Making Preparations For the Expo

Got my new mobile phone today, a Motorola Razr V3i. I really wish that Apple would bring out the iPhone. The Razr is OK and syncs with my mac using iSync but it's a bit clunky in operation. How I wish Apple would release a phone! I read a post a day or so about Apple simplicity and how easy it is to select an Apple product. I went into my local phone store and was totally bemused by the number of phones available for sale. Apple will clean up if they launch the iPhone. Anyway, the plan is to use the phone to take some photos of the Podcast and Portable Media Expo and my travels. I've included a Flickr photostream in the far right column and you can also subscribe to the photostream using this Link

I can't promise the photos will be of any note but it may give you a flavour of what is going on. i'll be uploading the photos from the phone via bluetooth to the MacBook Pro and then via wifi to Flickr. Hope you will follow along!

Technorati Tags: Podcast Expo 2006

Click to read more ...

New Tools Required

As ScreenCastsOnline becomes more popular, I'm realising I haven't got all the tools in place to manage the podcast as effectively or efficiently as it could be managed. This is in a couple of areas:

Subscriptions - This is currently a high priority to get sorted! It's been OK for the past six months but now that renewals are due, it's just too much to handle manually. I've identified a package to help but it's going to take some effort to deploy but it's a real priority

Show Production - Not much I can do about the recording and editing but the final stages of publishing need some attention - I'll see to this following the new member management package.

Extra! Membership - It's due for a revamp and restructuring. I was hoping to have this in place for 1st October but it's closely tied into the new software package so might slip by a few weeks.

Podcast Hosting - I've been with Libsyn since I started and I have the utmost respect for them and fully support them. Heck, without Libsyn, I wouldn't be in the position I am today as a full time podcaster. But any downtime or problems with the hosting really screws me over due. I needed to find a really stable, highly reliable and scalable alternative or backup hosting provider. Don't forget, these are large HD video files that I'm pushing out, the last one 146MB and the fallout from Libsyn hosting issues was manageable but if people are paying for an Extra! subscription, the delivery needs to be rock solid.

I think I've found a great solution in the Amazon S3 but more about that in another post!

I'll keep the blog updated with my progress over the next few months as I progress with developing and deploying these new tools.

Technorati Tags: S3, podcasttools, podcasthosting, Amazon

Click to read more ...

Sorry for the Downtime

Very remiss of me not updating the blog for so long but lot's has been happening in the ScreenCastsOnline world. I'll try and get up to date in the next two days before heading off to the Podcast and Portable Media Expo but I have got this weeks show to do before I go, so best endevours apply!

Click to read more ...

Looney Zune

The case is a plastic and the overall fit and finish seem more durable and less scratch prone than the iPod. Three colors at launch, White, Black and Brown. Yep, Brown.

Michael Gartenberg - Today's Zune News - First Take

Brown!

The key differentiator is the sharing feature. I can share any song on the device to any other device in range.

Michael Gartenberg - Today's Zune News - First Take

And why would I do that? I've got an iPod, one of the most popular MP3 and video players on the planet and I've never wanted to share anything with another iPod. To be honest, I've only ever been in close proximity to another 2 or 3 iPods. But then again, I'm probably not the demographic that feature is targeted at :-)

Pricing – Unkown at this time for either device or the store.

Michael Gartenberg - Today's Zune News - First Take

Wow - build up that buzz MS!

technorati tags:zune, ipod, ms

Click to read more ...

There Will Be No Real Video iPod!

"New" iPod, just like the old iPodApple's fifth-generation iPod (sometimes called iPod with video) has been somewhat updated with more capacity, much better battery life for videos, brighter screens, and lower prices. That's all awesome, really it is. Really. I'm so frickin' excited about...WHERE THE HECK IS THE REAL VIDEO iPOD??

Paul Thurrott's Internet Nexus - A technology blog

There will be no real video iPod!

There I've said it!

If there was going to be a real video ipod - large 16:9 screen, launched with movies support, the Showtime Event would have been the ideal event to launch it. Apple are content with the 5th generation form factor and this updated version will see us through the holiday season well into next spring.

However.....

All is not lost!

Apple is currently all about convergence at the moment, as spelt out in yesterdays keynote.

As well as convergence of iPod, Computer and TV next year, everyone fully expects this convergence to extend into mobile communications. The long awaited Apple phone will emerge but it will be more than just a phone.

It will combine the functionality of the existing iPods with a mobile phone but will include the fabled 16:9 widescreen HD compatible screen built into the phone. It makes no sense to make an iPod and a phone - we all want both.

Add in some Apple coolness such as the ability to update iCal and Address book on the phone, additional PIM applications, seamless bluetooth syncing with iCal and Address book, seamless bluetooth syncing of iTunes with the phone, a bluetooth headset with microphone and auto song pausing on call, touch sensitive 16:9 widescreen screen, built in Apple remote and 80GB hard disk. All technologies available now, we just need a systems integrator with the vision, skills and infrastructure to pull it off - and I'm confident Apple will step up to the plate.

Oh, and add in some Leopard secret stuff into the mix!

So my predication will be the emergence of the Apple phone sometime next year, but it will be to replace the standalone iPod.

There will be no real video standalone iPod and I'm jazzed!

technorati tags:leopard, iphone, apple, osx, videoipod, 6thgeneration, itunes7, showtime

Click to read more ...