This is exploding and I want to figure out how to ride the wave.
August 12, 2005
Apple Itunes and Podcasting
As everyone knows Apple is now fully supporting podcasting by integrating podcasting downloads into itunes 4.9.
So why is it easy to find some podcasts and difficult to find others? Well, the key is the RSS feed. In order to be fully integrated into itunes, you need to include some proprietary tags in your RSS XML file. What are those tags you ask? Well, there are several, and I don't want to list them all.
You can find the complete list here
Posted by pmadsen at 01:59 PM | Comments (2)
July 04, 2005
Apple defines podcasts
From the Apple website “Podcasts are radio shows or other audio programs available for download over the Internet. The maker of a podcast, called a podcaster, often updates their podcast with a series of episodes that you can subscribe to”.
If you haven't downloaded the itunes 4.9 update, I suggest you do. It uses the music store interface, and allows you to easily subscribe to podcasts and synch them to your iPod.
Posted by pmadsen at 10:50 AM
May 07, 2005
Confusion continues to reign for some over the term podcasting
For the most part, people agree on what podcasting is and is not. However, some people still seem confused. The Wikipedia has a pretty good definition of what Podcasting is.
To summarize, a podcast is “radio content” that can be downloaded onto any device that can play mp3 files. Of course you do not have to “downcast” your file as an mp3, but that is the accepted format.
Posted by pmadsen at 10:51 AM
April 28, 2005
Newsday article on Podcasting
In the arts&entertainment section of yesterdays (4/27/2005) edition of Newsday was a full page article on podcasting. Unfortunately the article was cut off, but the full article appears on Newsdays web site. While I am always happy to see press on podcasting, the article was really more about how indie bands are using podcasting ( I guess in keeping with the arts&entertainment focus ), and not podcasting in general. In addition the focus was on the New York City scene. I don’t think podcasting is mainstream enough yet to talk specifics, but maybe I am wrong.
The article quoted an interesting statistic from the Pew Internet & American Life Project. They report that there are currently 6 million America's listening to podcasts. I find that to be a pretty amazing number for a couple of reasons.
- Podcasting is still in its infancy. If you agree that Adam Curry is the “podfather”, podcasting has only been around since Sept. 2004
- You need some basic to intermediate technical skills. As simple as RSS and aggregator applications are to use, they are still not for the technically challenged. I have had a lot of people asking me about podcasting, and the questions are always the same. Do I need an iPod? (NO), how do I listen to them?, how do I download them?
- Podcasts are not small files. Podcasts are generally in the multi-megabyte file size. If you do not have a broadband connection, then you better have a lot of patience, because on a dial-up connection, these files can take a long time to get to you.
Posted by pmadsen at 08:53 AM | TrackBack
April 22, 2005
GM using advertising in podcasts
GENERAL MOTORS is using advertising via podcasts to promote its upcoming CHEVROLET HHR retro wagon/SUV crossover. The DETROIT NEWS reports that GM started posting audio files of interviews on its executives' blog, gmblogs.com in FEBRUARY and started the HHR podcast campaign last week. The car itself will feature an audio in jack to allow iPods and other MP3 players to be hooked up directly to the car's stereo.
Posted by pmadsen at 07:41 PM
April 20, 2005
Podcasting, Blogs and Copyrights
I have started to explore the world of copyrighting material. Most Podcasts and Blogs today are licensed under the Creative Commons license. I use Movable Type as my blog engine, and they have a Creative Commons engine built into the administration screen that allows you to configure the Creative Commons license for your site. In fact, you will notice that I have added a Creative Commons license to my site that allows you “to copy, distribute, display and perform the work”. Of course their are conditions. You must give me credit, you cannot use the work for commercial purposes, and you can’t alter, transform or build upon the work. It took me about 2 minutes to add this.
Okay, so now I have a copyright on my site. If you are a regular visitor to my site, and you scroll down through the page, you will see the Creative Commons tag on the right side. If you then click on the icon, then you can read my license. What are the chances of all of that happening – slim to none, but it is there, and it is published, so my work is theoretically now protected. But what if you just subscribe to my feeds, with an aggregator like Sharpreader or FeedDemon. According to a nationwide telephone survey conducted by the Pew Internet and American Life Project in November 2004 over 6 million people are now using aggregators. Since, I publish my entire “article” in my feed, you really don’t need to visit my site. If you never visit my site, then you will never see the copyright notice.
I looked at the RSS feed that Movable Type generated and there is a blanket <copyright> tag in the header of the XML.
<copyright>Copyright 2005</copyright>
This copyright does not appear in the reading pane of any of my aggregators. In addition this copyright does not accurately reflect the copyright that I have placed on the site. I quickly (for all of 2 minutes) looked over the RSS 2.0 specification. Nothing jumped out at me, so I think I will have to dig a little deeper to see what I can find on this matter. So you may ask yourself why does Pete care about this? After all, how many readers can he possibly have? Well, those are valid questions. I did a quick search and found that some of my stuff is being re purposed, and I am not sure how comfortable I am with that.
As more and more people write Blogs, and begin Podcasting I see copyrighting becoming a bigger and bigger issues. I have friends who Podcast, and they could care less what people use their Podcasts for, and so for them copyrighting is a non-issue. On the other hand, I have friends who want to get involved in Podcasting, but it is critical to them that they own and control the content and its distribution. So to these people, copyrighting and even (dare I say it) DRM (digital rights management), is very important to them.
I am going to have to dig into the RSS spec, see what they say about it. Stay tuned, I will let you know what I find. If anyone out there has anything to add on this, please do.
Posted by pmadsen at 08:52 AM | TrackBack
March 12, 2005
New computer on it's way
I am getting more involved in the podcast community, and so I find myself in the position of needing some updated hardware. I currently have a 15“ 1.25 GHz powerbook (the titanium version). I love this thing, even thought it has been in the shop 3 times in a year and half (bad display, broken bluetooth, and a bad usb 2.0 port). However, there are times when I just find using Windows software easier. So, the workaround for that is I am running an old Dell tower in the spare room. It has Win XP SP2, 512meg ram, and a 40 gig hard drive. I run it headless, and I use terminal services and RDC on my powerbook to connect to it. Running wireless (802.11g) in the house, I am always amazed at how great this works. If you are a mac person, but find yourself needing the occasional windows app, I strongly recommend that you look into this as a possible solution. I had tried virtual PC and lets just say, it was painful - and the $250 I paid for it could have gone to better things.
The only problem, is that using the 15” screen on the powerbook is a little limiting. in addition, Debbie, has been wanting to learn how to use OS X, she wants to surf, and email, manage her shuffle, and stream xm radio and her old g3 333MHz woth OS 9.2.2 just isn't cutting it anymore. So I decided to upgrade to the latest 17“ powerbook.
These things pretty much come loaded out of the factory, and the latest 17” is about $800 cheaper then the 15“ I have today. I decided to shop around, pretty much knowing that everyone will have the same price. I was very pleasantly surprised when I found the computer on Amazon. Why was I surprised - well first no sales tax, so there is a $250 savings, and secondly, Amazon has a $200 rebate on the computer (ending on March 15). So, by buying it from Amazon I saved $450. That my friends, is amazing when you are talking about buying the latest and greatest from Apple. There prices are controlled and locked. Some places will throw in an ink jet printer (no thanks), or a memory upgrade, since I am going to swap the single 1 gig chip in the 15 with the 512meg in the 17 so I don't need that either. But saving cash - sign me up.
Oh by the way, I joined Amazon's Prime program, and paid 3.99 for overnight shipping. Now the hard part - waiting.
Posted by pmadsen at 09:32 AM
March 11, 2005
What is podcasting
My buddy Dan has come up with a great definition of podcasting and I have decided to share it with all of you.
Podcasting is breaking the model of appointment oriented radio. Both satellite and terrestrial radio have time when music and shows are played and if you miss it you miss it. With Podcasting you can pause, fast-forward, move to a new show or song and then return back to what you were listening to. The way it works is that an individual records a show on there computer and converts it to an MP3. They upload it to a web site and add it to a RSS feed. This is a syndication technology that people that read Blogs use. Then my RSS reader or aggregator pulls down shows that I subscribe to. Real simple on both sides. This has been going for nine months and there is already close to 4,000 shows. The nice thing is there is no FCC involvement so anything goes. NPR and other major media outlets are jumping onboard.
Posted by pmadsen at 10:56 PM
February 20, 2005
Enclosure Tag Test
This is just a test of the enclosure tag.
06 Hvad Gør VI Nu Lille Du-1.mp3
Posted by pmadsen at 08:11 PM
February 19, 2005
Podcasting
I cannot stop thinking about podcasting. It has become the all encompassing thought inside my head. I have been talking a lot about it with my buddy Dan. He is as obsessed about it as I am. He has even gone as far as publishing a few podcasts. You can check them out at The Live Show.
So, like I was saying, I am so hooked on these podcasts, that I have turned my website into an all out blog. Using moveabletype, I hope to start podcasting myself in the near future. But beyond that, I want to write and talk about it. If you are new to podcasting and want to try just one show, I suggest you try out Adam Curry's (yes, that Adam Curry) podcast. He produces a very slick 40 minute show that is very entertaining (most days). His podcast is available at The Daily Source Code.
Adam Curry is considered "the podfather". I am pretty sure he was not the first, though I may be wrong, if I am let me know. I think Dawn And Drew where the first. In any case, Adam Curry is the man who has put the word podcasting into the mainstream. I think a lot of people want to try and equate podcasting to radio, but I don't think that is a good analogy. Radio is done to a schedule - wanna listen to Stern - then tune in between 6 am and 10 am Mon - Fri. Podcasting - no schedule, you can listen to it whenever you want. How about content. Well, we all know about the FCC and it's hold on radio. In Podcasting, no FCC. It is completely uncensored. No government regulators breathing down your back.
By the way I am currently listening to I Won't Hold You Back from the album "The Essential Toto" by Toto
Posted by pmadsen at 03:55 PM
