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Riot is now Element

(element.io)
550 points J_tt | 1 comments | 15 Jul 20 07:07 UTC | HN request time: 0s | source
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badrabbit ◴[15 Jul 20 10:07 UTC] No.23843202[source]▶
No!!! Of all the names in the world why this. "Hey bro, let's chat on Element" ,not quite a ring to it.

The hardest problem in computer science strikes again!

Matrix,Riot and Libolm are epic projects, I wish them all the success but man, even Riot was a hard sell as a brand. I would seriously be dissapointed if it loses popularity over this. I don't think the project maintainers understand that their core users/fans are waiting for a product they can sell to friends,family and coworkers.

People who don't know tech rely on branding/brand reputation and word of mouth reputation to decide if they are intetested in even trying out a product to begin with.

Which of these is unlike the others?

1) Signal

2) Telegram

3) Element

4) Whatsapp

Hint: The theme is messaging and communication.

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bovermyer ◴[15 Jul 20 11:56 UTC] No.23843923[source]▶
You're allowed to dislike the name.

I like the new name.

If you're pissed about Element, you must be absolutely livid about Apple.

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rvz ◴[15 Jul 20 12:23 UTC] No.23844154[source]▶
> If you're pissed about Element, you must be absolutely livid about Apple.

Nope. 'Apple Computer Inc.' already marketed themselves specifically first in 'computers' and that association was built over the years.

After they had success in products that weren't attached to only 'desktop/laptop computers' it made sense to remove 'Computer' from the name. The same was done for Tesla Motors Inc. to Tesla Inc.

This is more like a full blown renaming of Riot, New Vector, Modular -> Element. You need to rebuild that SEO and previous associations from scratch again.

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bovermyer ◴[15 Jul 20 12:59 UTC] No.23844522[source]▶
Sorry, you missed the point of my comment. I was addressing the original commenter's dislike of the specific name Element because of its generic nature.
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1. rovek ◴[15 Jul 20 13:28 UTC] No.23844908{3}[source]▶
I also missed it, I'd say it's not a good example. Apple is not a generic word, it's very specifically about fruit or tech which are concepts with little-to-no overlap. Element is a word that appears throughout life and technology with both specific and generic usages which will often closely relate, in a confusing way.