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So, I finally get around to sorting out some Podcasting software to see what all the fuss is about.
Assuming you have absolutely no idea what I'm talking about (and good gosh I hope you don't), "Podcasting" is where random people from around the world (although Mac-owning American geeks seem to feature rather more prominently than can reasonably be attributed to chance) record their thoughts as an mp3 file and put them on the Internet.
"Wow.", you must be thinking. Indeed.
No, no! There's more! The twist this time is that those mp3 files are referenced in a specially-formatted rss feed that allows Podcasting clients to check them periodically for new Podcasts, and then register them into your jukebox software for listening to on the move next time you sync. Which is fairly cool in that it takes away the drudgery of performing these steps manually, but unfortunate in that it provides a platform that encourages people to record their thoughts as an mp3 file and put them on the Internet.
Anyway. That's the basic principle.
Having sorted out the software and subscribed to a few feeds, I synced my iPod this morning and listened to several Podcasts on my commute this morning.
David Brent is alive and well and Podcasting on the Internet.
"Unintentionally hilarious", I think are the words I'd use. Obviously, I wasn't expecting anything professional -- and in many respects it was exactly what I was expecting (boring, excrutiating, terrible). But what I wasn't prepared for was how spectacularly funny it is to listen to people who have a such a complete lack of self awareness waffle on in a manner worthy of the great man himself.
Take the typical blog entry. If you were to read it aloud, you'd get a couple of minutes, tops. Now, turn that entry into a ten-to-twenty minute feature. Yes.
And to think, this fad is important enough to have been reported by the BBC.
Whilst I might not seem particularly impressed (and I'm not) the thing about it is this: it sounds like a lot of fun to do. Even if it's total crap. So one of these days, I might have a go myself. Or maybe not. Watch this space... ;-)
I've found a marvellous photo of you.