Tuning in to Podcasts, iTunes Style

filed under Podcasting Essentials

Well the much anticipated launch (by podcasters anyways) of iTunes 4.9 has come and passed. I thought I would share my experience as a first time user, but someone who's dealt with podcast downloads before.

First, finding those podcasts. There's a new link added amongst your libraries that handles Podcasts. Click on it and you're taken to a library view of the podcasts that you have already subscribed to.

Naturally. that's empty when you start off. However, down in the bottom there's two quick little links: 'Podcast Directory" and "Report a Concern". I haven't found a podcast to complain about yet, but if anyone wants to volunteer ;)

Launching the Podcast Directory link takes you to an iTunes Music Store-esque destination. iMS uses these interesting sliders, in case you haven't seen them, that allows you to slide through some album-art like chips. The main sections go something like this (the viewable ones at this moment are listed below):

New & Notable
- The Gears Behind Ears
- KCRW's The Treatment
- ABCNews.com - ABCNews Shuffle
- 2005 NECC ADE Podcast
Public Radio
- KCRW's Left, Right & Center
- On The Media from NPR
- WGBH Morning Stories
- KCRW's The Road Less Travelled
A flurry of promotional clips for ESPN, Jamie & Danny, etc. with a ad centered to "Publish A Podcast".
Indie Podcasts
- Inside Mac Radio
- Cinecast
- Dawn and Drew Show
- 5 Minites with Wichita

In any event, I started this post about a week ago but never got to finish it. I've kept 4.9 installed but it lacks the features I was accustomed to with my old stand-in Nimiq. It's probably related to my initial doctrination with the original batch of Podcatchers, so I am sure that millions of newcomers will get it.

To balance that, I've heard that servers are overloading with the new attention brought to podcasting by the iTunes update.