Early indications are that Apple made a mistake using the term iPad to name its newest product (an eBook-reader).
The Apple iPad (photo courtesy of iLounge)
Within minutes of the official disclosure of the iPad name, the first negative missives began to hit the Internet, equating the term “pad” within iPad to a feminine hygiene napkin.
Soon the term iTampon began appearing on Twitter, with many tweets chastising Apple’s public relations and marketing department for not contemplating that at least some women might be offended with the iPad name. Other tweets provided indecorous comparisons between a feminine pad, the iPad and a tampon — hence, the emergence of the mocking, farcical term: iTampon.
In fact, by 4:30 p.m. (PST), iTampon had supplanted iPad in microblog posts on Twitter and had become the No. 2 “Currently Trending” term on Twitter (according to Tweetstats).
Look, it’s bad enough that my wife makes me buy feminine hygiene products for her and our girls at the grocery store. But iPad?!?! Are you kidding me?
I’m surprised someone inside of Apple’s distortion reality field didn’t stand up and say,
“Steve, ya know, half of the potential customers for this product might think of a sanitary napkin when they hear the name iPad.”
But maybe that’s just me. Am I off base here or not?
I think not. I’m convinced Apple made a major PR faux pas with the iPad name, a real marketing blunder.
That’s why I’m giving Apple a “Sad Betty Award” for launching this new product as the iPad.
Last thought. Expect the late night hosts to start joking about the iPad as early as tonight, but no later than tomorrow for sure!
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To women, pad means just one thing.
iPlay? iSlate? iPage? iTablet?
I dunno, but only iPeriod would have been worse. That said, I like the idea that we will collectively rename it…probably just as soon as we buy one.
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UGH! Yes, iPeriod would have been worse, but probably not by much. Great comment.
i think we’ll get over it. Apple have broken a taboo by reclaiming preciousness over an innocent word that was hijacked anyway. Why can’t they? who are we to say ” oooh no you can’t do that!” Good on ‘em.
All I know is that iTampon is the 30th most popular search term on Google for the past hour (as of ~6:30 p.m. PDT). Seems like a pretty big deal to me. I guess we’ll see.
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This post was mentioned on Twitter by dpolitis: New BettyFactor.com post: iPad Name Equals Apple PR Blunder. http://ow.ly/11bwv #PR #Fail #Journchat…
ElizabethB,
I apologize, however, that has to be in my top 10 most ignorant statements ever read. You yourself have just made a ‘blanket blunder’ of your own.
[...] Within minutes of the official disclosure of the iPad name, the first negative missives began to hit the Internet, equating the term âpadâ within iPad to a feminine hygiene napkin. Soon the term iTampon began appearing on Twitter, …Click Here [...]
The word ‘Pad’ has had a lot of different usage, from building platforms to baches to music backgrounds to cushions to stationery.
Did we make such a fuss when companies that made feminine hygiene products used the word, associating all those school children using writing pads with something other than their immediate context?
No! the PR industry softened the perception with a word that could be used alongside others for bringing out to the marketing arena. If every other use of the word Pad was subsequently withdrawn, then they’d be back to the same quandry.
Apple are one company who put due diligence into marketing and this week they treated us like adults, and not a ‘dumbed down’ society. Its the dirtiness of receiving mind that makes the associations we’re hearing lots from.
Well i’ don’t live in fear of a taboo set by some overseas marketing boardroom, and i’m glad when another boardroom is brave enough to ignore it.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Gina Chen, David Politis, David Politis, David Politis, David Politis and others. David Politis said: New BettyFactor.com post: iPad Name Equals Apple PR Blunder. http://ow.ly/11bwv #PR #Fail #Journchat [...]
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by David Politis, David Politis, David Politis, UtahTechWatch, UtahTechWatch and others. UtahTechWatch said: Awesomeness. My post on the iPad/iTampon debacle ranks Nos. 3 + 4 in Google for the term iTampon & blunder: http://ow.ly/11cUS [...]
