iPod Apple finally made Podcasts GOOD!

[dotdotdot]

I never liked Podcasting - first, you need to find a site with a podcast. Then, you need to find the feed, which totally sucks because people like BitTorrent and dont like direct RSS feeds. By the way, for some people like me, who has cable, BitTorrent SUCKS! It is SO SLOW compared to my regular speed! WHY BITTORRENT!? After you find it, you need a client, like iPodderX or Doppler, and they suck. Not feature-wise: they are packed full of usefull features. They suck because they dont auto-run and dont always check for updates, and basically it has control over PodCasts, which is fine for people who like that.

I hate podcasts - for example, TWiT (this WEEK in TECH) podcast is cool. But they dont directly show the feed on the site, you need to look for it (now they do because they got a new server). Then, you need to launch iPodderX to get it. Then, you need to find it in iTunes, and it auto creates a playlist and stuff. ANNOYING!

Now, iTunes 4.9 came out, and while I always thought it before, Apple is the only SMART company. You either search through iTunes, or type in a feed, click Subscribe, and VUALA! It goes in the Podcast section on the source list. Then, you click GET and it downloads! AMAZINGLY SIMPLE!!!

Apple has been my favorite company since iTunes for Windows came out and I tried it. Kind of ironic, but Apple designs the best product for Microsoft Windows. Then, I got the iPod 3G and Apple secured its slot as my favorite company. Then, I used OS X Panther and OS X Tiger and I wanted to buy everything Apple - the HALO EFFECT! AND NOW, iTUNES 4.9! WOW! Damn, everyone at Apple must have like a 180 I.Q. or something, because they create everything or redesign everything, and don't mess up!

OK, I'm done for tonight praising Apple. But don't you agree?

 

[feakbeak]

WHY BITTORRENT!?

Because it is distrubted and doesn't require the entire download come from a centralized server. This allows people to distribute Podcasts without spending a huge amount of money on bandwidth costs. This is particularly important for amateurs who don't have the finances to pay for such expenses.

Apple is the only SMART company.

While I really like Apple and think they have some good ideas they are not the only smart company. Apple does many smart things, but they have done some stupid things too. I'm still skeptical that they can keep the iTunes, iPod, Fairplay system closed and remain competitive in the long run. I could be wrong, maybe they'll pull it off and be rewarded for their greed. Either way, as a consumer I would like the system opened for other players to play AAC and for the iPod to play WMA, OGG, etc. Giving your customers more options is always a good thing for the customer.

Damn, everyone at Apple must have like a 180 I.Q. or something, because they create everything or redesign everything, and don't mess up!

If Apple employees were all geniuses then why didn't think they think of Podcasting? This isn't their baby - the concept to record radio/internet radio shows and distrubte them in digitial format for people to use on their computers and MP3 players is a great idea, not thought up by Apple. Apple did a great job of making Podcasting easily accessible via iTunes and easy to stay up to date on the programming. Apple has almost always done an excellent job making intuitive applications that "just work". The Podcast specific software will still maintain a significant audience for the additional features they offer. They will be the power users' choice for Podcasting clients - but iTunes does enough for most people's needs and maybe they'll add more features moving forward.

 

[Xtremehkr]

I agree, the pod-casting addition is awesome. There are far too many broken links though. I don't know if that is Apples fault, or the fault of those supplying the casts, either way, it would be even better if all of the links worked reliably. A bit sloppy from that perspective but otherwise a great idea.

It gives me the freedom to catch up with certain things when I have the time to, very convenient.

 

[dotdotdot]

Because it is distrubted and doesn't require the entire download come from a centralized server. This allows people to distribute Podcasts without spending a huge amount of money on bandwidth costs. This is particularly important for amateurs who don't have the finances to pay for such expenses.

I understand about the amateurs who can't afford it, but what about the big companies? They can afford it and choose BitTorrent. Thats annoying, and thats what I meant.

While I really like Apple and think they have some good ideas they are not the only smart company.

If you use that argument, the guys that invented Podcasting couldn't have been that smart. You talk into a microphone and distribute it online. WOW. I meant the way you get it - either opening up software, actually downloading it like an MP3, or the amazingly smart way Apple did it. Which is cooler. Giving people an mp3 file of a song (a podcast) or having an incredibly easy and cool way of getting it.

Apple does many smart things, but they have done some stupid things too. I'm still skeptical that they can keep the iTunes, iPod, Fairplay system closed and remain competitive in the long run. I could be wrong, maybe they'll pull it off and be rewarded for their greed. Either way, as a consumer I would like the system opened for other players to play AAC and for the iPod to play WMA, OGG, etc. Giving your customers more options is always a good thing for the customer.

And I don't think that keeping iTunes and iPod so close together and not allowing other companies is a bad thing. How can it HURT apple? They could easily release a firmware update and allow other companies in if they wish, and they could easily implement other formats into iTunes and iPod. And they can easily share their Fairplay DRM with people. Its not like its hard for them. If Apple charged $10,000 per company to use the Fairplay DRM, how many companies do you think would want to? A ton.

-----

I wasn't only talking about how amazing Apple is, I was talking about how they revolutionize everything they touch. I wasnt like "omg Apple r0x duDE!111oneeleven111eleven11!!!" but rather I presented the Mac community with a post of how much I love the way Apple has made podcasting so easy, and how they have done that in the past. Tonight alone I listened to four different podcasts from different people, whom I would have never known existed if it weren't for the ease of use of the iTunes Music Store and Podcasting section of it.

 

[quackattack]

Very good point, I completely agree. Apple has taken something that people were doing and incorporated it wonderfully into iTunes.

Podcasting was cool before, but now I think its potential will truely be realized.

 

[OryHara]

yeah, i never got that into podcasts before, too much work.

now im just too waiting for a torrent to download cause im getting hitting 80k and i dont wana jinx it, then i'll finally restart after the ipod download

 

[MacFan25863]

Umm...iPodderX had a directory of Podcasts that you could search though, just like iTunes. And it also automatically imported your Podcasts into iTunes when it downloaded them......

 

[asif786]

Umm...iPodderX had a directory of Podcasts that you could search though, just like iTunes. And it also automatically imported your Podcasts into iTunes when it downloaded them......

I remember trying iPodderX and i did not like it at all. I found it incredibly unintuitive (is that a word? ). anyway, i like the way itunes groups the podcasts together..i dont normally delete them so my library gets cluttered..now they're stored seperately, which is great.

In fact, I've been over at a few of the podcasting forums and it's amazing how ungrateful these people are. All they seem to do is complain..totally disregarding the fact that podcasting in itunes will increase their listeners dramatically..!

 

[abc123]

In fact, I've been over at a few of the podcasting forums and it's amazing how ungrateful these people are. All they seem to do is complain..totally disregarding the fact that podcasting in itunes will increase their listeners dramatically..!

i don't know, i see where they are coming from. in the last few days i've heard a lot of comments from people who are new to podcasting who are claiming that you NEED itunes and an ipod to do it and that apple are somehow the creators. podcasting shouldn't be about selling ipods and i hope it doesn't turn into that.

 

[ClarkeB]

Spelt VOILA not vuala...that looks a bit dirty.

 

[skwoytek]

Spelt VOILA not vuala...that looks a bit dirty.

That's funny. Not the misspelling, we all make mistakes - but the "bit dirty" part, very true.

I think Apple did a great thing making podcasts so accessible to the public. I've subscribed to quite a few yet I never even considered it when the interface wasn't as simple. iTunes podcasting is easy and intuitive.

I wish people would realize you are not locked into the iTMS for music. An iPod was an iPod long before the arrival of the store. It's a digital music player, plain and simple.

Apple did get lucky with what the public decided to call it: PODcasting...

 

[aloofman]

I never liked Podcasting - first, you need to find a site with a podcast. Then, you need to find the feed, which totally sucks because people like BitTorrent and dont like direct RSS feeds. By the way, for some people like me, who has cable, BitTorrent SUCKS! It is SO SLOW compared to my regular speed! WHY BITTORRENT!?

I can't speak for Bittorrent for getting podcasts, but I have a cable modem and torrents work great for me. Must be something else going on there.

 

[w00master]

If you use that argument, the guys that invented Podcasting couldn't have been that smart. You talk into a microphone and distribute it online. WOW. I meant the way you get it - either opening up software, actually downloading it like an MP3, or the amazingly smart way Apple did it. Which is cooler. Giving people an mp3 file of a song (a podcast) or having an incredibly easy and cool way of getting it.

You obviously don't understand the ingeniuity behind "podcasting." What makes podcasting "unique" is the simple function of "SUBSCRIBE." This is all based on RSS. That's what made the "inventors" of podcasting smart.

You obviously worship Apple. Hey, I love Apple myself, but the way you sound it's as if Apple is the end all be all. In the end, Apple is just like any other company. They're trying to make MONEY.

w00master

 

[Kerry Sanders]

You obviously don't understand the ingeniuity behind "podcasting." What makes podcasting "unique" is the simple function of "SUBSCRIBE." This is all based on RSS. That's what made the "inventors" of podcasting smart.

Yea... Adam Curry and Dave Winer.