The easiest way to discover interesting podcasts is to use iTunes and search the iTunes Podcast Directory. iTunes provides categories of podcasts, with charts showing you the most popular podcast in each category. This is the easiest way to determine what other people are listening to and enjoying. (More information is available on Apple’s site.)

There are also several networks that have been created for the sole purpose of distributing interesting podcasts. These networks are working hard to create programming around-the-clock. The original offerings were mostly technology focused, but as each of these networks develop new shows, they are adding more diverse programming. The goal of many of these distributers is to eventually compete with mainstream broadcast television for viewers.

Most popular podcasting networks:

• Mevio – Network created by former MTV VJ Adam Curry. Show directory currently has 2,430 listings. Largest and most diverse of all podcasting networks.
• CNet – Mostly technology focused. Owned by CBS Interactive. Programming includes many of the biggest names in technology.
• Revision3 – Not nearly as large as Mevio, but almost as diverse. All content is available as video.
• Twit.tv – Network created by Leo Laporte (one of the original podcasters). Provides around-the-clock programming on live channel, but also includes many weekly shows with diverse hosts and topics.

My Favorite Podcasts

Although the podcasting networks are great, there are way too many programs available to watch or listen to all of them. Below I have provided information about the podcasts that I enjoy the most. Although I have separated the list by audio and video, it is important to note that several of the video podcasts also have audio versions, and vice-versa. I have categorized based on the ways that I have found easiest to enjoy each podcast.

Video Podcasts that I watch:

• Tekzilla – Hosted by Patrick Norton and Veronica Belmont, features reviews of gadgets and tips and tricks for making your tech life easier. A weekly show is produced that includes reviews and discussions of hardware/software, and a daily show is produced with a short tip.
• Cranky Geeks – Hosted by John Dvorak, features roundtable of technology professionals discussing current technology news and trends. New episodes produced weekly. (Open in iTunes)
• Loaded – Hosted by Natali Del Conte, features daily technology news. New episodes Monday – Thursday. Normally about 3-5 minutes per day.
• Apple Byte – Hosted by Brian Tong, covers all Apple news. New episodes once per week.
• MediaBytes – Hosted by Shelly Palmer, features daily technology and entertainment news. New Episodes Monday – Friday. Normally about 2-3 minutes per day.
• HD Nation – Hosted by Patrick Norton and Robert Heron, features all things HD. Includes discussion of video, sound, and equipment. New episodes once per week.
• Diggnation – Hosted by Alex Albrecht and Kevin Rose, features discussion of top digg.com stories. New episodes weekly.
• GreekBrief.tv – Hosted by Cali Lewis, features news, interviews, and product reviews. New episodes multiple times per week.
• AppJudgment – Hosted by Revision3 personalities, features reviews of Apps for all popular SmartPhone platforms. New episodes two times per week.

Can’t Miss Audio Podcasts:

• This Week in Tech – Hosted by Leo Laporte, features a roundtable of technology experts discussing technology news. New episodes weekly.
• Buzz Out Loud – Hosted by Tom Merritt, Molly Wood and Jason Howell, features discussion of the day’s news. New episodes daily.
• Windows Weekly – Hosted by Leo Laporte and Paul Thurrott, features all news related to Microsoft. New episodes weekly.
• MacBreek Weekly – Hosted by Leo Laporte, Alex Lindsay, Merlin Mann and Andy Ihnatko, features all news related to Apple. New episodes weekly.
• The Lost Podcast with Jay and Jack – Hosted by Jay and Jack, features discussion of the television show Lost. New episodes two times per week.

Honorable Mention Audio Podcasts (I enjoy, but don’t get to listen to every episode):

• AppSlappy – Hosted by Scott Johnson and Eric Van Skyhawk, features reviews of iPhone applications. New episodes weekly.
• Engadget Podcast – Hosted by Joshua Topolsky, Nilay Patel, and Paul Miller, features discussion of current technology news. New episodes weekly.
• gdgt Podcast – Hosted by Ryan Block and Peter Rojas, features discussion of current technology news. New episodes weekly.
• Married with Tech – Hosted by Doug Shill, Shawn Roberts, Jordan Patterson and Donny Benfield, features discussion of technology news from the perspective of married geeks/parents. New episodes weekly.
• iPhone Live Podcast – Hosted by Rene Ritchie, Chad Garrett and Mickey Papillon, features discussion of all things iPhone. New episodes weekly.
• Kennedy-Mighell Report – Hosted by Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell, features discussion of how technology impacts practicing attorneys. New episodes every 2 weeks.

Please feel free to suggest any additional interesting podcasts that you listen to or watch in the comments. As consumer electronics continue to become more connected, I expect that this form of entertainment will continue to grow and flourish.

Share on Facebook

Today Steve Jobs finally announced what the world has been waiting over 2000 years for.  Apple is making a tablet that is more important than the one that delivered the world the Ten Commandments.  According to Jobs it is not a netbook, it is BETTER.  Apple is positioning the iPad in a new category between an iPhone/iPod Touch and a MacBook.

What jobs announced was exactly what I have asked for before.  I already have a laptop, and do not expect a tablet to be able to do everything that my laptop can do.  However, I have been searching for device that I am comfortable using in a situation where laptops have not been ideal.  The following are several areas where I believe the magical iPad will fill the void that I have had.

Using in a courtroom/hearing room.

A laptop has always been cumbersome in courtroom situations because I already have limited space available to me.  I usually am carrying a notepad, reference documents, and client files that weigh several pounds combined.  I need a device that I can use without having to plug it in, but also has access to the Internet at all times.  The iPad solves that problem.

The stated battery life of 10 hours means that I will not need to recharge the iPad even on days that I have multiple hearings.  The 1 1/2 pound weight makes it an item that I will not think twice about carrying.  The size will be slightly smaller than the legal pad that I already carry with me.  Since it does not have a phone, I do not have to worry about accidently forgetting to turn of the ringer.

Functionally, the iPad will allow me to check my calendar, e-mail, and client/reference documents while I am in court.  Since my practice is entirely paperless, I will be able to easily view entire client files.  When discussing a medical record or test result with the Judge, I will be able to quickly navigate the PDF to the appropriate location to view the document.  If I need to quickly find case law, statutes, or regulations, I will be able to do it on this new device.

Although Windows tablets have been around for years, the touch interface has never been simple enough to navigate quickly in a courtroom situation.  From my experience using the iPhone, I am positive that I will get a much better experience from using the iPad.  All programs are made to use the fingers to navigate with.  Windows tablets have been difficult because Microsoft has simply tried to add a touch interface to programs that are meant to be used with a mouse.

Surfing the web from the couch.

When I first bought my iPod Touch, the device quickly replaced my laptop for surfing the web.  I did not have to worry about the battery life of the iPod touch, and I could quickly move through pages in a natural way.  I no longer had to worry about the heat of the laptop on my legs, and it was not unsightly to store the touch on the coffee table when not in use.  Since the device is instant-on, I could quickly navigate to a website when I saw an advertisement that interested me.

The main problem with using the web browser on the iPod touch/iPhone is that you often need to zoom to read websites.  If the site is not formatted for mobile viewing, reading information on the web could sometimes be difficult.

The iPad solves this problem by providing a much higher resolution.  Less zooming will be necessary, but the device will still be comfortable to hold in an upright position similar to a book or magazine.  The iPad should take the positive experience of the iPhone/iPod touch and make it even better.

Using on flights.

I have never comfortable using a laptop on a flight.  Even compact laptops/netbooks were difficult to use if the person in front of me reclined their seat, or the person next to me needed to use the bathroom.  The iPad resolves these problems.

I do not usually use laptops on flights to complete work, so the lack of a physical keyboard is not a problem for me.  I have always used electronics on flights for entertainment purposes. The iPad will be great for playing games, reading books/magazines, and watching movies or listening to music.  These are tasks that I have used my iPhone for recently, but the small size was a limitation.  I expect the iPad to complete these tasks well, and to eliminate the need to travel with a book, multiple magazines, a laptop, and an iPod.

Using in conferences/seminars.

I have to admit that I have never been one to take my laptop to a conference/seminar.  It is not because a laptop would not be useful, it is more because I didn’t want to be “that guy” that took his laptop everywhere.  I have used my iPhone at most conferences, but the size becomes uncomfortable for all tasks.  The iPad, on the other hand, will be great at conferences/seminars.

The iPad will allow me to easily view materials on the Internet that are referenced by presenters.  In Delaware, the Bar Association has begun to make electronic materials available for all continuing legal education (CLE) classes.  I have opted out of this option in the past because I did not want to have to take my laptop to CLEs.  Having the ability to view these materials on an iPad will make it more likely that I will use the electronic material option in the future (and help save the environment).

As an e-book/magazine reader.

Since I read so much at work, I rarely read for leisure at home.  I receive several different magazines in electronic format, but I have never been entirely comfortable reading them on a laptop or desktop.  I have downloaded and read several books on the iPhone, but with the small screen I was constantly having to turn pages.  I have tried a Kindle, but the lack of backlighting has always bothered me.

I foresee that once I have in iPad, I will begin to read more materials while at home.  Since I am assuming that the iBooks bookstore will also be available on the iPhone, I expect that I will be able to continue to read e-books on the iPhone when I am away from the iPad.  The format of magazines will be much better to view on an iPad, and it will be nice to have the ability to click through links for further information about stories or to follow advertisements.  This will make every publication more valuable to me.

As mentioned above, having the ability to view documents on the iPad will also assist me in reviewing client files.  Since all my client files are converted to PDFs, I will be able to better review client documents from the comfort of my couch.  Reading will be much more natural with the iPad than it is on a laptop or desktop computer.

For extended car travel.

The iPad will be a device that will be nice to use as a passenger in extended car travel.  All of the benefits cited above for airplane travel will also exist for automobile travel.  It will also be a nice way for a passenger to use maps and GPS options to locate points of interest on the trip.

For vacations.

There have been several occasions in the past when I have not carried a laptop on vacation even though I thought may need one.  The size and inconvenience of using a laptop usually caused me to decide to leave it at home.  With the iPad size and weight I will not have to make this sacrifice in the future.

I usually do not need my laptop with me to perform long hours of work on vacation, I simply want to be able to check-in on the office and to plan activities while on vacation.  The iPad will be perfect for this task.  I will be able to research attractions, buy tickets, and easily plan itineraries.  If I purchase an attachable keyboard, I will also have an opportunity to perform the more intense work tasks.

See you in line when the iPad goes on sale.

These are just the areas that I have thought of where the iPad will supplement my ability to remain connected.  I am sure that once I purchase and start to use one I will add additional activities.  I never purchased a netbook because I simply saw it as a mini-laptop.  Since I already have a laptop, I couldn’t see how a netbook would offer any value to me.

Jobs was correct when he indicated that we should demand something better than a netbook.  I expect to be in line the day that the iPad goes on sale (go ahead, call me a “fanboy”).  I will update my experience with the iPad once I actually have a chance to purchase one.

* Thank you to Marcus Roland (@rolandlegal on Twitter) for the Moses Tablet name suggestion.  Definitely an appropriate name to match the Jesus Phone. Honorable mention also goes to Jaimie Field (@JaimieField on Twitter) for her Buddha Phone suggestion.

Share on Facebook

For a long period now, I have resisted the change to Google Reader (despite the market share that Google had racked up).  When I had tried the product in the past, I was not satisfied with the options available to me. The biggest problem had been the lack of ability to synchronize my feeds with a mobile application.  Therefore, the announcement from Newsgator came to my mind as both a blessing and a curse.

Although Newsgator has not yet released the new version of the iPhone NetNewsWire application that will synchronize with Google, I decided to bite the bullet and to import all of my RSS subscriptions into Google immediately after reading the announcement.  I decided I would begin to use the Google product and get used to its features so that I would be able to determine if I would need to find a new RSS reader application for the iPhone.

To my surprise, the Google reader product has come a long way since the last time I tried it.  There were still several annoyances, but overall I realized that it is a well-designed product.

The most significant annoyance was the default read order for each RSS feed that I subscribed to.  I like to read the oldest story first, and the newest last.  I found that this was not the default action of the Google reader product.  In order to change the default read order, I had to select each feed separately, and change the read order for each and everyone.  There is no setting to change the read order of all feeds you are subscribed to globally in Google Reader (or none that I could find).

After selecting my default reading order for each RSS feed separately, my next task was using the online web-based version of Google Reader to actually read posts.  I was very satisfied with the experience of the web version of Reader.  As I moved down the page, Google automatically marked all the stories as I passed as “read”.  Options were available to read individual posts either in the expanded view, (which included the entire portion of the post that was syndicated by the author), or in the list view (where only the title of the post is listed, and a reader could click on the individual story they wanted to read).  There were also options to read each feed individually, or to read all posts from each feed in one page.

Additionally, social networking aspects are available in every post that you read.  Stars or tags can be added to any post, and using these tools allows you to share stories with others (or refer back to them later for your own personal use).  Posts can be emailed to any of your friends, or they can be marked as unread if you want the posts to remain in your Google Reader Inbox.  You are also automatically provided with recommendations for other blogs based on your current subscriptions (I have already added 4 new subscriptions). Google keeps trends of your own viewing activity and also of the blogs that you are subscribed to.  Other users of Google Reader and of Google Profiles can also “follow” any of the tags, stars, or shared posts that you mark public.

I have quickly found that Google’s product is now much more polished than the Newsgator online product was.  My next concern was the mobile experience.

Although Newsgator promises to have an update of the NetNewsWire iPhone application released within the coming days, the deadline for the switch to Google Reader was set as August 31, 2009.  Not wanting to wait until the last minute to make the switch, I decided that I would use the mobile version of Google reader until the new NetNewsWire product is released and approved by Apple.  I was also very surprised to learn how far Google’s mobile reader has come in usability since my last experience with it.

By default, Google detected that I was using an iPhone mobile browser to view my subscriptions, and reverted me to the mobile version.  Instead of stories being expanded by default, as they are in the web version, in the mobile version the stories are provided to you in the list format.  By default, 15 stories are shown per page, and whenever you click on a story, it expands in place.  The entire feed that the publisher has decided to syndicate is available to you without having to click through to the story.  (You only are required to click through if the publisher has only provided a synopsis of the story.)  When you get to the bottom of the page, you can mark all posts on the page as read, and the next 15 stories will load.

The default mobile option in Google Reader is to show you all stories from all sources in one feed.  Although the Newsgator website and NetNewsWire also had this option, I always had read posts by source (or feed)  in the past (for example I would click on Engadget and read all Engadget posts, then I would click on the next feed I was subscribed to and read all new posts in that blog).  I found after using the mobile version of Google Reader, that I actually enjoyed reading all stories from all sources (in chronological order) better now.  There is a button on the mobile version of Google Reader so that you can still go back and read by individual feeds, but I have not used it once.

The social functions described for the web version of Google Reader, are also available in the mobile version of Google Reader.

I have already found myself using the “Star” option, the “Like” option, the “Share” option, and the “Tag” functions of the Google Reader.  These have all made the news feeds that I am subscribed to and using more useful to me (easily replacing Newsgator’s clipping function), and also allowed me to share stories of interest in an easier fashion.

In the past, I would email links to any stories that I thought my friends might find relevant. Now I can just tell friends to follow me on Google Reader.  This way if they are not interested in the links I have been sending them, they do not have to have their inbox clogged up with my junk mail.  I also found myself commenting on many more stories.  Because it is so easy to do, I have discovered the value of this feature.  The social aspects of Google Reader are integrated into your Google Profile if you have one.

Although I was initially very disappointed when I received the email from Newsgator about the change, I am now enthusiastic about it.

I think that I will be following my subscriptions much more closely during the day now that I am using Google Reader.  I already routinely visit Google repeatedly throughout a workday for searches, now I will also think about reading my subscriptions.  I believe that I will use the social aspects that I always had ignored on the Newsgator product, and share information with clients, colleagues and friends.  I am not even sure that I care when, or if, the updated NetNewsWire product comes out for the iPhone.

Please let me know what your experiences have been with following RSS feeds and using Google Reader.  If you are not familiar with RSS feeds, please let me know and I will consider creating a separate blog post to explain the significance of RSS feeds.  If you decide to try Google reader, follow my public shared items at http://www.google.com/reader/shared/sbutler76.

Share on Facebook

The addition of these three new features would allow the iPod touch to dominate several different categories of mobile devices.  As it stands, it is already great at its primary purpose of playing music and video (although the Zune is good, no other mp3 device can even compete).  It is also great to use around the home to access the Internet or e-mail via WiFi.  For 75% of my at-home computer use, the iPod touch is sufficient.  The application library allows me to connect to social networks, to play simple games as a casual gamer, and quickly research items on the Internet through the Safari browser.

 The missing component of the iPod touch is its mobility.  This is what has made the iPhone such a huge success.  By embedding a 3G chip into the iPod touch (with GPS), Apple would open a whole new market for itself.  All of the apps that are GPS specific would work on the iPod touch.  This single device could suddenly take the place of your point-and-shoot digital camera, your flip movie recorder, your personal navigation device, your satellite radio, your netbook, your portable gaming device, your mobile internet device, your eBook reader, and possibly even your cell phone.  The reasons why are simple: The applications already exist!

I would contend that the number one reason that most people purchase a netbook is as a cheap and easy Internet device for the home.  The iPod Touch and the iPhone, although small, accomplish this goal much better.  Apple has made the web browsing experience natural through a touch interface.  The first time the Safari browser is used on an iPod Touch or and iPhone, the natural reaction is that this is how web browsing should be done.  The screen is clear, and navigating is simpler than on a PC or Mac.

 However, it would be easy for Apple to move even further into dominating this field.  The simple solution would be making multiple sizes of the iPod touch.  Apple could release an upgraded iPod Touch (version 3?) with the additional features discussed above in the current form factor, and also introduce new versions at 5″, 7″ and 9″. 

 Although the touch screen technology can be cost prohibitive in the larger screen sizes, by incorporating 3G into the devices, the cellular networks could subsidize this product.  Even if this were still an exclusive deal with AT&T, Apple would open up the benefits of the iPhone platform for people that are reluctant to leave their existing cellular providers.  This is because you could keep your current voice device, and add an iPod Touch as a mobile data device.  It would cost a little more than adding a data plan to your current phone, but people that are reliant on voice call quality, would not have to abandon their current provider.

 My advice to Apple would be to release these products on both a subsidized and unsubsidized pricing platform.  There are some people that would only use these devices at home, and the inclusion of the WiFi chip would be sufficient for these purposes, so they would not need a data plan.  However, others would want to take advantage of the mobility features already enjoyed by iPhone users.  This would allow the product to continue to be used for its original purpose, but also open a brand new market.  Customers looking for an all-in-one device would have a new option that could potentially replace the personal navigation system, point-and-shoot digital cameras, portable video game systems, eBook readers, and also would provide them with an easy way to store video of unplanned events.

 The beauty of this new device is that it would be something that individuals with iPhone envy would appreciate, but also could be something that someone that already has an iPhone would also consider purchasing.  It would be a device that you would not mind having docked as a navigation system, or radio player, because you could still accept calls from your phone at any time.  The new accessories planned for the iPhone 3.0 software upgrade are great, but what happens when you are using the TomTom GPS and a phone call comes in?  Well if you have two devices, this no longer is a problem.

Please let me know your thoughts on whether you would consider buying such a device.  I am not in the industry and I have no idea if Apple is considering such a device, but if they are not, they may be missing a significant opportunity to increase their market share.  These additions to the iPod Touch would be a much greater threat to Microsoft than any vaporware OS that Google is proposing.  It could also lead users to consider using more products from Apple in other ways.

Share on Facebook