch