![](\"http:\/\/cyber.law.harvard.edu\/blogs\/static\/dowbrigade\/popod.jpg\")
The New
\n York Times, always on the cutting edge, weighs in today on the latest
\n development in cyberspace – podcasting! It is actually quite
\n lengthy, although far from comprehensive (they leave out Dave Winer entirely,
\n and his landmark first podcast live from the Democratic convention, during
\n which the Dowbrigade scoffed at the whole idea of podcasting "It’ll never catch
\n on" we predicted), and worth reading or sending to people who have no
\n idea what everyone is getting so excited about.<\/p>\n
It starts out blandly enough:<\/p>\n
\nRanging from the sublime to the ridiculous, podcasts are essentially
\n do-it-yourself recorded radio programs posted online. Anyone can download
\n them free, and, using special software, listeners can subscribe to favorite
\n shows and even have them automatically downloaded to a portable digital
\n music player.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\nHowever, what is cool, and clearly differentiates reading the New York
\n Times electronic edition, and especially the versions of the articles
\n that come via RSS aggregation, from reading the paper version off line
\n is the meat of the article; a tour of the topic, from individual great
\n podcasts (Mr. X<\/a>, Insomnia
\n Radio<\/a>, Catholic
\n Insider<\/a>) to sites to find and search
\n podcasts (Podcast Alley<\/a> and Podcasting
\n News<\/a>) to radio stations that ‘cast (WGBH in Boston, Q107 in Toronto
\n and BBC Radio) and new specialized software for podcasting (Make
\n Propaganda<\/a> and Industrial
\n Audio Software<\/a>) and dozens more. And,
\n just like in this blog, in the electronic version of this article, every
\n podcast,
\n product
\n name
\n or interesting site is a live link, accessible just a click away. Why
\n would anyone even read the poor paper version of an article like this
\n when the online version is a toolbox for exploring, and even getting
\n started, in the subject?<\/p>\nFinally, let us note once again that unlike the New
\n York Times<\/a> web site, where the links stop working after 48 hours,
\n the links to the articles that arrive via aggregator LAST FOREVER, and can form a
\n permanent resource for exploring, demonstrating, presenting or explaining
\n podcasting. Lately we have been reading the New York Times in cyber-buddy
\n Pito Salas’ superb new Java aggregator, BlogBridge<\/a>,
\n and after an initial period of adjustment we can report it is a superior
\n experience. We
\n have learned to manage different streams, store articles for later reading,
\n tag to delicious, etc. In addition to getting the articles anywhere between
\n 6 and 24 hours before the see the light of day in print, and for free,
\n we find it much easier to blog directly from the aggregator.<\/p>\nThe other day a Times drone telemarketer called (during the dinner hour
\n of course) and asked if we wanted to re subscribe. It was tough
\n not to laugh out loud, but we realized the poor bastard would be doing
\n a better job if he could find one, and just hung up. On the other hand,
\n we do end up buying the paper version once or twice a week. It’s hard
\n to read the electronic version in the barber’s chair, or waiting for
\n a dentist appointment, or on the train. For now, anyway.<\/p>\npodcasting article from today’s New
\n York Times<\/a><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The New York Times, always on the cutting edge, weighs in today on the latest development in cyberspace – podcasting! It is actually quite lengthy, although far from comprehensive (they leave out Dave Winer entirely, and his landmark first podcast … Continue reading