Podcast Morons #17: Back from the brink

Sorry we've been away so long. What with family, vacations, and holidays, we got lazy. But we're back!

NEWS: the "in no particular order" edition

Hardware

• Zune makes its debut, but offers no podcasting support. Dumb, Dumb, Dumb.
  
• Belkin Announces a Mixer for Recording Directly to an iPod. Shelly brings us a hands-on report.
  
• Olympus Releases a Voice Recorder Designed for Podcasting
  
• Podcast Ready Offers myPodder Software preloaded on iRiver U20, B20 and W10 Models. It is also being loaded into SkullCandy's MacGyver Mp3 watch and MediaREADY Players (Glider and Aero)
  

Software

• Wordpress Plugin from Michael Goughagan makes it easier to request permission for interviews.
  
• The Levelator Reaches Versioon 1 (v 1.1.0, actually).
  
• Digg Adds Podcast Directory.
  

Canadian News

• Podcamp Toronto: February 24-25 at Rogers Communications Centre at Ryerson University
  
• Podcasters Across Borders 2007 / Podcamp Canada, June 22-23-24, 2007 Holiday Inn, Kingston, Ontario. Deadline for presentation submissions is January 30, 2007.
  

Other News

• Melodeo to be first to offer mobile podcasting in the UK.
  
• Podcast User Magazine Celebrates Its First Anniversary
  
• Blogger & Podcaster Magazine will Debut in March with Shelly Brisbin as Managing Editor.
  
• Second Life Capitol Hill ushers in 110th Congress. Check out RpocketBoom's story.
  
• Senators Aim to Restrict Net/Satellite Recording.
  
• Sony BMG Softens on Music for Podcasts. Podcast411 Interview with Jeff Daniel of River Rock Communications.
  

DISCUSSION
Do you need a mixer?

FIVE TIPS

• 1. Publicize your return on podcast forums, other podcasts, and forums/web sites which relate to your show subject
  
• 2. Ask other podcasters to be guests on your return show, either via comments or a "call-in"!
  
• 3. Reemerge with content that encourages people to want to listen
  
• 4. Be humble, apologize that it's been so long. But focus your efforts on coming back better than before.
  
• 5. Understand that some people simply won't come back. That doesn't prevent you from gaining new listeners.
  

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Podcast Morons #16: Two Bad Boys and a Girl

News
-Wizard Software Buys Libsyn
Speech recogntion company Wizard software this week acquired Libsyn, and announced that it had received $1.75 milion in funding from investors. Wizard has already acquired Switchpod and Blast Podcast, an advertising and hosting service.

-Adobe Soundbooth beta
Adobe has released a free beta version of Soundbooth, "a brand new audio application in the spirit of Sound Edit 16 and Cool Edit 2000" according to Adobe Labs' web site. Soundbooth is available for Windows, and Intel-based Macs.

-Zune: no podcasting for you!

-iLike
GarageBand.com recently launched iLike, a music recommndation service that works with iTunes and the Garageband.com site.

-BBC Looking for Podcasters to Cover Election Night
In an attempt to enhance its coverage of the American congressional elections, the BBC is looking for podcasters who can cover events surounding the mid-term congressional elections.

-PickleTales Competition deadline approaching
The PickleTales podcast storytelling competition is modeled on the American idol concept. Contestants submit five minute stories and listeners voie for their favorites. Those with the most vots move on to the next round. The ultimate winner will receive a $250 cash prize, one month's banner space on Podcast Pickle, and, as they say, MORE.

Tulsa PD POdcast


How we podcast on the road

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Podcast Morons #15...Podcast Expo gloating

Join us as we discuss, rant, and laugh at the highlights and lowlights of Podcast Expo 2006!!

News

• Gigavox Media releases Levelator beta: The Levelator is a Java-based tool that will normalize and level an uncompressed audio file, automating the most common post-production tasks. Reviews have been good so far.
  
  
• Samson debuts audio recorder
  
  
• iMorphasis offers the "podcatcher for your mom". Manage your mom's podcast subscriptions remotely.
  
  
• Cingular ofers podcasting support option
  

5 Tips for Improving Your Show Blog/Web Site

• 1. Dump the "blogspot" by buying a domain name. For just a few dollars, you can buy a domain name and make your site user friendly. What sounds better, www.aaronisadofus.blogspot.com or aaronistotallyawesome.com?
  
  
• 2. Make sure that your website features easy tools to download/listen to your show and make sure those tools are front and center. A brand new listener might want to sample your show and can't do that if they don't have easy access to do so.
  
  
• 3. Make your contact information readily available on your site. Podcasters have the ability to make amazing connections with their fans, make sure you're making that connection possible.
  
  
• 4. Try to make your site as "clean" as possible. Avoid putting too much on your site and eliminate things that you don't need like google ads which just clutter things up.
  
  
• 5. Create a website that offers new information on a frequent basis. A great example is Jawbone radio. Len has frequent updates about projects he's working on, funny photos that people can provide captions for and videos. If you build it, they will come.
  

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Podcast Morons #14...The morons that didn't go to the expo

News
-Next expo announced for next year. September 28-30 (yes it's 3 days) in Ontario, California. We'll have an interview with Tim Bourquin a few weeks after the expo.

-Podcast and Person of the year have been announced for the podcast expo. Podcast of the year was Grape Radio. Person of the year was Leo Laporte.
-A new survey from Bridge Ratings found that customers were more loyal to radio stations that offered podcasting had a higher rate of listener loyalty.

-Itunes 7 still sucks, but there is a new update.

-Next Podcamp is being planned for New York for Spring 2007 another one is planned for San Fransisco and Pittsburgh this November.
(Also in the very preliminary discussions, PodCamp Motor City...)

-Podlounge introuduces a podcast site for the Nokia N91 cell phone.

-PodShow "earns" and additional 15 million

-Amanda Cogdon is back! Her newest venture is Amanda Across America.

-Griffin releases the Italk Pro, a device that will allow ipod users to use their ipods for mobile podcasting and it records at cd quality levels.

-Next show will be a expo recap show featuring news about the sights, the sounds and dear lord what is that smell from the expo


5 Tips....what to do if you don't go to the expo

5) Live your life normally... Before podcasting came along, we did things just like every one else!!

4) Produce a "Un-Expo-Podcast" of your own. Talk about how much MORE fun you're having than the people at the Expo... Yeah... In other words... LIE!

3) Try to Skype in with people attending the expo - You might catch some expo attendees online from the expo, try to call them and make sure you have your recording set up for the hilarities!

2) Make plans for next year's Expo, it's a year away, and longer this time - no better time than the present to plan for 2007 - where YOU will be there... right Redboy???

1) Stick your tongue out at all the expo-goers and know that you saved your money while they blew it all on hotels, drinks, food, schmoozing, music, networking... Awww who are we trying to kid, we wished we had gone too!!!!





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Podcast Morons #13- Itunes, I hate you

Podcast Morons #13


News


Apple updates iTunes, iPods


* Video podcasters welcomed the iTunes update, which coincides with Apple's sale of movies via the iTunes Store. Video resolution is now 640x480, allowing vidcasters to supply better-looking shows. On the other hand, higher resoloution (it's the default export option for QuickTime Pro) creates bigger files. On the user side, iPod users are still limited by the resolution of their screens. The new devices are brighter, but not higher in resolution. You'll have to watch iPod videos on your computer or TV to experience the higher resolution.
* Podcasters are trying to sort out changes in the Category Top 100 lists in the Podcasts secion of the iTunes Store. It loks as if 25, rather than 100 shows in each subcategory are now displayed. The search box is gone from the Podcasts section, and you need to use Power Search (an extra click) to do searches.
* Windows-based iTunes users are reporting serious bugs in the new version, including audio stuttering, and possible data loss. The problem does not appear to affect Mac users.
* Most people seem to like the new iTunes interface. Shelly doesn't, but what else is new?
* There's full coverage of all the Apple announcements on this week's episode of iProng Radio. We'll have a full-on look at the new nano on next week's show. The Macworld Podcast for 9/13 does a decent job of positioning the announcements in context, though iTunes' software interface and potential Windows problems are not addressed.




Podcast Peer Awards Voting Is Going On Now


RocketBoom and Battlestar Galactica Producers Fill PME Keynote Slots


Miglia Technology announced the release of the Dialog Phone, a wireless phone that offers Skype and iChat AV integration. Skype and iChat are used by many podcasters for recording podcast interviews.


PodCamp Boston Attracts 300-750 Podcasters http://www.podcamp.org





iProng Radio and LA Podcasters Plan Live Podcasts at PME


10 minute interview with Russell of Podcast Ready (prerecorded)


Answering email from Bob asking how to promote a podcast for a very niche market (teleprompter operators)


Tips: Editing, by Bruce Murray of The Zedcast


1.When in doubt, leave it out. But it's not a sin to leave it in.
(deciding what and where to edit)
2. Edit with your eyes closed (evaluating your edits).
3. Get up close and personal (editing the waveform).
4. cmd+z [ctl+z] is your friend. (cmd+s is your bestest friend)
5. Don't edit




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Podcast Morons #12- 5 tips for going to the expo

News
-Another clothing related item for the Ipod, this time, the ipod panty. Does the world really need this crap?

-HBO expands their podcasting lineup to include a audio podcast for their global warming documentary “Too Hot Not to Handle”.

-Podcast Awards were announced, did the fans get it right?

-A slew of podcating services have cropped up lately (Hubdog, Podcast Ready, Go Daddy…etc), are these just people trying to cash in or is there a viable business model for podcasting?


5 tips for getting ready to go to the expo or any podcasting conference….

1. Don’t leave your home without business cards and demo cd’s. With all the contacts you will make at podcasting conferences, you’re going to need these tools to help remind the people you met who you are and where to find your show. Getting these thing together may take time so allow yourself plenty of time for get business cards, cd’s, tshirts, etc. ready to go for your big day.

2. Pack the proper equipment. Let’s be honest, it’s not likely that you’ll be able to do remote shows from your hotel room, or if you do, it might sound creepy to someone to say “hey come back to my room”. So plan to bring portable recorders like Iriver or Marantz recorders. You may even want to consider bring lapel mics instead of your $400 Shure mic.

3. Get your contacts lined up. Whether you want to meet up with someone to go drinking or to do a show, email the people you plan to meet and get their contact information. There’s too much going on at these things to leave everything to “well I’ll just see ya there”. Get cell numbers and make contact.

4. Figure out your gameplan. If you’re planning to attend conference sessions, know which ones and make sure you’re registered. Several people showed up to last years expo without registering for conference sessions and were told they couldn’t attend the sessions. If you don’t plan to attend the sessions, figure out what you do want to do ahead of time and put those plans into motion.

5. Double check your reservations. Make sure your flight times haven’t changed (both of my flight times have changed since I booked my ticket), check with the hotel to make sure they know you have a room, and if there’s a way to do it, check with the conference planner to make sure you are registered.


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Podcast Morons #11.....The Inmates Take Over!!

Welcome! Your hosts are Shelly and Les. They've taken over for the absent Matt and Aaron. Why? Listen to the show.

News

• GoDaddy Offers Podcast Hosting
  
• Will Podcasting Kill Satellite radio?
  
• First(?) account of "RIAA" like organization accusing podcaster of illegally sharing music
  
• New Podshow D-GAP ads break iTunes/MP3 players
  
• New Stats Option: PodTractor
  
• Levi iPod Jeans!
  
• New Podcast Directory for Music Podcasts Only!
  
• AllTel Wireless and Melodio bringing podcasts to AllTel Wireless Cell Phones
  
• Podcast Pickle Included on Time Magazine's List of 50 Colest Web Sites
  

Five Tips for Podcasters Who Need to Take a Break

1. Be sure to let your listeners know one or two episodes in advance that you'll be away for a certain length of time, and let them know when you'll be back. Some people listen to shows from the Web site, so you might want to post an update there as well.

2. If possible, produce one show (or more) in advance that can be post-dated and published while you're away. This way, you won't have to notify your listeners at all, they won't even know you're gone! Most podcasting feeds/blogs allow post-dating so that posts and files won't be available for download until a date you specify.

3. Ask a substitute host to take over your show. This might provide a good bridge while you're away, and offer your listeners something different. Caution: make sure your substitute host isn't BETTER than you!! (Matt and Aaron are really worried about the repercussions of this idea. In fact, they're not at all happy we mentioned it.)

4. If you're up for it, take your podcasting gear along on your trip. Your listeners might enjoy hearing about your vacation. And you'll already have material for the next show when you return.

5. Finally, when you return, be sure to give your audience a re-cap of your vacation, ask them for feedback on the vacation episodes or substitute host. Be sure to make your audience feel as if you missed them, and that you're glad to be back podcasting again!!

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