“The podcaster of the year told an audience of 1,000 at the Podcast Expo in Ontario, California Friday that Apple’s iTunes software was the best thing and the worst thing that ever happened to podcasting,” Frank Barnako reports for Marketwatch.
Barnako reports, “Leo Laporte, founder of the TWIT network of podcasts, said Apple made podcasts accessible to millions by developing software that made it easy to download the show. However, the association of Apple and its iPod product with podcasts is confusing to many consumers, Laporte said, and has limited audience growth.”
“‘Is podcasting the right name, given also Apple’s asserting it owns the word ‘pod’ and is it good for Apple to be a monopoly in this?’ he asked during his keynote to standing room only audience of more than 1,000 in the Ontario, Calif. Conference Center,” Barnako reports.
Barnako reports, “Laporte said he’s now calling his 13 shows, ‘netcasts.’ ‘People understand the idea of a ‘cast,” and they also know the Net,’ Laporte added. ‘Our job is to grow the audience, and to make Netcasts more accessible.’ Taking the word ‘pod,’ off them, he said, may help that process along.”
Full article here.
“Los Angeles radio host Leo Laporte rallied podcasters at the Podcast and Portable Media Expo in Ontario, Calif., Friday during a keynote speech aimed at encouraging Microsoft Corp. to add a podcast aggregator in its next operating system,” Laurie Sullivan reports for TechWeb.
Sullivan reports, “Laporte, who recently launched the podcast network TWiT.tv, thanked Apple Computer Inc. for putting podcasting on the map with help from the iPod, but said podcasters need other technology companies to step up to the plate. ‘Podcasting is not dependent on Apple, iPod or iTunes, and podcasters need to spread the word,’ Laporte said. ‘I’m very disappointed in Microsoft. I had hoped Zune would support podcasting. I had hoped Vista would support podcast aggregation, but it will not.’
Full article here.
“Netcast?” How ’bout “Leadballoon” instead? ‘Tis far too late to change the name. And since when is Apple a “monopoly” in podcasting?
Related articles:
Apple squawks over ‘podcast’ use – September 25, 2006
Podcasting gains important foothold in U.S.; Podcasters most likely to be young, Apple fans – July 12, 2006
Apple to accept podcast ads on iTunes – April 24, 2006
San Francisco Chronicle: GarageBand 3 has by far the most extensive package of podcasting features – January 30, 2006
Don’t call them podcasts! Derivative, er, Creative introduces ZenCast app for ‘audio & video blogs’ – January 04, 2006
New Oxford American Dictionary announces Word of the Year: ‘Podcast’ – December 06, 2005
Study: Apple iTunes to drive podcasting to hit critical mass by 2010 – November 14, 2005
Audible intros service for measuring podcast audiences – November 11, 2005
Apple’s iTunes passes 7 million podcast signups mark, now offers 15,000 free podcasts – October 10, 2005
Arbitron Portable People Meter System successfully tracks podcasts – August 23, 2005
‘Podcast’ added to Oxford Dictionary, now officially part of English language – August 10, 2005
McNamee: In one day, Apple won podcasting war, ‘Google whiffed on it’ – August 01, 2005
NY Times: Apple has just mainstreamed podcasting and put another feather iPod’s cap – July 28, 2005
Fortune: podcasting is a celebration of power of the Internet – July 12, 2005
Microsoft employees squeamish about ‘podcast’ term, try using ‘blogcast’ instead – July 11, 2005
The Economist: Apple’s embrace of podcasting ‘could have significant consequences’ – July 08, 2005
Research group: U.S. podcast audience will grow to 56 million by 2010 – July 06, 2005
Apple iTunes podcast subscriptions top one million in first two days – June 30, 2005
Analyst: iTunes 4.9 helps Apple by bringing podcasting to the masses – June 28, 2005
Apple releases iTunes 4.9 for Mac and Windows with podcasting features – June 28, 2005
Apple CEO Steve Jobs demos iTunes 4.9, due within 60 days, includes podcast support – May 23, 2005
Apple’s iPod can bring the world to users thanks to podcasts – April 19, 2005
‘Podcasting’ brings personalized audio programs to your iPod – September 30, 2004
Sheesh! Talk about biting the hand that feeds him.
That’s a bit arrogant to be trying to do this.
I vote for LedZepplincasting.
Let me be the first to sign his cast.
You can call it anything you want, but they are all still BROADCASTS no matter what device you watch them on. I think the best thing to do would be to startover, and remove pod and cast from podcast. Now I know that sounds like nothingm but it’s a start.
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”wink” style=”border:0;” />
I listen to several of his podcasts. He makes a good point, but also admits that it may be too late to change the name. He’s a mac fan, and a good guy, don’t give him so much grief. MDN is way off on this one…
Seems to me a netcast is something more like a stream where podcast is when you take recorded content with you via your mp3 player (iPod)
He’s really doing the only thing he can. For whatever reason, Apple feels it’s in their interest to sue anybody using the word podcast. What are the thousands of podcasters supposed to call their broadcasts? As one who is always accused of being a Mac Fanboy, this is one move I don’t understand. Why wouldn’t Apple want everyone on the planet calling them podcasts?
Luftballoons?
podcasting and podcasts were around way before Apple ever integrated it into iTunes. Apple didn’t name them, the internet community did.
thelt, yes it is. but it was not ‘pod’cast.
Apple’s not suing anyone. They sent a C&D letter to a podcast company regarding a product called “MyPodder”. They make it very clear that they have no interest in the word “podcast”. It’s unfortunate that so many in the podcasting community, including Leo Laporte, have decided to run with this and blow it way waaay out of proportion. Apple’s done nothing but promote the fledgeling industry. I dare say that Apple single-handedly jump-started it but bringing it to the mainstream. Now one news story gets misconstrued by several pro-PC sites and suddenly everyone is vilifying Apple as monopolists and court-mongers. We all know that Apple is a company out to make a profit like any other company and they’re far from perfect but you’d be hard pressed to find in Apple the same vicious spirit of ruthless greed that has transformed Microsoft from a company full of promise into the bloated, hated beast that it is today. To think that anyone would go to Microsoft for help with launching an industry makes me shudder.
“Leo Laporte, founder of the TWIT network”
Makes sense. It takes a “twit” to create a TWIT network.
You can say whatever you want, but Laporte is dead wrong on this one. It’s really funny how these guys seem to forget who opened up this market for them in the first place. It sure as hell wasn’t Microsoft, I do know that.
Apple isn’t “asserting” that it owns the word “pod” in connection with their service – they actually DO own the trademark. They are merely defending their property and brand. And why shouldn’t they?
I’m with the others here who have said he should be careful what he says about the company that was instrumental in TWiT’s ascendance. He’d better be sure he has another way to distribute his program online, should he suddenly find himself with an invitation to find another outlet, having now attempted to extract “pod” from his ‘cast…
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”wink” style=”border:0;” />
this guy is a little princess. maybe he needs his ass wiped too
More like Leo Iscariot. He does have a point, however. The association with Apple and iPods limits growth for podcasting. Most people I know think it’s just another iTunes gimmick and it’s only right that the industry try to detach itself from Cupertino.
I say fine. Let them move onto netcasting, windowscasting, what have you. It would also allow Apple to isolate the term podcasting all to themselves.
Leo is awesome, he gives technology a human face. I understand his concern with the term ‘podcast’, it’s a double edged sword, it makes things easier to access via iTunes, but it feels restrictive (only iPods can play them??. of course not) . I like the term ‘netcast’, much more generic, anything can play it… any computer, or MP3 player, regardless of Apple’s paranoia(legal issues).
I was listening to the TWIT PODCAST earlier today and heard Leo and his panel debating and discussing the Podcast term. It seems to be Leo’s belief that Apple is trying to claim ownership of the term “podcast”. I have not seen evidence of this. It appears to me that Apple is protecting the “i” Pod usage or commercial uses of the term “pod” as it relates to MP3 players, but not to the term podcasting.
Leo, as a producer of content, is concerned that the term “Podcast” implies that his (and other’s) audio/video content is available only on Apple’s iPod. He thinks that there is a broad universe of people with MP3 players that somehow think podcasts are incompatible with their players. Is there any evidence of this?
I like Leo, but I think he is reacting a bit whacky on this one. Tilting at windmills. Barking at the moon. Whatever, it’s disappointing.
APPLE IS SUING EVERYBODY, CLAIMING THEY OWN THE RIGHTS TO EVERYTHING “POD”, CAN YOU REALLY BLAME THESE GUYS????
NETCAST IT IS.
No need to shout, we’ll see how this plays out, the “i” thing is another issue. Apple is a company, an excellent one, I don’t believe they are lawsuit happy, but they may have to protect their (i)nterests.
sorry my liberal bias had to share this.. MW:along
Can’t we just get… MW.
Yup, they’re suing EVERYBODY;
I just received my lawuit notice and
subpoena by courier this afternoon.
How ’bout you?
Give me a break…Podcast is part of the culture. When I hear the term “podcast” I don’t think Apple, or iPod. I think “radio show”.
Geez…talk about making a mountain out of a podhill.
I also suggest changing the name “mouse” to “John C. Dvorak”.
As in, “My John C. Dvorak has too much crud encrusted on it’s ball, I need to get a new one, this one is useless”.
Also wine should be renamed “Jesus Juice”.
Leo’s pretty good, he helps the poor Windoze schlubs sort out their countless hideous PC quagmire problems. It’s painful to listen to sometimes – imagine being a Windahs newby- FSCK! -DLL, scabware, “Erm , I tried to rewrite the Rejistry, musta done somethin wrong and now mah computer’s smokin!!”