I don't get the podcasting hype

Blogging is so summer 2004, this fall you don't count unless you have a podcast.

Recently Nasa started podcasting, and even Heineken has gotten on board.

Of course the readers of the SV Sleuth are hip, up to date and know all about podcasting, but just for your co-workers who are peeking over you shoulder:
A podcast is an audio show that is distributed in mp3 format over the internet. You can play them on your iPod (hence the name: ipod + broadcast = podcast) or any other portable media player for that matter. In essence a podcast is a spoken weblog.

The thing is: I don't get it. Why should I want to listen to the mumblings of other web users? If it weren't for my RSS reader, I wouldn't read most weblogs that I browse through on a daily basis because they rarely offer anything worth reading. Why should I bother downloading an mp3 to my computer, uploading them to an iPod (which I don't own by the way), only to find out then that they bore me to sleep?

I mostly listen to the radio in my car. But when I got out to battle the Silicon Valley traffic, getting traffic information is my primary priority. Otherwise, I'll just pop in a CD.

Travelling on airplanes, I'll use my laptop as an audio player until both batteries wear out. It's better than an iPod since I can play movies too.

So again, no need for podcasts, let alone that I have any time to listen them.

If you disagree (or agree), please enlighten me by commenting below.

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