The history of the iPod has been covered extensively, online, in print, and in broadcast journalism. But in all the feet of print and celluloid that's devoted to 'the true story of the iPod', one fact has never been address: how it got its name. The most you ever learn is that Apple CEO Steve Jobs came in one morning and told those involved of the new name for the new product.

I have a theory.

Okay, so the 'i' was a given in Apple's naming conventions ever since the iMac, and 'pod' works quite neatly as the idea of a little container – making the association perhaps between a seed pod in which the seeds are your tracks – but I think there's more.

What is the iPod? It's a portable audio device*. How do you shorten 'portable audio'; how do you make it into a handy handle, a brand that people can begin to associate with? One way is to take the 'p' from portable, and the 'odd' sound from the first syllable of 'audio'; and you get 'pod'.

Portable audio = p + 'aud' = pod = iPod

The disclaimer here should be obvious: I have no facts with which to substantiate this theory. It's pure speculation.

Do you think it's accurate, or even plausible? That's what the comments box is for!


* Yes, it now plays other media plus games, and acts as a 'PDA Lite', but originally, and even now, its primary function is as described.

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