A recent thread started in the PodcastAlley.com forums that I would like to bring to your attention. For those of you who do not know, Derek of Skepticality (a great podcast) has been in the hospital with some serious issues. From what I gather, he seems to be doing a lot better physically but we could probably help out mentally and emotionally with some of our podcast support.

Here is why I am posting this… Swoopy is looking for some audio hellos for Derek (code named “Project Howdy”) and I think it would be reallly great if all you podcasters and listeners could send your encouragements to Derek.

Check Out the Whole Post Here.

“In preparation for its 10th anniversary, educational entertainment company, Candlelight Stories (www.CandlelightStories.com) has opened a redesigned web site which includes new free podcast content.

The podcast, called ‘Pirate Jack : A Podcast Novel’ is available via the Candlelight Stories web site. It is being offered in weekly chapters that are in MP3 format. Anyone with iTunes or any other type of podcast software can subscribe to the feed and get automatic updates each time a new chapter is released. They can listen on their computer, iPod, or MP3 player. “

See the Press Release Here.

This doesnt belong here, but I thought it was quite funny. This is a spoof on the new iPod Nano ads circulating the world, and worth the 60 second download and the 30 second watch, in my opinion.

iPod Nano Spoof (video/quicktime)

I own the original Mbox and love it. It has phantom power for 2 condensor mics, 2 aux (1/4″) inputs, stereo out, midi control, ProTools LE and more. However, they announced today the new Mbox 2 has been released. Boasting new features, and a new sexier layout, here is what they have to say about the new recording/podcaster tool:

“The New Digidesign Mbox – Even Better Than Before! Digidesign’s Mbox 2 is the follow-up to the wildly successful Mbox, with some heavy-duty improvements! The original Mbox helped thousands of musicians get into Pro Tools LE thanks to its ease of use, integration with Pro Tools software, great sonic characteristics, and affordable price. Digidesign listened to their customers and created the new, improved Mbox 2 based on that feedback. Mbox 2 sounds better on both input and output, has an integrated MIDI interface, offers more simultaneous audio I/O, and includes more free value-added software and tools. Plus, the Mbox 2 has a cool new, more flexible industrial design.”

Digidesign Mbox 2 | Sweetwater.com for $449.97

“Diggnation, a weekly web/tech culture show, today announced a collaboration with Dolby Laboratories to deliver a special one-time demonstration podcast offering a preview of Dolby(R) Headphone technology. Dolby Headphone technology delivers 5.1 surround sound over any set of standard headphones. Recorded at Dolby Laboratories in San Francisco, Episode #14 will be available to listeners on Saturday, October 1, 2005…”

Read the whole story Here.

Always interesting to find companies that do it right. I like the idea of letting people find it naturally. I guess they could just be lazy, but none the less, I thought it was interesting.

“The podcasts were produced and moderated by Whirlpool’s director of customer insight, Audrey Reed-Granger, who has a background in broadcasting. And it shows. What’s interesting is the podcasts are focused on family issues and are not centered around Whirlpool products. Moreover, Whirlpool has done no overt promotion of the podcasts, preferring that they be found through word-of-mouth marketing. One charmer: the interview featuring Habitat Families and an interview with the 200,000th recipient of a Habitat For Humanity-built home (Whirlpool supports the non-profit by supplying a refrigerator and range to every Habitat home). “

Read the Whole Story Here

Finally, some has done it! I knew it was only a matter of time, and thanks to Jackstreet Media, it has come to be. Sex education comes to an iPod near you. :) Education is, in my opinoin, going to be a huge market in the podcasting world and I am glad to see that someone is making a push to make podcasting a powerful educational tool. To be quite honest, Im married and know all I need to know about sex, but I may subscribe to this one and check it out…because Im planning on having kids some day and may I can get some pointers from this podcast on how to breach the topic to them.

“Sex Education goes back to school to reach the iPod generation.

The series features raw interviews with young and very young adults talking about their sexual practices, attitudes and experiences with safe sex and not so safe sex. Guests are between the ages of 18 and 27 and include sexually active college students, young men and women dating people with HIV, youth practicing abstinence and peer to peer sex education activists.”

Sex Education in Podcasting, the Whole Story HERE

Ok, this is not the most exciting thing ever, but it to me is more interesting than the crappy itunes phone. At least this has an operating version of itunes on it that people could use and understand.

“Rumor Mill: iTunes on Windows Mobile. I can’t confirm it myself, but this is a little too cool to pass up. The German tech blog Technology Ninja is reporting that some guy got iTunes to run on his Windows Mobile handheld. The original post is tragically low on details, and the whole thing looks magnificently hoaxy to me. But if it is true, PDAs just got a whole lot cooler. “

Wired Blogs

Business Week recenly published the results of their “Best of the New Web” survey, including the editors picks. Included were podcasting sites such as Insomnia Radio, IT Conversations and Skepticality as well as podcasting services from PodcastAlley, Odeo, iTunes and AudioBlog. All included should be delighted…I know I am honored.

“In our travels around the Web, we come across countless sites and services. But with only 24 hours in the day, we have to settle on a relative few as places to work, play, and get things done online. These are our picks for the cream of the crop, ranging from the ridiculous (the disturbingly hilarious StuffOnMyCat) to the sublime (the group art blog PostSecret). The list was aided, in no small part, by our readers. Some of the best, such as the tech news site Digg.com and the great group advice site Ask Metafilter, came from sharp-eyed readers and have become some of our new favorites. Others, such as Google and Craigslist, may be obvious but just cant be beat. Either way, check them out and maybe you’ll find some new favorites.”

BusinessWeek Magazine: Best of the Web Special Report and Survey Results

Everyone is trying to figure it out, from Wired Magazine, to podcast companies to Podcast Meetups throught the US. Who will be the first to be successful in the money making game? Here is Wired Magazines take on it…

“The podosphere may be virgin terrain for the online world, but already the race is on to figure out whether there’s any real money to be made through the new medium.

Consider the vast variety of approaches that have cropped up since Apple’s iTunes upgrade this summer started delivering thousands of new listeners to podcasters who once toiled in obscurity… “

Read the whole story here.