Personal Tech: Podcasting

The Washington Post's Rob Pegoraro was online to field your personal tech questions and discuss Sunday's column on podcasting.

You can also listen to Rob review several podcasts in his own podcast. Subscribe here to his podcast (xml).

Want to know what upcoming topics are being covered? Sign up for the Fast Forward e-letter -- get updated information on personal technology news and product demos. Read past editions of Rob's e-letter online here .

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Rob Pegoraro: "So, hey, this is my first podcast. I'm sitting down in the kitchen with the microphone in front of me and--oh, hey, that's the microwave going off. Forgot I'd started nuking a slice of pizza. So anyway, yeah, podcasting is cool, huh? I'm just going to wing it here, talking about a few things I've seen online. [sound of pizza being ingested] Mmm, that was some good 'za [burp]."

After hearing enough podcasts like that, I thought about doing a parody of the medium to go with my column yesterday. But I also heard too many good, creative, interesting podcasts. So the column wound up talking about what makes podcasting both annoying and immensely promising. Let's talk about that--and whatever else is on your mind in the realm of technology.

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Arlington, VA: Rob -- Can I use a Wintel machine to go to "iPod+iTunes" on the Apple website and download a podcast to my iPod (using a USB connection)? Thanks for your always useful help and advice.

Rob Pegoraro: Yep, as long as you're running Windows 2000 or XP (the only versions of Windows that Apple provides iTunes for), you'll be set with the new, podcast-enabled version.

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New York, NY: As new devices that display music videos are released, do you think video podcasting will supplant audio podcasts?

Rob Pegoraro: No. If you think editing audio is hard, try editing video. Then think about how this will work on the receiving end: You can listen to a podcast while walking, jogging or driving, but anybody who does that with video is going to wind up wrapped around a tree or a streetlight.

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Davidsonville, MD: You gave podcast music short shrift in your column, primarily due to licensing fees. Can you give me a schedule of those fees? I gather that a settlement was reached with BMI and ASCAP regarding internet music within the past year or so

Rob Pegoraro: I think you've got the licensing fees for Internet radio in mind (Web broadcasters, but not regular FM and AM, have to pay royalties for the music they use). Podcasting isn't covered by those arrangements at all.

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Brussels, Belgium: Can Companies use Podcasting as a viable form of advertising? Will it replace or supplement regular advertising? Who should be the voice of the podcast if a company used a podcast, the CEO?

Rob Pegoraro: They could, but I haven't come across any yet. I think the success of one would depend on the personality of the CEO doing the podcasting--on the one extreme you've got somebody like ex-Southwest Airlines CEO Herb Kelleher, on the other you've got, well, every other pointy-haired boss out there.

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Gaithersburg, MD: I have been having problems with my Comcast internet since early June. Up until June I have not had any problems with Comcast. Now they say that the signal to my house is not strong enough to receive an internet signal. Supposedly they are working on fixing this problem. However I still do not have internet at my house and it is the end of July. Now Verizon offers internet in my area. Is there a difference between Verizon and Comcast? Is one better than the other?

Rob Pegoraro: Uh, yeah--one company says it can provide you Internet service, the other is only providing excuses. Verizon may or may not be slower than Comcast (both are more than fast enough for most home uses anyway), but it's also cheaper. Under these circumstances, throwing Comcast under the bus would seem to be in order.

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Arlington, VA: My boss is interested in creating a podcast to promote our services. How can I do this? How does one make a podcast?

Rob Pegoraro: You need a decent-quality microphone on your computer (i.e., not the one built in) and some basic audio editing software that will record your speech and let you edit out any glitches or awkward pauses and edit in other material. Then you save the results as an MP3 file--and then you park it on your Web site. If you'll be doing this on a regular basis, you also want to provide an RSS feed of the podcast, so that subscribers can get new episodes delivered automatically.

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Washington, DC: Rob - A quick comment on podcasting and then an unrelated question.

While I enjoy catching up on Nightline, listening to feature stories by programs like WGHB out of Boston or learning about new music releases while cutting the grass or driving to work, many of the other mom and pop shows are just boring. I've tried giving them a chance, but hearing them ramble on just makes me wish the iPod had a delete key.

Now my question, I'm contemplating switching from PC to Mac. I'm torn between the 20-inch iMac and the 2 ghz Power Mac. Viruses and spyware are not a major reason for my switch, but they are factors on my mind. While I know Apple systems have been hit by relatively few viruses, it surprises me that the sales rep at the Tysons Corner Apple store and many other so-called experts say the Symantec and other virus programs for the Mac are a waste of money. They say Macs are safe from viruses and spyware. I'd rather spend the money for another program or accessory, but is it really wise going online naked like that? It just seems like a matter of time before there will be a virus for the Mac. I run a router in addition to firewall and virus software and haven't really had problems.

Thanks

Rob Pegoraro: Good question you ask, one that will take a little bit to answer.

First point: Given that there has yet to be a successful virus or spyware attack on Mac OS X, money spent on an anti-virus program has been by definition wasted.

Second point: That doesn't mean that somebody might not succeed at attacking OS X through viruses or spyware later on.

Third point: The quality of some OS X anti-virus apps has been sketchy at best. Some users have found that they've lost data *because of* their anti-virus software.

Fourth point: The basic design of OS X makes it harder for a virus to get on board (even if somebody sends you a program via e-mail, you can't run it) or do much damage (unless you type in an admin password when the virus asks you too). FWIW, that last defense--limiting a user's access to the system--is something that Microsoft says it will add to Windows XP's successor next year, the newly-christened Windows Vista.

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Greenbelt, MD: I bought myself a non-iPod MP3 player (specifically, the iRiver iFP-899) because I could use the built-in voice recording function on the job. (Nothing like having a toy that you can use for both work and play.) What would be the best way for me to collect podcasts (via Windows XP) and download them to my player?

Rob Pegoraro: Try iPodder: ipodder.sourceforge.net

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Ithaca, NY: Help me, Rob! I'm visiting friends in upstate NY and, contrary to all expectations, my laptop p.c. does _not_ access the 'Net simply by being plugged into my friends' DSL router. Well, let me put it this way: I click on IE and it says "internet" in the lower right corner, but there's an "x" over the icon just to the left of that, which I guess represents the hard-drive. And the screen displays that generic "the page you want is unavailable" bla bla bla. I tried removing cookies protection but that doesn't do it either. I'd think there's something wrong with my LAN card except that nothing's happened to it. I'm using my friends' iMac, but really would prefer not to tie it up and also I'd like to access my own bookmarks, etc. Do I need to reconfigure something else? Many, many, many thanks. You are my guru of all things tech!

Rob Pegoraro: You need to check the settings on your friends' computer. Odds are that their DSL employs a login-required system called Point to Point Protocol over Ethernet ("PPPoE")-- you'll need to enter the same login data on your laptop.

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Clarksville Md: Which is best way to go -- Cable or dish -- for both Internet and Tv?

Rob Pegoraro: If you want both Internet and TV from the same company, you have to go with cable--satellite Internet access is really slow, awkward and expensive compared to every other kind of broadband. But if you can get DSL (which may not be the case if you're out in the country), then you'll save money by using DSL for Internet access and satellite for TV.

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Phoenix, Arizona: I'm still not clear: can PODCASTS only be played back on IPODS? or is there a way to play them back on my (in this case Creative Labs MUVO N200) MP3 player? I was able to, for example play Audible Books on my MP3 player by downloading a firmware update...

Or is this podcast technology only for those of us who choose to buy a hardware product from Apple? If so, it would seem to be a new departure, a narrowing of access, rather than an opening of access...

Rob Pegoraro: No, podcasts can be played on any MP3-capable player. Apple didn't come up with the name--although its marketing folks probably high-five each other every time a story has "podcast" in the headline.

It's a fascinating marketing problem: If you're Microsoft, Creative, Rio or some other player that competes with Apple, do you really want to advertise "podcasting" support in your product, thereby reminding people that your product is Not An iPod, or do you use some other term that customers may not recognize?

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Vienna, Va: Can you suggest audio recording and editing software for Windows XP?

Rob Pegoraro: Start with simple and free: Audacity (audacity.sourceforge.net). It's also available for Linux and Mac OS X.

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Washington, DC: I have a hard time envisioning people downloading news and "current events" talk programming to iPods so they can listen later. This type of programming becomes out-of-date within minutes. Podcasting seems like watching a taped version of the Superbowl - who wants to do that? Am I correct in this assessment?

Rob Pegoraro: You are correct, but many times the timeliness factor doesn't matter. Most podcasting has nothing to do with breaking news; it's focused on analysis and criticism that doesn't have to be heard RIGHT NOW.

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Washington, D.C.: Rob: I recently decided to buy a dvd recorder. After doing days of research, I settled on a Sony RDR-HX 900. I am hesitating to buy the unit because I came across an article about Hddvd and Blu-ray formats (neither compatible with the other). From what I understand, and correct me if I am wrong, dvd recorders now on the market could become obsolete by 2006 with respect to using disks with these formats.

The Sony recorder has 480p progressive scan that adjusts to the different input formats.

Best

Olivia Klaben

Rob Pegoraro: I think you've made the right call. As long as the electronics industry is going to come out with two incompatible standards for high-definition DVD, the only sane response for a customer is to boycott them both. Fortunately, DVDs themselves look very good when played back on a high-def set, and I suspect that a DVD recorder that stored a show in "480p" resolution (the same as "enhanced definition TV," itself a decent step up from analog) would be more than "good enough."

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Repairs: Where can I get my Dell Jukebox repaired? Dell's only solution is to buy a new one.

Are Ipods just as fragile?

These players are great, but too expensive for me to be considered "throw-away" technology.

Rob Pegoraro: No. But neither are most other MP3 players. But if yours is out of warranty and it's broken--well, out of warranty means you're out of luck.

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Glover Park, DC: I just downloaded the new iTunes software last night and was fascinated by the selection -- the Weather Channel, NPR, ABC News & KCRW in LA seem to be very much on top of podcasting. I wondered if this was like the early Web (c. 1994-5) when tech mavericks were driving certain companies to create Web sites while others lagged behind. Do you have observations about who is ahead of the curve on podcasting and why? Is there just a really smart person at NPR leading them, for example?

Rob Pegoraro: I think NPR has an advantage because it holds the copyrights to more of its content--i.e., much more of it is spoken-word--and there aren't any advertisers who will need to haggle over what they will or won't pay extra for wider exposure through podcasts. It's a simpler business environment. Also, to judge from their programming, commercial AM and FM stations are not exactly run by the most creative people around.

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Boston, MA: though some of the chatty podcasts have made me just hit stop on the PC, I've found it really interesting to listen to foreign podcasts in English. You get the everyday view of everyday life in countries that only seem to be in the US news when something terrible happens.

Rob Pegoraro: And much easier than trying to tune them in via short-wave radio, no? This is what I like about podcasting...

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Worthington, OH: I too am contemplating switching from satellite to cable TV for my HD TV service, since my ISP is also via cable. One problem that is affecting many nationwide is that some local broadcasters (e.g., Sinclair Broadcasting) will not allow local cable systems to re-broadcast their HD signal without paying an extra fee. The cable systems refuse to pay this fee. Thus, I cannot get the HD ABC and Fox signals via cable....so I must remain with satellite for my HD TV signal.

Rob Pegoraro: Satellite can't help you there yet either--neither DirecTV nor Dish Network can start delivering local stations' HD signals until they finish launching a new round of satellites and switching to a new, more efficient broadcasting system. So either way, you'll need a conventional antenna and a digital-TV tuner to get your local stations' HD signals.

(I should note that most local broadcasters aren't trying to extort extra payments from cable or satellite operators for HD feeds. That seems amazingly self-defeating... especially for a company like Sinclair, which spent years arguing that the chosen digital-TV standard was incapable of allowing for reliable over-the-air reception. If these guys actually believe their own rhetoric, how do they expect viewers to watch if not on cable?)

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Austin, TX: Rob:

Thanks for your helpful information on podcasting. I have a couple of questions for you:

1. This may not be directly related to podcasting, but I listened to your short audio file on podcasting that was posted on July 22nd on your 'Fast Forward with Rob Pegoraro' site. Just curious as to how you made this audio recording and how you embedded it on your Web page? It seems to play back through my browser without any additional software or plug-ins. I'm interested in adding something like this to our Web site and I would like to know how to go about doing this.

2. As for podcasting, is there a typical length for a podcast?... i.e., would it be possible to make a podcast for an hour or more and then make this available to people online, or would the size of such a long audio file just be too big for most people to reasonably handle? I'm interested in possibly taking recorded audio lectures and making these available online.

Thanks in advance for your assistance.

Rob Pegoraro: 1. I recorded that at our Web site's offices Friday morning--just sat in front of a microphone and did it in pretty much one take. (I was working from a script.) Then the washingtonpost.com folks did some basic editing to clean it up a little and stitch in the excerpts from the other podcasts. I don't know how, exactly, they put it on their site, but in general an MP3 file linked to off the Web can either be played back as a stream (if you just click on the link) or downloaded for offline playback (if you right-click it and select the appropriate option).

2. Most podcasts don't require an incredible degree of sonic fidelity, so you don't need the same high bit rates you would with a recording of music. As long as the listeners have broadband--which is basically a prerequisite for any podcast over a few minutes in length--the more relevant limit will be the listeners' own attention spans.

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Rosslyn, VA: Fox 5 news did a feature about a week ago about how you can download viruses (not sure if its a worm or whatnot) from podcasts specifically on older versions of iTunes. I've only downloaded one podcasts from a reliable source (Slate) because of this fear. Can you really download virus from a podcast? Is this possible?

Rob Pegoraro: I suppose it could be done, but I haven't (yet) heard of anybody trying that. As long as you are downloading from a reliable source, though, you should be safe.

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NY: Hi Rob -

This is probably a no-brainer, but is there any real reason to switch from ipodder (plus iTunes plugin) to just iTunes (now that it supports podcasts)? I'm not planning on adding new subscriptions and my current setup of scheduling, smartlist, etc. works great, and I don't know of any reason to go to pure iTunes podcasting beyond the notion of using one tool vs. several diff. ones.

Rob Pegoraro: Go ahead and switch. Why gum up your system with multiple programs--especially when you'll still be using one of the two you use now for your regular music?

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RE: Podcast nomenclature: Apparently, Microsoft would rather you use the term "blogcast". I dunno about that.

http://news.com.com/2061-10805_3-5790644.html?part=rss&tag=5790644&subj=news

Rob Pegoraro: Somehow, I don't think that is going to get very far...

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Denver, CO: A few weeks ago, my Palm Zire 71 died. Thus, I was in the market for a new PDA. Unfortunately, I couldn't find the Tungsten E, as the E2 has come out. While there are some things I like about the E2 (nice screen, more memory), I've found that it's really buggy and commonly crashes. Some software I've gotten doesn't work at all. My research seems to indicate that it has to do with the file management system associated with the new memory type, and "software developers are working on it". Have you heard anything on this?

Rob Pegoraro: I have not. The Tungsten E2 has the same file-management software as every other Palm handheld shipped since the Treo 650, and I haven't heard of any serious application-compatibility issues as a result. What programs did you find that wouldn't run on the E2?

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Jefferson City, MO: I was recently at Best Buy and they were offering 2 Maxent 42" plasma tvs for $1400 and $1800. The lower priced was for an EDTV and the higher was a HDTV. I thought this was a really good deal, however, I had never heard of Maxent. Have you heard of them, what's your opinion of this deal and where would be the best place to find out customer information(quality,service) on companies that I am not familiar with. Thanks.

Rob Pegoraro: I've heard of Maxent, but I haven't seen any of their sets in person. Try looking on Amazon to see what people have written about their products. You might also want to read the column I wrote about digital TV a few weeks back.

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Arlington, VA: Rob, I have a relatively new compaq laptop and I have noticed a strange problem when I type. Since I mostly use the laptop for surfing the internet, that is where I notice the problem. Sometimes when I am typing the computer will have a hiccup of some sort and all of a sudden the prompt has moved, usually back a few words, and my typing is now mixed up. I then have to erase a bit, etc. It isn't too big of an issue, but is annoying. Any ideas why this happens?

Rob Pegoraro: Sounds like an issue with how the laptop's touchpad is registering inadvertent brushes by your fingers as you type. Hit the Mouse control panel and see if you adjust its sensitivity or turn off tap-to-click behavior.

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Alexandria: Is there a link for a review of Tivo? I currently have Comcast DVR but it is way to expensive and I just don't watch the digital channels. I do however enjoy the convenience of recording shows I like (all three of them) and then watching them I am ready for it. So...is Tivo worth it? And I would probably by the TIVO/ DVD recorder combo....

Rob Pegoraro: If you don't like the cost of Comcast's DVR service, you're really not going to like TiVo, where you not only have to pay for the hardware upfront, but you also pay $13/month for use of the TiVo (against, what, $5 for Comcast's box). The only way you'd save money in that scenario would be to downgrade your service to analog (or switch to satellite, where you can also get a digital video recorder for free but pay much less for the programming).

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Stronghold, MD: Good afternoon, Rob, and thanks.

I have a non-Podcasting question, if you'd be so kind. When I try to defrag my PC at home or do any type of maintenance that requires the system to run on it's own for an hour or so, I keep getting error messages stating that the process is being interrupted by something trying to write to the drive, and whatever I'm doing just restarts itself, over and over again. Any idea as to how I can remedy the situation?

Thanks again.

Rob Pegoraro: Smoke signals. It's going to be called "fogcasting."

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Annandale, VA: Thinking of making the switch to Mac from Windows. Other than the amount of software available, what are the pros and cons? Mac fanatics say that Macs are cheaper and more reliable in the longrun. Is there any evidence to back this up?

Rob Pegoraro: This is the third or fourth "switch to Mac?" question I've gotten today. The cost issue depends on your own aptitude at computing. A Windows box can easily cost less than a Mac if you are fairly skilled at keeping it clean of viruses and ensuring Windows stays in working order. Otherwise, a Mac can be cheaper over the long run. As for reliability, that Consumer Reports story I mentioned in yesterday's Help File also cited better reliability for Apple hardware. (If you were asking about reliability in the face of viruses/spyware/worms, there's no competition at all; Mac OS X basically mops the floor with Windows.)

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Takoma Park, MD: To the Comcast subscriber in Gaithersburg: Your experience exactly mirrors mine in Takoma Park. I have had maddeningly unreliable service since early June, and to make matters worse, I have set up two service visits, and Comcast has not shown up for either visit. As far as I am concerned, that is passive-aggressive behavior on their part.

I have filed a complaint with Montgomery County (http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/mcgtmpl.asp?url=/content/cableOffice/compctm.asp). As a Gaithersburg resident, you should call the City Manager's Office at 301-258-6310.

I am switching to another provider, and I suggest that you do, also. Enough is enough.

Rob Pegoraro: Thanks for venting, T.P. (We ran a story in Metro several days back about the complaints of Comcast customers, if we can get that link up in this chat.)

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Springfield, VA: It looks like our home PC (Windows XP) has been violated with some sort of spyware. We get these porno pop-up ads that freeze up our system when I try and delete them. Is there any software that I can buy that can help me out?

washingtonpost.com: Spyware Stoppers Still Improving

Rob Pegoraro: Follow that link, Springfield.

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New York, NY: I work for a professional association. In the past, our association (like many others) has sold audiotapes of sessions from our the Scientific Program of our biannual meetings. Might podcasting be a less expensive means to make such sessions available to our members who are unable to be present at the live presentation?

Thank you.

Dottie Jeffries

Director of Public Affairs

American Psychoanalytic Association

www.apsa.org

Rob Pegoraro: I'd think so. BTW, it's a lot cheaper and faster to burn audio to CD than to record it to tape (assuming you've already got a computer with a CD burner, as is usually the case).

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Washington, DC: Stronghold, MD needs to re-boot into safe mode before defragging and the problem will be solved. I can't explain what causes it, but I know the same thing happened to me before and doing the defrag in safe mode worked.

But I really like "fogcasting" ...

Rob Pegoraro: Thanks!

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Newton, MA: This question has to do with lost cell phones. Having two teenagers in the house who have gone through several cell phones by dropping them in puddles, or actually losing them, I was wondering where there is a good source of reliable used phones. What about e-Bay? Prices at the Verizon store are outrageously high to buy a phone outside of a Plan (before one is able to upgrade). Unfortunately, we didn't buy the insurance offered by Verizon at the start of our Family Plan (I understand the replacement phones are refurbished ones anyway). Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Rob Pegoraro: EBay is an option, but check with your wireless carrier to see if you'll be able to activate a particular model on sale. Making the kids pay for the phones they lose might be an option too :)

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Washington, DC: Which version of the IPod is the "best" for podcasts?

Rob Pegoraro: They can all play them fine. Most podcasts take up very little space, so the limited storage on an iPod mini shouldn't matter much.

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Zionsville, Indiana: What's the difference between a podcast and a downloaded MP3 file that a person can offer via a website?

Rob Pegoraro: A podcast, like a blog, is supposed to be offered on some kind of a regular schedule. Like a blog, it should be available as an RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feed that any listener can subscribe to.

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Denver, CO with Tungsten E2: I'm having trouble with Franklin Planner software--it won't sync tasks and results in a reset during syncing, and version 1.0 Calendar totally shut down the system for a 5 minute long reset. Also, I bought Madden 2005 Football for the Palm (roadtrip fun for my son,) and it would get through only a play or two before crashing, requiring a hard reset. Also, I had to ditch some programs that it told me were incompatible with the system during the initial sync.

Rob Pegoraro: Hmm. Thanks for the details... haven't tried either of those titles. What'd their developers say? It's not like the E2 is some radically new device; as I said, its file system has been in use for almost a year now. In general, it's a developer's job to make sure that his/her software continues to work as the operating system is updated.

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Washington, DC: I tried last night to add some podcasts and I found some that look incredibly appealing. My problem is, for some of these podcasts (Movie Quote of the Day) I'd love to save all of the podcasts, while others that are longer (Meet the Press) aren't worth keeping indefinitely. I checked the settings tab and I can either choose to every copy of every podcast, or a few of every podcast...how do I save 100% of the few podcasts I want, while only saving the most recent versions of others that are lengthy or timely? Do you know if this is possible?

Rob Pegoraro: I don't think it's possible in iTunes. You might be able to do that in other podcast-subscription software.

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Alexandria, Va.: Though the fun and usefulness of "podcasts" is clear, I take issue with the name they've been given. Podcasts are audio files posted on the Internet; what's so exciting and novel about that (and why give Apple the credit)? The same goes for "blogs": is posting news commentary with hyperlinks so innovative that it deserves its own set of silly buzzwords?

Rob Pegoraro: I used to agree with you on those two points. But I don't think you can consider blogs or podcasts without realizing that RSS newsfeeds are integral to how they work--that is, their definitions include their delivery mechanism as well as their content.

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Atlanta, GA: What are the half-dozen or so best Podcasts out there? The ones that are genuinely professional, intelligent, and worth the time and bandwidth to listen to?

washingtonpost.com: Rob reviews content and production quality of several podcasts in his own podcast .

Rob Pegoraro: Having spent the whole hour talking about other people's podcasts, I can't resist a chance to promote my own. Thanks for all the questions! See you here again soon...

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Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.