iPod - based on the idea of a hub or spaceship

Firefox - because Firebird was taken (oops)

More here at cio.com

STEVE LOHR writes on how trademark is potentially the next big IP thing, especially because of the web.

Read more: A New Battle Is Beginning in Branding for the Web

From CBS News: “250 years ago, Swedish scientist Carl Linnaeus invited a classification system which labeled all living organisms. But, as David Pogue discovers, this naming system is not entirely infallible.”

Watch CBS Videos Online

Just read Seth Godon’s post on “Your Brand is Not Your Logo” and couldn’t agree more.

Not only are logos over-rated, they are usually not even needed. From what I can see, the success of a handful of brands with billions of dollars of exposure (the swoosh, the arches, the apple) has lead every entrepreneur and marketing manager to feel they must have a logo too.

Truth be told, wordmarks are far more effective. Look at the Fortune 500 and you’ll see the majority of their signatures are wordmarks not Logos. A wordmark (think Coca-Cola, Sony, Ford) keeps the audience focused on the name instead of splitting their attention between name and logo. A wordmark is also easier to protect as a trademark as the composition of the name is more likely to be unique then a stand-alone symbol.

ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) from the 32nd International Public ICANN Meeting held 22-26 June 2008 in Paris, announced new gTLDS (Generic Top Level Domains) will become available within the year.

Introducing new generic top-level domains (gTLDs) is central to fostering choice and competition in domain registration services, and as such is significant to the promotion of ICANN’s core values. The evolution of the namespace towards an enhanced diversity of services and service providers must be planned and managed effectively to preserve the security, stability, and global interoperability of the Internet.

More on ICANN’s announcement

A world new world in naming and domains is on its way. What will you consider buying: .cheese? .(myhometown)? .name?

It has been a good day. Our server is laughing at the load so far and we’ve received some super encouraging feedback!

Our inbox was first graced with this gem from India…

I’m a Strategic Planner, and a part of our job entails for me and my team to constantly come up with brand names for platforms/positioning that we create for new products.

Ever since I stumbled on your software, (www.nameloader.com) life has become so much easier!We can give our clients more names to choose from, and the best part is, it’s so easy!

Keep up the good work guys, I will definitely spread awareness about this site!

From our neighbors state-side…

I think Nameloader is one of the single most useful tools I’ve come across. It combines a lot of tools I use for naming into one. Not sure how you did it, but great work – definitely will be using this in the future.

From Argentina…

Cool idea guys. I find Nameloader awesome. I will definitely use it when looking for a new brand name. Cya

After months of getting to this day, we’re delighted by the feedback. But we need more of your feedback, good and bad for this to become a truly great product.

As of today, we’re starting to invite a slow trickle of hopeful namers to the site. Our immediate goals are:

1. See how our server handles the technico-whiz bang stuff - we want to make sure all is speedy.
2. Get some feedback from our Private Preview users. Please give it to us!
3. Continue to apply many finishing touches, especially to the Branding How-To section.
4. Think through our next steps and the road to Public Beta.

Special thanks to everyone who has helped us get to this day.

[We'll post a picture from our little celebration asap]

Name on!

- Axle Davids