Podcast Whoring
I’ve just finished downloading the latest iTunes software equipped with “podcasting†capabilities to both my Mac desktop and Powerbook at work. It’s quite trippy in a cool, geeky way.
According to the Apple web site, “Podcasts are radio-style shows – some from major media, others from passionate individuals delivered over the Internet to your computer.†And then, of course, you synched them on your iPod and listen to the podcast episodes anywhere and anytime you want.
As I type this entry, I’m listening to the ABC News Shuffle podcast, which features, believe it or not, Steve Jobs, himself, being interviewed about the launching of the latest iTunes version. Apparently, podcasting has been thriving underground, so to speak, and Apple saw its growth potential. And as Jobs puts it, his company hopes to bring it to the mainstream by coming up with the new iTunes version. iPod will also be the core medium to bring all this to reality.
Apple’s iTunes’ store has about 3,000 podcasts dealing with different subjects from Arts and Entertainment, Politics, to Religion, Science, Technology, etc. Currently, I have subscribed to 11 podcasts that are mostly of interest to me like Technology – I got Engadget, Gillmoor Gang; Inside Mac Radio; Music – iTunes New Music, iRadio, Q Interviews of Classic Rock Stars; Books – KCRW’s Bookworms; Film reviews – Cinecast; News – ABC News Shuffle; Comedy – Dawn and Drew Show; International – a Japanese radio show.
Don’t ask me why I subscribed to the last one, though. I just wanted to try out something from the International category. Too bad, there’s no Pinoy podcasts yet. I’ll definitely subscribe to that. (Calling the attention of all Pinoy Macheads, get your podcasts out there now!)
There are also Audio Blogs, but I haven’t explored those yet. I’m a bit hesitant on this one because it’s one thing to lurk and read someone else’s life experiences and opinions in writing, it’s another to actually hear the person’s voice and the emotions behind it. It feels to me like I’m eavesdropping. Hehe. I know I’m strange that way.
Anyway, going back to Jobs’ interview, he said podcasts would essentially remain free for everyone except maybe in the couple of months there will be ads along with it. Ack! Just when I was beginning to love the idea of “personalized†podcasts you can listen to at your own leisure, here’s Jobs ruining it for me. And the rest of the podcasting community.
Sooner or later the whole experience would be like listening to any other radio station through your iPod. But I guess, that’s the price one pays for getting the podcasts free. As they say, it’s the lesser evil.
So for now, let us enjoy commercial-free podcasting while it lasts.