21 Sep 07 Current Podcasts

Ok, it’s official – I’m a podcast junkie.

I’ve always enjoyed talk radio – but only when I’m driving somewhere.  Talk radio keeps my mind engaged in something, which is especially useful for when I’m feeling tired because it helps me stay awake.  I also just simply enjoy hearing other people’s opinions about topics I care about, getting different perspectives on various issues.

Books on tape are fun, as well – or, in this case, books on iPod.  For that matter, recorded readings of speculative fiction are appealing.  For instance, I’ve added Cory Doctorow’s (semi-?)weekly podcast to my listings, though he’s not currently reading his own work.  I’ve also had Imagination-X on my iPod (and that’s one I still have figured out the broadcast schedule on yet).

I love these podcasts, and I really enjoy listening to them as I drive to and from work.  Probably the best thing about it is the fact that I can get ‘talk radio’ anytime I want it, and it will always be on topics and subjects that I actually care about.  I don’t have room for all them on my iPod currently.  In fact, I keep having to delete old podcasts I’ve already listened to in order to make room for current ones.  But since I’m planning on grabbing the 160GB iPod Classic soon, I’m getting things queued up, especially a couple of podcast novels, in preparation for that.

Here’s my current podcast list, all of which can be located right from iTunes:

• Cory Doctorow
• Imagination-X
• 7th Son
• WordPress Podcast
• Bungie Podcast

• Spider on the Web (Spider Robinson)

  I have Cory Doctorow, WordPress, and Bungie on my iPod right now.  The rest will be added later when I actually have room for them.

  Tags: 7th-son, apple, books-on-tape, bungie-podcast, cory-doctorow, imagination-x, ipod, itunes, Podcasting, spider-on-the-web, spider-robinson, talk-radio, wordpress-podcast

  Filed in thoughts with CommentsCurrent+Podcasts2007-09-21+15%3A19%3A39Jim

26 Mar 07 iPodded

It’s confirmed – 2GB is simply not enough space to store my entire music collection.  And let me just say this – while I may not have all that many readers, I do have some of the coolest.  One of my readers was gracious enough to send me a used 1st generation iPod Nano she no longer had a use for.  It arrived Saturday, and I spent the better portion of the day importing CDs into iTunes.  I was at least able to get the vast majority of music that I wanted from my collection synced with the Nano.  There’s still a handful of CDs and all my podcasts that didn’t make the cut, but I’m content with this – it gives me a way to listen to my music at work without having to rely on the latest (and crappiest) version of Windows Media Player (which just sucks all the RAM right out of your computer).

And let me just say that iTunes is fabulous.  It made it super easy to import my music and organize it into playlists.  Plus it can handle podcasts and, should I ever choose to do so, I can get music from the iTunes store that I can instantly put on my iPod.  I know, I’m behind the game.  Most of you probably have already experienced this. 

I’m loving my new little toy, so a big thank you goes out to Jean for being awesome.  I appreciate the generosity, lady.  I believe I’m going to end up running this little sucker through its paces for the foreseeable future.

Tags: apple, ipod, ipod-nano, itunes, software, Technology