n/a, smartphone apps names that have nothing to do with what they are

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Brad W

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This past weekend I spent what seemed like an eternity scrolling (but was really probably <5 minutes) looking for the app on my phone to control my lawn sprinklers. I couldn't for anything remember the name of it, and the little icon picture doesn't help either! ugh
Then I was thinking about others like it that I have on my phone. I don't use them often and it makes it hard to find them when needed. What are these developers thinking?!?

Some, such as Bolt or Uber don't have names that are related to what they are, and don't have pictures of what they're for in the icon, but at least the app name is somewhat more recognizable
and you could almost lump the Garmin apps into this category, but at least they all seem to have the word Garmin in the icons...although maybe I should include them, because when I search apps for "garmin" only one of them shows up (I have three)

some of my worst ones (there are more)
Rachio - sprinkler system​
Orbi - internet router​
AXS - concert tickets​
Defend - Cameras​
Easy Line - for my new Sennheiser Sonite Rise hearing aids​
EcoNet - water heater​
joybibiq - wireless meat thermometer​
kasa- smart light switches​
 
Brad W said:
kasa- smart light switches​
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Welcome to 2026 where coming up with something that can be trademarked is hard because so many are already taken. So also: domain names.

Kasa makes sense to me for home automation, since casa means house.
 
172andyou said:
Welcome to 2026 where coming up with something that can be trademarked is hard because so many are already taken. So also: domain names.

Kasa makes sense to me for home automation, since casa means house.
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or in Japanese, Kasa means straw hat. I think. But I could be mistaken
 
172andyou said:
Welcome to 2026 where coming up with something that can be trademarked is hard because so many are already taken. So also: domain names.

Kasa makes sense to me for home automation, since casa means house.
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Joybibiq is Joy BBQ. Meat thermometers for BBQ.

Sent from my SM-S948U using Tapatalk
 
Brad W said:
This past weekend I spent what seemed like an eternity scrolling (but was really probably <5 minutes) looking for the app on my phone to control my lawn sprinklers. I couldn't for anything remember the name of it, and the little icon picture doesn't help either! ugh
Then I was thinking about others like it that I have on my phone. I don't use them often and it makes it hard to find them when needed. What are these developers thinking?!?
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The app's main job isn't their main job anyway.
 
Labelling everything Smart###. I have multiple apps that start with the word Smart, SmartHQ, SmartHub, etc., and I have to remember which one is Samsung, GE, etc.

First world problems I guess.
 
midwestpa24 said:
Labelling everything Smart###. I have multiple apps that start with the word Smart, SmartHQ, SmartHub, etc., and I have to remember which one is Samsung, GE, etc.

First world problems I guess.
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A bit, yeah. But it's also true that there should be open standards for all this stuff. Having each system be a walled garden is short sighted.
 
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172andyou said:
A bit, yeah. But it's also true that there should be open standards for all this stuff. Having each system be a walled island is short sighted.
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Agreed. Or publish an API for when the device is no longer officially supported.
 
Cap'n Jack said:
Agreed. Or publish an API for when the device is no longer officially supported.
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I put it in the same bucket as "right to repair" laws. I don't care much if the thing I bought is currently supported or not, I should be able to twiddle its bits however I want. Just because I have a smart device from vendor X doesn't mean I want to commit to having every device in my house be from the same vendor. Maybe X makes the best thermostat. Y makes the best home automation. Z makes the best audio. Etc.

I should be able to mix and match in any way I desire. I bought the devices. I shouldn't have to wait until X stops supporting the thermostat before I can use it in federation with all the other devices in my house.
 
If we used common API standards for all of our "smart" devices then anyone could write an app for it and the company wouldn't be able to collect your data ensure a quality experience.
 
172andyou said:
Welcome to 2026 where coming up with something that can be trademarked is hard because so many are already taken.
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yes, good point. I suppose one solution could be a change to the OS allowing search based on keywords
...so the makers of "Rachio" could imbedd other key words such as "springler", "irrigation", "lawn", etc... and the could even allow the user to add their own.... that way when I'm trying to find the app I could search for it. While they're at it maybe the user could add their own local title &/or customize teh icon in some way
and they can name it whatever they want, making the whole trademark thing less of an issue
 
172andyou said:
Answering the same question, in a different industry.

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I don’t understand why most of those rules exist. Prescription drugs can’t be doled out without a doctor’s order, so why does it matter what it’s called or how suggestive the name is? It’s not like the patient can go out and buy it because it sounds cool.
 
Shazam
Expdedia (expedition?)
Yelp
Turo
Zillow
X

I realize some of these are company names, but they are the forward facing apps for them.
 
ateamer said:
I don’t understand why most of those rules exist. Prescription drugs can’t be doled out without a doctor’s order, so why does it matter what it’s called or how suggestive the name is? It’s not like the patient can go out and buy it because it sounds cool.
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Watch the video.
 
ateamer said:
I don’t understand why most of those rules exist. Prescription drugs can’t be doled out without a doctor’s order, so why does it matter what it’s called or how suggestive the name is? It’s not like the patient can go out and buy it because it sounds cool.
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That's a very US centric comment. There are plenty of places where doctors orders aren't needed for most things. I lived in Mexico for a while and can't remember a single instance where anyone I know needed a prescription for something. That was pretty much limited to narcotics and other addictive substances.
 
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