This has been an interesting holiday weekend for me. I’ve had a lot to do. And I have a lot left to do. But I decided to also spend a few hours and catch up on the BBC’s new Doctor Who series. After seeing all of the chatter on the web for the last few months, I thought I’d dip in and sample the series. I have only one word for Mr. Davies’ new series: Wow! And that is followed by a few more words: when can we Yanks see the episodes broadcast here?
I have watched Doctor Who for many years. In the seventies, I saw some of Jon Pertwee’s episodes. In the eighties, the local PBS affiliate played the entire Tom Baker series. And in the nineties, I was able to see some of the Colin Baker episodes. So I’ve seen many episodes of many Doctors. And my love of the series has spanned three decades.
But when the BBC announced the new Doctor, I was thrilled – and saddened. I was thrilled to know that the Doctor would once again travel through space and time. But I was saddened that Doctor Who fans in the U.S. would not see these episodes for several years. I was thrilled that we would see a ninth Doctor – but saddened that the Daleks had been destroyed in the great Time War.
But I have been fortunate enough to see the ninth Doctor in action. And this series has been overwhelming! Every Doctor has had his own unique mannerisms. And each Doctor has had a great story arc. Well, the ninth Doctor is no exception. This season was primarily written and produced by Russell Davies. And the new Doctor (Christopher Eccleston) has been wonderful. His latest companion, Rose (played by Billie Piper), has been both beautiful and engaging. And this companion has been given unprecedented “access” to the heart of the TARDIS itself.
I will not do a complete season review. Great web sites (like Outpost Gallifrey) have already done that. But my comments are simple. I loved this series. The actors were marvellous, the story was crisp and well planned. And I really loved the entire Bad Wolf theme carried out throughout the season. And, as much as I hate to admit it, I really liked the Captain Jack subplot. It put a strange (and new) spin on an old series. I sure hope Rose and the Doctor go back for Jack. Leaving him behind would be like leaving K9 behind!
Finally, I have one question for the BBC: when can we Yanks buy the DVD’s for this season? If I can’t get the broadcast, I’d buy the DVD.
-CyclingRoo-
P.S. For those interest in next year’s series, the secret word just might be “Torchwood.” And one enterprising fan has laid out a script premise whereby Adam ends up working at the Torchwood Institute and is responsible for the rebirth of the Cybermen.
Category: Entertainment
If the NYT Prints Something, It Must be True
“All the news that’s fit to print.” That’s the motto. And while some folks want to trash the grand maiden of journalism, I hope that she is right – at least, this time. Yesterday, the NYT published a report stating that Apple will be releasing its “iPod phone” sometime next week. The Chicago-Tribune repeated the story in today’s paper. Roger Entner, an analyst with Ovum, has indicated that the phone will be be sold through Cingular and its network.
BTW, current rumors still consider the Motorola E790 (aka, the ROKR E1 pictured above) as the most likely candidate for the handset.
-CyclingRoo-
[Note: I work for a US wireless carrier. However, any comments on this subject reflect my opinion and not the opinion of my employer.]
Birthday iPod
I have used an MP3 player on my computer ever since Justin Frankel released the first version of Winamp in 1997. Those early versions were great – and a little bit creepy. Justin had the habit of embedding bizarre, nearly occultic, messages and symbols in the About pages. But the software was innovative. And it allowed me to play with my CD collection in a whole new way.
And in 1998, my wife bought me my first portable MP3 player for Christmas. The device was a 128MB player from a company called Sensory Science. Amazon.com still has a link with a description of this ground-breaking device. I loved this thing. And I could take my music (or twelve to fifteen songs of it) anywhere I wanted to go. It was especially great in the gym. I could tune out everything while I lifted. So, for the past few years, I’ve ripped every CD that I own so I can load it onto a portable player. But in the meantime, technology has marched on.
Last year (in December) I started to listen to podcasts. I used either iPodder or Doppler as the feed aggregator. I used either iTunes or Windows Media Player as the MP3 player on my computer. My first podcast was the Daily Source Code with Adam Curry. After hearing his feed, I got hooked. As you know, I listen to dozens of podcasts – some on a more frequent basis than others. But the podcasts I listen to on a regular basis can be found on my home page.
Well, at Christmastime last year, my mother-in-law sent us “gift cards” in lieu of selecting a present, wrapping it and then mailing it to us. So I used my gift card to buy a new portable MP3 player – an Apple iPod Shuffle. I loved my RaveMP, but I needed a bit more space for storing podcasts. And I wanted to play around with an iPod. So a Shuffle made perfect sense.
And I have used my Shuffle and enjoyed it immensely. And Dana has enjoyed it as well. She has used it at basketball tournaments for the past four months.
But it does have some limits.
- It does not store very many songs. Well, that’s not quite true. Compared to my RaveMP, it stores a ton more. My RaveMP would store about fifteen songs. And the Shuffle stores approximately one hundred and fifty songs. But this is only a fraction of my collection. Currently, I have over three thousand songs stored on my computer – all but three or four of these songs were ripped from my personal CD collection. So while the Shuffle stores a whole lot more than the RaveMP, it is still small – when compared to my complete collection.
- The Shuffle is cumbersome to load up with songs. Yes, it is very easy to connect to my machine. But if you allow it to sync with your whole library, you get some interesting results. For example, I have Christmas music in my library. And I don’t want a random Christmas song thrown into a workout mix. So I’ve been syncing with a specific playlist. But that means that I have to keep this playlist up-to-date. So I spend time building different mixes for different listening venues. It’s lots of fun – but somewhat tedious to continue to maintain.
Nevertheless, the Shuffle has been a great addition to my musical life. But my wife has been watching me over the past few months. After watching me fiddle with podcast aggregators and diddle with players, my wife thought I’d love a full-blown iPod.
And she was right. I really think that the iPod is a sweet little gadget. Is it cool because it is new? Not at all. I’ve used digital music for eight years. I’ve had a portable player for seven years. And I’ve listened to podcasts for almost a full year. But the iPod (and iTunes) integrate all of these tools in a very simple and stylish package. In fact, it is fair to say that Apple did not create any of the technologies that make up the iPod. Even the shuttle wheel is not their innovation. It was developed by Synaptics (the makers of laptop touch pads). But Apple did design and engineer a sweet package. And they did develop an astounding brand identity.
But that almost sounds like what Microsoft has done with the Windows product and brand. Do I mean to say that Apple took a page out of Microsoft’s playbook? That’s exactly what I mean to say. If we set aside all the “evil empire” rhetoric, we need to realize that Microsoft is about design and engineering as much as it is about marketing polish. Both of these companies have synthesized ideas from multiple sources and created a compelling package that consumers are willing to spend their hard-earned dollars to use.
-CyclingRoo-
Tags: Apple iPod Microsoft
Adam's Million Listener March
Over the past few weeks, Adam Curry has talked about the “million listener” march for podcasting. Everyone has seen that as a laudible goal. And all of us hoped that Apple’s iTunes 4.9 would be the first major thrust toward that goal. Well, Apple has posted some amazing results from the first couple of days. How many of us thought that we would see over a million subscriptions in just two days? Truthfully, I didn’t think so – although I hoped so.
So let’s think about these numbers. Let’s assume 1*10**6 in 2 days. And I am subscribed to fifteen (15) podcasts on my laptop. On my home system, I am subscribed to five (5) different podcasts. So I am one person subscribed to twenty (20) unique podcasts. And I have to think that I am not the only person with so many subscriptions. Indeed, I suspect that the newbies will subscribe to a whole lot of stuff. They may sample it for a couple of days/weeks and then delete it. So let’s assume that I am somewhat above average and the average podcast listener on iTunes subscribes to ten (10) podcasts. That would mean that there are over one hundred thousand (100,000) listeners – through iTunes alone.
Who knows how many real listeners there are right now. But let’s accept the 10% mark. If true, that’s pretty darned good in the first couple of days. Of course, time will tell. I am sure that the numbers will stabilize after newbies settle on the content they want to hear. But it is important to note that Apple has opened a door to a much wider audience.
My hope is that as we grow our subscribership, we don’t lose the differentiating content that is flourishing today. I would hate to see popularity drive out diversity. I want to make sure that there is a place for Rick Wezowicz’s I.C.M. Raw as well as a place for Area 51. I want to see more instances of novellas (like EarthCore). And I want to see interesting new content sources emerge. For example, I have been thinking that one of my kid’s soccer coaches ought to do a training podcast. It might be fun – and it might drive some new folks towards our club. Indeed, podcasting will open up whole new opportunities for many organizations.
In the meantime, I love the analogy that Apple includes in their press release:
“Podcasting is like cappuccino,” said August Trometer, developer of iPodderX. “Gourmet coffee was around for a long time, but it took Starbucks to put it on the map. Apple is like the Starbucks of Podcasting and advertisers will take us more seriously now.”
Talk about brand identity. Apple is now thought of as “the Starbucks” of podcasting! Well, at the risk of abusing the analogy, Starbucks has every flavoring agent known to mankind. And they can build you a drink with any number of shots. They have caffeinated and decaf drinks. They have whole milk, skim milk or even soy milk. Indeed, they have it all. And it is the same drink whereever you are in the country – or the world. This is all goodness. And Apple is poised to become the place for podcasting – just like Starbucks is the place for coffee.
But let’s not forget that there is still room for the Mom & Pop coffee shop as well. I would hate to see podcasting become wholly commercialized. Like Starbucks, the ingredients can be bought by anyone. And anyone can make a cup of coffee. Starbucks has done what Dell has done; they have taken ownership of the distribution channel. Well, Apple is on the verge of doing the same thing. I would hate it if Apple got to choose which “coffee growers” they would buy their beans from. More precisely, I would hate it if they discrimanted against certain growers. My fear is that monopoly channel providers might give in to the temptation to limit/sanitize/censor content. For example, I would hate to see Al Franken end up at the top of the podcast list simply because he has friends in the distribution channel.
Nevertheless, I love the fact that podcasting is still something that can be done w/o immense capital. And I love the fact that Apple appears to be soliciting “indie” podcasts. Let’s hope that this is not just a nod to the podcasting archons. Instead, let’s cling to the hope that Apple is making a broader statement about the freedom to create any kind of content. And let’s all pick up the challenge. Since we all still “have a microphone” to use, then let’s use it. Go make a podcast. Make it for yourself. Make it for your friends. And maybe millions of people will listen. After all, we live in a society where we proclaim a marketplace of ideas. Don’t miss your chance to join into the converstation!
-CyclingRoo-
Adam’s Million Listener March
Over the past few weeks, Adam Curry has talked about the “million listener” march for podcasting. Everyone has seen that as a laudible goal. And all of us hoped that Apple’s iTunes 4.9 would be the first major thrust toward that goal. Well, Apple has posted some amazing results from the first couple of days. How many of us thought that we would see over a million subscriptions in just two days? Truthfully, I didn’t think so – although I hoped so.
So let’s think about these numbers. Let’s assume 1*10**6 in 2 days. And I am subscribed to fifteen (15) podcasts on my laptop. On my home system, I am subscribed to five (5) different podcasts. So I am one person subscribed to twenty (20) unique podcasts. And I have to think that I am not the only person with so many subscriptions. Indeed, I suspect that the newbies will subscribe to a whole lot of stuff. They may sample it for a couple of days/weeks and then delete it. So let’s assume that I am somewhat above average and the average podcast listener on iTunes subscribes to ten (10) podcasts. That would mean that there are over one hundred thousand (100,000) listeners – through iTunes alone.
Who knows how many real listeners there are right now. But let’s accept the 10% mark. If true, that’s pretty darned good in the first couple of days. Of course, time will tell. I am sure that the numbers will stabilize after newbies settle on the content they want to hear. But it is important to note that Apple has opened a door to a much wider audience.
My hope is that as we grow our subscribership, we don’t lose the differentiating content that is flourishing today. I would hate to see popularity drive out diversity. I want to make sure that there is a place for Rick Wezowicz’s I.C.M. Raw as well as a place for Area 51. I want to see more instances of novellas (like EarthCore). And I want to see interesting new content sources emerge. For example, I have been thinking that one of my kid’s soccer coaches ought to do a training podcast. It might be fun – and it might drive some new folks towards our club. Indeed, podcasting will open up whole new opportunities for many organizations.
In the meantime, I love the analogy that Apple includes in their press release:
“Podcasting is like cappuccino,” said August Trometer, developer of iPodderX. “Gourmet coffee was around for a long time, but it took Starbucks to put it on the map. Apple is like the Starbucks of Podcasting and advertisers will take us more seriously now.”
Talk about brand identity. Apple is now thought of as “the Starbucks” of podcasting! Well, at the risk of abusing the analogy, Starbucks has every flavoring agent known to mankind. And they can build you a drink with any number of shots. They have caffeinated and decaf drinks. They have whole milk, skim milk or even soy milk. Indeed, they have it all. And it is the same drink whereever you are in the country – or the world. This is all goodness. And Apple is poised to become the place for podcasting – just like Starbucks is the place for coffee.
But let’s not forget that there is still room for the Mom & Pop coffee shop as well. I would hate to see podcasting become wholly commercialized. Like Starbucks, the ingredients can be bought by anyone. And anyone can make a cup of coffee. Starbucks has done what Dell has done; they have taken ownership of the distribution channel. Well, Apple is on the verge of doing the same thing. I would hate it if Apple got to choose which “coffee growers” they would buy their beans from. More precisely, I would hate it if they discrimanted against certain growers. My fear is that monopoly channel providers might give in to the temptation to limit/sanitize/censor content. For example, I would hate to see Al Franken end up at the top of the podcast list simply because he has friends in the distribution channel.
Nevertheless, I love the fact that podcasting is still something that can be done w/o immense capital. And I love the fact that Apple appears to be soliciting “indie” podcasts. Let’s hope that this is not just a nod to the podcasting archons. Instead, let’s cling to the hope that Apple is making a broader statement about the freedom to create any kind of content. And let’s all pick up the challenge. Since we all still “have a microphone” to use, then let’s use it. Go make a podcast. Make it for yourself. Make it for your friends. And maybe millions of people will listen. After all, we live in a society where we proclaim a marketplace of ideas. Don’t miss your chance to join into the converstation!
-CyclingRoo-
The Times, They Are A Changin'
Remember when podcasting first started? We used to use tools like iPodder, iPodderX and Doppler to subscribe to (and manage) RSS feeds. We used to play the MP3 enclosures with Windows Media Player, WinAmp and/or iTunes. We used to use iPodder.org and Podcast Alley as a means to find (and rate) content we wanted to hear.
As of this morning, that has all changed. My podcatcher is iTunes. My player is iTunes and my directory service is iTunes. Now I used to love the power of integrating these things together myself. But I already love the simplicity of one interface performing all of these tasks.
But there are some challenges to the new model.
1. Using Podcast Alley, I knew what was popular. Every month, I got used to the unrepentant vote begging. Well, that will change. But who will determine what is popular or good? I must assume that Apple will do this by counting the number of people who have subscribed to each feed. At least, I hope they have some objective means of determining who gets placed on the “Podcasts” launch page.
2. There will be one point for people to get attention: iTunes Music Store. This is good and bad. But it is particularly bad because there will be only one significant control point for any single (external) group to focus upon. Don’t get me wrong. I hate smut. And maybe some gross shows do need to be censored (or placed in a red light district) But control freaks can now point at Apple and have them drop the hammer. This is bad – especially when space on the “favorite list” is controlled w/o stated criteria. Yeah, I’m concerned. Mostly because I see Al Franken’s Air America on Apple’s favorites page. Al, I’m sorry you couldn’t make it on Podcast Alley through legitimate voting. Too bad you became a favorite based upon someone else’s arbitrary sensibilities. BTW, where is the Rush Limbaugh podcast on this list?
Those things said, these changes are needed. Podcasting will soon become mainstream – simply because of Apple and a man named Adam. BTW, I’m not dissing Dave or any of the technologists who have made the technology viable. But podcasting success will now come from the publicists, marketing wags and pretty boys. Let’s hope we can still find a place for obscure but worthy content. I sure hope so.
-CyclingRoo-
The Times, They Are A Changin’
Remember when podcasting first started? We used to use tools like iPodder, iPodderX and Doppler to subscribe to (and manage) RSS feeds. We used to play the MP3 enclosures with Windows Media Player, WinAmp and/or iTunes. We used to use iPodder.org and Podcast Alley as a means to find (and rate) content we wanted to hear.
As of this morning, that has all changed. My podcatcher is iTunes. My player is iTunes and my directory service is iTunes. Now I used to love the power of integrating these things together myself. But I already love the simplicity of one interface performing all of these tasks.
But there are some challenges to the new model.
1. Using Podcast Alley, I knew what was popular. Every month, I got used to the unrepentant vote begging. Well, that will change. But who will determine what is popular or good? I must assume that Apple will do this by counting the number of people who have subscribed to each feed. At least, I hope they have some objective means of determining who gets placed on the “Podcasts” launch page.
2. There will be one point for people to get attention: iTunes Music Store. This is good and bad. But it is particularly bad because there will be only one significant control point for any single (external) group to focus upon. Don’t get me wrong. I hate smut. And maybe some gross shows do need to be censored (or placed in a red light district) But control freaks can now point at Apple and have them drop the hammer. This is bad – especially when space on the “favorite list” is controlled w/o stated criteria. Yeah, I’m concerned. Mostly because I see Al Franken’s Air America on Apple’s favorites page. Al, I’m sorry you couldn’t make it on Podcast Alley through legitimate voting. Too bad you became a favorite based upon someone else’s arbitrary sensibilities. BTW, where is the Rush Limbaugh podcast on this list?
Those things said, these changes are needed. Podcasting will soon become mainstream – simply because of Apple and a man named Adam. BTW, I’m not dissing Dave or any of the technologists who have made the technology viable. But podcasting success will now come from the publicists, marketing wags and pretty boys. Let’s hope we can still find a place for obscure but worthy content. I sure hope so.
-CyclingRoo-
Apple iTunes 4.9 Available
Well, the sources I read yesterday were right. Apple has release iTunes 4.9 to the world. While Apple has not updated their homepage yet, the folks at Slashdot broke the news. So I went and downloaded the bits from here.
What do I think of it? That’s tough to say. I haven’t played with it for long. But here are a couple of first thoughts:
- It looks like iTunes. Duh, big surprise?
- In the “Source” panel on the left, there is a new source type of “Podcasts” for the new media.
- Podcast subscriptions can be added in the Advanced -> Subscribe to Podcast… dialong.
- Individual podcast episodes are listed in what appears to be an outline form. You can see details on each download. The interface is fairly intuitive and familiar.
- The Prefernces dialog box has a new tab for Podcasts… The best feature is that you can select whether/which podcasts are to be sync’ed with your iPod. This is paramount for me and my Shuffle. For a long while, I had iPodder drop my podcasts into Windows Media Player. That way, I wouldn’t get errant podcasts on my Shuffle. And I wasn’t patient enough to play with Playlists. So this preference is just what I need. Woot!
- I don’t know if there is OPML support. But it would sure make sense.
- Similarly, I don’t know if I can drag and drop RSS feeds/links onto iTunes. I suspect so. But I haven’t validated it.
So my first impressions are very positive. But I want to take a few days before I write a comprehensive review. In the meantime, go hit the mirrors and get a copy.
-CyclingRoo-
*Update* Apple’s iTunes Music Store has also been updated. New tabs for Podcasting are on the site. In addition, one click access to podcasts is provided. This is fabulous. Podcasting will be in the hands of the masses in very short order. Woot!
**Update** OK. I want to immerse myself in the experience to get a full sense of it. So I have removed iPodder from my systems. Don’t get me wrong. I have loved iPodder for a long time. But I really want to immerse myself w/o reservations. Like the conquistadors, I have burned the ships and there is no turning back. There be gold in them hills!
Thank You, Podfather!
If you read my last post, you know that I’m listening to a replay of Adam Curry’s Daily Source Code. And this episode is quite an epiphany for me. So many thoughts are coalescing. Many things may emerge from the fog that is my meandering stream of consciousness.
But as I mused and listened, I caught Adam saying something important.
“I think it is time to make a corner turn on P2P, particularly for podcasting. So, until something else comes along that we all agree makes sense, I fully intend to implement BitTorrent and support it – and I hope you all do too.”
I am sure that Adam never saw my recent post. But Adam gets it. I can’t wait for the BT DSC.
-CyclingRoo-
Pass the Musical Baton
I got a great reply from Kari concerning my recent “Music that Matters” post. And it seems that Kari and her friends have been playing a game called “Pass the (Musical) Baton.” Each person who “has the baton” must post answers to some basic musical questions. And then they must “pass the baton” to someone else
Well, I haven’t gotten the baton, yet. But I will post my answers, nonetheless.
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Amount of music on your computer?
2,454 songs, 6:16:28:38 total time, 9.09GB (as reported by iTunes)
Currently listening to?
Grown Backwards, David Byrne: This is an excellent (if offbeat) album. It carries a lot of the traditional eclectic feel of the Talking Heads. But it is a much more mature album with a much more adult and introverted feel.
The Eleventh Hour, Jars of Clay: I can’t hear enough of this album. I have loved Jars of Clay since their original, self-titled album. And in many ways, they’ve never paralleled the original work. “Flood” is still one of my favorite songs of all times. This album is a wonderfully sonic and literary album. Every song speaks to a part of this middle-aged man.
Blue Belly Sky, The Waiting: This was one of The Waiting’s very first albums. It was re-released in the late nineties to much fanfare. I particularly love “Staring at a Bird.”
I listen to all sorts of other songs, every day. And in addition to these albums/artists, I swap in the occasional podcast. My current (and favorite) podcasts include: I.C.M. Raw, Rachel’s Choice, Lifespring, Evil Genius Chronicles and Earthcore (a podcast novel).
Five songs that mean a lot to you?
The Waiting – Too Many Miles: This song speaks to every “tired” Christian who has no energy left to avoid the Almighty God. Instead of running from God’s presence, the song urges the listener to do anything in order to stay with Him.
Keith Green – Love Broke Through: This song was released shortly after I became a Christian. Throughout my college years, this song reminded me of what God did for me and just how wonderful He is. I cannot listen to this song without returning into His presence. Keith Green wrote songs that were difficult to listen to. While they were wonderful musically, they always challenged you to be more “real” in your walk with Christ (and through the world). Keith’s words have always been able to stir my spirit to greater devotion – and earnest repentance.
Five Iron Frenzy – Dandelions: This is a tear-jerker for me. It speaks to how I see myself. I am a child with nothing of value to offer to my God. Yet He looks at my paltry offerings and He is thrilled with them. And this song is a constant reminder of how I should receive the offerings that my four children lay at my feet. I pray that I can show how truly thrilled I am with everything they give to me.
PfR – Pray for Rain: My spirit rises whenever I hear the opening guitar-work of this song. I need God to pour out His rain onto my arid soul!
Jars of Clay – The Eleventh Hour: It’s never too late to turn (or return) to God. This song heralds our willingness to allow God to fundamentally transform us – before it’s too late!
Top five albums?
For Him Who Has Ears to Hear, Keith Green: This was one of the first Keith Green albums I ever bought. After wasting a year at college, this album provoked me to seek Christ’s purpose for my life. Dear God, please let me turn to you every time I hear Keith’s simple message.
The Eleventh Hour, Jars of Clay: This album is so rich with praise and thoughtful reflection. It is sonically superior to any “commercial” album you have ever heard. And the vocals are provacative in every way. I become lost in rapture every time I listen to this album.
The Waiting, The Waiting: This album contains song after song of unbridled joy. God’s love is “Never Dim.” And we can raise our “Hands in the Air” as we accept God’s judgement and His mercy. I love this band. And while I may like some of the songs from their other albums a little more, I feel that this is one of the best rock/praise albums I have ever heard.
Caedmon’s Call, Caedmon’s Call: This is one of the most amazing acoustic albums of all time. Every song is delivered crisply and candidly by this Austin-based band. They proclaim God’s simple message with tight harmonies and even tighter guitar-work. While I generally prefer heavy bass and driving percussion, this album delivers a message that reaches my spirit.
The Late Great PfR, PfR: I really wanted to avoid a “Best of” collection. But I couldn’t select just one album from PfrR. I just wish that Joel could add some of the tracks from his latest album. Fortunately, I can build my own mix with “Amsterdam” included.
Last album bought?
X&Y, Coldplay: OK. I’m one of the suckers that bought this album. Don’t get me wrong. It’s a good album. But it sounds so much like Parachutes and Rush of Blood. There is nothing new to provoke the soul. It deserves a few more listens before I give a definitive review. But right now, it’s not getting a lot of “rotations” on my playlist.
Recent discoveries?
I’ve been out of the pop music scene for a while. So I missed David Byrne’s “world music” albums. I’m enjoying these very much. After a college-life filled with the Talking Heads, it’s great to hear David is still making experimental (and good) music.
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And I pass the baton to Rick.
-CyclingRoo-