podcast

Three podcast apps that are better than Apple's

Earlier this week, with almost no fanfare, Apple introduced a new Podcasts app, effectively breaking audio and video podcasts loose from the iPod app where they've resided since the iPhone's early days.

As a die-hard podcast fan, I was interested to say the least. But after spending some time with the new app, I must admit I'm disappointed.

For starters, the interface is something of a mess. It doesn't flow; there's too much moving back and forth between different screens and sections. I'm a fairly tech-savvy user, and it took me a while before … Read more

Apple spins out Podcasts app ahead of iOS 6

It appears that rumors of Apple planning to spin out the podcast feature from iTunes in iOS were true.

Apple today quietly released a standalone app for podcasts (iTunes), specialty software designed for listening and subscribing to audio and video podcasts.

Podcasts are prerecorded audio shows of varying genres that users can subscribe to and download for offline listening. Apple jumped on the podcast bandwagon in mid-2005, promising to take the medium "mainstream by building everything users need to discover, subscribe, manage, and listen" into what was then version 4.9 of iTunes.

A report from All Things … Read more

Apple to give podcasts their own app in iOS 6, report says

Apple took the wraps off most of the major iOS 6 features at its annual developers conference this week, but there may be one more thing it didn't show off.

According to All Things Digital, Apple's cooking up a standalone app for podcasts. Okay, so that may not be as sexy as 3D maps or Siri for iPads, but it's noteworthy given that Apple currently serves up podcasts within its iTunes app, then has users listen to them in a separate app called Music.

The report suggests that Apple plans on bundling those two things together in … Read more

How to stream podcasts to your iPhone, iPod, or iPad

Podcasts are awesome-sauce. When I'm in the car or out for a run, there's nothing I like better than an episode of "This American Life," "Wiretap," or the amazing new radio-drama "The Truth."

Seriously, what's not to like? iTunes is home to zillions of podcasts -- there's literally something for everyone -- and they're all free.

There is, of course, one downside: podcasts consume space. Not a ton (the average episode of "This American Life" is about 27MB, the equivalent of three or four MP3 song files), … Read more

The best way to discover new music

Finding new music has never been easier, and music podcasts are my favorite discovery path. I prefer shows with hosts that put music in context. That's why I like discussion and music sets, and occasional interviews with musicians and live performances. The shows listed below (for the most part) can be downloaded and played back when you're ready to hear them.

WNYC's John Schaefer has two daily programs, Soundcheck, which features a wide mix of music genres, interviews, and live-on-the-radio performances; and New Sounds, which, if anything, covers an even wider range of music styles. Each episode … Read more

The 404 1,047: Where we go one-on-one with James Gunn (podcast)

Director James Gunn goes one-on-one with The 404's Jeff Bakalar to talk about his writing duties on the new video game, Lollipop Chainsaw. James is the man responsible for films such as the "Dawn of the Dead" remake, "Slither," "Super," and the cult-classic "Tromeo and Juliet."

James has teamed up with legendary game-maker Suda 51 (Shadows of the Damned, No More Heroes) to bring us Lollipop Chainsaw, the story of a cheerleader who must take on a swarm of the undead led by a colorful cast of zombie punk rockers. We asked James what it was like to work with the iconic producer and the various special guests that voice the game's bosses.

There's something for everyone in today's show: zombies, music, video games, movies, and much more!… Read more

The 404 1,026: Where we were monitoring that scan (podcast)

Are you disappointed or psyched that so many new technologies draw inspiration directly from films and TV? First it was Samsung citing "2001: A Space Odyssey" as an influence for their Samsung Galaxy tablet and all the reports of "Minority Report" tech coming soon. And now Google looks like it watched too many Star Trek episodes while designing its augmented-reality glasses.… Read more

The evolution of CNET video

It's the end of an era and it's the birth of an era.

If you're a CNET fan, you may have listened to a CNET podcast or a thousand since Molly Wood and Tom Merritt launched the trailblazing Buzz Out Loud podcast in 2005. Buzz Out Loud (all 1,588 episodes!) and the shows that followed in its footsteps, from Rumor Has It to Crave and Dialed In, number among the most creative, fun live shows on the Internet.

But here's the thing: we've closely observed over the past few months how our audiences watch … Read more

CNET Labscast 23: When to buy a laptop, greatest gadgets ever, and a big goodbye

Well, it's been fun, but along with the rest of the weekly CNET Live lineup, the CNET Labscast (formerly known as Digital City) is being sent to the great podcast studio in the sky. For this final episode, the whole gang shows up, as we debate the right time to buy a laptop, and list our picks for the most influential gadgets of the modern era. … Read more