iTunes 4.9 focuses on Podcasting
We here at TUAW are of two minds about Podcasting, but it seems that Steve Jobs isn't. Engadget is reporting that Jobs demoed iTunes 4.9 at the D Conference last night, and the biggest new feature (the only new feature perhaps?) Support for podcasts.Not only will you be able to subscribe to whatever podcast you would like using iTunes, but producers will be able to submit their podcasts for inclusion in the iTunes Music Store so that people can find them (though I imagine there will be some sort of vetting process for which podcasts are included).
O'Reilly Radar says that we will be able to get our grubby little hands on this 4.9 update within 60 days or so.
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Gerald Buckley said 4:19PM on 6-16-2005
You know... even if that is the only update for now it's a welcome one as far as I'm concerned. Probably will handle the import/management as well if not better than everything else out there.
Reply
Small Paul said 4:19PM on 6-16-2005
That would be proper cool. The only podcast I've come anywhere near is the TUAW one so far, cos you had a link right there in the post. But if it's right there in iTunes, that's much less friction between me and lots of ramblings. Suoer!
Reply
Tim said 4:19PM on 6-16-2005
I welcome this feature! Since podcasts are mp3 files, i'd prefer they all be dealt with by the same program. I like to keep my podcasts stored in a separate folder though - hope it will let me do that.
Reply
Chris said 4:19PM on 6-16-2005
Perhaps this will actually get me to listen to a few podcasts. The current crop of podcast apps I've encountered just haven't seemed very mac-like yet. Maybe it's just me but I expect Mac apps to just work.
Reply
Dean Shan said 4:19PM on 6-16-2005
I think that the addition of download Podcast straight into iTunes will bring Podcasts to the masses. Right now Podcasts are only being listened to by a relatively small number (when compared to the rest of the nation). Once they add Podcasts to the iTMS even my mother will know what a Podcast is. While I like the addition of Podcasts into iTunes I don't think I would pay for them at $1 a pop.
Reply
Andrew Kaufmann said 4:19PM on 6-16-2005
File this one under "Wouldn't It Be Nice, If:"
You could set up an account with iTunes, and publish your own music / podcast / whatever and set a rate (with Apple taking x%)? Like, if I were a giant egomaniac, I could charge $10 for my podcast, Apple takes $1, and sit there while no one in their right mind paid $10 to hear what I had to say?
Or, more realistically, I charge $0.25, find maybe 1000 people that want to hear what I have to make, and pocket $200.
My question here -- would Apple face legal repercussions? I imagine the RIAA would poop their pants if they found out you could download a podcast from Apple, and that podcast happened to have a preview of Coldplay's new album.
Reply
Dean said 10:09AM on 6-25-2005
Great!!! This means the next version will be 5 ( if they dont get silly with the point releases.) I hope with the next version we get to change all the info like you can with the iTunes Author. Then i'll have total control over my playlists.
Reply
el Tiki said 1:45PM on 7-06-2005
I think it's a nice feature.
But i find it kinda strange, that you have to be a paying member of .mac or aol to be able to add your podcast to the iTunes' Podcast Directory. That's where we are back to the commercial path ... I believe the iTunes Podcast Directory should be open to any active podcaster, and not only to paying members of a certain company.
Reply