iTunes 4.9 With Podcasting Support

eakthecat writes "Hot on the heels of the 4.8 release, Apple has released the next version of its popular iTunes jukebox software. Version 4.9 incorporates several new features, most notable of which is podcasting. The front page and iTunes webpages have not been updated yet, but you can get your greedy little hands on it or through the new podcasting link in the music store! !"

Comments

"Mac-dotted"

[amichalo]

The iTunes Music Store has "Mac-dotted" themselves. After getting 49, I tried to download some podcasts but the store that can serve up hundreds of millions of tracks is a bit overwhelmed right now. Try again later.

In other news, Apple also modified its iPod line by removing the iPod Photo as a unique line:

20GB COLOR iPod $299
60GB color iPod $399
1GB Shuffle $129

Gnomedex and the pod father

[Ghost-in-the-shell]

Adam Curry (yes that guy from MTV) is the father of Podcasting and as such he gave the keynote speech at Gnomedex this past weekend. The full keynote is also one of his many podcasts.

(Ok, if you don't know a podcast is basically an audio file. The term originates from the idea of Broadcasting and the iPod. The idea is take your content with you and listen when you want. The CBC has some of their radio content available as a podcast. So the concept is catching on!)

This keynote is well worth the listen. It is motivational, and it is focused. Users demand content and they don't care how the delivery method works (ATOM, RSS, etc). For the rest of the speech, go over to Adam's site for a link to the audio file. Listen, enjoy, and think about what he has to say.

Prompted by BadFruit's BadApple?

[Webs 101]

From the latest Netsurfer Digest:

BadApple Plug-in for iTunes Podcasts

At some point, Apple is going to add explicit support for podcasts to iTunes. Podcasts are really only long, often dull sound files, the 21st century equivalent of talk radio on cassette. Still, it's a fad, and since iTunes lets you look you for streaming broadcasts, why not podcasts, too? At least, so think the anonymous folks behind BadFruit, an outfit that just released the BadApple iTunes plug-in, ironically for the Windows version of iTunes only. The plug-in adds another link, called Podcasts, to the main iTunes window. Click on the link and you get a list of podcast categories. Drill down to download specific podcasts in iTunes and use them as you would any other iTunes sound file. BadApple claims to be pre-emptive insurance against any potential limitations Apple may place on the podcasts it may offer in future versions of iTunes. CNET speculates that MP3.com founder Michael Robertson, who now has a new site called MP3Tunes.com, is the anonymous author of BadFruit.
BadFruit: http://www.badfruit.com/
CNET: http://news.com.com/2100-1027_3-5754227.html
MP3Tunes.com: http://www.mp3tunes.com/

Re:Podcasting mainstream?

[Chyeburashka]

When Rush Limbaugh is available via podcasting, it's mainstream. Regardless of your opinion of Rush, he's staying up with technology.

I just updated to iTunes 4.9, so I guess it's time to run out and get my first iPod. So many choices, but it looks like the $299 new color iPod will be the one I'll get.

Re:What IS podcasting?

[lucifuge31337]

A better question is, "why should I care?"

I'll tell you why I care: after having a tivo for years now, I like my entertainment time shifted. The few things I listen to on the radio are mostly NPR broadcasts, and mostly on an inconvenient times for me. So I get the podcast versions of those. Done.

I don't listen to lame ass rants made by some kid in his mom's basement, and I'm guessing that few adults do. Podcasting has been going on a lot longer than you think. Take for example Audible. They've been doing it since way before it was trendy, and I've been downloading (and in the earlier days paying for) NPR content from them. Simply because it's convenient for me.

Podcasting Laws?

[randomErr]

Here is something that I've been wondering: What are the legal guidelines for podcasting? I know the ones that are talk and original music are fine. But what about people who play their favorite song or remake of existing songs?

I listen to a couple of podcasts where people play their favorite songs and I was wondering if that is legal? I know this is offtopic but this one question have yet to find an answer too.