If you've been keeping tabs on Microsoft's branding strategies, you might have noticed that "Microsoft 365" recently underwent a significant identity transformation. Now called "Microsoft 365 Copilot," this new moniker is Microsoft's latest bid to integrate generative AI branding into everything. But not everyone is thrilled. Many find it disorienting, and some have questioned why Microsoft didn't address other products with greater branding woes. And trust us, there are plenty.
Let's unravel the quirky history of Microsoft’s baffling naming conventions and explore four standout candidates that are far more deserving of a rebranding over Microsoft 365. Buckle up—this is a wild ride through inconsistency, perplexity, and occasional hilarity.
But then came the chaos.
Microsoft subsequently introduced Copilot Pro and Copilot+, splintering this easy-to-grasp concept into confusion. The terms suggest (reasonably) that one version is "pro," meaning premium or enhanced, whereas the other is “plus,” something we might interpret as an upgrade or additional feature. However, those assumptions dissolve upon closer inspection:
The broader challenge here isn’t just about branding. Microsoft is throwing "Copilot" onto so many services across products—security tools, Microsoft Word, Excel, AI productivity assistants—it risks diluting the name entirely. When "Copilot" means everything, it starts to mean nothing.
Some questions for your consideration:
Here's a spicy take: calling it Remote Desktop could have ahem solved all these problems while sticking with a name everyone already knew.
Microsoft has shown reluctance to align with a straightforward numbering system. Instead of Xbox 360, Xbox 480, or Xbox 4, they lean on seemingly random logic that adds zero value to the user. Naming the latest consoles Xbox 5 Pro and Xbox 5 Lite (mimicking Nintendo’s simpler “Lite” concept) could significantly improve public comprehension.
Take a page from macOS. Apple combines its version numbering with Californian beauty spots names (macOS Sonoma, anyone?), adding consistency and charm. Why shouldn’t Windows also adopt something thematically cohesive? Imagine versions inspired by famous innovations (“Windows Edison”) or even geographic locations.
What do you think—does Microsoft have a branding problem? Share your take in the discussion thread below! If nothing else, maybe you can suggest a better name for the Xbox Series X. We’d all appreciate it.
Source: XDA https://www.xda-developers.com/microsoft-products-need-a-rebrand-microsoft-365/
Let's unravel the quirky history of Microsoft’s baffling naming conventions and explore four standout candidates that are far more deserving of a rebranding over Microsoft 365. Buckle up—this is a wild ride through inconsistency, perplexity, and occasional hilarity.
1. Copilot Pro, Copilot+, and Their Strangely Intersecting Identities
When Microsoft first released its "Copilot" branding, it was praised as a snappy, intuitive name for AI-driven tools. Think of it as your trusty assistant sitting shotgun, guiding you through the never-ending maze of tasks.But then came the chaos.
Microsoft subsequently introduced Copilot Pro and Copilot+, splintering this easy-to-grasp concept into confusion. The terms suggest (reasonably) that one version is "pro," meaning premium or enhanced, whereas the other is “plus,” something we might interpret as an upgrade or additional feature. However, those assumptions dissolve upon closer inspection:
- Copilot Pro: Actually is the enhanced version of Copilot’s capabilities.
- Copilot+: Refers to devices equipped with onboard AI that enable Copilot but offer no significant functionality beyond that tag.
The broader challenge here isn’t just about branding. Microsoft is throwing "Copilot" onto so many services across products—security tools, Microsoft Word, Excel, AI productivity assistants—it risks diluting the name entirely. When "Copilot" means everything, it starts to mean nothing.
2. The Mysterious Renaming: From "Remote Desktop" to "The Windows App"
Ah, Remote Desktop. An old staple, traditional, clear, pragmatic—what more could a branding strategist ask for? Well, apparently, Microsoft thought it could get much better by swapping it out for the bewildering title The Windows App.Some questions for your consideration:
- What exactly does "The Windows App" even mean in a multi-app world?
- Does it contain general settings? Does it offer system diagnostics?
- Could it control, you know, windows?
Here's a spicy take: calling it Remote Desktop could have ahem solved all these problems while sticking with a name everyone already knew.
3. The Confusing Legacy of Xbox's Names
Microsoft is guilty of many branding crimes, but its Xbox naming structure might cause the most widespread chaos among clueless birthday-shopping parents and relatives. Consider this lineage of product names:- Original Console: Xbox
- Successor: Xbox 360
- Next Generation: Xbox One
- Series modifications: "One S," "One X" (because why not a sprinkle of the alphabet?)
- Current Gen: Xbox Series X and Series S
Microsoft has shown reluctance to align with a straightforward numbering system. Instead of Xbox 360, Xbox 480, or Xbox 4, they lean on seemingly random logic that adds zero value to the user. Naming the latest consoles Xbox 5 Pro and Xbox 5 Lite (mimicking Nintendo’s simpler “Lite” concept) could significantly improve public comprehension.
4. Windows: A Kaleidoscope of Naming Madness
Let’s talk about Windows, Microsoft’s flagship product and a treasure chest for historians of naming inconsistency. Strap in for this timeline:- Windows 1, 2, and 3: Simple and progressive.
- Windows NT 3/NT 4 inserted alongside Windows 95/98. Someone clearly decided, "We'll do both words and numbers—because why not?"
- A wave of weirdness followed:
- Windows Me (short for Millennium Edition).
- Windows XP, where "XP" astonishingly stood for "eXperience."
- Windows Vista, because… vibes.
- Back to basics with Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10—seemingly trying to regain footing.
Take a page from macOS. Apple combines its version numbering with Californian beauty spots names (macOS Sonoma, anyone?), adding consistency and charm. Why shouldn’t Windows also adopt something thematically cohesive? Imagine versions inspired by famous innovations (“Windows Edison”) or even geographic locations.
Why Microsoft 365 Didn’t Deserve This
Renaming Microsoft 365 Office to Microsoft 365 Copilot seems like an aggressive attempt to force AI branding where it doesn't logically fit. If the goal is to market copilot features, great—but piggybacking this branding on a subscription suite of apps incites more confusion than clarity. Rather than pushing for its reinvention, Microsoft could have spent time fixing product identities in dire need of attention.Final Thoughts
Microsoft's innovation and product quality often speak for themselves—but the same can't always be said for the names they give these products. From AI tools with unnecessarily overcomplicated tier names to flagship products drowning in branding inconsistency, there’s ample room to standardize for clarity and elegance.What do you think—does Microsoft have a branding problem? Share your take in the discussion thread below! If nothing else, maybe you can suggest a better name for the Xbox Series X. We’d all appreciate it.
Source: XDA https://www.xda-developers.com/microsoft-products-need-a-rebrand-microsoft-365/