iTunes 4.9 Has Arrived

Apple launched iTunes 4.9 a couple of days ago. This is big news if you are a podcaster and/or a podcast listener. With the release, Apple also released a new firmware update for the iPod.

iTunes now has an area for podcasts and an easy model with which to subscribe and manage them. The firmware update provides a menu item under "Music" called "Podcasts" where your subscribed podcasts go. I find it to be very easy to work with.

For a podcaster, we now have a platform that is huge! The only problem is that Apple delivered this new version of iTunes without any heads-up on the new feed specifications required to optimize a podcast's look and information within iTunes' directories. Here at This And That, we have chosen to continue to use the same feed that we are currently using (i.e. NO disruption to anyone!) which means that until our feed-host provides the ability to enhance our feeds with iTunes-only descriptions and images, we will continue to have a very 'boring' look in the iTunes directory (and somewhat hard to find).

So - you wanna subscribe to This And That using iTunes? Just go into the iTunes music store and search for either "jeff pat" or "dallas" - those two seem to always find us for now) and click the subscribe button when you see our podcast come up! Easy. Oh - if you do, don't forget to unsubscribe from us from the feed reader you are currently using (you don't want double downloads, do you?).

There is a LOT of talk / buzz around the proverbial virtual water cooler. I'll share some quick observations:

1) Some podcasts were in the iTunes directory when they launched. Some weren't. We were (though as I said, with no graphics and little information). Many podcasters (good ones at that) were not included initially and are worried about their placement in the directory. I would say to them 'don't worry' - nobody is getting an edge - yet. Too much other flux in and around the system. I would give the system and third parties about two weeks for things to settle down.

2) iTunes has crashed because of volume at least once. The major podcasting websites (Curry's various sites, PodcastAlley, TWIT, etc...) have been SLOW or CLOSED since the launch. WOW. That's volume! Who ever thought podcasting could be so popular. AND this volume accounts for only a fraction of iTunes subscribers that even converted to the new version yet (the geekiest ones, no doubt! lol).

3) iTunes is highlighting the 'legit' podcasts like those produced by ABC, Walt Disney and NPR among others. Don't expect to find much 'drag queen' action highlighted by Apple (or This And That type of action for that matter). In fact, I would expect more traditional content providers to leap into this more.

4) All the talk among podcasters is how do I get into the directory? how do I enhance my look? is my feed XML ok? These are all legitimate concerns but it's pretty funny to watch all the similar questions and sheer volume on the newsgroups.

5) Morning Shows? One of the four highly visible 'mega' categories for the iTunes Podcast stare is one for Morning Shows / Talk Radio. It is full of Morning show Radio duos (all of whom end up looking fat, why is that?)! Blechhh! Let's see how long this category lasts. I think most people look for podcasts because they are tired of the drive-time banter by half-wits. Instead they look for shows like This And That by half-wits ;-) lol