去中心化的消息应用 Riot 改名为 Element
Riot IM
Riot 曾经是，现在也是一款基于开源 Matrix 协议的去中心化即时通讯应用。


6 月底，Riot 即时通讯客户端宣布将改名。他们透露，他们的新名字是 [Element](https://element.io/)。让我们来看看 Riot 为什么要改名，还有哪些要改。


### 为什么从 Riot 改名为 Element？


![](/data/attachment/album/202008/29/224635yovu6ss557hsisoz.png)


在说到最新的公告之前，我们先来看看他们当初为什么要改名。


根据 6 月 23 日的一篇[博客文章](https://element.io/blog/the-world-is-changing/)，该组织改名有三个原因。


首先，他们表示“某大型游戏公司”曾多次阻止他们注册 Riot 和 [Riot.im](http://Riot.im) 产品名称的商标。如果要我猜的话，他们可能指的就是这家[“游戏公司”](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riot_Games)）。


其次，他们选择 Riot 这个名字的初衷是为了“唤起一些破坏性和活力的东西”。他们担心人们反而认为这个应用是“专注于暴力”。我想，当前的情形下，这个名字并不算好。


第三，他们希望澄清 Riot 涉及的众多品牌名称所造成的混乱。例如，Riot 是由一家名为 New Vector 的公司创建的，而 Riot 是托管在 Modular 上，Modular 也是 New Vector 的产品。他们希望简化他们的命名系统，以避免混淆潜在客户。当人们寻找消息解决方案时，他们希望他们只需要寻找一个名字：Element。


### 元素即一切


![](/data/attachment/album/202008/29/224641ecvuvqs83q0wqhhc.jpg)


从 7 月 15 日开始，该应用的名称和公司的名称已经改为 Element（元素）。他们的 Matrix 托管服务现在将被称为 Element Matrix Services。他们的公告很好地总结了这一点。



> 
> “对于那些第一次发现我们的人来说，Element 是 Matrix 通信网络中的旗舰级安全协作应用。Element 让你拥有自己的端到端加密聊天服务器，同时还能与更广泛的 Matrix 网络中的其他人连接。”
> 
> 
> 


他们之所以选择 Element 这个名字，是因为它“反映了我们在设计 RiotX 时对简单和清晰的强调；这个名字突出了我们一心一意将 Element 打造成可以想象的最优雅和最实用的主流通讯应用的使命”。他们还说，他们想要一个“能唤起数据所有权和自我主权的概念”的名字。他们还认为这是一个很酷的名字。


### 除了改个名之外


![](/data/attachment/album/202008/29/224651ovu6b8dpxd833lop.jpg)


最近的公告也表明，此举不仅仅是简单的改名。Element 还发布了“新一代安卓版 Matrix 客户端”。该客户端的前身是 RiotX，现在改名为 Element。（还有呢？）它对以前的客户端进行了彻底的重写，现在支持 VoIP 通话和小部件。Element 还将在 iOS 上推出，支持 iOS 13，并提供“全新的推送通知支持”。


Element Web 客户端也得到了一些关爱，更新了 UI 和新的更容易阅读的字体。他们还“重写了房间列表控件 —— 增加了房间预览（!!）、按字母顺序排列、可调整列表大小、改进的通知用户界面等”。他们还开始努力改进端到端加密。


### 最后思考


Element 公司的人迈出了一大步，做出了这样的重大改名。他们可能会在短期内失去一些客户。（这可能主要是由于出于某种原因没有意识到名称的改变，或者不喜欢改变）。然而从长远来看，品牌简化将帮助他们脱颖而出。


我唯一要提到的负面说明是，这是他们在该应用历史上的第三次改名。在 2016 年发布时，它最初被命名为 Vector。当年晚些时候改名为 Riot。希望 Element 能一直用下去。




---


via: <https://itsfoss.com/riot-to-element/>


作者：[John Paul](https://itsfoss.com/author/john/) 选题：[lujun9972](https://github.com/lujun9972) 译者：[wxy](https://github.com/wxy) 校对：[wxy](https://github.com/wxy)


本文由 [LCTT](https://github.com/LCTT/TranslateProject) 原创编译，[Linux中国](https://linux.cn/) 荣誉推出


OK
Riot is/was a decentralized instant messaging app based on the open source Matrix protocol.

In late June, Riot (the instant messaging client) announced that they would be changing their name. Yesterday, they revealed that their new name is [Element](https://element.io/). Let’s see more details on why Riot changed its name and what else is being changed.

## Why change the name from Riot to Element?

![Riot To Element](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/wordpress/2020/07/riot-to-element.png)

Before we get to the most recent announcement, let us take a look at why they changed their name in the first place.

According to a [blog post](https://element.io/blog/the-world-is-changing/) dated June 23rd, the group had three reasons for the name change.

First, they stated that “a certain large games company” had repeatedly blocked them from trademarking the Riot and Riot.im product names. (If I had to guess, they are probably referring to this [“games company”](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riot_Games).)

Second, they originally chose the name Riot to “evoke something disruptive and vibrant”. They are worried that people are instead thinking that the app is “focused on violence”. I imagine that current world events have not helped that situation.

Thirdly, they want to clear up any confusion created by the many brand names involved with Riot. For example, Riot is created by a company named New Vector, while the Riot is hosted on Modular which is also a product of New Vector. They want to simplify their naming system to avoid confusing potential customers. When people look for a messaging solution, they want them to only have to look for one name: Element.

## Element is everywhere

![Element Desktop](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/wordpress/2020/07/element-desktop.jpg)

As of July 15th, the name of the app and the name of the company has been changed to Element. Their Matrix hosting service will now be called Element Matrix Services. Their announcement sums it up nicely:

“For those discovering us for the first time: Element is the flagship secure collaboration app for the decentralised Matrix communication network. Element lets you own your own end-to-end encrypted chat server, while still connecting to everyone else in the wider Matrix network.


They chose the name Element because it “reflects the emphasis on simplicity and clarity that we aimed for when designing RiotX; a name that highlights our single-minded mission to make Element the most elegant and usable mainstream comms app imaginable”. They also said they wanted a name “evokes the idea of data ownership and self-sovereignty”. They also thought it was a cool name.

## More than just a name change

![Riot changed to Element](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/wordpress/2020/07/element-apps.jpg)

The recent announcement also makes it clear that this move is more than just a simple name change. Element has also released its “next generation Matrix client for Android”. The client was formerly known as RiotX and is now renamed Element. (What else?) It is a complete rewrite of the former client and now supports VoIP calls and widgets. Element will also be available on iOS with support for iOS 13 with “entirely new push notification support”.

The Element Web client has also received some love with a UI update and a new easier to read font. They have also “rewritten the Room List control – adding in room previews(!!), alphabetic ordering, resizable lists, improved notification UI and more”. They have also started working to improve end-to-end encryption.

## Final thought

The people over at Element are taking a big step by making a major name change like this. They may lose some customers in the short term. (This could mainly be due to not being aware of the name change for whatever reason or not liking change.) However in the long run the brand simplification will help them stand out from the crowd.

The only negative note I’ll mention is that this is the third name change they have made in the app’s history. It was originally named Vector when it was released in 2016. The name was changed to Riot later that year. Hopefully, Element is here to stay.

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