Igor created the new name for Court TV, which is…truTV. This excerpt from Variety tells the story:

Turner Entertainment Networks is rebranding Court TV as truTV, a moniker reflecting its ongoing conversion to an entertainment network heavy on reality shows and true crime.

“This gives us a focused brand and a wide playing field,” said Turner prexy Steve Koonin. “We felt the Court TV name was limiting us in defining what we are and what we are delivering.”

The name change marks another step in the channel’s conversion to an entertainment-focused web targeted at a demo the network refers to as “real engagers,” or those interested in true stories, widely defined as news, true crime, reality shows or nonfiction entertainment.

In fact, they have already flipped the switch on their website.

Sometimes things are perfect.

The first, “Plastic Surgeon” comes to us by way of Gizmodo:

The Plastic Surgeon, a cutting tool to open those plastic blister packs that dominate retail packaging. It’s shaped sort of like an old-school can opener (the non-turning kind), and is designed to rip the tip off of clamshell packs by slicing all the way around.

This is a perfect consumer product name, it is descriptive AND evocative at the same time AND it is a play on words, giving it multiple associations AND it is a well known phrase, making it instantly memorable and viral. For comparison, a competitors product is named “OpenX”. It’s no contest.

The second is FUBAR, a demolition crowbar from Stanley. Again this one is descriptive in that it contains the word “bar”. It is evocative in that FUBAR has a secondary meaning AND that secondary meaning also maps to the desired result of using the FUBAR.

This is almost a good article on company and product names, except Igor is interviewed. Via yesterday’s Sacramento Bee.

Via CNN:

At the annual Nokia World conference today, Nokia outlined its vision for the mobile industry, predicting rapid change driven by the convergence of mobility and the internet, and the need for the industry to make an increasing contribution to environmental sustainability…

…This was against the background of the launch of the Nokia 3110 Evolve, a mobile device with bio-covers made from more than 50% renewable material. The device is presented in a small package made of 60% recycled content and it comes with Nokia’s most energy efficient charger yet, using 94% less energy than the Energy Star requirements.

More of Igor’s work with Nokia.

Igor’s own Andy Valvur on NPR this morning.