Comments on: Leo Laporte suggestion to change Podcast to Netcast is ridiculous

By: loondog

loondog — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 00:35:50 +0000

I am going to have to side with Leo also. No matter which way you spin it, "Pod" will always be related back to Apple. Even if you say its Portable-On-Demand. People relate to what is main-stream and that is the ipod. You cannot "educate" the public when it comes to technology, the only people who will understand are the ones who WANT to understand and take the time to understand. The rest will just follow the mainstream drivel because they want it spoon fed to them. The first conception a person will have are that the files are made for ipods and can only be played on ipods. Pod=ipod period. I do not agree with Netcast as the new descriptive phrase though. I think that the term "Net" has a bit of geek cheese associated with it. I am going to go surf the net dude and listen to my netcast. Personally I like Porta-cast, Portcast, etc. If the "P" in Pod stands for Portable then lets actually use it in the name. It provides a much more descriptive name than even podcast does. Portcast = portable broadcast.

By: Rob S.

Rob S. — Wed, 11 Oct 2006 01:21:26 +0000

So if Apple wants to try to claim to the term “podcast”, one alternative is to use a homophonic homonym, namely “PAudCast”. I think this abbreviation for “Portable Audio Webcast” is more obvious and meaningful than the backronym “Portable On-Demand …” for “POD” proposed elsewhere. (Maybe you should make sure Podcast Ready Inc. registers “PaudcastReady.com” for parking on top of “PodcastReady.com” before making this post public:-)

By: tamar

tamar — Tue, 10 Oct 2006 21:39:24 +0000

When I first heard about his proposal, I made a similar comment. Netcast just doesn’t sound innovative for the current technology generation. It feels old and outdated. “Podcast,” on the other hand, is a fresh and creative idea, and since it’s still “new” to a majority of users, it is embraced more easily.

(I also keep thinking Netscape when I think Netcast, and well, welcome to 5 years ago.)

By: ainanet

ainanet — Tue, 10 Oct 2006 08:21:07 +0000

PODCAST FOREVER!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAA

By: Landincoldfire

Landincoldfire — Mon, 09 Oct 2006 23:27:30 +0000

Sure, Podcast may not be the best name for the medium, but Netcast? Leo will have to try better in creating a brand he can stand on. I get asked more than once a night what I am listening to when people come into my office. I will say podcast in the first sentence, but that is followed up by a brief description on what a podcast actually is. I still see looks of confusion, but it is slowly catching on. It's going to be a hard battle to keep Podcast separated from Apple, but with continuing growth things will work out in the end, they always do.

By: Landincoldfire

Landincoldfire — Mon, 09 Oct 2006 23:27:30 +0000

By: TelegramSam

TelegramSam — Mon, 09 Oct 2006 23:03:33 +0000

I have to side with Leo. I’ve always thought the name podcast was a terrible one, and I think the benefits outweigh the hastle of switching the name.

By: Red_Eye

Red_Eye — Mon, 09 Oct 2006 21:35:40 +0000

I couldnt agree more. I think what is at issue here is a legacy. Leo is trying to cut the podcast legacy free of the Applie Ipod. In its place he would craft a legacy of his own making and in his own vision. Podcasting is great, but I dont own an mp3 or portable player. I listen at work, and in the car during my 80 mile a day commute on my MP3 capable in dash CD player. Yes keeping podcasting tied to the Ipod may keep some in the dark but like you said more education can fix that. Its time the broadcasters of the world realize this is the wave of the future. Every day there are dozens of new podcasts that fill a niche market of their own. Productions costs are mostly low and more importantly, people get exactly what they want to hear!!!!! Something the RIAA and MPAA have lost sight of is the customer, they think they can set insane price points and EXPECT you to buy their garbage. I am sick of the clearchannels of the world dictating to me what I can hear on the radio, I refuse to pay for XM or its like when I can find people I have things in common with talking about subjects that interest me for free (as in beer). And I can listen when I want to, where I want to. In the end the Ipod may have the most importaint part of its name not in the term podcat, its "I". We are the I generation and its about what I want when I want it and how I want it and at a price I can afford.