MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - iPodcast: Simple podcast creation and syndication on the way?

Brian · 09-15-2005, 06:35 AM

I agree that there are a lot of boring, ranting, rambling and poorly produced podcasts out there. Before a website, company, or individual releases their first podcast, they should really think about their audience, where/when they'll be listening (most often while commuting or exercising, where you can't read), and whether or not the content and format of the podcast will "add value" for the listener.

I do think the process of podcast creation is rather complicated right now: Recording, encoding to the right audio format on the computer, creating the RSS feed, and where to host the files are all barriers that limit podcast creation and syndication to the early adopters and tech-savvy. There are a lot of non-tech savvy people out there who have something interesting to say and would make excellent podcasters who would bring much needed talent, variety and diversity to podcasts, but they have no clue where to start. A combination of the right hardware and applications to make podcasting simple and would also help improve the quality and production value, would be a great step in the evolution of podcasting. Apple has most, if not all of the pieces that they can put together rather easily, especially on the Mac: GarageBand for audio mixing, iChat AV for multiple hosts and interviews, iPhoto to add pictures to "enhanced podcasts", and their use of the Akamai network and iTMS where they could eventually host podcasts which opens up all kinds of possibilities.

When you break it down, podcasting is merely another example of personalized media, which is what most people really want: Content when and where they want it.

09-15-2005, 06:35 AM	#4
Brian MobileRead Editor Posts: 447 Karma: 84 Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Massachusetts Device: Treo 700p, Zodiac2	I agree that there are a lot of boring, ranting, rambling and poorly produced podcasts out there. Before a website, company, or individual releases their first podcast, they should really think about their audience, where/when they'll be listening (most often while commuting or exercising, where you can't read), and whether or not the content and format of the podcast will "add value" for the listener. I do think the process of podcast creation is rather complicated right now: Recording, encoding to the right audio format on the computer, creating the RSS feed, and where to host the files are all barriers that limit podcast creation and syndication to the early adopters and tech-savvy. There are a lot of non-tech savvy people out there who have something interesting to say and would make excellent podcasters who would bring much needed talent, variety and diversity to podcasts, but they have no clue where to start. A combination of the right hardware and applications to make podcasting simple and would also help improve the quality and production value, would be a great step in the evolution of podcasting. Apple has most, if not all of the pieces that they can put together rather easily, especially on the Mac: GarageBand for audio mixing, iChat AV for multiple hosts and interviews, iPhoto to add pictures to "enhanced podcasts", and their use of the Akamai network and iTMS where they could eventually host podcasts which opens up all kinds of possibilities. When you break it down, podcasting is merely another example of personalized media, which is what most people really want: Content when and where they want it.