A brief discussion today on SD Public Radio‘s Computer Guys call-in show brings this about. That’s because one of the guys on the program voiced exactly what I’ve been thinking.
Everyone is going on and on about “podcasts” and “podcasting.” The fact of the matter is this is nothing more than downloading an mp3 file. Guess what people? It’s been done for years!
I bought my first portable MP3 player five years ago this month. Why? To listen to mp3 and other audio files I was downloading, what the hip crowd now calls “podcasts.” Others with broadband access were doing it long before that.
According to the mass media and public buzz, “podcasts” and “podcasting” are a new thing. In reality, they are simply new names for something that, in a technological timeframe, is almost ancient. Sure, it’s gone to a new extreme what with audioblogging, etc., but I guarantee tons of the quality stuff has been there for a long time. For example, just take a look at the audio section of Internet Archive. You will find plenty of quality stuff there you won’t find with or at any of the podcasting sites. In comparison, you’ll find a lot of crap at the podcasting sites.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m on my third portable MP3 player, each with significantly more capacity than the last. I’ve been listening to music, American and foreign radio programs, books and other things on them almost nightly for the last five years. But to think this is all some new invention by Apple and the iPod ignores the facts.
Well, at least all the “in” people jumping on the band wagon has done wonders for my Apple stock.
And what, might you ask, is a TREND MONGER?
Well, a TREND MONGER is a person who dreams up a TREND
Like “The Twist” — or “Flower Power”,
And spreads it throughout the land,
Using all the frightening little skills
That Science has made available!
“The Adventures of Greggery Peccary,” Frank Zappa, Studio Tan
