TECH | Zune = Naughty Word

I know some of my readers get irritated when I write about Microsoft's ill-starred Zune, but I do it for the same reaosn I'll occasionally post something about Windows -- one of the best ways to know Apple's doing the right thing is by looking at what other companies are trying to do to compete.

One of Microsoft's less-publicized strategies is swearing in Hebrew, apparently.

"Zune" is pronounced very similarly to the Hebrew equivalent of English's beloved F-word, Zi-Yun. Read that again. ITWorld does a marvellous job covering the issue, speaking with two Hebrew scholars to prove they're not just making this up. I mean, look at the guy who thinks the name doesn't need to change:

Hebrew linguists are divided over Zune. Tsila Ratner, the head of Hebrew courses in the Department of Hebrew and Jewish Studies at University College London, says Zune is an unsuitable name for a product. However, Haggit Inbar-Littas, a 30-year veteran Hebrew teacher with the London Jewish Cultural Center, says while the name is "ridiculous" and close to the bad word, it's unlikely to be mistaken.

Doomed products are funny. Doomed products with vulgar names? Priceless.

Source | Cult of Mac