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Change the CFBundleDisplayName to be something shorter so the app name is not truncated.

enter image description here

App version: 0.1.19

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  • 2
    I kinda want to blame iOS 7 partly for this - some names that weren't truncated in iOS 6 now are in iOS 7. And yet some of the ones that don't, do when bold text is enabled.
    – BoltClock's a Unicorn
    Feb 21, 2014 at 4:55
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    And sometimes they do when the app is updated (the text is prepended with a • to indicate newness).
    – Aaron Brager
    Feb 21, 2014 at 4:57
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    Wow iOS sucks with the title length there... Why even bother having titles if you only even get like 8-10 characters to use before it's truncated? But in all seriousness, how exactly would you suggest a simple title like "Stack Exchange" be shortened? "SE"? Because that would look even worse.
    – animuson StaffMod
    Feb 21, 2014 at 6:42
  • @AaronBrager I think the newly updated one is ok. It'll go away when you open the app for the first time.
    – Enrico Susatyo
    Feb 21, 2014 at 9:35
  • Can't really blame iOS here, they use the same font across the OS, and this font does look pretty good. For the short name, I don't know if any of these would be suitable: "Stack Ex", "Stack X", "StackExchange".
    – Enrico Susatyo
    Feb 21, 2014 at 9:37
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    I say just name it "Waffles" and be done with it.
    – Mick MacCallum
    Feb 21, 2014 at 11:46
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    It could just be called "Stack" (the name isn't taken).
    – Aaron Brager
    Feb 21, 2014 at 13:45
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    @AaronBrager App display names are certainly not unique in iOS, so we can name it "Waffles" or "Stack".
    – Enrico Susatyo
    Feb 22, 2014 at 0:05
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    There's planty of room there for "S.Exchange". Who could possibly have a problem with that? :P
    – mhlester
    Feb 22, 2014 at 1:38
  • Or StckXchng, as per Twttr
    – nhahtdh
    Feb 23, 2014 at 17:38
  • I vote for "Stack"
    – Idan Adar
    Feb 27, 2014 at 21:19
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    There is enough room for "Stack Exch" (I tried it by making a folder and renaming it that)
    – mhlester
    Feb 27, 2014 at 21:53
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    "Stack Exch" is my favourite of all the suggestions so far, followed closely by "SE".
    – Adam Lear StaffMod
    Feb 27, 2014 at 22:02
  • Maybe "Xchg" instead of "Exch"? I seem to recall vowels have lower entropy than consonants in English. Or just "Stack Ex", the longest abbreviation consisting of complete syllables that fits.
    – augurar
    Feb 28, 2014 at 1:17

2 Answers 2

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We've discussed this before because we noticed the same thing. We discussed several options, included several of the suggestions here, and ultimately decided that none of them were really better than "Stack Exc...". One of the things we're trying to accomplish with the mobile apps is to increase awareness of the entire Stack Exchange network. Certainly, inside-joke names might appeal to the denizens of Meta, but wouldn't do anything to accomplish that goal. Abbreviations or shorthand like "Stack" or SE are better, but don't really improve on what we have now in terms of promoting our overall brand.

Update: I tried removing the space to see if it would help, and it doesn't:

enter image description here

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    You raise a good point about awareness. I'd counter that "Stack Exch" is in fact longer and more legible/explicit than the "Stack Exc" that currently exists. For comparison, I would also like to point out that very few apps have a name too long to fit (I only found two on my phone), and those that do tend to be by smaller developers who aren't aware.
    – mhlester
    Mar 4, 2014 at 18:21
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    Even "Stack Exc." would look better than "Stack Exc..." looks more like a deliberate choice rather than an oversite
    – Richard Tingle
    Mar 4, 2014 at 19:00
  • What about changing to "StackExchange"? Good chance it will cause the whole name to show up.
    – Shadow Wizard Is Sad And Angry
    Apr 29, 2014 at 8:25
  • Weird, I got my share of apps and SE's is the only one getting truncated even though others have same length or even longer names.
    – Shadow Wizard Is Sad And Angry
    Apr 29, 2014 at 13:29
  • StackEx is catchy, short, and clear.
    – user206222
    Apr 29, 2014 at 14:05
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    For what it's worth, there are multiple places you can give the app a name. In the App Store it can be the full Stack Exchange, and then something shorter on the home screen
    – mhlester
    Apr 29, 2014 at 14:35
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    Regarding your update: "StackExch" somehow seems better to me than "StackExc". Or perhaps it's just me.
    – Abhitalks
    Apr 29, 2014 at 17:07
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I don't get it.

I also have SO Web App added to home screen which shows the full "StackOverflow" app title.

However, the SE native app shows only "Stack Exc..."

enter image description here

Both have the same number of characters. However, I do notice that there is no space between "Stack" and "Overflow". Does this have anything to do with the title truncation?

I am on iOS 7.1.1, if that makes any difference.

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    In iOS 7, apparently web apps can break this rule. I'm not sure if this is intended behaviour or Apple's bug. I also use Test Flight web app and it does this too.
    – Enrico Susatyo
    Apr 29, 2014 at 8:13
  • I don't think so. I tried making a web app called Stack Exchange and got the same truncation as the app gets
    – mhlester
    Apr 29, 2014 at 14:35
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    It seems not the number of characters that matters, it's the width in pixels. 'Exc' is about the same width as 'Ove', but r f and l are narrower (in that font) than h and a. Looks like some kerning is in effect there also ('ve' and 'ow'). I think StackOverflow would be ellipsized too if it were just a pixel or two wider.
    – deltab
    Apr 29, 2014 at 14:49
  • Hmmm.... Proportionate? I tried with space between "stack" and "overflow" and still the complete display. In case of SE, even if the space is removed it still gets truncated. Strange. It seems @deltab's logic makes sense here.
    – Abhitalks
    Apr 29, 2014 at 14:54

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