Here you go folks, yet another makeuseof list, this one on podcasts. To be more precise, it’s about podcast directories.. the better ones. Not only do these aggregate, list and organize thousands of podcasts but also provide you with a handful of features to listen, store, discover, download and subscribe to your favorite shows.
What are podcasts ?: In case you didn’t know, podcasts are basically web-based audio (sometimes video) shows, you may think of them as audio/video blogs. Usually you can listen to them online, download desired episodes to your PC and even subscribe to shows you like. It can be a weekly tech show, language course, or weekly wrap-up of best stories on Digg.
TOP 5: Podcast Directories (in no particular order)
(1) Yahoo! Podcasts
Yahoo! Podcasts features comprehensive catalog of podcasts, you can play them right from the website or download to your computer. Browse podcasts by Categories (Tech, Sports, etc.), by Tags, OR by Popularity (Most popular, Highly rated).
(2) iTunes - Podcast Directory
Apple’s podcast directory directly integrated with (and can only be accessed via) its iTunes player (Mac, Win). Access, Browse, Play, Subscribe and Download your favorite podcasts directly from iTunes. If you’re looking for an offline way to easily manage and deal with podcasts OR moving them to/from your iPod, this may be the way to go.
(3) Pluggd
Pluggd is very similar to Yahoo Podcasts although quite different in design; here you’ll find many well-implemented features (i.e. tag cloud, browse podcasts by popularity, etc.). Additionally, it’s the only service that provides an option to search within the podcast conversations, letting you quickly locate conversation parts that you need. (View Demo)
(4) Odeo
Yet another podcast directory, probably the oldest and the biggest one, featuring more than 3.5 mil podcast episodes and counts over 300K registered members. Features include: browse podcasts by categories, subscribe, create playlists, share your fav. shows with friends, etc.
(5) Revision3
Contrary to the above ones, Revision3 is not a podcast directory but an “actual TV network for the web, creating, producing its own original entertainment and content.” It doesn’t provide you with 1000’s of categorized podcasts, BUT only a dozen of really good tech video podcasts, incl. all-favorite Diggnation.
Other podcast directories: Popcasts (lists top podcast from top directories), Podiobooks (huge collection of free audio books. Thanks Duane), Podnova, VitalPodcasts, Podfeed, PodShow, podOmatic, IdiotVox and PodcastEmpire.
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Filed Under: Cool Websites ¦ Lists of tools
Tags: podcasts, vlogs
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I think that Podiobooks (http://www.podiobooks.com) really deserves to be included in the category of Podcast Directories these days. Sometimes what you want is a nice long commitment to an audio program that’s going to last you days, if not weeks. Podiobooks are serialized audio novels, just like the old-fashioned “book on CD” thing we used to do before we got MP3 players. Podiobooks even brings a great hook to the mix by letting you choose how often to deliver new episodes. Some people want all the episodes at once (like they’d have gotten with a CD), some people prefer to spread it out and get maybe an episode every couple of days. Up to you. With hundreds of books to choose from, there’s plenty to search and explore.
Duane
http://commutesmarter.blogspot.com
@Duane
“…Sometimes what you want is a nice long commitment to an audio program that’s going to last you days, if not weeks…”
Thank you for pointing it out, I totally agree with you. It definitely deserves to be added to the list. Adding it right now…
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