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Networks and Remotes => Remotes => Topic started by: glynor on February 17, 2015, 09:17:45 pm

Title: POLL: What's In a Name? JRemote or Gizmo?
Post by: glynor on February 17, 2015, 09:17:45 pm
I've seen some rumblings from Jim that might indicate that naming of JRemote is up for... I don't know.  It wasn't clear.  But, in any case, should:

JRiver release a new Android remote control and streaming application like JRemote
* OR *
JRiver decide to unify the branding between their two remote control apps

What name is best.  I won't comment (right now) on my own choice, because I have before, and you can see my vote anyway.
Title: Re: What's In a Name? JRemote or Gizmo
Post by: fitbrit on February 17, 2015, 09:39:19 pm
I think JRemote - it sounds more JRiverish. Also, many people feel that JRemote is more polished than Gizmo. It would therefore be better to call the new Android app JRemote, rather than scare JRemote users by calling the unified product Gizmo.
Title: Re: What's In a Name? JRemote or Gizmo
Post by: BartMan01 on February 17, 2015, 11:26:57 pm
JRemote fits the branding better.
Title: Re: What's In a Name? JRemote or Gizmo
Post by: astromo on February 18, 2015, 02:14:31 am
I'll buck the trend and go the traditionalist route.

Appreciate the logic presented but sometimes rationale is not required.
Title: Re: What's In a Name? JRemote or Gizmo
Post by: Arindelle on February 18, 2015, 06:23:30 am
euh I agree wit Fitbrit's logic on this one .. but then I thought after I voted, when I had my company don't think I would let participatory democracy fuse with Branding decisions .... I should have suggested a different name like SDC -- for Steve's Digital Controller I think thats got a ring to it  ;D
Title: Re: What's In a Name? JRemote or Gizmo
Post by: glynor on February 18, 2015, 06:38:02 am
but then I thought after I voted, when I had my company don't think I would let participatory democracy fuse with Branding decisions

This poll has no power!  ;D

I was just curious if people agreed with me or not.
Title: Re: What's In a Name? JRemote or Gizmo
Post by: JimH on February 18, 2015, 07:07:12 am
We've decided to call it Ed.
Title: Re: What's In a Name? JRemote or Gizmo
Post by: Arindelle on February 18, 2015, 07:54:50 am
Well Horses might be better than Freud .... sorry couldn't resist (or is someone's name Ed around here?! ;D

(http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQKUkbPrWYv7cEVABbHAy3AFgGqp8GS3ZvL6em_TBdgPY3Yr2NsckmbU3_bDQ)

you guys old enough to remember this ? ...

http://youtu.be/y_PZPpWTRTU?t=10s (http://youtu.be/y_PZPpWTRTU?t=10s)

wondering how audiences back in the day would have reacted to Breaking Bad or Banshee
Title: Re: What's In a Name? JRemote or Gizmo
Post by: glynor on February 18, 2015, 08:31:49 am
or is someone's name Ed around here?!

Let's put it this way, I know that reference well.
Title: Re: What's In a Name? JRemote or Gizmo
Post by: wig on February 18, 2015, 09:02:02 am
For a fully functional app that can stream media (and maybe eventually play local media !?!), JRemote seems like a limiting name.

Should be like JMobile.
Title: Re: What's In a Name? JRemote or Gizmo
Post by: mojave on February 18, 2015, 09:21:33 am
JRemote has a large fan base, but I like the idea of JMobile or something strange like River4Me.

We've decided to call it Ed.
Edelweiss
Title: Re: What's In a Name? JRemote or Gizmo
Post by: 6233638 on February 18, 2015, 09:34:07 am
I prefer JRemote to Gizmo.
It fits the branding better, and the word "Gizmo" has negative connotations.
 
But at the same time, JRemote may not be the best name either. It's a lot more than a remote these days, essentially being its own MC client.
Though I prefer that to a term like id/synapse etc.
Title: Re: What's In a Name? JRemote or Gizmo
Post by: mwillems on February 18, 2015, 09:44:26 am
I like Gizmo; it has a homey sound to me, like a friendly robot.  JRemote sounds sort of impersonal (although it's obviously more consistent with the branding)  
Title: Re: POLL: What's In a Name? JRemote or Gizmo?
Post by: Arindelle on February 18, 2015, 11:37:38 am
hmm I see that there is already a JRemote app on the Google Store ... thats an issue  ?
Title: Re: What's In a Name? JRemote or Gizmo
Post by: 6233638 on February 18, 2015, 11:45:44 am
I like Gizmo; it has a homey sound to me, like a friendly robot.  JRemote sounds sort of impersonal (although it's obviously more consistent with the branding)  
Gizmo = Gadget = Junk

At least that's how the word is often used around here.
Obviously that must not be the case everywhere, but that's why names are difficult.
Title: Re: POLL: What's In a Name? JRemote or Gizmo?
Post by: JimH on February 18, 2015, 11:52:53 am
A gizmo is a gadget, yes.  But a gadget or a gizmo could be junk or not junk.  There's no association with junk.
Title: Re: What's In a Name? JRemote or Gizmo
Post by: mwillems on February 18, 2015, 11:54:02 am
Gizmo = Gadget = Junk

At least that's how the word is often used around here.
Obviously that must not be the case everywhere, but that's why names are difficult.

There's no connotation of junkiness over here, a gizmo is just a gadget or a widget or a whatchamacallit.  There's a strong "tech" connotation, and people sometimes use it as a placeholder when they can't remember the proper descriptor for the object being described, but no negative association (at least in my neck of the woods).

A gizmo is a gadget, yes.  But a gadget or a gizmo could be junk or not junk.  There's no association with junk.

That's my sense too; must be different in other climes?
Title: Re: POLL: What's In a Name? JRemote or Gizmo?
Post by: dmarkovi on February 18, 2015, 03:00:18 pm
I think there should be both. Gizmo should remain free and have an ios app as well, and then jmobile which is a paid version that is more fully featured.
Title: Re: POLL: What's In a Name? JRemote or Gizmo?
Post by: Soul_Rvr911 on February 18, 2015, 03:52:21 pm
I think there should be both. Gizmo should remain free and have an ios app as well, and then jmobile which is a paid version that is more fully featured.

I voted JRemote, but I think @dmarkovi made a good point: if the new "JRemote for Android" [working title] isn't going to be free, it would be confusing to call it Gizmo.
Title: Re: POLL: What's In a Name? JRemote or Gizmo?
Post by: bMinor on February 19, 2015, 12:32:16 am
MC Remote
Title: Re: POLL: What's In a Name? JRemote or Gizmo?
Post by: glynor on February 19, 2015, 01:12:27 am
A gizmo is a gadget, yes.  But a gadget or a gizmo could be junk or not junk.  There's no association with junk.

Agreed.  But I'm in 'murica.  So, you know.

I don't think either name is particularly bad.  I think Gizmo though is so generic that it doesn't tell you anything at all, and isn't a particularly good in a marketing sense either.  The first thing I think of isn't even a gadget, but this instead (http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/gremlins/images/d/de/Gizmo_%28in_blue_flame-like_background%29.png/revision/latest?cb=20130523210709), but perhaps I'm of a certain age.

Either way, I think time has proved out that mobile device support is a big part of JRiver's business now, so it makes sense for it to have more of a "buttoned down" name.  Gizmo seems like a "check out what we're playing around with" name.  If it was just a feature, like Carnac, then I'm all for the clever names.  They give you charm (I'm still right about Hairstyle though).  But the name is such an important part of visibility on the App Stores (ugh, say that in Marco's "brands voice" (https://overcast.fm/podcasts/episode/9906194912460?t=4339))...  I don't know.

JRemote is a good name, I think.  It refers to JRiver obviously and in a clever way.  It does function as a "remote control" for MC, and so that's part of the name.  But, I also think of it as though it accesses Media Center "remotely" so it works in that way too.  It is both my JRiver remote and my remote JRiver, I guess is what I'm saying.  And, I think it has a respected following, particularly among the Mac users and other parts of the community.  I don't own and haven't heavily used Gizmo on any Android player anytime recently, so I can't really speak to the "respect" it has there.  It can do video, so that's pretty nice.  So, perhaps that last bit is a wash, perhaps not.  Either way, I like the name JRemote better than Gizmo.
Title: Re: POLL: What's In a Name? JRemote or Gizmo?
Post by: paul.raulerson on February 19, 2015, 11:54:15 am
I greatly prefer JRemote to Gizmo. Gizmo reminds me of an old Doris Day movie involving mermaids, glass bottom boats, and some very questionable science. :)

But seriously, JRemote has caused more than a few people to switch from player-x to JRiver MC. It's *that* good.  I would be cautious about switching the name. If part of this is based upon a need to gain upgrade pricing to support the software, and the App store doesn't allow that, I would simply issue a V2 of it, which people will probably repurchase unless the price is excessive. Keep it at $10, and I think few will complain.

Just my $0.02.

-Paul
Title: Re:
Post by: Al ex on February 19, 2015, 03:50:18 pm
The Name JRemote definitely fits better to JRiver than Gizmo, which doesn't really say anything about the functionality or the relation to JRiver.