- There is no way to easily go to a podcast’s home page, or to its page in the iTMS.

With the current version of iTunes (6.0.2) clicking on the arrow next to the podcast’s name brings up the iTMS page for that podcast or it’s home page on the web if it was not added through iTMS. Since I’ve changed the default behavior for those arrows, I need to “option” click.

- Descriptions of episodes and podcasts in general are hard to read, and often cut off.

Clicking on the “i” next to the description brings up a popup window that displays the full description. So far, an improvement, but HTML specific elements are not translated properly so the description can be a bit of a mess sometimes.

- When browsing the music store, unless one is looking through featured shows, there is no way to get more information about a podcast other that either googling the name, or choosing to listen to an episode.

Clicking on the arrow next to the podcast’s name brings up the iTMS page for that podcast with episodes and description. Good improvement.

- There is no easy way to view show-notes.

Not sure how this differs from the second point. Show notes can be found in the same location as description.

So far, all improvements. However, I’d love to see HTML support within the description popups. I wish that subscribing to a podcast didn’t autoload my podcast subscription playlist forcing me to relog back into the iTMS if I wasn’t finished browsing. I really hate how they removed the star ratings from podcasts in the latest iPod update. I used that feature all the time. I’d love to be able to somehow click on a URL link while listening to a podcast that would autoload that link later when I synced… That would be easier to implement using iTunes and applescript than making a web browsing, WiFi shootin’ iPod. ;)

You’re absolutely right about podcasting being an important medium for exposing the public to new bands. Good luck to you. (If you do have illegal stuff on there as far as Apple calls it, why not reedit and compile your backshows to another cast?).

http://www.djgalbis.com/subdrive

The podcast is part of the archived shows from a college internet radio station, WPIR Pratt Radio (www.prattradio.com).

All the comments here are really interesting. The more we talk, the better all this will get.

The biggest problem just lies in the blistering speed with which podcasting (and Apple’s interest in it) has caught fire. Be patient but keep voicing your concerns.

The sluggishness Jason talks of often comes soon after a caster makes a new show and posts it. Since many iTunes’ users (and those using other podcatchers) set their preferences to automatically check for new files, there are hundreds (or in some cases thousands) of requests for the cast within a very short time. This places a sudden and high demand on the show’s servers.
Of course if you do have the software set to automatic, it’ll just try again later and you shouldn’t be inconvenienced too much.

Hope you all keep enjoying the shows and spread the joy.

Paul

The point I would add to this list, is what is with the sluggish performance when it’s updating the podcasts??

Okay, not so nice. Now I have to pay attention to see if it’s updating or not :)

Also, PXLated, good info!