Richard Giles Blog

The uneducated speculation about the future of podcasting is now becoming a dull ache, like a tooth before a visit to the dentist. The latest to speculate is Barnako at MarketWatch.

Barnako claims that “indie” podcasts are being hurt by mainstream podcasts. His brilliant deduction is based on the iTunes Top 100.

“Shortly after the iTunes software update was released, I calculated that 47 of its most popular podcasts were produced by what some call “independents.” That number now is 31, and it’s dropping.”

This was incredibly predicable, but this doesn’t mean that “indie” feeds are becoming less popular. In fact if you ask (that’s right Barnako, you can ask people in the name of real journalism) podcasters you’ll find that everyone is seeing an increase in subscribers.

The real proof will be weeded out in a year or more, not in a single month. Then we’ll see who’s popular. Everyone is dunking a toe in the water, and checking out podcasts. Once the testing is over, and the real listening occurs, we’ll see who floats to the top.

Business Week continues the propagation of a really badly thought out story.

Time to get a tooth pulled.

Google’s launched Google Moon. Zoom in and see what you get.

The most annoying thing is that they’ve provided the map of the moon before Google Maps Australia.

There’s a Audioblogging Manifesto. All negative of course. Maciej explains what’s wrong with podcasts. Now the thing is that we can hear his passion, and gee, the music we hear in the background really adds emphasis. I don’t think I would have lasted a paragraph had I had to read it.

This is what happens in iTunes when you don’t listen to a podcast for a while. In this case I hadn’t listened to five recent shows.

BlogDay2005

This is such a great idea, and wonderful logo and images.

Hats off to Niro.

Skip on over to this Flickr collection created by Dario Agosta. You can also buy the images on t-shirts, with proceeds going to London bombings relief fund set up by the Red Cross.

David Taylor doesn’t like podcasts. His reasoning is they can’t replace blogs.

It’s an interesting read, but I think David is missing something. Podcasts aren’t meant to replace blogs. Perhaps they supplement them, or perhaps they are to exist separately. There is so much that blogs can do that podcasts can’t and visa versa. Just like print vs. radio.

David’s a great author. So perhaps he finds reading and writing a lot easier. I on the other hand find it hard to sit and read a whole article. Especially those long ranting blog posts. However, sit me down at the wheel of a car and I’ll happily listen intently to even the most rambling drivel. They’ve all got their time and place.

Besides, I’d like to see a blog showcase a new indie band or do a sound seeing tour. The written word just couldn’t do Rock and Roll or capture the moment like father Roderick Vonhögen’s Last respects to John Paul II.

You’ve got to love the English spirit!

This blog’s going to focus a lot on podcasting in the next few months. Sorry :). It’ll act as a bit of a repository for work on the book and a communication channel.

So, Cuban and Cringely chip in today.

All aboard!