So recently I upgraded my cell phone to the HTC Hero Android Phone (Sprint).

While this isn’t my first phone, that could play MP3 files, its the first one I wanted to replace my Apple iPod nano 8 GB Blue (4th Generation).

This led me to being rather spoiled by the iPod and iTunes, work together. Of the podcast catchers I have experimented with in the past week, none of the them knew how to tell if I had listened to a podcast. This of course makes sense as that isn’t one of the variables the MSDOS file system (which at least my Android uses) knows of.  And while I know there a few good Android Apps that do podcatching, I would prefer that my computer keep my podcasts, and dishes them out to the Android, ala iPod / iTunes.

So here is what I would like to see in a PodCatcher:

Computer side:

• Be able to download regular podcasts
• Be able to download paid podcasts (ie: with login information)
• Generate a simple table to give to the Android based player.

Android (or other phone) side:

• Be able to play MP3 files
• Update simple table for Computer side to check

The table I think is key, currently I try using gPodder to send my music to, the bad thing is it doesn’t know how to tell if I have listened to the episode, its controls are simplistic at best. This means manually updating the client every time I want automatically update it so that it erases the old MP3s. The client on the Android will play the file, and then edit the table (perhaps in SQLite format) so that the next time the computer based side checks it will be able to know which episodes have been listened to.  As another side idea, instead of having it like iTunes used to have it where it was a Yes No toggle of have you listened to it, make it so it can take:

• 0 — haven’t listened to any of it
• 1– started but not finished
• 2– finished

Do you have any comments? Would this type of Open source catcher work?

So recently I was thinking about a new idea for Podcasters, those of us who with very little thanks bring you our dear listeners “whatever nut job idea” we have. Here is an idea which may have been attempted previously but I’m not aware of it.

A blogging tool specifically designed for podcasters. Currently most podcasters use a combination of: WordPress + PodPress / Blubrry PowerPress + Feedburner Feedsmith

And this system works well, however I have to believe that something geared directly toward podcasters would work even better. Taking the best parts of each of the 3 systems, along with additional things that podcasters may want, to build the ultimate podcasting web tool.

Of course, as a side benefit there would be less hacks (initially at least) as this wouldn’t be as common of a blogging system.

So what goodies beyond the ones I listed here would you also like to have? Google Analytics? Something else?

A few days ago, I posted up some ideas about doing an “Unofficial Houston Zoo Podcast” which I’ve now decided to call the idea ZooCast, though still not sure I’ll be doing it.

I was playing around with some sounds I was able to get off the internet, and came up with the following as a possible intro sound to the podcast. What do you think?

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Hi all,

Yesterday while at the Houston Zoo, I came up with an idea for an educational podcast. This podcast would be aimed probably for those between 7 and 12, or anyone who wanted to know more about animals. And wanted to get feedback for the idea before I continued anywhere with it.

This would be a short podcast maybe 5 to 10 minutes in length, in which one particular animal would be discussed. Where it lives in the world, what it eats, how endangered it is, etc.

Do you think this would be a good idea for a podcast? Has it been done to much already?

Please do let me know what you think, please leave comments here, or e-mail me at: chris [at] chrismoody [dot] net.

Thanks!

Back on around November 8, 2008, I posted a NaPodPomo episode about the movie Changeling. I believe I stated on it that it generated some ideas while watching the movie of interesting stories that could be written.

The movie is now available on DVD and available via your local rental store and NetFlix. It was released on DVD and Blu-Ray on February 17, 2009. So I figure if your going to watch it, you probably already have.

I won’t discuss what the movie is about, you can learn plenty by checking out the Wikipedia article about it here.

If you haven’t watched the movie yet, the following story ideas will contain spoilers to the movie.

• Assuming Walter did escape, what happened? If he was still a live he’d be about 90, so entirely possible he could still be alive.
• Arthur J. Hutchins, Jr (the boy who impersonated Walter) what in his background would cause him to decide to pretend to be the missing child? I could understand hoping to meet his favorite movie star, but to continue the facade must have had more reasons behind it, I would think.

I did also have another idea, which I remembered was more about the Wineville Murders, but no longer recall what was about.

Anyways, just some thoughts about interesting story lines.

Do you play World of Warcraft? Looking for other people to play with?

I’m wanting to form a group of people who will be willing to do the following:

• Create a new character of a race to be determined later, on a world to be determined later
• Choose your own cast for the race (Warlock, Hunter, etc.)
• Be willing to play 4 hours a week on this one character (rest of week play any of your other characters)

The reason I wish to do this, is because WoW is so much more entertaining when you are in a group of people all playing. The problem with most guilds, is they are heavy on the high level characters, and usually the people who are anywhere else, have to find their own help to complete the tougher missions.

So I figure, if we were able to set aside at least 4 hours a week to be part of this group and play together, then we would probably gain levels fasters than if we started our own characters and played them by itself.

What do you think of the idea? If its something that you think would be of interest to you, let me know! Either leave a comment for this post, or e-mail me at: chris.moody@gmail.com.

So recently, I started a new work. Today I was going to start writing more to it, when I decided that being only into it for 719 words, I decided to start it over, after re-working it dramatically.

I think I’ll be able to keep some of the first few paragraphs, but we will see.

Lately, I have been working with a published author I know on a new story idea. I won’t give much about the plot for this story, except to say I don’t think its been done, or if it has its not done to death like many of the ideas out there.

Found a new cartoon to add to my site that will help you see how this idea is progressing. For the purpose of this blog, I am calling this the Zeta 1 Project. Although while that has something to do with the book, it probably won’t be that important.

Hopefully with the continued support of an author friend that I can actually meet with face to face, this one will go somewhere.

Status upon Writing this Blog Entry

So a while ago (3/25) I wrote a blog post saying I was thinking of starting yet another podcast. And wanted to know what you all thought.

Well, I decided to start the podcast after all. Starting hopefully around June 1st, of this year, SteamPod (http://steampod.org) will launch!

The first story has already been accepted, and its quite good, if I do say so myself!

So yesterday I was listening to a new podcast, Steampunk Spectacular, and came up with another idea for a podcast.

I’ve talked to some of the people who are already into podcasting, and while they think its a great idea they don’t know if there is enough available to do it.

What’s the idea you ask? A show that would be similar to Escapepod, where short fiction is read on a weekly basis, but would be steampunk based.

If you are not familiar with steampunk, you can learn about it by checking out this Wikipedia article.

What do you think? Does steampunk have enough steam for this to happen? Even if its a bi-monthly or monthly show to start off? Or does steampunk need more time to build up steam?

If your an author of steampunk short stories, get in touch with me! If you know someone who is, have them get in touch with me!

You can reach me at chris [at] chrismoody [dot] net.