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Possibly the most sycophantic article from a podcast news site ever written about corporate interests in podcasting!

TLDR: Apple is introducing video to its Podcasts app, but only if you host with one of four large provider/ad networks: podnews.net/article/v…

From (apparently highly-regarded) Podnews' article:

“Whether it’s truly “open” or not, it follows the ethos of podcasting - that creators should be responsible for distribution and for monetisation."

The word “responsible” is doing serious concealment work here. If Apple had opened this to all podcast providers, it would follow the ethos of podcasting. Instead they’ve launched with four big players, which increases (or even incentivises) lock-in in an industry that is meant to put creators in the driving seat. Podcasting started with RSS precisely so creators controlled distribution. Restricting access to a handful of corporate partners inverts that original promise.

Much of the industry is drifting toward the legacy media model with big corporations extracting value from creators and listeners. Podnews.net seems happy to be along for the ride.

I hope Apple moves quickly to open its API to all podcast providers, especially independent networks like Myke Hurley and Stephen Hackett’s Relay.

More from the Apple fans at Podnews:

“The Apple team are deep thinkers and want the best for the industry. This is a good move for the entire industry; and whatever we might think of the “per-impression” charge, it does mean that Apple also wants this to be a success."

That is a remarkably generous take. Apple wants what is best for Apple. If supporting an industry in specific ways lets Apple monetize it, they’ll do that. If Apple wanted what was best for the industry, they would have built an open solution, not a proprietary one; or at least a solution open to all, not just four big players.

But maybe I’m behind the times on modern podcasting. I don’t even really think that video should be considered a podcast… I’ll go back to shouting at clouds.

Looking forward to hearing what the Upgrade boys think of this: www.relay.fm/upgrade

I’d love to know how much research IKEA put into how little flavour you can add to coke from a dispenser before 100% of your customers tell you it’s disgusting 🧑‍🔬🤔

Since our doggo, Lucy, passed away last month, I’ve realised how much of a muse for my causal photography she was. I spent all 13 of the years she was with us snapping her beautiful face, glossy coat, and enormous paws!

Capturing the detail of her features was not always easy. She had such dark, glossy fur, that the various phone cameras I’ve owned sometimes struggled to make the detail of her body visible.

Now, without her, I’ve started to focus even more on the other kind of photography I like making - Macro shots of lichens, mosses, moulds, wood, stone, metal, and so on.

Fantastic walk this afternoon at a social hosted by one of my team. I’m very lucky to work with such lovely people.

A rural courtyard features several large, rustic buildings with sloped roofs and a dirt pathway.Two old, weathered trailers with large tires are parked under a wooden, open-sided shed.A whimsical garden scene features a tiny house built into a tree, surrounded by small artificial mushrooms and gnome decorations on a bed of moss.