Yahoo has launched a podcasting site, a place that’s not only a directory of podcasts but also a great resource of rich information on podcasting generally, and a one-stop-shop for your podcasts and music purchasing.
Yahoo Podcasts includes detailed information that explains what podcasts are and an excellent how-to guide on creating your own podcast, how to create the RSS feed, get listed in podcast directories (there’s a list of other major directories) and much more.
In addition, you can get the Yahoo Music Engine, a desktop application/plug-in for Windows with similarities in concept and functionality to Apple’s iTunes – you can listen to music, CDs, LAUNCHcast Radio and podcasts, as well as burn CDs and buy music downloads (at $0.79 a track compared to iTunes’ $0.99 in the US).
You buy music from Yahoo Music Unlimited, the new subscription service that’s clearly a head-to-head challenge to the iTunes Music Store.
What will likely be appealing to many people is that Yahoo’s offering supports both the WMA file format as well as the MP3 file format (used by a wide range of portable digital players), and Apple’s AAC file format (used only by the iPod range). More info here. Some people might not like Yahoo’s all-embracing approach to Windows Media DRM (digital rights management), but you’d better get used to it – this is arguably the future of digital media and how it’s made available online.
For Immediate Release: The Hobson & Holtz Report is listed in Yahoo Podcasts – you can subscribe here.
There can now be no doubt – podcasting has entered the mainstream.
Neville Hobson is the author of the popular NevilleHobson.com blog which focuses on business communication and technology.
Neville is currentlly the VP of New Marketing at Crayon. Visit Neville Hobson’s blog: NevilleHobson.com.
