Pioneering podcast novelist Scott Sigler saw “a dream come true” yesterday, April Fool’s Day, with Random House’s publication of a hardcover version of his book, Infected.

Sigler, one of the (the very?) first writers to offer their fiction in podcast format, began back in 2005 with his science-fiction/horror book Earthcore. With a bevy of devoted fans (“junkies” :-), subsequent books have each boasted tens of thousands of subscribers. Sigler cultivates a strong rapport with his reader/listeners. In a recent writing project, fans willingly submitted their names to appear as minor characters, to be killed off in the course of the story.

Infected was offered as an audio podcast and an .mp3 before its hardcover publication. In a note last week to subscribers, friends, and colleagues, Sigler said, “This novel is a lifelong goal of mine.” He describes Infected as “hard-science/horror, a thriller that’s a cross between Stephen King and Michael Crichton.”

Sigler is already on a multi-city bricks-and-mortar bookstore tour to promote the book (west coast this week, east coast next), and was excited to be interviewed over the weekend on National Public Radio’s Weekend Edition.

But wait, there’s more: “I’m going for all the marbles right out of the gate, trying to hit the New York Times Bestseller list. INFECTED has already been optioned for a movie by Rogue Pictures (the makers of SHAWN OF THE DEAD). If the book hits the Times list, it might be on the big screen as early as Winter 2009.”

Veronica Belmont, host of the Mahalo Daily video podcast, has announced that she’s moving on:

Hard to believe the time has already come, but soon enough I’ll be moving on from Mahalo to embark on some exciting new projects! Mahalo Daily has been a really amazing experience (and not just because I get to do things like fly a plane), and I’ll still be producing episodes for the next couple of weeks as host, and then eventually reporting as correspondent.

It’s impressive how far the show has come since we started; at first I was a little apprehensive about the idea of doing episodes 5 days a week while building it from the ground up (as I imagine anyone would be). But with time we’ve assembled a really great, motivated team that makes the whole thing look effortless. Of course, there’s no shortage of solid talent at Mahalo, and they’ll be working with more people in the future too.

As for the new projects, well, you’ll find out soon enough! Needless to say, I’m very excited about what’s just around the bend.

Video search company blinkx today announced the availability of blinkx BBTV, a new online television service that leverages blinkx’s speech and visual recognition technology to deliver Internet television with contextually linked information.

blinkx BBTV enables users to instantly browse or interact with online sources related to what they are watching, whether it’s Google, Wikipedia, IMDB or other Web sites offering relevant information – from news and entertainment, to travel and sports.

“Broadband Internet connections are fast enough today that with the right technology, it’s possible to deliver an experience that’s equal in quality to television. Consumers are accustomed to Online Video: short-form, often amateur clips that play in a Web browser – blinkx BBTV delivers Online Television: full-length, professional TV programming, delivered in exceptional quality,” said Suranga Chandratillake, founder and CEO of blinkx. “The Web is the largest repository of connected information in the world – on any subject and from myriad sources. BBTV delivers television over the Internet, but it also fuses that TV with the wealth of information on the Web, rather than appearing as just another layer floating above it.”

blinkx BBTV is currently Windows-only, it relies on Microsoft DRM and an application install is required.

This is likely to limit adoption of the application. Tech bloggers are largely Mac-based, which means that BBTV isn’t going to get the coverage it could, if it had a Mac version. Also, it’s competing against browser-based offerings, like Hulu, that are available now cross-platform.

Here are the details on blinkx BBTV’s features:

Longtime podcaster (Profitable Podcasting, Podcast Tools and Marketing Online Live) and author Paul Colligan informs us that he is launching the second round of his Podcast Secrets series with a paid ($20) preview call the evening of April 2.  One of the key points to be covered in the preview call is Colligan’s strong argument that “podcasting is ideal for ‘recession-proofing’ an online business.” The first round of the Podcast Secrets workshop, in 2007, boasted 150 students.

I asked Paul to explain more about the preview call and the class.

Elisabeth McLaury Lewin: I looked at the page.  Why isn’t it available by podcast?

Paul Colligan: [laughs] Elisabeth, come on, you know me better than that.  The Premium Podcast feed with a recording of the event will be released later that night to everyone who bought the call.  We’ll email directions after the live event – we just want as many as possible to join us for that live groove.

Elisabeth McLaury Lewin: What’s the purpose of the Podcast Secrets class?

Paul Colligan: There are podcasters who want to go full time.  There are content producers who want to explore delivery down the podcast channel.  It seems like everyone teaches you how to pick the perfect USB microphone and tweak WordPress – but nobody is teaching the business of self-produced content.  There are real business models leveraging these tools and we’ll show you how it all comes together.  Alex [Mandossian] and I both make our livings selling content online.  There are models for doing this that work (quite well), and Podcast Secrets is about showing others what we’ve learned along the way.

Call Graph is a “simple and good” plugin for Skype for recording calls.

Features:

• Call Recording: record your calls in an mp3 file, automatically.
• Full Skype Support: record Skype to Skype, SkypeIn, SkypeOut calls.
• Completely Free: no limits or restrictions of any kind.
• Manage Records: use tags to mark your records.
• Integrated Search: use tags to search through your calls records.
• Simple and Un-intrusive: minimal interface, easy to use, un-annoying.

Unfortunately, it’s Windows-only.

via OTT

The Association for Downloadable Media (ADM), an industry organization formed to focus on best practices for podcast advertising and metrics, will be introducing its ad standards and guidelines at the upcoming ad:tech San Francisco show April 16 and 17, 2008.

Get the Download focus areas will appear in several formats at ad:tech including:

• Four ADM Forum sessions designed to provide the downloadable media audience with ad standards & guidelines and market insight;
• An ADM Get The Download booth for added accessibility to the association and its members; and
• An urban roof-top party set to bring out some of the industry’s best creative talents.

The ADM also has four forum sessions planned, taking place in rooms 130/131 of the Moscone Convention Center. Forum topics include:

• Downloadable Media: The State of the Industry featuring findings based upon previously unreleased data from Arbitron/Edison Media Research Internet and Multimedia 2008 – The Podcast Consumer Revealed III study. April 16, 9:15 – 9:55 a.m. Rooms 130/131.
• Downloadable Media Advertising Standards – New ad unit standards will be introduced for public comment. April 16, 10:00 – 10:45 a.m. Rooms 130/131.
• Downloadable Media Audience Measurement Guidelines – The ADM’s recommendations for measuring podcast listener/viewer numbers will be publicly introduced. April 16, 11:00 – 11:45 a.m. Rooms 130/131.
• Marketing with Downloadable Media: Podcasts & Vidcasts – an overview of various forms of advertising and sponsorship through a showcase of some of the most impressive campaigns in the market. April 17, 10:45 – 11:30 a.m. Rooms 130/131.

Note: Podcasting News publisher Elisabeth McLaury Lewin is a member of the ADM.

Organizers have announced dates for PodCamp Arizona, being held November 1-2, 2008 at the University of Advanced Technology.

PodCamps are free events focusing on podcasting and new media that are organized and presented by attendees.

Not a lot of details have been announced yet, but you can get involved at the site.

Competition for the next generation Internet television platform is starting to heat up.

Microsoft, seeking to expand offerings on its Xbox 360 console, has reached an agreement with Hollywood firm the Safran Company to produce original shows for distribution on the system. The company represents clients like actor and producer Sean Combs (“Monster’s Ball”), actor and writer Nia Vardalos (“My Big Fat Greek Wedding”) and filmmakers Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer (“Epic Movie”).

The New York Times reports:

In an interview at his office in Los Angeles last week, Mr. Safran said his first round of programs would all be scripted, as opposed to reality shows, and would probably run under 10 minutes. He said he planned initially to focus on genres, like comedy and horror, that appeal to the Xbox 360 audience, which is heavily concentrated from the ages of 14 to 34, and tends to be more male than female. The first shows are expected to be available to viewers by the fall.   

The new shows will be available exclusively via the Xbox 360 for a time, then may appear elsewhere.

The iPhone Safari browser may soon directly support YouTube, according to at least one report: 

The latest version of the iPhone 2.0 firmware that was just seeded to developers has a YouTube plugin for MobileSafari.app! We’re not sure at this point if this is using the same method as the native YouTube app that just works in Safari or if this is some sort of “Flash” support, if you will. We’re going to dive a little deeper and try and figure this all out for you, so we’ll keep y’all updated! 

This isn’t official – but it suggests that Apple is taking another look at how it handles multimedia on the iPhone.

This could have broader implications for podcasters. As devices get faster and more capable, the streaming model implemented on Apple TV starts to become a valid alternative to podcast subscriptions.

PodCamp, the free podcasting unconference, is coming to Ohio, on Saturday, June 28, 2008 at the ITT Technical Institute in Hilliard.

PodCamp Ohio offers an opportunity for attendees to learn, share or grow their new media skills. They can attend informal sessions, created and driven by participants, about podcasts, blogs, digital music, web video and related aspects of new, Internet-based media. The format allows both beginner and expert media producers, as well as listeners, watchers and readers, to participate, discuss and network.

“It’s all about learning, getting hands on with new media and spending time with folks that make up your online community,” said Angelo Mandato, coordinator of PodCamp Ohio. “By attending PodCamp Ohio, members of the blogging, podcasting, marketing, academic, and business communities will lead the charge toward embracing and effectively utilizing new and social media in our area.”

The event is free and open to everyone; registration is required.