Apple just added podcast support to iTunes, and so far it looks pretty slick. I only had a few minutes to play with the new features, but I managed to snag a few podcasts for the Skytrain commute with a minimum of fuss. It beats out my previous client, iPodder, though to be fair Apple has a whole lot more resources at its disposal than most of the small code shops cranking out podcast clients.
But this new wrinkle in iTunes isn't as significant for guys like me, who've been listening to podcasts from the beginning, as it is for people who have no idea what a podcast is, don't want to deal with crap like RSS enclosures, feeds, and whatnot, but are sick of commercial radio. My dad, for one is sure to be a regular listener of the NPR and BBC stuff on iTunes (as am I).
Here's an idea apple..add VBR encoding and join 2004. shesh.
I'm going to have to wait until iTunes 5.0 to encode VBR AAC? Crazy...
(PS I know I could use Nero or some of the open source alternatives, but I think you can guess how well iTunes plays non-apple created AACs.)
Ah nordic, always with the angry! :) I dunno about you, but with podcasts I could care less what the quality's like, so long as I get the Screen Savers slagging their former employers semi-regularly. :)
Listen, I couldn't care less what iTunes does with their "wackets" or "podcasts" or whatever the hell you call them.
*I* still use iTunes for music. Using (essentially) a CBR encoder for music in the year 2005 is a bit, shall we say...different.
;)
Just mentioning Gay marriage is the law of the land in Canada now!
Warren must be gleeful!
As for podcasting, you call that sorry excuse for broadcasting tolerable, it's an annoying regression!
Out I say get it out!
Yay! Gay marriage! Oh, was that out loud? :)
I'd disagree on a regression. Letting me listen to what I want, when I want to, is infinitely superior to having to wade through a bunch of crap songs and DJ patter for...what, really? The only stuff on the radio worth listening to (other than a certain Okanagan newsman's dulcet tones :) ) is on the CBC, BBC or NPR anyway. Plus podcasting lets anyone get in on the action, which is fine by me.
I've heard the casting is just a buncha summer interns reading the newspaper.... which is what I meant by regression... am I incorrect?
I'm having trouble finding some to listen to.
I think you're way off. Podcasting isn't one thing, it's a ton of different shows cooked up by people all over the world in their basements. :) They can be about anything and everything, and usually are. Go to podcastalley.com, ipodder.org, or download the new iTunes to get in on the goodness. Hell, you've got a good radio voice, you and I should do a political podcast!
Al Franken is an Intern????? WTF
I['m down for that when I get back to Vancouver. If whoever I'm working for doesn't mind... it's can be such a pain being so high profile