Oh great, at last a topic I know something about and maybe can help instead of always asking for help. Always thought you had a great product saddled with a terrible name. What's wrong: too much of a copycat of Microsoft, too cumbersome (that J. is just confusing) and makes the big mistake of trying to describe what your product does. Think Bose, Apple, Ford: no hint about the kind of product, but what powerful names. "Media Center": stuffy, static, jargon. Banks, stockbrokers and governments have "centers"; your program is not a "center"; it's a moving, dynamic, incredibly flexible work of art. A successful name must be distinctive, easy to remember with subtle (or not so subtle) semiconscious connotations. And you have such a name in "Rivers"--pure gold. Rivers, river, moving, flowing, streaming, beautiful, natural--it's a huge asset. Forget the J, it's just confusing. (Where is that darn file, under "J" or "R"?) You're not big enough to get by with just the name "Rivers", so add "Player". Play: fun, movement, tells a little about what you do but not too much. "Rivers Player" has enough ties with the old name that it will be recognized as such and doesn't call out for a huge advertisement program to change the name (any idea how much Wells Fargo spent to change "Wachovia" to "Wells Fargo"--it was lots). Avoid "Media" and "Center" like the plague--connotations say all the wrong things. Remember: almost no one buys anything with just their brain. OK, that's my two cents worth; I hope some of it helps. Very best for your names project. Guy
Oh, oh. I guess I'm a little late and a decision has already been made. Certainly JRiver Inc. is a huge improvement over your old name. Still think you are missing out on the gold that's in the plain word "Rivers" and I wonder if your big enough to use a name (like BMW) that gives no hint of your product; usually names like BMW are accompanied by a big advertising budget. But your choice is a big improvement. Best of luck. Guy
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