Sony has released specs for its Portable Reader System PRS-500. According to Sony, the Reader features a screen with technology that rivals the readability of text on paper.

While Sony’s focus appears to be on selling electronic books, the system offers support for newsfeeds and even audio files, which could make it a potent device for reading news and blog sites and even listening to audio.

Paramagnus Developments has introduced a new podcast hosting service, Podcast Spot.

Service features include:

• Flexible Storage Space
• Unmetered Bandwidth
• Automatic Media Conversion
• Easy Organization
• Automatic P2P
• Support for iTunes
• Simple Payment Options

Professional hosting plans start at $7/month, and a free introductory plan (25mb) is also available.

The University of California, Berkeley, announced today that it is delivering educational content, including course lectures and symposia, free of charge through Google Video.

UC Berkeley will be the first university with its own page on the Google Video Web site, campus officials said. The campus is making more than 250 hours of content available to the public through Google Video.

UC Berkeley’s page on the Google Video website features links to top courses, campus events and symposia.

Pod-Star has announced updates to their PromoPicker podcast directory.

Updates include:

• Easier podcast submission
• Easier podcaster signup
• Easier ratings system
• Easier comments system
• New category suggestion options
• Easy access to all of your directory entries in one place
• Easy posting in multiple categories
• Listener comment line / contact number field added
• New links to MySpace and SecondLife and Frappr
• Now up to 5 mp3 show promo’s or example episodes to really hook new listeners
• All fields now only show if data or links are present, No more bad links or blank spaces.
• Podcast feed now shown in podcast information page. (max 15 items)
• Tell a friend link
• Better search facility with Firefox browser integration
• New Links, Top Links and Popular links now with RSS feeds

Added to the list of podcast client software:

• Nokia Podcasting Application
  
• AudioBay Podcast Player

via Rene

Podcast Ready has announced that it has partnered with COWON America, maker of the iAudio line of portable multimedia devices, to offer Podcast Ready’s myPodder software preloaded on the entire line of COWON devices.

According to the company, the announcement introduces the first Podcast Ready-enabled portable video devices.

Podcast Ready’s myPodder software is designed to allow for complete podcast portability. Users can plug a compatible COWON iAudio device into any Internet-connected computer and access myPodder to update, subscribe to and manage their favorite audio and video podcasts.

In related news, Apple recently asked Podcast Ready to cease and desist from its plans to use the terms myPodder and Podcast Ready in the marketing portable media players.

PodTech, a podcasting startup focusing on technology, has introduced ScobleShow, a video podcast hosted by former Microsoft blogger Robert Scoble.

According to Scoble, the new site is “broken” and “the page isn’t the prettiest”, but based on the fact that the server appears to be straining under the initial load, there appears to be a lot of interest in what Scoble’s¬† been working on at PodTech.

In June, PodTech announced that it had hired Scoble to act as their Vice President of Media Development.

LimeWire has filed a claim against the RIAA for antitrust violations, consumer fraud, and other misconduct.

LimeWire claims (PDF) that the music industry conspired to destroy any online music distribution service they did not own or control, or force such service to do business with them on an exclusive and/or other anticompetitive terms.

Advertising Age reports that, eight months into his reign at Sirius Satellite Radio, the Stern’s advertising rates are a fraction of what they were on terrestrial radio.

“Spots are going for $5,000 to $6,000, with live reads, the term for on-air talent pitching the product, maxing out at $10,000,” notes Advertising Age. “When Howard Sterns show was broadcast on terrestrial radio stations, he commanded $30,000 for a live read.”The site attributes Stern’s declining value to advertisers to a smaller audience, and questions about just how many listeners Stern now has.

“Exactly how much smaller is his Sirius audience than the crowd of 7 million listeners he drew on terrestrial?” the article continues. “No one knows, because no one knows how many are listening to his satellite program, which also, of course, makes a cost-per-thousand comparison impossible. And it seems even the all-powerful Mr. Stern isnt above the accountability required to play in todays media world.”

On Friday, Wired published an item that suggested that Apple was trying to make “podcast” its own trademark and keep others from using the term. The company recently sent cease and desist letters to MyPodder, which makes podcast software for portable MP3 players.

“Will Apple succeed in defending the word “podcast” as its own trademark?” Wired asked. “We’ll just have to wait and see.”

The podcasting community has erupted with concern, with most people incredulous that Apple would try to take over the word “podcasting”.

Now Wired has published a follow up, and it looks like their original story did not accurately portray Apple’s intentions.