[quote=stefdnk]It is based on Firefox, isn’t it?
So I guess I will call it Firefox[/quote]
Our Firefox-based browser is called BeZilla (a combination of Be and Mozilla of course.)
This thread is about the new WebKit-based browser I’m working on.
Couldn’t think of any new serious suggestions (unserious names would be Bowser, SpiderPig or Intertubez :)) but if it’s going to be shipped with Haiku I think I’d prefer some simple non-name like Browser, Surfer, Online or The Web. That would give a clear hint of what the program does (here I go again… focus on what users want to DO, not HOW they have to instruct the computer).
It’s got some disadvantages though. For starters you need a strong, relatively unique and memorable name to build brand. For example if people, like web developers, are talking about different browsers then “Browser” would be too ambiguous. If it wasn’t bundled with the OS, or if you ported to other platforms, you’d probably want something that people can actually google for.
Well, now I thought of a suggestion… If it’s based on WebKit it could be named WebKitty (It’s the friendly cat that helps you surf the web :)). It appeals to devs that would see the relation to WebKit, and it would make sense to regular users too. I mean, everybody loves lolcats.
Unfortunately google said that there’s some kind of webmail program in development named WebKitty already, which might or might not be a problem. WebKitten appears to be less used but I think it sounds less catchy.
WebKitty??? Sounds too much like Hello Kitty
How about ‘Sakura’ ? Simple, beautiful…
you want something small, but yet strong and powerful?
Something green, like in Haiku’s logo’s leaves?
Something sounding like World Wide Web but which could compete well with “Mozilla”?
Then I suggest WASABI!
(extra pun with a derived name such as WasaBe)
I don’t have any ideas at the moment. But it should be simple and memorable, in other words, my 60-something mother should be able to remember it after hearing it twice or thrice. For most people, the browser is the most important app in their OS… do think wisely and carefully choose. Maybe a poll for users to have a say before the final decision? A contest with perhaps some free gear for the winner?
we could even go off the wall and name it turkey and use the surfer icon
+1 for WasaBe and Horizon
I also like “Ginko Browser” but, according to me, just “Ginko” is sufficient.
For a “MSN like” client I suggest :
_ Yatagaratsu ( who is the messenger of the kami ( gods ) in japanese mythology )
How about ‘SAKE’ - it helps to connect people, it’s short, it’s japanese (so it’s automagically cool!), many people know the word etc… 
“To connect with the world I open up a Sake…”
I think Haiku having too much ‘japan’ inside is not a good thing. What’s the point, where’s the connection, really? Is it OS for japanese, made by japanese, what?
‘Silk’ feels too… fragile.
‘Spider’ travels the web, so Kumo is kinda ok… but icky.
‘H+’ 'coz of the NetPositive/Net+ reference, coz it’s short and it sticks to ur mind, but it lacks… charizma?
Travelling, journeys, tranquility (grr… “so i fire up my tran-ki… ee my tranny…”) - bo-ring nad cliche…
Surfer seems a bit too straight forward at first, but it’s kinda cool (as surfers are… ;), easy to remember, has a logic behind it… so +1 from me (de-mo-cra-cy-y-y…)
Having a name that’s already used as browser name is other OS, that’s kind of… unimaginative.
Wasabi sounds like an awesome name for a web browser!
Other suggestions:
PowerPage Plus
WebWalter
Quite allot cool names for a web-browser.
I liked the kimono idea very much.
Here is my proposal:
katana - slice your way trough the web
I suggest:
Photino
Name Proposal: Haiku Scout.
In the first instance, I suggest reusing Haiku as a name because it was the browser in BeOS (sp. NetPositive) that originally gave rise to the Haiku name. In other words, I suggest that any new name that breaks with that tradition would represent a loss of culture and tradition.
I suggest Scout (a lightweight mobile human) as a descriptive postfix for no less than 7 core reasons.
- We are discussing something that is a tactical extension of Haiku OS and its community. Scouts are tactical.
- Good Scouts and good browsers are lightweight.
- The browser has mobility in so far as it provides each user's experience of the web landscape.
- Scout is an isolated specialist that represents its franchise - as do all web browsers.
- Very importantly: Scouts help to locate and expose information and knowledge, which is precisely what users want from their web browser.
- NetPositive is iconified by a human in front of the Earth and a Scout is a human with an even stronger case for being associated with the entire Earth.
- The project exists due to a community's independent code, it's ideas and vision are the result of independent thinking, and Scouts are somewhat independent too.
In conclusion, Haiku Scout describes clearly the roles, tasks, performance and behaviours of a good hard-working web browser. I hereby humbly submit my suggestion for your serious consideration.
The above was derived from a brainstorm in which many names were found. However, I felt Scout was both more personifying and more elegant than most others. It’s also easy to represent visually.
It is a respectable unclaimed and potential trademark. However, there is one similar name in common use. Explorer and Scout would have to face-up to each other and that’s OK.
In terms of naming, Scout beats Explorer. As heroic as explorers have been in the history of mankind, scouts are more often associated with military action and tactical maneuvering. In other words, scouting is more deterministic than exploring! In UK terminology, scouts can be junior to explorers. However, that is also beneficial because junior translates into younger, faster, and (if female) sexier. Finally, scouts report back to their user with regular updates whereas explorers can just disappear.
WebPossitive is the native broswers name, officially.
sounds like HI of American. But a different version. Thanks for free language lesson. =)
I agree with Ryan, Serenity or Tranquility sounds the best, and they both have the most meaningful and fresh meaning. But the problem with just calling the web browser “Tranquility” or “Serenity” is that it brings no concrete image up to the user’s mind. He has no image to connect with. When you see the the compass or the fox around the globe, you automatically connect the image with the browser. That’s the power of symbolism. If we could just think of an image that symbolizes tranquility, calmness, peace, that would make for a perfect name AND icon.
Any suggestions? I seriously could not think of any
wow,all these exotic names,it’s gone be hard to choose from.
i’ve got one myself,how about :WEBFINDER
simple and compelling.
[quote=khallebal]wow,all these exotic names,it’s gone be hard to choose from.
i’ve got one myself,how about :WEBFINDER
simple and compelling.[/quote]
Not when Webpositive has been chosen as the name, and Webpositive is amost at the stage where it can be used day-to-day without many crashes or issues
I think if Haiku is to have it’s own Native browser it must be a fast, easy to use and media focused browser to support the media oriented nature and heritage of Haiku. Haiku is set apart from the other OS’s because of it’s heavy media focus, it’s not a general purpose OS in my opinion. I think it should play to it’s media strengths; video, sound etc and the native browser must support this in some unique and interesting way.
I do think if it is to be native then a name that ties it in some way to Haiku
- Saki - rice wine
- Hai - yes
Kind of fun and keeps the Japanese theme going, which I do like
I think you’re referring to sake (Although “rice wine” is not necessarily the real meaning in Japanese).