The World's First Ever Pocket PC Thoughts ThoughtCast! The Beta.

[Ed Hansberry]

<a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/hansberry/podcast/20050713-PocketPCThoughtsCast.mp3">http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/hansberry/podcast/20050713-PocketPCThoughtsCast.mp3</a><br /><br />Welcome to the first podcast, or ThoughtCast for Pocket PC Thoughts. This was a trial run and let me warn you, the quality is <i>horrible</i>. This was made using an iMATE PDA2K Pocket PC Phone Edition, the ultra-cheap handsfree set that came with it, <a href="http://www.handango.com/brainstore/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?siteId=311&productId=51054">VITO Sound Explorer</a> (using the trial version right now) and a 1998 Audi A4 V6 Quattro. Unfortunately, the star of the show is the Audi because that cheap piece of junk headset didn't filter out diddly, and at 70mph the combination of the fat tires and wind noise was more than the mic could handle. However, we are calling this the beta so we are allowed to not be perfect, right? :wink: That said, I have a new headset and it sounds roughly 495.91% better, so the first release version ThoughtCast won't be such an assualt on your senses. :D You'll see that this is a very informal presentation and is not scripted at all. Redoing this to get better quality would have destroyed it.<img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/hansberry/webcast.gif" /><br /><br />Show notes:<br />• General comments on the Windows Mobile Smartphone<br />• <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=41207">eReader Promotional Site</a><br />• <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=41382">Microsoft Global Contact Access</a><br />• <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=41469">Microsoft Outlook Mobile Manager 2.0</a><br /><br />This is a bit manual. For now, the RSS link with enclosures for your podcasting software is <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/hansberry/podcast/thoughtcast.xml">here</a>. It'll be more formalized later and that link may change. It has a link for the direct download but you are better off setting up your podcasting software to automatically download enclosures.<br /><br />Let me know what you think about the format. We already know what you think about the quality. :lol:

[brianchris]

Listening to your podcast right now (actually, its the first podcast I've ever listened to.....now I can be considered hip once again.....for a short while).

Anyway, your wife should consider the Verizon i730....its a full PocketPC but MUCH smaller......with Bluetooth and WiFi.....tons of posts about it here at PPCT, but you didn't mention it in the podcast.

So far, so good!

[DavesiPAQ]

Congrats ED on the podcast.. Since I live in NJ i couldn't tell your accent but I have two co-hosts Jack and Steve on my podcast that are from Boston... Now thats an accent!! LOL..

[Foo Fighter]

ROFLMAO! This has to be a first in podcast history; someone recording a show while traveling down the highway. Love the ambulance sirens in the background. Nice touch. :lol:

[OSUKid7]

Listening to it right now. I wasn't gonna complain about the sound until the rain got bad. :lol: Glad you paused it there. :) I haven't listened to many podcasts in the past, but I hope PPCT does more in the future. Good job. :D

[Foo Fighter]

Oh, and just so I don't forget to compliment you...nice job. Though I must say I miss the condescending attitude found on certain other podcasts. http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/eusa_whistle.gif

[jkendrick]

Welcome to the Podscape, Ed. :D Nice show.

[Paragon]

Nicely done, Ed.

I guess this means you are more than just a "very lame writer" for Pocket PC Thoughts now. ;) :-)

Dave

[ctmagnus]

Very nice! :way to go:

[GSmith]

Great work on the podcast. You went from testing a few portable podcatching apps to producing a podcast in a very short period of time!

I just downloaded the podcast over my EDGE cell phone direct to my Pocket PC using FeederReader. Works great!

If you want more options for recording, my "very work in progress" effort in documenting ultraportable recording setups is at:

http://feederreader.pocketcasting.com/viewforum.php?f=19

in three articles titled "Pocket PC Audio Primer", "Software - Recording or Editing", and "Hardware - Pocket PC headsets". They are in the very early stages.

My guess is that a headset microphone with a directional microphone would sound much much better, as you may have discovered.

Regarding format:

If you add the shownotes *with links* into the RSS feed, then most podcatchers (including FeederReader) can display them.

As you discuss a topic in the audio portion, you can mention: I'll put a link in the show notes. Then when you publish the RSS feed with shownotes and audio, FeederReader users can listen then tap the "goto message" icon to go to the show notes when they hear something they are interested in.

A 5-10 second music intro and outtro would do wonders as most of us are probably listening to a mix of podcasts one right after the other. Think of your episode as a show between other shows.

Regarding "Um"
This is something that comes with practice (so I've heard). If you listen to talk radio a lot, you may have observed that the best alternative to saying "uh" is to be silent.

Regarding voice speed:
I listen to almost all podcasts through BetaPlayer at 120% speed (except Mike's Manic Minute, it's FAST already).

I liked the "just below RANT", straight-shooting feel to it where you mention the frustrating things and subtleties--along with the positive points--of the programs you are mentioning. You really avoid the "glowcast" feel, and that's great!

Regarding Content:
Great balance between enterprise and personal software. I really like that you're also reviewing power toys and other "almost official" software.

Overall, a great episode and I think the perfect depth. I look forward to more! I'm subscribed.

Greg Smith
Author, FeederReader - Pocket PC *direct* RSS text, audio, video, podcasts
www.FeederReader.com - Download on the Road

[Jon Westfall]

Oh Man, this is scary. I'm about to listen to it now, and after reading the posts, I'm prepared I suppose.

Guess I'll have to start doing some podcasts on my hour commute to work. I wonder if anyone would mind a bit of roadrage mixed in...

Jon.

[Mark Kenepp]

I know there have been some recent studies (http://www.iii.org/media/hottopics/insurance/cellphones/) done about the increased risk of accidents when using a cell phone while driving, even when using a handsfree kit.

I wonder when they will come out with a study about podcasting while driving :devilboy:

[JoshB]

Yay! Welcome to the podosphere, Ed! I'm subscribed, and you can bet that I'll recommending your show.

I've been podcasting over at www.tinyscreenfuls.com since last November (practically ancient history in terms of podcasting). PPCT was a big part of my decision to become a blogger and podcaster (http://www.tinyscreenfuls.com/2005/07/pocket-pc-thoughts-is-podcasting.html), so I'm thrilled to see this step.

Keep it up! :mrgreen:

[jlp]

Sorry dude, I stopped listening after a few seconds.

Wanna keep my ears and sanity... Even though English is not my native language, I can watch movies (and understand the dialogs), but that's too much to bear.

Thanks for trying 8) but no thanks :eek:.

[OSUKid7]

Guess I'll have to start doing some podcasts on my hour commute to work. I wonder if anyone would mind a bit of roadrage mixed in...
I say that should be a requirement for all PPCT ThoughtCasts - to do them while driving down the highway. It would make them much more entertaining and add that thrill factor with accidents and road rage! :lol:

[volwrath]

What kind of GPRS speeds do you get on your imate?

Also, are you going to have a true RSS site, so we can subscribe to your podcast?

edit: small world. I live south of Nashville, and drive into Nashville everday.

[kamikun]

Ya know, Ed... I was born and raised in Savannah, Georgia and while I understand the cultural need of "uuhhhs" in one's dialog, it did take me almost a minute to realize that you were talking about "smartphones" not "smartbombs." Where's 'bout you come from, son?

Really had me going there for a while.

"Microsoft is issuing new versions of smartbombs? Does Homeland Security know anything about this?"

Seriously, thanks for the one-man radio show. Reminds this long-term ex-pat of riding down the road with a buddy and talking tech trash for half an hour. Look forward to future casts.

[MS Mobiles]

Thank you for creating 4th podcast dedicated to Windows Mobile (after msmobiles.com Podcast, Daves iPAQ podcast and CoolSmartphone.com podcast), Ed H ! Keep doing it regularly!

However could you try to record it with better voice quality? ... with less background noise? I am not English native speaker and I have problems to understand it...

[martin_ayton]

Nice one, Ed 8). This was the first podcast I have listened to and it exactly caught the 'sitting over a coffee talking tech with a friend' mood. Especially as this friend knows a lot more about the tech than I do. I look forward to more.

[Ed Hansberry]

Also, are you going to have a true RSS site, so we can subscribe to your podcast?
What is wrong with the link in the post? I tested the RSS link in News Demon and had a few others test it in their RSS software. Enclosures and links all worked fine.

[DavesiPAQ]

Ed you might want to check feedvalidator .. You feed is not validating


http://feedvalidator.org/check.cgi?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pocketpcthoughts.com%2Fimages%2Fhansberry%2Fpodcast%2Fthoughtcast.xml

[Jonathan1]

Just a small note. At some point you guys should consider registering your podcast with iTunes once you get it a bet refined of course:

http://www.apple.com/podcasting/

[dean_shan]

Would be nice if you could have a conversation with someone else. You also need to boost the audio quality. The sound was sub-par at best. The content however was just fine.