Aug 16

What does iPod stand for?

Today’s question of the day is one shrouded in mystery and debate. There are several conflicting sources on this question however, the general consensus is that it stands for:

“iPod” = for “i” for Internet and “Pod” for “Portable Open Database”

Explanation: The “i” is the same as it is in iBook and iMac, it stands for “internet”. POD is from the internal prototypes Apple used to create the software, it stands for Portable Open Database which is essentially the software that runs an iPod.

Alternate answers include:
Interface Protocol Option Devices

Wikipedia offers this insight to the matter:
The name iPod was proposed by Vinnie Chieco, a freelance copywriter, who (with others) was called by Apple to figure out how to introduce the new player to the public. After Chieco saw a prototype, he thought of the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey and the phrase “Open the pod bay door, Hal!”, which refers to the white EVA Pods of the Discovery One spaceship.[5] Apple researched the trademark and found that it was already in use. Joseph N. Grasso of New Jersey had originally listed an “iPod” trademark with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in July 2000 for Internet kiosks. The first iPod kiosks had been demonstrated to the public in New Jersey in March 1998, and commercial use began in January 2000, but had apparently been discontinued by 2001. The trademark was registered by the USPTO in November 2003, and Grasso assigned it to Apple Computer, Inc. in 2005.

Well, there you have it folks. There is still no clear answer for what the iPod stands for. Perhaps it’s an acronym or maybe just brand name. You be the judge!

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Sources:
Wikipedia
Yahoo
Acronyms Dictionary
iLounge

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