DonationCoder.com Forum

DonationCoder.com Software => Mouser's Zone => Topic started by: Josh on November 09, 2007, 04:43 PM

Title: Mouser - a plea from your users!
Post by: Josh on November 09, 2007, 04:43 PM

After recent postings regarding the names of some of the products released by mouser, I have come to the conclusion that some of these products desperately need a renaming.

What do you think? Should mouser allow his users to pick the names of the products? I mean, come on, what type of name is "Clipboard Help+Spell" or "Find and Run Robot"? What is this robot spoken of in the name of FARR? And what is the deal with CH+S? Is that a product title or a math problem?

Lets make a stand! Let the users pick!

Title: Re: Mouser - a plea from your users!
Post by: Carol Haynes on November 09, 2007, 04:49 PM

It's up to Mouser - if he wants help he can ask  :-[

Title: Re: Mouser - a plea from your users!
Post by: mouser on November 09, 2007, 04:50 PM

i think it's too late to rename these.  :huh:

however, i agree that all future program names should be first vetted here or better yet, put to a vote.

Title: Re: Mouser - a plea from your users!
Post by: Josh on November 09, 2007, 04:51 PM

Just leave the math portion out of future names, or the robot keyword ;-) When I see the full name of FARR spelled out, I expect some robot to come and do power searching of my computer for me with some high tech gadgetry.

Title: Re: Mouser - a plea from your users!
Post by: Ralf Maximus on November 09, 2007, 04:54 PM

I dunno.  The names are descriptive of what they do.  And it's not like there's any marketing going on that requires brand-recognition or product awareness.

Can you elaborate more on your thoughts?  I'm not sure I see the problem.

Title: Re: Mouser - a plea from your users!
Post by: mouser on November 09, 2007, 05:14 PM

Oh the problem is incredibly real.
It was a terrible mistake to use the word "and" in a program name.
It's not clear whether its "Find And Run" or "Find+Run" or "Find&Run" etc.  Just stupid.  Not only that but i did it to 3 of my programs ("Clipboard Help+Spell", "Drag and Drop Robot").  And my lack of consistency does not help matters.

Title: Re: Mouser - a plea from your users!
Post by: Josh on November 09, 2007, 05:23 PM

And the source of the problem reveals itself! Mouser is a great software developer, but like some, he lacks the capability to select an adequate name for his product. Consistency among names, unneeded descriptive words, and sheer weirdness plaque some of these product line names.

Title: Re: Mouser - a plea from your users!
Post by: f0dder on November 09, 2007, 06:51 PM

You should call it Android or Cyborg instead of Robot, sounds so much sexier :)

Title: Re: Mouser - a plea from your users!
Post by: Armando on November 09, 2007, 07:32 PM

"Mechanical man" would be even better

Find and Run Mechanical Man

Title: Re: Mouser - a plea from your users!
Post by: Ralf Maximus on November 10, 2007, 12:16 AM

Instead, how about: "Find Or Run Robot"

Actually, I kind of thought the ACRONYMS were the names for each product.  FARR, for instance, sounds kinda cool.  Institutionally military with a hint of the occult.

"The Land Squid has broken loose!  Grab your FARRs and we'll meet at the containment zone!"

I don't have a personal relationship with CH+S, but that one kind of sounds like a German megaconglomerate (CH+S, AG) that specializes in making precision grommets for Mercedes.

And so on.

Title: Re: Mouser - a plea from your users!
Post by: TucknDar on November 10, 2007, 12:46 AM

"Mechanical man" would be even better

Find and Run Mechanical Man

-Armando (November 09, 2007, 07:32 PM)

;D

Title: Re: Mouser - a plea from your users!
Post by: zridling on November 10, 2007, 02:38 AM

The trick is to look outside the English language, or toward literature. For example, I'd rename FARR 'Odyssey.' But I'm sure some jackass has trademarked the name.

Yep, I looked it up and some jerk named "Homer" claims it. Keeps renewing it, too.  :P

Title: Re: Mouser - a plea from your users!
Post by: icekin on November 10, 2007, 05:00 AM

I agree as long as its not another web 2.0 styled title pulled from some exotic language that no way describes the product or service.

Egs. joomla, jaxtr, jajah, yedda, renkoo, ubuntu and so on. See longer list here : http://www.techcrunch.com/company-index/

Some of those companies have done well, but I think its harder for users to naturally associate the weird product name with what it actually does. Unless a lot of marketing to drives it across.

Title: Re: Mouser - a plea from your users!
Post by: app103 on November 10, 2007, 10:35 AM

Personally, I like the whole 'robot' thing. It has become a sort of 'mousermark'.  ;D

When I think of mouser's software, I think of a whole team of little robots designed to make your life easier. The Jetsons era for your pc.  :D

He could start code naming new projects after famous robots until he has a real name for them.

^{I am waiting for 'Recipe Robot' (code named 'Rosie')}

Title: Re: Mouser - a plea from your users!
Post by: Darwin on November 10, 2007, 10:54 AM

For some reason, I always think of swarms of Nanobots... I really don't pay much attention to the names of the various apps that I use - I'm more focused on the functionality! Just me though... I'm a bit of a GUI agnostic, as well...

Title: Re: Mouser - a plea from your users!
Post by: justice on November 10, 2007, 11:12 AM

Well its better than Super Flexible File Synchroniser, i forget the name even though i use the progrma every day.

Title: Re: Mouser - a plea from your users!
Post by: tomos on November 10, 2007, 11:21 AM

"Find And Run Robot" "Clipboard Help+Spell", "Drag and Drop Robot"

me,
i like the robot theme too
of the three there CH+S is the only one I'd change -
who want to sound...

like a German megaconglomerate (CH+S, AG) that specializes in making precision grommets for Mercedes.

-Ralf Maximus (November 10, 2007, 12:16 AM)

(unless of course you actually make...)

Title: Re: Mouser - a plea from your users!
Post by: Ralf Maximus on November 10, 2007, 12:00 PM

Some of those companies have done well, but I think its harder for users to naturally associate the weird product name with what it actually does. Unless a lot of marketing to drives it across.

-icekin (November 10, 2007, 05:00 AM)

Yep.  You've touched on a pet peeve of mine: cute product names that by themselves mean nothing.  I would probably have never found Find and Run Robot had it been called  "Yalooby".

It's strictly a personal thing, but I'd be happier if mouser's products ended up with descriptive names, rather than something from a random word generator.

Title: Re: Mouser - a plea from your users!
Post by: Ralf Maximus on November 10, 2007, 12:02 PM

like a German megaconglomerate (CH+S, AG) that specializes in making precision grommets for Mercedes.

-Ralf Maximus (November 10, 2007, 12:16 AM)

(unless of course you actually make...)

-tomos (November 10, 2007, 11:21 AM)

My apologies to all the legitimate manufacturers of precision grommets.  I did not mean to cause any offense.

Title: Re: Mouser - a plea from your users!
Post by: iphigenie on November 10, 2007, 12:20 PM

When it comes to names, though, with so many words trademarked and so many concepts saturated, it is a challenge.

I have had to come up time and time again for a name for a company/software/website/product and it gets harder and harder.

You either go descriptive (not easily trademarkeable), invented (all the web2.0 names, they just needed a domain name pronounceable and not taken) (so instead of farr we'd have 'fzoolia'), combine 2-3 words together ('launchology'), or use a color (about every creative agency in the uk is purple this, yellow that...)

It's hard to be original nowadays

Title: Re: Mouser - a plea from your users!
Post by: Deozaan on November 10, 2007, 03:12 PM

I think that the problems the DCUpdater had with Vista should have led to a rename, like the fun play-on-words AppDater (not a tool to get dates with/for App103!) instead of the "Uppdater" which looks like it could be a typo.

DonationCoder Application Updater, the DC AppDater.

That's the only piece of software I have issues with the name, but only because I'm a stickler for spelling and grammar. (But of course I make spelling/grammar mistakes too!)

I think perhaps a better idea would be for mouser to have the final decision in naming his software, but that he be more open to suggestions from the community.

How would you like to create something and then have a bunch of idiots come up with a stupid name for it? Individuals are smart, masses are stupid.

Title: Re: Mouser - a plea from your users!
Post by: Ralf Maximus on November 10, 2007, 04:13 PM

Whatever is decided, a common theme might be good.  Like MouseRun or MouseClip.

Title: Re: Mouser - a plea from your users!
Post by: Armando on November 10, 2007, 04:29 PM

MouseRun or MouseClip

-Ralf Maximus (November 10, 2007, 04:13 PM)

I like that. But MouseClip and MouseRun already exist. toobad.

Title: Re: Mouser - a plea from your users!
Post by: Ralf Maximus on November 10, 2007, 06:48 PM

MouseRun or MouseClip

-Ralf Maximus (November 10, 2007, 04:13 PM)

I like that. But MouseClip and MouseRun already exist. toobad.

-Armando (November 10, 2007, 04:29 PM)

But the *idea* is sound.  Pick a theme and name all the apps accordingy.  RobotRun, RobotClip, MouserRun, MouserClip... it would build a unified "brand" where folks might immediately recognize new offerings that are named Robot* as quality ware from a known quantity.

Beats delving into Norse mythology or selecting names from a random generator...

Title: Re: Mouser - a plea from your users!
Post by: Armando on November 10, 2007, 08:23 PM

Yes, the idea is sound, I agree!

Title: Re: Mouser - a plea from your users!
Post by: Tekzel on January 25, 2008, 09:31 AM

This thread is a little old, but Im going to post on it anyway!  Take that.

Mouser makes awesome software! But, he doesn't seem to be able to name apps. Hahah.  One thing I hate is apps with phrases for a name.  Just drives me up a wall.  The one that I hate the most (name of course, love the app) is CH+S.  Just horrid and unwieldy.  I don't like FARR but I could live with it.

I like the idea of a unified branding name thing as suggested above, thats cool to me.  And I really disagree with Mouser that its too late to rename his apps, its never too late.  People do it all the time. 

Title: Re: Mouser - a plea from your users!
Post by: Veign on January 25, 2008, 10:24 AM

Renaming an application after it has been out in the wild for so long would be a big mistake.  The application have reviews and gained some trust out there.  Renaming them now would be a big mistake.

However, holding a naming contest for future applications would not be a bad idea.  I too suffer from a poor sense of naming applications and usually just settle on something since I hate wasting time on it.

Title: Re: Mouser - a plea from your users!
Post by: tinjaw on January 26, 2008, 07:37 AM

We may have an answer. Mouser can use...

Rum and Monkey: The Name Generator Generator (http://rumandmonkey.com/widgets/toys/namegen/121/)
[ You are not allowed to view attachments ]