Recent Comments:
Engadget's Black Friday giveaway, part three: win an Aliph Jawbone prime! {Engadget}
Nov 27th 2009 12:01PM I'm commenting as L3.
Dear Aunt TUAW: Repurposing an old iPhone {The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)}
Nov 26th 2009 2:28PM @ Information Central:
The Oxford English Dictionary says "repurpose," which it traces back to 1984, means "to convert or adapt (esp. something holding electronic data) for use in a different format; to use for a different purpose."
Etymologically it's formed from "re" and the verb "purpose," which means to have a purpose or (and this is a rare and archaic meaning) "to be designed for some purpose; to be intended to do something."
The last part of the definition of "repurpose" ("to use for a different purpose") is somewhat similar to the now rather obscure one you mention for "utilize." I wrote about "use" vs. "utilize" once before on the blog, and the difference between them isn't as large as you think.:
While most of us now regard "use" and "utilize" as identical, "utilize" has another meaning that appears in English less frequently these days. This sense of "utilize" means to put something to use in a practical or profitable way. As you suggest, you might "utilize" a heavy book as a doorstop.
You ask whether "repurpose" arose to fill the gap left by that less frequently seen meaning of "utilize." I'm doubtful. There seems to me to be a slight difference between this old sense of "utilize" and the newer "repurpose."
I don't think you'd "repurpose" the book you prop against the door. The book still is a book; it hasn't been converted to anything else. It may be serving temporarily as a doorstop, but it hasn't been changed materially. On the other hand, if you "repurpose" an old mill into condominiums, the original is lost.
Although the OED's definition of “repurpose” does include "to use for a different purpose," it seems to me that most of us believe something that's "repurposed" has changed in some manner.
G-Map East and West for iPhone updated with text to speech {The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)}
Nov 6th 2009 7:20AM Both. I use G-map West, but now I have a trip to VT, so it looks like I'm buying the East app as well...
Jibbigo iPhone app translates from English to Spanish and back again {Engadget Mobile}
Oct 30th 2009 1:48PM I don't understand any of the information that you have written.
TomTom iPhone kit now being sold through US Apple Store {Engadget Mobile}
Oct 25th 2009 5:38PM I still can't believe it. $119.95?!?
Ask Engadget HD: How do you evaluate HDTVs in-store? {Engadget HD}
Oct 21st 2009 1:30PM Buy an HDTV in a store?!? What century are you shopping in? Good Lord...
If AT&T loses iPhone exclusivity, Apple will gain {The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)}
Oct 19th 2009 4:37PM I must be in a zone that does not have AT&T concerns. Sorry if it does not match the theme of the article, but I have no reason to switch. AT&T is much better than the other provider options in my neck of Colorado, in my personal experience.
iPhone MMS on AT&T showing incorrect sender number? (poll) {Engadget}
Oct 14th 2009 9:59PM HaHa, look, an autocomplete typo in the screen shot!
It's funny because it's true!!!
The future of television is really the present {The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)}
Oct 13th 2009 3:58PM OMG OMG OMG
I am really excited!!!
bring it! Gimmie gimmie gimmie!
Level 3 delivering end to end uncompressed video from Broncos home games {Engadget HD}
Oct 13th 2009 3:50PM This is the single best thing that President Obama has ever done for me. /weeps/
I proclaim that this end to end uncompressed video delivery is the way of the future.
GO BRONCOS!!!
