The name iPod was inspired by "2001: A Space Odyssey".
Vinnie Chieco proposed the name iPod, he was an independent marketing specialist, who was hired by Apple to make sense of how to acquaint the new player with general society. After Chieco saw a model of the gadget, he thought of the motion picture 2001: A Space Odyssey and the expression "Open the pod bay door, Hal!". After the Pod name has been chosen for the new gadget, it was simply a question of including Apple's "I" marking, and the "iPod" name was conceived.
