After weeks of changes to its social handles, branding on its interface, a redirect on the web, and lots of chatter from its owner, Twitter has finally changed its name on the App Store to X. This development comes after the company rebranded its iOS and Android apps with the new ‘X’ logo and replaced the old bird logo.
Background: The Journey to Renaming
The journey to rename Twitter to X began when Elon Musk’s X Corp, the official owner of Twitter, started making changes to its social handles. The company rebranded its interface, added a redirect on the web, and made several other updates. However, one of the biggest changes was the replacement of the old bird logo with the new ‘X’ logo.
The App Store Name Change: A Major Milestone
Despite the efforts to rebrand Twitter, there was still one major hurdle left – changing its name on the App Store. As developers pointed out, this is because the App Store Connect – the portal that lets developers manage their apps – shows an error when developers try to use just one character as the app name.
The Exception
Despite this issue, Apple seems to have finally granted Elon Musk’s X Corp an exception to have a single-letter app name. The company has confirmed that Twitter’s App Store name has been changed to X, marking a major milestone in its rebranding efforts.
App Name Changes and Updates
The update also includes the change of the App Store tagline from ‘Let’s talk’ to ‘Blaze Your Glory!!’. However, it is not clear what this means. Musk himself posted a tweet with this tagline without any context.
Android App Update
In contrast, Twitter’s rebranding on Android faced no roadblocks as the app changed its name to X along with the logo swap earlier.
Other Developments: App Name Updates and Litigation
Another app named X – which was using X along with another standard but invisible character in its name to get around Apple’s character limits – was also renamed. The app description now reads ‘[We are not affiliated with Twitter/X and will soon give our app a new name]’.
The developers of the app told TechCrunch that this change was voluntary, and they did not receive any communication from Twitter or X Corp about the update.
Theories Behind the Update
There are several theories behind the update. Some believe it could be due to litigation by Twitter against the app. Others think it might be a simpler decision to avoid going viral on social media as ‘X’.
Elon Musk’s IP Concerns
It is worth noting that Elon Musk lacks absolute IP protection for his brand name X. This means that others can use similar names and logos, which could potentially lead to confusion among users.
Twitter/X’s Treatment of Other Apps
Last week, TechCrunch reported that X took over the @x handle without any warning to its original owner. The company didn’t compensate the user and just offered him a selection of X merchandise and a tour of X’s HQ as a ‘reflection of our appreciation’.
X Corp’s Expansion Efforts
X is also in the process of renaming its subscription service from Twitter Blue to X Blue. The company now mentions on the support page that the subscription service allows users to upload up to three hours of video – extending the previous limit of two hours set in May.
Ad Revenue-Sharing Program Expanded Globally
X has also expanded its ad revenue-sharing program globally after giving creators $5 million in the first round of payments. To earn, however, you must have at least 1,000 subscribers and publish content at least once a week.
Conclusion: A New Era for Twitter/X
The update marks a major milestone in Twitter’s rebranding efforts. As the company continues to make changes to its interface and services, it is clear that X Corp is committed to creating a new identity for itself.
Whether this will be successful remains to be seen. However, one thing is certain – Twitter/X is here to stay, and it is exciting to see what the future holds for this rebranded social media platform.
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