Gadgetopia

A few weeks ago I finally took the plunge and purchased an iPod. I’m a little late to the party, but that doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate how this little device has changed my appreciation and usage of the music I have owned for years.

Even before my little prize arrived I started searching for free content to load it up with. One of the first things I found was iPodder.

iPodder is a small app initially created by Adam Curry that allows for the easy distribution of prerecorded mp3 files via rss feeds. Coverage of iPodder and podcasting on the internet has been building over the last couple of weeks and today Engadget published a very in-depth tutorial on how to publish and distribute your own content. The steps to utilize iPodder are quite simple:

• Add rss feeds to iPodder client.
• Tell iPodder when to check for new content.
• iPodder automatically downloads mp3 enclosures in rss feed.
• Files are added to playlist and transferred to your iPod

The current selection of iPodder feeds is fairly limited and very tech oriented, but podcasting will eventually provide a very easy way to time-shift the audio content that interests you. (I’m listening to Leo Laporte’s weekend radio show as I type this.)

Do you want to listen to last night’s soccer recap from the BBC while your on the train to work? Someday soon I can see the BBC and similar outlets providing their content in this manner. Tell iPodder to run overnight and when you leave in the morning you have fresh content already loaded in your iPod for your trip to the office.

You don’t actually need an iPod to take advantage of iPodder. Since iPodder automatically puts downloaded files in a playlist in iTunes and you can use it to listen to your new audio content. If you haven’t tried it yet, what are you waiting for? If you can’t find a feed that interests you, you can always follow Engadget’s instructions and publish your own content for the world to enjoy. Think of it as public access radio for your iPod.