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1. I think so, becuase unlike Bloging you can go threw podcasts when your walking to work or on the train

   I just think Podcasting is different from Bloging. Its like Radio vs the Newspaper. I like podcasting becuase you can also just relax and just go threw them it require less effort then bloging (yes I’m lazy some times :P )

   But I see your points about the equipment you need. thats a very big selling point, and why Podcasting is deffinitly not something for everyone and won’t be as ‘wide spread’ as bloging has become

   -Ben

   By Ben on August 12, 2005 11:13 am

2. Ah, yes, Scrivs. I think you bring up some valid points, however you start off with a complete misstep.

   Why are you comparing podcasting to blogging? They aren’t competing platforms or methods communication.

   Try again.

   By Ryan on August 12, 2005 11:20 am

3. Ah yes, the free time commute. That is something I forgot about simply because I have to listen to music when traveling a short distance.

   I can see though how people would use the podcasts to fill the travel void, but still you are limited to the number you can listen to.

   By Scrivs on August 12, 2005 11:20 am

4. Ryan: I bring it up because this is how it is brought up in conversations around the web. I see many people saying that since blogging hit it big, podcasting will do the same. The comparisons aren’t that far off since they enable the individual publishing model.

   However, they are two different methods of communication, but I do think a comparison is justified.

   With that said, does it still deserve the attention it gets?

   By Scrivs on August 12, 2005 11:23 am

5. I think the “new” thing in Podcasting is RSS delivery of the content. It allows the automation and uniformity of delivery of audio content.

   Now people can post audio to their websites and listeners can automate watching for and downloading content. Makes it almost as easy as radio.

   By Ron on August 12, 2005 11:27 am

6. I see podcasts/audioblogs differently than I think you (and many others) do. They’ve become an all-or-nothing affair in many minds. I feel that they have huge potential as a supplement to traditional blogs. For example, if someone like Eric Meyer or Mike Davidson (or anyone really) started a blog that was entirely audio content, I wouldn’t be interested.

   However, If they started posting live recordings of their speaking engagements along with slides and other presentation material, I would be very interested in making the occasional download and taking the time to listen carefully.

   Others that aren’t sought-after speakers could use this kind of supplemental podcast as well. For example, I might download an audio interview with a band that was recorded from a radio appearance. I might record a live performance. I would not download weekly audio and concert updates from a band’s blog. I’d much rather read that sort of thing.

   By Scott on August 12, 2005 11:33 am

7. I think podcasting deserves the attention it gets for one what Ron said about how Casting used RSS to deliver its content. And becuase of that I would assume we will start to see the same thing with Video files witch could lead to a ton of new stuff like TV online

   -Ben

   By Ben on August 12, 2005 11:34 am

8. I love podcasts because the nuance of the spoken word is priceless.

   By Joshua Porter on August 12, 2005 11:35 am

9. Scrivs, would you make comparisons between newspapers and radio?

   Sure, that’s a slightly loaded example, but my point is that podcasting serves a different function than blogs. It has a different appeal, as Joshua pointed out.

   By pinning the two against each other you’re making a lot of assumptions that just aren’t there.

   Does podcasting deserve the attention it gets? Well, yes, I think so. Is it a new “invention?” No, of course not.

   Has it exploded and been hyped WAY faster than blogs were? Yes. Too fast? Probably.

   By Ryan on August 12, 2005 11:43 am

10. So taking blogging out of the equation does my argument still hold in your opinion? They still take time and resources that many people are not willing to sacrifice. Ignore the comparison to blogging and I would like to know if you still think what I said matters.

    I think we are in some agreement because you admit yourself that the tech has been hyped too fast.

    By Scrivs on August 12, 2005 11:54 am

11. I also think Podcasting is way overhyped. It is just too time consuming to do and listen to when comparing it with blogging. I don’t think it’s a bad idea, yet more than $8,000,000 being invested seems to be a little much.

    I think in about a year everyone will look back at this article and say that you hit it head on. By that time, or maybe a little after I think all the hype will have died down a little.

    By Jacob G. on August 12, 2005 12:18 pm

12. It’s hard to wonder if podcasts will be “as big” as blogging without quantifying the words “as big.”

    Blogging is huge because millions have computers and access to the internet. Podcasting may not have the same number of participants, but has a large following from those who have portable media devices, a.k.a., iPods.

    In terms of percentage of participants who are setup to use these two mediums, I think podcasts and blogging are neck in neck; in terms of gross numbers of participants, blogging will always win.

    By William Stewart on August 12, 2005 12:18 pm

13. Same as with Apple’s Dashboard. There’s been helpful bookmarklets for almost a decade now and i don’t get why you’d need an additional application layer just to get to them. My Browser’s had a Bookmark function for ever ;-)

    By Stefan seiz on August 12, 2005 12:23 pm

14. To me, podcasting is essentially radio on demand. I love listening to my favorite shows as I’m cycling to work rather than, say, at 6pm on a Sunday which is very inconvenient.

    From a user-standpoint, the technology behind podcasting (e.g. iTunes 4.9) makes it easy to find and subscribe to podcasts – you don’t have to understand a bunch of complex tech stuff in order to be able to listen to them.

    From a provider-standpoint, podcasting technology makes it easy to create podcasts, which makes a much wider range of content available – which is great for users.

    I’m not sure either why you’re comparing it to blogging. The only similarity is that both technologies provide a voice for the average person.

    I think podcasting is going to be a big thing, largely because of my experience as a regular podcast listener. Once you’ve found out how easy it is to listen to some great content that you would otherwise not have access to, you see what all the fuss is about.

    By Christian Watson on August 12, 2005 12:27 pm

15. “In terms of percentage of participants who are setup to use these two mediums, I think podcasts and blogging are neck in neck; in terms of gross numbers of participants, blogging will always win.”

    I don’t know about that. I’m set up to use both and I’ve downloaded only a single “podcast” because it had an interview on it that I was interested in. However, if I could have just read the interview, I would have rather done that. I think podcasts will have a much bigger following with people who have to commute using public transportation and have things like iPods. I have an older iPod so it’s not as easy to get podcasts and the like onto it, so I won’t even end up doing that when I’m at school either. Plus it’s completely full too :).

    “Same as with Apple’s Dashboard. There’s been helpful bookmarklets for almost a decade now and i don’t get why you’d need an additional application layer just to get to them. My Browser’s had a Bookmark function for ever ;-)”

    Right. There was also Konfabulator. However Apple’s goal, as always, is to make things easier. They’ve done just that. Also, you can do more than what traditional bookmarklets can do, and I don’t believe it requires an additional application layer since it’s also powered by Webkit.

    By Joe Clay on August 12, 2005 12:35 pm

16. Sorry Paul, but in this one, you completely miss the goal.

    First thing I stumbled on, was the permalink thing. Unless you take Joe Clark’s blog in mind, no blogs offer this feature anyway. You have to tell your friend to scroll down to third paragraph, fifth sentence, just like you have to tell him to go 10:43 into the podcast.

    The time isn’t comparable either. A podcast has the length a podcast has, because it offers quite a lot more (usually) content than an average blogpost.

    The equipment is true, though. Blogging is probably one of the cheapest industries you can enter :-)

    And by the way, I’m not a podcast fanatic. Actually, I hate them. I don’t have time (now I’m contradicting myself, ain’t I?) to listen to a 45 minut long podcast about something. It might have a lot to offer, much more than I could read in a 3 paragraph blogpost, but that doesn’t compensate enough.

    Wow, that was quite a rant. Hope it might give you something to think about :-)!

    By Jonathan Holst on August 12, 2005 12:41 pm

17. Personally, I think there are some good points to podcasting, but then there are a couple of annoying aspects as well. Certainly the time that it takes to listen to a podcast is one factor, but it works in its favor and against it at the same time.

    If I were to start podcasting, I would look at the commitment that I was expecting potential users to invest, and it would force me to offer content that was more interesting and unique. Blogs on the other hand, don’t require the investment from a reader, so therefore it’s easier to just slap something up and not really care about what is said, how it’s said, and how it’s perceived.

    Also, the fact that podcasts can be listened to at your own leisure helps the format. Unlike radio, where you have to listen at specific times to catch your favorite show, podcasts are separated from this by the fact that you are downloading the media for personal consumption.

    By Steven Ametjan on August 12, 2005 12:41 pm

18. “I think there is a world market for maybe five computers.” – Thomas Watson, Chairman of IBM, 1943

    I think you’re being a bit short-sighted here Paul. You’re seeing how things how they exist today, and seemingly blowing past the potential of the market. That’s why all these things are getting millions in funding and hype – because a good number of folks see the potential.

    By Mark on August 12, 2005 12:59 pm

19. Podcasting is in its early stages (moving fast though…). I wrote about it here awhile back and said:

    “For a good laugh, sample some of the links on The Freshest Podcasts in the Known Universe. You’ll find a fair amount of Jesus preaching, geeks trying to be funny/clever, microphone noise and paper shuffling. This is the noise we’re going to have to filter and sort through.”

    The problem is time. You’ll need to separate the wheat from the chaff and that sorting will be very time consuming.

    By Dean on August 12, 2005 1:08 pm

20. Oh god, it’s about time! Someone recording their voices? On the internet?! This can’t be right! But since it’s associated with Apple, it has to be cool!

    By Glen C. on August 12, 2005 1:36 pm

21. Podcasting give the “broadcasters and musicans” the freedom to do and say anything they want without getting in trouble with the FCC. For that alone, it’s interesting.

    Currently, there is probably 1 in 1000 podcasts that have enough interesting content to be listened to. However, more and more main stream media outlets are looking at podcasting as an alternative way of getting info out to it’s listeners.

    Just imagine if Howard Stern had a podcast… Wow, what a show that would be!

    It’s getting musicians “air” time that they would have probably never seen. Some are even getting movie deals and other great offers because of the exposure they are getting due to podcasting.

    I have tried a handful of podcasts myself, and listen to only 3 regularly. However, as more an more start up, there are going to be a lot more to choose from that don’t just suck. :)

    By Dave M. on August 12, 2005 1:37 pm

22. In regards to permalinks…. the tech is certainly out there to insert “chapter” marks, you could spell out each topic in it’s own chapter, and have a list of chapters with each podcast. Or you could have your own file for each chapter (link to each chapter individually), and after a chapter ends start with the next one. It might require some more equipment, but as one commentor mentioned(paragraph/time analogy), living without this feature is do-able.

    You hit on something important in your “Time” section. You can skim a long post (therefore increasing the amount of posts you can read in 45mins). However you can’t skim a podcast, and are stuck listening to the whole thing. Case in point: one podcast I was listening to had a critique of Rails persistence, it was well into the cast, and I didn’t want to listen to the other stuff (the chapter solution I listed above could ameliorate this problem though)…

    By JohnO on August 12, 2005 1:54 pm

23. Podcasting is still relatively young. Look how long it took blogging to catch on. As several people have already mentioned, consuming and/or producing podcasts is different than blogging, but once you tap into a niche, you appreciate it more.

    I think the hype around podcasts exist becuase of the lessons learned from blogging. Yet they exist hand-in-hand to destroy big media and bring power to the people.

    By Britt on August 12, 2005 2:28 pm

24. Mark – Lots of companies with terrible products/services had funding back in the day because people “saw potential” in them too. Does venture capital funding somehow automatically mean your company has potential? Absolutely not.

    Cart before the horse?

    By Mike Rundle on August 12, 2005 4:00 pm

25. Mike –

    Hey, a civil response from you. What a beautiful day!

    Don’t confuse potential with poor implementation, greed or lack of direction.

    By Mark on August 12, 2005 4:33 pm

26. What I like abut podcasting, is one can now get have MP3′s of quality programming by just downloading them as a ‘podcast’. Back in the day before podcasting, you would could only stream the programs on line, or download them in a weird format, or paying for them thru a org. like Streamlink. The downside of podcasting is one has to listen to a lot of dreck to find the good stuff,

    By SweetKali on August 12, 2005 4:56 pm

27. Without a doubt there is money to be made with Podcasting. But what I find interesting is:

    1. Many people I know have no idea what a Podcast is. This is changing, but not as quickly as I would have expected from a lot of “main stream” media coverage.

    2. I think iTunes might actually hurt, not help Podcasting in the long run. Sure millions more people how have easier access, but look at the content that popular. It is major media content that is already available in multiple places. I liked Podcasts that are produced by someone that has a passion for a certain topic I’d like to learn more about. When I’ve sent some friends or co-workers to iTunes I get, “yeah, I can get ABC News, so what?”

    3. Copyright problems. UGH! I won’t even get started here.

    By Tommy on August 12, 2005 6:08 pm

28. While I think the comparison with blogs was an important one to make, it’s lead this discussion down a bit of a garden path. Largely people seem to agree on what blogs and podcasts have in common:

    1. hype
    2. potential for anyone to be a broadcaster
    3. consumers can consume on their own terms (in terms of time)

    And we probably agree on what they don’t have in common as well

    1. much larger attention commitment required by the consumer to truly get something out of the podcast.
    2. podcasts more of a traditional broadcast model. How important do we all think the ability to comment was in the success of blogging? My answer would be “fundamental”.

    If I were a venture capitalist I’d probably be thinking more about how podcasting is different to blogs rather than similar. Because it will be one of these differences that fills a need, that’ll make the whole thing cross the chasm.

    Having said all that, I really wanted to put an “if” in that last paragraph, because at least for now, I remain pretty unconvinced myself that there’s anything there.

    By Maxine on August 12, 2005 9:23 pm

29. Is it only me that thinks podcasting is just a good mechanism for distibuting content, and blogs make poor content for podcasts?

    Most of the podcasts I have been listening to are made by big radio companies, like the BBC, simply because they really do have much better content, there are a few grass roots things that are good, but for everyone thats good there are scores that just suck.

    I think you will see ‘podcasting’ becoming more popular but simply because everyone will catch onto syndicating content, like applications, tv shows etc.

    By John Evans on August 12, 2005 9:38 pm

30. I agree with many on their comments regarding podcasting. And I wasn’t a fan (and felt like I was really missing the point) until I found some podcasts that I identify with and realized that truly talented people are working hard to create continually amusing/thought-provoking content. (This is a handful at best, right now). And that’s a big part of it. When you do find a podcast that is useful, entertaining or important to your beliefs… you’ll realize the value.

    The other key point for me is the realization that I hate the state of radio. I hate Clear Channel’s approach to broadcasting. So podcasting brings an element to freeform radio with real personalities back into the fold as I driving to work playing my iPod through my car stereo. I feel more of a connection with other real human beings and feel like I am learning about new stuff, new tech, new music. Etc.

    That leads me to the most important realization. Podcasting is amazing because it is freeform radio. You can curse. You can say completely stupid stuff. You can do whatever. Right now, most aren’t driven by revenue in what they’re creating and listening is completely voluntary. Its a wonderful environment, because it doesn’t matter if you have 2 listeners or 2000. It’s all the same. And it’s our only truly free broadcast media right now. To me, that’s exciting… it’s a true cross-section of global thoughts and ideas and art. Cool by me.

    By LostMonkey on August 12, 2005 10:00 pm

31. “Does podcasting deserve the attention that it’s receiving and am I simply missing the big picture?”

    The blunt answer is NO. It does not deserve as much attention as we give it.

    I think it is sad that anyone has even referred to it as Podcasting, even though it has absolutely nothing to do with an iPod, portable media player, computer, etc. Content aside, it is an audio file for goodness sake. What kind of new name will we come up with when Apple adds video capability to the iPod, and bloggers, in particular, pick up on video content delivery?

    Our society is full of lemmings. Break the trend and don’t believe the hype.

    By Fernando Dunn II on August 13, 2005 9:04 am

32. Scrivs, you’re not missing anything. There is nothing wrong with the technology (as it sounds like you realize), it is how it is being implemented that is upsetting you. This is no different than Flash when it started getting hyped and overused. People were using the technology just for the sake of using it and not because it was the best technology or medium to use for the job.

    Remember all those Flash sites that could have been much more effective and easily built within HTML but people wanted them in Flash so they could see flying text with sounds or music? Same thing. Now instead everyone wants to create a podcast because they can and it’s all the rage. It doesn’t mean their podcast is going to be any good. How they utilize the technology or medium will determine how successful it will be. Over time, I think you’ll start seeing people figuring this out and there will be podcasts out there that will make incredible use of the technology, instead of right now where it is just a lot of people enjoying the sound of their own voice.

    Below are just a few uses of podcasting that will make much more effective use of the technology.

    Interviews or discussions with multiple people talking as it captures the emotions and tone of the discussion and people much better.
    Independent blogger journalists who report from the streets by interviewing people or reporting events as they happen because again it captures the feelings and emotions of being there, not to mention the sounds around you (i.e. fire truck sirens, loud shouting, and people gasping all around you).
    Artists or entertainers who use it for their performances (i.e. poets, singers, comedians, and so forth).

    Single person podcasts of blogs can still work as well but they will become much more effective if they are a gathered collection of “in the moment” thoughts that convey the emotion and intimacy of the person talking instead of just someone repeating their existing text blog posts in a monotone voice.

    By Nollind Whachell on August 13, 2005 4:27 pm

33. Anyone know of any podcasts about cats? ‘Cuz that will make it all worthwhile.

    By Barry Bell on August 13, 2005 6:10 pm

34. To me, the potential of podcasting is the opportunity it offers to anybody to create a program about anything, even if there is not enough demand for it for traditional broadcast channels.

    My podcast, “Mister Ron’s Basement” (episode #100 coming on Aug 18th!) consists of me reading humorous public domain stories by great authors. I’m having a barrel of fun doing it, and the show is up to about 3200 downloads a day so far. Numbers like that are nothing to the broadcast market, but they make me happy. Podcasting is the best hope for true narrowcasting.

    Yeah, all too many people haven’t the time for anything over 30 seconds long — that’s too bad — what I do is use a new medium to introduce people to the joys of a simpler time, when you could spend fifteen to thirty minutes listening to a fun story.

    And at least some people like it.

    By Ron Evry on August 13, 2005 8:27 pm

35. How many Blogs can I read on my way to and from work? How many Podcasts can I listen to? To me that’s the difference. I use my iTrip/iPod through my speakers and I decide what I want to listen too.

    By Matt on August 13, 2005 10:30 pm

36. I found myself asking the EXACT same question myself today.

    By Zach Inglis on August 13, 2005 11:31 pm

37. Things I personally like about podcasting:

    1. Easy to have on the background while doing other tasks.
    2. Great way to explain products, services, and ideas – since convection comes into play.

    Things I personally hate about podcasting:

    1. No way to “skim” a podcast without reading the “shownotes”. I’d like to hear a summary of topics covered in the first 15 seconds.
    2. No previews via iTMS. Voices do matter on podcasting.
    3. If the podcaster says “We’ll link you in the show notes, you have to go back home and find their site for the link. Since iTMS only shows “some” of the info with no HTML in it. I’d like to hear people actually spell out the url if needed.
    4. WAY too much content to consume and right now 90% of podcasts are about their podcasting setup and how Apple messed with the XML spec. Get over yourselves podcasters and start talking about the specific topics you are saying that you are covering.
    5. Dawn and Drew, Chris Pirillo (speaking of hype)

    Side notes: AAC format does allow for chapters, which is cool. I feel really bad for ODEO that the iTMS release was before them, since I think ODEO is a good solution too. Tooooooo many services are popping up to create Networks for this content. But that will all settle down in a few years. Oh, and Adam Curry got funding for Podshow and he said “We have to sit down and think of ways to spend the money, but I think we have a few ideas.” – I wish I could pitch 9rules, Inc. to those same investors, cuz we have ideas too.

    By Colin D. Devroe on August 15, 2005 12:38 pm

38. Scrivs: you seem to have a problem with anything getting “too much hype”. Why?

    Why are you so concerned about what and who get attention? Who cares if podcasting is getting a serious amount of attention and hype? And why the comparison to blogging? Are you concerned that attention is being diverted from blogging and shifted to podcasting… something you obviously feel is an inferior publishing medium?

    It sounds like a product, service, technology, idea loses it’s appeal to you when a lot of people get ahold of it and like it. Is this just your desire to be in the “indy” world as opposed to the “main stream” world? Is this the geek equivalent of “selling out”?

    By Dave Giunta on August 16, 2005 1:55 pm

39. In under two weeks my podcast has more subscribers than my blog of three months. People don’t like to read as much as they like to listen (as much as they like to watch).

    Podcasts also excuse poor writing because most people can make themselves understood when speaking, even if their writing skills are sub-par.

    I also think podcasts are a hype though. The only areas which will thrive long-term are those with mainstream radio doesn’t cater two. All the genral interest, movie review, car-talk stuff will wither in the light of professional broadcasters (until iTunes gives them a way to sell their podcasts and again make space for freecasters).

    By Sam Sugar on August 16, 2005 6:38 pm

40. First like everyone said, and I’ll say it too. blogging and podcasting are not comparable. If people on the net seems to seem otherwise, then you should have cleared it “that is not so” rather than saying “thats what people are saying hence i’m comparing.”

    Second who cares if a techology is hyped or not. who cares if it is moving faster than you think it should. Does it bother you that your not part of the bandwagon and afraid that you’ll get left behind.

    Third, you said it takes time and resources and peope are not willing to commit. Its not like when a podcast starts your motor functions stop and your standing with one foot in the air or spoon in your mouth, waiting for the podcast to finish. If it is taking time or you are not able to concentrate then don’t listen, listen when you have time No one is forcing you to listen at a time when you are sleeping and all of a sudden a podcast starts and it totally disturbs you.

    Fourth, you said you can only listen to limited podcast. what do you want. the ability of an infinite amount of podcast downloaded to your brain in 1 sec. Just because you have a million podcast to listen does not mean you ABSOLUTELY HAVE to listen to all of them, else Aliens will invade. You listen to music during your free time, and you make a choice on what to listen, You do not go and listen to over a billion songs just cause you have billion songs in market.

    By MySchizoBuddy on August 17, 2005 11:59 pm

41. While I wouldn’t try to guess at the future of something such as podcasting, I will say that it currently isn’t for me for the following reasons:

    1. Time. As Paul mentioned, you can plow through quite a few blogs in the same amount of time it would take you to listen to a single podcast.

    2. People tend to write much better than they speak. It’s easier to draft your thoughts on a blog and come back to it. I haven’t listened to a single podcast(save for the one released by NASA a few days back), but I’d be infuriated if I spent 5-10 minutes downloading a podcast, downloading it to my media player of choice, only to find somebody hemming and hawing while they choose their words.

    3. I can’t imagine listening to a 45 minute podcast unless I knew the source to be respectable, whereas I don’t mind taking a few minutes to rip through a few junk blogs.

    I don’t know, maybe I’m being a bit cynical. Perhaps with the right search engine online a la technorati to filter out the good vs the bad podcasts(perhaps this already exists), I’d be more interested in signing up. Right now, it just sounds like a way to sell more iPods while a few others find a way to make money off it.

    Of course, I do live in a metropolitan area, and have never had more than a 5 minute commute, so maybe I’m just outside the target audiences.

    By Kyle on August 22, 2005 12:10 am

42. Good points by all – and I’m still undecided as to the future of podcasts.

    I listened to far more bad podcasts than good ones over recent times, so as more and more podcasts are made how do you sort out the good from the bad?

    It’s not like visiting a blog – you can pretty much tell within seconds if the blog style is up your alley. With a podcast a 10Mb download and 30min+ listen is really the only way to decide upon quality.

    I think podcasts will thrive but only the few will, and really should – survive (few could be as much as thousands) – we’re time poor as it is and there is more technical skill involved in producing decent, ongoing podcasts.

    By Martin on August 30, 2005 8:53 am

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