Jonathan Ive designed the case and is also famous for the original iMac design. Apples Chief engineer Jon Rubinstein put together a team which included Tony Fadell and Michael Dhuey to design the hardware. Apple also worked closely with a company called PortalPlayer while creating the unique software on the iPod. Vinnie Chieco is credited with coming up with the name ipod, apparently when he saw a prototype it reminded him of the film 2001 a Space Odyssey and the much quoted line from the films "open the pod bay doors, Hal" Apple had already registered the name for use in "internet kiosks" a project that never came to fruition.
