Enhanced Podcasts?
Oct 25th, 2007 | By Fredcaster | Category: Blog, Podcasts, Technical NotesI have been toying with the idea of doing an ‘enhanced’ version of The FredCast and I want to know if this is something you would like me to do. I listen to lots of podcasts, but it seems that the ones I find most useful are the ones that are enhanced.
In case you don’t know, an enhanced podcast is just another type of audio file that allows graphics and/or hot links to be included along with the audio. So if I am doing a story on, for instance, Team Slipstream/Chipotle, your iPod or iTunes could show a photo of the team along with a clickable hot link that would take you to the Team Slipstream web site. Cool, huh?
Also, enhanced podcasts include chapter markers (just like DVDs) so that, for instance, you could skip a news story in which you aren’t interested. Of course, you’re interested in every news story I do, right?!? 😉
The only problem with enhanced podcasts is that they aren’t supported by all portable media devices or desktop players, so I would continue to produce the standard mp3 podcast in the existing feed, and I would add a second feed that would include the enhanced podcast in AAC format.
If this is something that a lot of you want, then I will do it. Just be forewarned that the enhanced podcast might be slightly delayed (up to 24 hours) due to the additional post-production, but hopefully I will get the workflow down quickly and the delay would be non-existent or negligible.
So . . . are you interested? Is this something you would like and find useful? Give me your feedback in the comments section of this post. And stay tuned.
Excellent idea!!
Christer, Sweden
Sounds great!
Wow! Just when I thought The FredCast couldn’t get any better, Dave comes up with this idea. I love it. Please do it!!
Psst! Don’t tell David, but this is something I would even PAY for.
[…] ドãÆ’©ãƒžæœ€æ–°æÃ†â€™Ã¢â‚¬Â¦å ± wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt I have been toying with the idea of doing an ‘enhanced’ version of The FredCast and I want to know … with the audio. So if I am doing a story on, for instance, Team Slipstream/Chipotle, your iPod or iTunes […]
A big vote for yes here!
Ermmmm…. OK for those that have a spent SOOOOO much money on an iPod, they may as well get something for their excessive outlay to prove it’s worth above a standard (cheaper, easier to use, less ‘fashion victim’, less restrictive) MP3 player. 😉
Must admit I listen to the ‘cast whilst driving ( via the car stereo ), on my computer whilst working or on an MP3 player… Not much call for pretty pictures or links so I’ll keep with the standard version.
I use an iTunes enabled cell phone for listening to podcasts, and they don’t have “enhanced” podcast capabilities. I have no problem with adding graphics to the podcast, as long as these graphics would also be available on the show notes, so that I could check them out later (as I add all my podcasts to the feed reader I use, in order to see show notes and the like).
I listen when I’m doing other things — often while commuting by bike. I don’t think I’d look at the graphics as I listen.
I wouldn’t mind having a web page to see some of the products or people you feature, but as for WATCHING instead of LISTENING to the fredcast, it’s not for me.
So, if you do go enhanced, I’m hoping you’ll always write it so I won’t miss content if I don’t SEE it.
It sounds like a really cool idea. However, I do not use itunes or an ipod for my podcast listening pleasure thus an enhanced podcast would be of no interest to me.
JAMES: I am curious about your use of a feed reeder for show notes. I don’t have an RSS feed for my show notes, other than the blog posting I do every time I post a new show. This blog posting doesn’t include all of the links and specific info about each story, but it does include a link to the show notes themselves.
Would people prefer to have the links in the blog posting rather than in the show notes?
FWIW, my show notes are created from the outline I use to create each episode of The FredCast. When I am done recording, I simply remove all of the text (my notes of what I plan to say about each topic) and then export the outline as an html file. This makes creating show notes for the site quick and easy.
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To me, the usefulness of enhanced podcasts isn’t the graphics that are included. Frankly, that’s just a bit of eye candy for when I listen on my computer.
What makes enhanced podcasts useful is the ability to skip from subject to subject. I use this in the car, on the bike and when listening on my computer. I think this is the main reason to do an enhanced podcast.
Why does it sound like I am talking myself into this?
I use both itunes and an ipod….
However I almost always listen while riding, at the gym or something, so while it sounds really cool, I don’t think that I would really end up using any of the enhanced features.
It doesn’t matter to me. I’d listen to either version (from both a PC & my iPod), although a chapter (enhanced) version would be great.
Thanks for all your hard work.
I look forward to each and every episode.
I listen to the Fredcast while driving, raking leaves, cutting the grass, etc. For the topics I’m interested in finding out more information about I go to your website and show notes. Why would anyone want to skip a section?
Thanks for the great show and keep those episodes coming!
I have been looking for more uses for the iPhone, this sounds perfect! Most of the time, however, I listen when I can not look at the iPod (riding, running, etc.). That being said, this would be a great feature if I was listening while traveling.
Thanks for the show!
YES. Enhanced and/or a video podcast with pictures or clips of whatever you’re talking about would be great. Especially with your reviews of products since you actually know what you’re reviewing unlike most paid journalists whos reviews consist of reading the outside of the box.
Not necessary. I listen to the Fredcast while commuting to and from work, and would not take my eyes off the road to look at a picture, video or hotlink.
A simple mp3 is best for me. I usually have the most problems with enhanced and other non-mp3 podcasts.
I would appreciate the enhanced podcast for the reasons you state. The bookmarks. I always listen to the whole podcast but sometimes I like to go back to specific topics and listen again. Like, for example, the road rash care report. Also, I have push thefredcast on as many of my cycling buddies as I can but they don’t all listen. I’d like to be able to more easily tell them about a particularly interesting report or product review which they can easily skip to and listen to directly.
My thoughts,
Dan
Video/images/links: useless for me – I have an older Nano which can’t display them.
Bookmarks: yes please. Then I can skip the sections about the UCI pro tour races and standings….
(If I’m interested in male-pro-roadie racing I’ve got the results from cyclingnews.com already; If I’m not interested in male-pro-roadie racing I don’t care about the standings).
I listen on a ipod shuffle so the enhanced version would not be available to me, but might be nice when I listen on I tunes. The audio on the last spokesman podcast was so much better on the last show! Hope it stays like that. Keep up the great shows.
I think it’s a great idea. There are a couple of other podcasts I listen to that do this, and I think it’s a big help. Makes it easier to navigate to the parts I really want to hear when I’m crunched for time. The image thing not so much, but the navigation definitely!
Wow !!!! it sounds great, I wait with baited breath for ever fredcast, can’t get enough. To do an enhanced version would only make it better.
Cheers from Aus. Keep up the great work.
I too use a shuffle. I like the idea of the bookmarks because sometimes I miss a comment or get distracted while listening and it’ll be good to be able to go back and hear that whole bit again.
George
England
This is great!!!
You have my vote.
Regards,
Eduardo
I would be interested in the enhanced version, mainly for the option to Fast Forward to the next segment. The only thing is that on “The Fredcast” I never feel the need to skip a section.
I would say if it causes more work for you to put together, I would skip the enhancements. I am sure you put in way to much time in on all your excellent podcasts. I am not sure the “benefit to time” ratio for the “enhanced” features is high enough.
Thank you for putting these podcasts out there.
I use a version of bashpodder I’ve customized create a directory structure of MP3s I burn to a CD to listen to in the car. So, I won’t get much out of enhanced podcasts. I’ve seen co-workers attempt to make enhanced podcasts for work — audio/powerpoint combinations. As an bystander watching the effort, the one thing I learned was that it’s a big time sink. The jump between editing and preparing audio to editing and preparing audio/multi-media/video seems large. My point being is I’d rather see David’s time spent working on content than making something flashy or complicated. Based on David’s comment earlier, it appears this point isn’t lost. Still, I feel it bears repeating.
David,
I usually listen to your podcast while commutting (ugh). I’ve listened to enhanced podcasts before, they do offer some additional flexibility, but, for me, it would be a rarely used source. If I am on the computer, I can go to your show notes or search for the topic. The pics are nice on the video iPods… So, the question is: How much time do you have to dedicate to doing Podcasts???
Dave
Oh, yes, please. I wish all PodCasts would do this.