It appears like Intel might be ditching its iconic ‘i’ branding for CPU names within the not-too-distant future. Meaning no extra i5, i7, and so forth. Why? That’s for Intel to know, and us to marvel.
The information comes from Intel’s director of world communications, Bernard Fernandes, who confirmed in a tweet that Intel has plans for ‘model adjustments’ as the corporate is at what he calls an ‘inflection level’ in its roadmap for future CPU generations.
Sure, we’re making model adjustments as we’re at an inflection level in our consumer roadmap in preparation for the upcoming launch of our #MeteorLake processors. We’ll present extra particulars concerning these thrilling adjustments within the coming weeks! #IntelMay 1, 2023
It shouldn’t be stunning for anybody with their fingers on the heartbeat; Intel has plans to launch an entire new CPU structure (hopefully this yr) below the ‘Meteor Lake’ codename, and a latest benchmark outcome discovered within the check outcomes database of technique recreation Ashes of the Singularity revealed a mysterious processor named the Intel Core Extremely 5 1003H.
So, Intel might be dropping the ‘i’ – and changing it with Extremely. After all, this might merely be a codename, or we’d see Extremely and non-Extremely variations of Meteor Lake processors. Notably, we’d get no less than another ‘i’ era earlier than this large rebrand hits, with some leaks indicating that Intel’s 14th-gen Core CPUs received’t completely use the brand new structure.
Pointless confusion?
I’ve to ask, Intel: why this? Why now? Positive, Meteor Lake does symbolize a contemporary begin for its processor merchandise, however the ‘Core’ branding is evidently sticking round, so why lose the ‘i’? Judging by the leaked CPU title, Intel doesn’t plan to drop the three/5/7/9 ‘tier’ numerals for its chips both.
If this leak is correct – and it may effectively quantity to nothing, with the rebrand giving us one thing totally completely different – I actually need to query the logic behind it. ‘Extremely’ isn’t precisely an authentic title, in spite of everything.
Cellphone producers like to shove the phrase into product names to point that you just’re getting a ‘souped-up’ model of the cellphone. ‘Extremely HD’ is frequent parlance for 4K decision on the subject of shows. And, maybe most critically, Apple – which is now a key competitor for Intel within the processor house – is utilizing the moniker in its personal high-end SoCs just like the M1 Extremely.
So far as I’m involved, it’s second solely to slapping ‘Professional’ on the top of a product title within the ‘rubbish tech naming conventions’ race. Even setting apart my dislike of the time period, large rebrands typically pose the chance of merely being complicated for shoppers.
Intel’s ‘i’ branding has been round for a very long time now – greater than 20 years, the truth is. It’s turn into synonymous with Intel’s title: the corporate doesn’t even capitalize the primary letter of its title in logos and branding materials. To ditch it will be a serious transfer, and shoppers with solely a restricted diploma of familiarity with Intel merchandise (say, understanding that an i9 is best than an i5) may find yourself not sure of the place they stand.
Hey, this might be no large deal. Perhaps Intel needs to shake up its numbering conventions as an alternative (which might additionally suck). Perhaps even ‘Core’ goes away. ‘Intel Inside’ was a masterstroke of brand name campaigning, but it surely didn’t final without end. All issues change, and maybe it’s time for one thing new. All these ‘i’s can be misplaced in time, like tears in rain…