Latest News
Podcaster Alert! Apple Updates iTunes Podcast Categories
Jul 3rd, 2006 | By James Lewin | Category: GeneralApple has updated its categories for podcasts, and they are asking podcasters to update their feeds as soon as possible.
Per Apple:
Changes to your categories may take 1-2 weeks from the time you edit your feed, so please review and add new category data as soon as possible to ensure your podcast is listed appropriately. New categories and subcategories that did not exist in the old browse structure will appear as podcasts are mapped to them.
Apple isn’t saying what will happen to podcasts that continue to use Apple’s original categories, but podcasters listed at iTunes will want to update their feeds ASAP to avoid problems.
When we read your RSS feed, we capture and store up to 3 category+subcategory pairs, and we use all of them to populate the browse lists that you see when you click the “Browse” link in the Music Store. However, the first category+subcategory pair listed in your feed is the most important, since it is the one listed as the Category field on your podcast page, and it is the only one used to map your podcast into the category feature pages.
Most of the old categories and subcategories are now automatically mapped to corresponding ones within the new system. For example, if your podcast was listed under “Arts & Entertainment > Photography”, it will now appear under “Arts > Visual Arts.” However, 3 categories have been removed and do not have a similar replacement: “International”, “Talk Radio”, and “Public Radio”. Those categories overlapped with others in the old system, making some podcasts difficult to find. If one of these categories is listed as the first subject in your podcast feed, that category information will be ignored and the second category will be used to determine eligibility and placement in that feature page.
Changes to your categories may take 1-2 weeks from the time you edit your feed, so please review and add new category data as soon as possible to ensure your podcast is listed appropriately. New categories and subcategories that did not exist in the old browse structure will appear as podcasts are mapped to them.
For specific instructions on adding categories to your page, refer to the iTunes:category section of the technical spec. Note that the spec will be updated soon with new category data, but the format is the same:
http://www.apple.com/itunes/podcasts/techspecs.html#_Toc526931682
The new categories and subcategories are listed below. Note that some of the new categories may not yet appear in the Music Store because they are not yet populated by podcasts.
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Categories are listed below, with their subcategories listed beneath them:
Arts
* Design
* Fashion & Beauty
* Food
* Literature
* Performing Arts
* Visual Arts
Business
* Business News
* Careers
* Investing
* Management & Marketing
* Shopping
Comedy
Education
* Educational Technology
* Higher Ed
* K-12
* Language Courses
* Training
Games & Hobbies
* Automotive
* Aviation
* Hobbies
* Other Games
* Video Games
Government & Organizations
* Local
* National
* Non-Profit
* Regional
Health
* Alternative Health
* Fitness & Nutrition
* Self-Help
* Sexuality
Kids & Family
Music
News & Politics
Religion & Spirituality
* Buddhism
* Christianity
* Hinduism
* Islam
* Judaism
* Other
* Spirituality
Science & Medicine
* Medicine
* Natural Sciences
* Social Sciences
Society & Culture
* History
* Personal Journals
* Philosophy
* Places & Travel
Sports & Recreation
* Amateur
* College & High School
* Outdoor
* Professional
Technology
* Gadgets
* IT News
* Podcasting
* Software How-To
TV & Film
Feedburner has announced support for the new categories.
The information at Apple’s podcasting page was last updated as of 4/19, so it doesn’t reflect their announcement.
Gnomedex Update: Sex & Widgets
Jul 1st, 2006 | By James Lewin | Category: Podcasting Events, StrangeSusan Mernit led a discussion of sex, relationships and widgets at the 2006 Gnomedex conference, being held June 29 to July 1 in Seattle, Washington.
Mernit discussed how, after going through the breakup of a long-term marriage, she turned to the Internet in order to deal with sex and new relationships. She began by talking about some of the sites that she found helpful or interesting (a list is available at her site.)
Dave Winer: Why I’m Quitting Blogging
Jul 1st, 2006 | By James Lewin | Category: General, Podcasting EventsAt the 2006 Gnomedex conference, Dave Winer gave a short talk on his ideas on communication, technology, creativity and making money.
He brought up two main themes: that the Internet is leading to the end of “monoculture”; and that making money on the Internet will depend on interaction with users, aggregating user desire and building what people want. He provides links to related essays at his site.
Winer also led a question and answer discussion, and he was asked about his intention to quit blogging.
“I want some change in my personal life,” said Winer. “I’ve been doing this longer than I’ve been doing anything, ever.”
“I wouldn’t read too much into it,” said Winer. “Blogging’s going to do fine; I want to do new things.”
Gnomedex Kicks off in Seattle
Jun 30th, 2006 | By James Lewin | Category: General, Podcasting Events 
Hundreds of podcasters, bloggers, vloggers and tech enthusiasts are gathered in Seattle, WA for Gnomedex, being held June 29 to July 1. The conference is described as “a confluence of leading bloggers and new media.”
Conference discussion leaders will include Senator/podcaster John Edwards, pioneering podcaster Dave Winer, Internet marketing guru Steve Rubel, Make’s Phil Torrone, tech analyst Steve Gillmor and others.
We’re on location in Seattle for the event, and will be bringing updates througout the conference and afterwards.
TechMeme Hacked by LockerGnome’s Chris Pirillo
Jun 30th, 2006 | By James Lewin | Category: General, Podcasting EventsAt Gnomedex 2006, being held June 29-July 1 in Seattle Washington, conference host Chris Pirillo announced that TechMeme had been hacked.
“You won‚Äôt believe it – TechMeme has been hacked. I figured it was just a matter of time before something like this happened, and the Gnomedexers discovered it before anybody else did. If only Gabe was in the crowd, he might have stopped this from happening in the first place. Let‚Äôs just see how many people discover TechMeme (formerly Memeorandum) has been hacked this before Gabe does?”
Today is Officially RSS Day!
Jun 30th, 2006 | By James Lewin | Category: General, Podcasting EventsState of Washington Governor Christine O. Gregoire has declared today, Friday June 30 & Saturday July 1 as RSS Days. At the Gnomedex opening session, RSS creator Dave Winer and podcasting pioneer was on hand to read the governor’s declaration.
Gnomedex Update: Before Senators, One of The Presidents of the United States of America
Jun 30th, 2006 | By James Lewin | Category: Digital Music, Podcasting EventsGnomedex 2006 Update: Future presidential candidate & podcaster John Edwards is scheduled to lead a discussion later, but Dave Dederer, best known as the guitarist and singer of The Presidents of the United States of America has the stage now.
He kicked things off by covering a couple of Velvet Underground tunes, and then discussed the realities of making money in the music industry. He positioned himself as a sort of startup; while he’s a successful rock musician, he sees also sees himself as starting new, trying to find ways to connect directly to fans via the Internet.
Gnomedex: John Edwards on Politics and Citizens Media
Jun 30th, 2006 | By James Lewin | Category: Citizen Media, Podcasting Events 
At the Gnomedex conference, being held in Seattle Washington, John Edwards led a spirited discussion of politics, citizen media and how the Internet is changing the political dialog.
Though the audience was full of hundreds of people actively blogging, podcasting and video podcasting, he wasn’t afraid to be direct or to commit to a position.
On the Democratic Party:
“If the democratic party is going to lead this country, we’re going to have to show some backbone.”
“There is a battle going on for the soul of the Democratic party,” said Edwards, suggesting that Democrats are battling over the idea of trying to appeal to the center versus trying to take the “right” position and showing genuine leadership.
On the Internet:
“The great thing about the Internet is the freedom. ”
On the Presidency:
“The next president of the United States is going to be the single candidate that doesn’t sound like a politician.”
Gnomedex Update: Net Neutrality
Jun 30th, 2006 | By James Lewin | Category: General, Podcasting EventsAt Gnomedex 2006, Werner Vogels, CTO of Amazon.com, discussed the importance of net neutrality.
First he discussed Powell’s Internet Freedoms:
- Freedom to Access Content
- Freedom to Use Application
- Freedom to Attach Personal Devices
- Freedom to Obtain Service Plan Information
“The phone and cable companies will fundamentally alter the Internet in America unless Congress acts to stop them.,” warned Vogels. “They have the market power, and regulatory permission to restrict American consumers‚Äô access to broadband Internet content, including music and movies, and have announced their plans to do so.”
Vogel emphasized the idea that the reason that Amazon would not have had its success without fair access to the Internet. Because of this, he says that the company has a responsibility to ensure continued equal access.
MTV Expands Shows Available at iTunes
Jun 30th, 2006 | By James Lewin | Category: Digital Video Downloads 
MTV Networks and Apple have announced that new television programming from Spike TV, Nick at Nite, TV Land, Logo, MTV and The N is now available on the iTunes Music Store.Adding to the MTV content already on iTunes, the new round of programming available for purchase and download crosses virtually every genre and includes Spike TV‚Äôs brand-new action series Blade: The Series, MTV’s prank-comedy show Viva La Bam and TV Land‚Äôs Sit Down Comedy with David Steinberg.
- Spike TV: “Blade: The Series,” the network’s first original scripted action-adventure/drama, builds upon New Line Television/Marvel Studio’s successful movie trilogy and brings the main character into new story lines. The two-hour premiere episode will be offered for free, exclusively on iTunes today through July 11. “TNA: iMPACT,” the wrestling alternative that delivers high-risk athletic entertainment, integrating well-known superstars with the best up-and-coming talent. “Disorderly Conduct,” an adrenaline-packed series with outrageous video footage pulled from police precincts across the country.
- TV Land: “Sit Down Comedy with David Steinberg,” hosted by comedian, producer and director David Steinberg, is a one-on-one comedy forum where celebrated performers including Larry David, Martin Short, Bob Newhart, Jon Lovitz and George Lopez open up about their personal lives and careers.
- Nick at Nite: “Fatherhood,” the animated comedy series based on Bill Cosby’s best-selling book of the same name; “Hi-Jinks”, the hit hidden-camera series where adults play good-natured pranks on kids of all ages.
- Logo: “Noah’s Arc,” the first season of the network’s original drama/comedy series; “U.S. of ANT,” a reality series following the irreverent comedian ANT; and “Wisecrack,” a stand-up comedy series.
- MTV: “Viva La Bam,” documenting the comical and chaotic life of skateboarding pro and “Jackass” star, Bam Margera.
- The N: “Beyond the Break,” a drama series about the competitive world of surfing, where four passionate women pursue their dreams of becoming professional surfers.
Source; Apple
