Apple vs. Podcasting? Maybe I'm just stupid, but I think Apple tries to hurt itself... They've started suing companies that use the term "podcast" or similar stuff ("mypodding" etc.). I get that they want to save "iPod" and their rights to it. It certainly was there before the term "podcast" came along. I'm *not* so sure, however, that podcast really has to mean "broadcasting to iPods". I mean: Most people listen to podcasts not on iPods, but on their computers, their _other_ digital music players or even burn stuff on CDs. A "pod" is just that. A pod. Apple took that word and slapped an "i" in front of it. That doesn't mean people can't still use the English word "pod", right? (Look it up if you're not sure what a "pod" is...)
In my opinion, "podcasting" puts MP3s and other data into a "pod" and "casts" that to the world. You certainly can put that "pod" into your "iPod", but you don't have to, need to and maybe don't even want to. Mainly if you haven't got an iPod - but even if you _do_, you might want to listen to them on a different medium. So "podcast" is certainly not directly depending on an iPod.

But worse: If Apple starts alienating the podcasting users out there by saying "That's *OUR* thing!", those users might start to take their podcasts out of iTunes' catalogue. You'll have to find the links yourself in a browser instead of using iTunes' very user friendly search&subscribe engine. In my opinion, Apple should not fight the ones supporting their platform(s). And that's what they're doing now. It might lead to podcasters leaving Apple's boat. But that's what's happening already. Apple: iPod and iTunes are great. But nothing without its creative users. - posted by Patrick Armbruster @ 13:13 [article link]