MTV Networks and Microsoft Corp. have announced that they will partner to design and develop a new digital music service.

The service, to be called Urge, is due to launch in 2006, the companies said in a joint release, and will be integrated into a new version of Microsoft’s Windows Media Player.

Plans call for the service to offer more than 2 million songs for download from major labels and independents, as well as original content and MTV Networks programs.

URGE will not be compatible with Macintosh computers or iPods. (So what else is new?)

EarthLink, a large internet service provider, will run 15 second video spots ahead of Washingtonpost.com video content. For more on the story visit clickZ.com

The New York Times is now podcasting. They offer two podcasts Science Times and NYT Op-Ed Podcast.

Public Domain Torrents has converted hundreds of public domain movies such as 7th Cavalry, A Farewell to Arms, A Shriek in the Night, and A Star is Born to work on video iPods.

	Digital Podcast Features New Scientist The New Scientist is essential for anyone with a passion for exploration and discovery See Details

New Scientist is running a 9 week podcast pilot. Each week, listeners will be able to access a 12 minute podcast which will include topical news stories, informative interviews and fun competitions. Listen to our series of podcasts to find out about the drugs that aim to erase traumatic memories once and for all and how being overweight may actually help you live longer!

The New Scientist is…
The New Scientist is essential reading for anyone with a passion for exploration and discovery. Every week we bring you the latest news, ideas and discoveries from every field of science and technology direct to your door.

If you like … you will like our podcast
If you like to be the first to be the first to be informed of breaking science stories which challenge the way you think you will like out podcast.

We podcast …
We podcast to to extend our already strong relationship with our readers into this exciting new medium.

We podcast from …
We podcast from California, USA

We will produce … podcasts this year
We will produce 7 podcasts this year and weekly ones in 2006.

We listen to podcasts on …
We listen to podcasts on iTunes and our ipod nanos

To make my podcast, I use …
To make our podcast, we use studio recording equipment.

By the end of 2006, I think…
By the end of 2006, we think podcasts will be a key advertising tool.

Lost in the middle of the Pacific, we would have these three podcasts with us …
Lost in the middle of the Pacific, we would have these three podcasts with us Say goodbye to unwanted memories, Will a pastry a day keep the doctor away? and Sperm donors exposed.

Tivo has just signed up RocketBoom, a three minute daily videoblog based in New York City, covering a wide range of information and commentary from top news stories to quirky internet culture. Now, Rocketboom is available on TiVo as part of the TiVo Video Download Trial.

Satellie radio provider Sirius sells a portable music player, called the S50, which can capture and store up to 50 hours of content or a mix of SIRIUS programming with MP3/WMA files. The capabilities of the device have reportedly been somewhat restrained by RIAA pressure.


However, it does pose the interesting question of what’s different between a time shifted satcast and a podcast. According to today’s Wall Street Journal, these new types of devices are raising conflict between the music industry and satallite radio. Mitch Brainwol, chief executive of the RIAA, is reported to have stated “The presumption you can turn radio into a Napster-To-Go subscription service under the old terms is not accurate.” The satellite guys are reportedly countering with the argument that a 1992 federal law permits consumers to make personal recording from the radio and that the device is like a Tivo.

Negotiations to renew satellite radio licences will start up next year. The outcomes are worth watching closly to see if anything breaks open for podcasters.

AIM Digital, the new media arm of the UK’s Association of Independent Music (AIM), today launched a global trial licence for podcasting, enabling UK independent repertoire to be used in podcasts around the world. The Association of Independent Music is a non-profit-making trade organisation for independent
record companies and distributors in the UK. AIM represents 25% of the UK market, with over 850 members of all sizes and musical genres.

The six month licence will provide a means for broadcasters of every stripe, whether traditional or bedroom-based, to legally podcast a variety of UK independent repertoire. It will enable UK independent labels to make their repertoire available for international podcasting.

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Bitscast is a RSS news reader/database, a audio/video podcast receiver/player, supporting all Microsoft Media PlaysForSure mp3 devices, as well as iPod.

• Handles all news/podcast feeds in RDF, RSS 0.9, 1.0, 2.0, and ATOM 0.3.
• Support multithreading podcast download and synchronization with various MP3 player/iPod.
• Supports for multiple channels, subscription lists, and channel/list management.
• Keyword based news watch
• Group subscription/directory browsing through OPML.
• Unicode support for subscribing to feeds in various international languages
• Feeds/bookmarks list management supporting drag and drop.
• Minimizes to the system-tray with new arrival notification.
• Media (audio/video or software image) auto-downloader and local cache management.
• Podcast audio/video browsing/preview, as well as software download.
• Podcast audio/video download management with flexible timer/scheduler.
• Powerful database query tool, supported by Microsoft JET engine.

System Requirements

• Windows XP or Windows 2003 Server, Microsoft Media Player 9
• Windows 2000, with MDAC 2.7, IE 6, Microsoft Media Player 9