Which sounds more exciting to you: “Atlas” or “ASP.NET 2.0 AJAX Extensions?” I certainly understand the need for having descriptive product names – but I still call “Windows Presentation Foundation” by its original (beta) title. Not only is “Avalon” easier to type, but it’s easier to remember as well. Why does Microsoft suck at naming things? Simple: partners and platforms typically come before the user.

And lest you think I’m insane, think about why “Xbox 360″ wasn’t called “Microsoft Windows Media Extender Games and Entertainment Edition.”

I hear all this talk about how Zune is going to kill the iPod, but… that really remains to be seen. The only thing that’s going to kill the iPod is the iPod itself. At least “Zune” sounds better than what “Zune” rumors to be. But it’s not too late! I’m willing to bet that Zune will be renamed “Microsoft Portable Windows Media Wireless Extender Networking Pocket Communications Edition” before it actually sees the light of day.

Microsoft Windows Accurate Naming Platform