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December 6, 2006

podcasting

Your thoughts on enhanced podcasts?

Posted Dec. 6, ’06, 8:40 AM PT by Dan Moren
Category | Music » Podcasting

Podcast on iPodWhile laboring over the latest podcast, I started to wonder about the enhanced functionality offered in an AAC-encoded show versus an MP3-encoded show. I rarely use Chapter markings myself, and when I hit a podcast by accident on my iPod, it means repeatedly hitting the forward button to skip to the end. Not to mention, it takes a decent amount of time to insert all the chapter markings, find pictures for each, and assign the correct URLs and titles where possible.

All of this is prelude to ask you, MacUser readers, how you feel about “enhanced” podcasts? Do the artwork and chapter markings really improve the experience for you, or would you prefer a straight MP3 file? After all, everything we do, we do it for you.


11 Comments

Eric said:

I don't listen to a lot of podcasts, although I have found this feature useful while listening to the Eureka podcast (for the SciFi show). They have chapter marks where the commercials are, so I can sync it up easily with the show. For the few other I've listened to, I don't tend to use it.

December 6, 2006 8:44 AM
Dan Dan said:

I really depend on chapters to go back and re listen something I want to check. It's very handy.

December 6, 2006 8:56 AM
Allen Author Profile Page said:

I personally like to have the option when I'm downloading. I don't know what that will do to you fine folks at MacUser as far as bandwidth is concerned, but it depends on if I'm in a hurry or not.

I also listen to the Mac Geek Gab, which offers both and I like the choice. If I'm on my way to class or work, the enhanced version isn't too useful, with my hands full of books or a steering wheel. However, if I'm listening at home, I really do enjoy the enhanced. It's nice to be able to see the product or topic being reviewed right on my screen as I'm listening.

December 6, 2006 9:05 AM
ondratoral said:

Hi, I really like the chapters and images. I use the chapters to skip the topics I am not interested into and re-listen the interesting ones. Images are great, especially when you are introducing or reviewing a product.

For my podcast, I offer two versions - M4A and MP3, as these two formats fit almost everybody.

I know it takes some time to fill in the chapter names and images, but it is worth it. I am not sure about the link, show notes are much better deal for me.

December 6, 2006 10:23 AM
Melao said:

I consider chapter marks very handy

they are great to skip to what I want to listen, specially with Itunes new music Tuesday and Ritmo Latino podcast

December 6, 2006 10:24 AM
John Keogh said:

I enjoy this feature on the Ricky Gervais podcasts - particularly in season 2, I think, they will illustrate the mad ruminations, sometimes for just a few seconds before changing the image again.

December 6, 2006 11:28 AM
Edward said:

I like the enhanced podcasts because it enables me to skip things that are not relevent to my experience. I also like the ability to go back and relisten to things that I find relevant and would like to hear again.

Thanks for the work you do.

December 6, 2006 1:06 PM
shadownight said:

I used to like enhanced podcasts, but I've found them to be pretty useless for me: I always listen on my iPod, and I won't look at the screen to look at pictures, and I rarely skip anything (except those unbearable ads in the Macworld Podcast - HINT HINT! /rant).

So as long as you don't put ads in it, a non-enhanced podcast is fine with me (note that the enhanced is fine too).

December 6, 2006 1:42 PM
jfarrar said:

I like chapters because I can i listen to the podcasts on my iPod away from a computer. When you guys talk about something cool I want to go find it on the internet so i use chapters to skip back to that part of the podcast.

December 6, 2006 8:15 PM
BlueCrisp said:

LOVE chapter markers/enhanced podcasts and as a result I find plain mp3 podcasts lacking. keep up the good work :)

December 8, 2006 11:57 AM
BlueCrisp said:

One thing on a rather unrelated note is I have noticed that the level of your podcasts is a bit low, esp out and about, can be hard to hear sometimes, but great podcasts thought and i love listening to them!

December 8, 2006 11:59 AM

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