What iTunes 4.9 means for podcasting

I concur with the last poster; I do not see what is so revolutionary about someone recording his or her rants, and making them available for download as an mp3. It reminds me of people doing 'homemade' radio shows rcorded to cassette in the 80s; it just isn't interesting to anyone but the people who made them, and perhaps their immediate circle of friends. Give me real live radio anyday over this.

I'm confused on the whole podcasting... am I suppose to find someone that podcasts, then download their latest rant to my iPod and listen to it in my car? I just don't see what makes me really want to do this.

Makes me wish I still had time to do my podcast... http://davincinotebooks.blogspot.com/ This will indeed be interesting. I'd like to see more narrative work, less chatter about nonsense. Like blogs, your mileage will vary tremendously with podcasts. Remember when the first Macs infiltrated the average users out there-- and suddenly people went "font crazy?" I remember seeing church fliers with a dozen fonts (ah Chicago, we hardly knew ye). So first we're going to hear a lot of drunken collegiate ramblings, even more godcasts, and a mix of naughty and nice. May we live in interesting times.

According to Adam Curry, who has discussed iTunes 4.9 with Steve Jobs and the iTunes development team, there will be no charge for the podcasts. It is generally assumed, however, that at some point some "premium value" podcasts will be made available for a fee.

I hope Apple doesn't expect us to pay for podcasts. If they are in the iTMS does that mean apple expects us to pay for each podcast, or pay a subscription fee to listen to them?