The popular browser on Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s devices – Safari, faced many uncertainties when the Apple team was naming it. Safari, as we know is present in every single Apple device like the iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Mac. Though it may not be as powerful as Chrome and Firefox, many people love this browser. Don Melton, a retired programmer and an ex-Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) employee, who played a key role in Safari and WebKit projects posted a fascinating anecdote on his blog recalling his memories behind naming the Apple’s Safari browser.
Don Melton says that “To this day, I don’t know who suggested the name “Safari.” I wasn’t in the room when the heavens split asunder and angels sounded forth as a choir singing that three-syllable benediction. But I had been part of the naming discussion before. Several times.”
The various names that were suggested are: Freedom, Alexander and iBrowse. The iBrowse name looks okay, taking into consideration Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s iNaming tendency, but then this name was discarded.
Another name that stuck the team was “Freedom”. Melton did not want the browser to be named after a “feminine hygiene product” and this name was also removed from the list.
Steve spent some time trying that one out on all of us. He may have liked it because it invoked positive imagery of people being set free. And, just as possible and positive, it spoke to our own freedom from Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) and Internet Explorer, the company and browser we depended on at the time.
But then finally, someone suggested the name “Safari” and it was chosen. Read the complete interesting blog post here.
