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Tuesday August 8, 2006
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 I haven't been too excited by the thought of listening to music on my phone, but I think this new service sounds more appealing: Axcess Mobilcast, launched jointly today by Alltel Wireless and Melodeo. For $3.99 a month, you can access thousands of podcasts and download as many as you want. (I'm not sure yet if Gearlog Radio is on the list!)
The companies promise the podcasts will be continuously updated, and you'll be able to get offerings from CNN and NPR (I subscribe to several NPR podcasts already, including the "Wait, Wait... Don't Tell Me!" one; I usually miss the show when it's broadcast on the radio, and it always makes me laugh). Alltel says the new service will be available on "several popular phones" and that the interface will be simple and easily searchable (that'd be a bonus for phone apps); also, you can bookmark your favorite podcasts, which can be streamed or downloaded. Is this the kind of app that might tempt people in the U.S. to switch carriers? I'd love to know what you think; comments, please!
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August 8, 2006 5:25 PM
I'll back this up. Depending on cost and how available my content is (and whether it involves waiting for long downloads to my phone or streaming content and how good the quality is) I would be interested in something like this. I seriously spend most of my workdays listening to various podcasts (including Gearlog's!) and being able to listen to them when I don't have my computer out and open, or even through my cellphone in my car (or when I get a new car, through the car speakers via bluetooth!) would be a wonderful way for me to keep up with my favorites regardless of where I am and whether I have an internet connection, and sadly yes, there are still some places I've been where I have no net connection (waiting in line t a conference, the airport terminal, my girlfriend's mother's place ::shudder::) and it'd be nice to give a listen. By the way, since you mentioned it, I'm also a huge fan of "Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!" I'm down here near where it's filmed; I've been meaning to try and go see it!
August 9, 2006 2:49 PM
MoveDigital which just launched a couple weeks ago, allows you to mobile podcast on your own. Sign up for a free trial, upload your file, click 'mobilize' and then you can stream any audio/video file to a 3G cell phone (Sprint and Verizon have unlimited evdo data rates which are quite affordable). We have a premium feature called AutoPublish which will automate the whole process from your existing RSS feed (we scan it once an hour and mobilize each enclosure). For example, here's Rocketboom's mobile video blog (to be viewed on your 3G cell phone): http://m.movedigital.com/rocketboom