#7 - So I Herd U Liek Vizualz

4th generation iPod from 2004

When podcasts became popular in late 2004, there was one mp3 player that dominated the market: the iPod 4th generation. The whole reason why an audio clip made for downloading over the internet was called a podcast was because the first broadcasts were made for the iPod. The iPod, at that time, was limited to audio only until the introduction of the iPod Photo. Looking at pictures in color was now a possibility, but was never intended to play videos. In essence, the iPod was an audio only device so it would make sense that podcasts made for it would only contain sound.

Podcasts on 2004 iPod menu

As the iPod lineup grew and its capabilities expanded to include video playback and WiFi connectivity, podcasts could now be coupled with a combination of audio and visuals. Yet many podcasters stuck to the traditional audio only format. Once iPods focused more and more on the video aspect with a larger screen and downloadable games like on the iPod Touch, podcasts weren't keeping up. Now iPod users can play YouTube clips, surf the internet, and use a slew of applications. So why would anyone want to download any podcast, let alone one without any visuals?

5th generation iPod playing a podcast

Podcasts were a great idea at the time since one could download news broadcasts, comedy routines, stories, interviews, and other original content which acted as a nice break from the music. It made sense that they were so popular when all people had were devices that only played audio files. When the color screen came along, it was a case of video killed the podcast star. Why would anyone rely on podcasts to get alternative entertainment when he/she could upload their favorite TV shows, movies, and online clips? Podcasts had a niche following already, but were losing new subscribers fast when the process of having to download the podcasts and then uploading them became too much a hassle for many. Customers of mp3 players were no longer looking for just a music playing device, they wanted multimedia and different applications at their fingertips. Podcasters were following suit by releasing video clips, but, besides devoted fans, no one wanted to explore audio podcasts anymore when most of them could be found elsewhere like radio, television, and the internet.

Podcasts on the iPhone and iPod Touch

In order to attract new subscribers, podcasters need to make their content more appealing. Instead of simply putting parts of or full radio segments online for distribution through podcasts, they should include original visuals. When a host mentions a celebrity, book, quote, or other reference, there should be a visual that corresponds. That way the podcasts are unique and, therefore, desireable as well as enticing to those wanting more than just another audio file. There might also be a solution in interactivity within a podcast too. Perhaps a "choose your own adventure" podcast. Although there will always be those who desire simple audio podcasts, that audience won't be around forever and with changing times comes a shift in expectations and interests. Podcasts should look towards the future instead of dwell in the past and go by the way of the print newspaper today.

#6 - I Accidentally A Podcast

pod·cast (päd′kast′). noun. An audio recording that may be coupled with visuals usually in a series of episodes or regular segments available online which can be downloaded onto a computer or portable device.

Why did I have to define a podcast? Do you have to describe what an iPod is? Why hasn't the podcast become as popular as the device it was named after (iPod + broadcast)?

A few years ago, I used to be subscribed to a decent amount of podcasts on iTunes. A couple times per week I would catch up on the past few days of tech news, photoshop tips, Chinese lessons, video game clips, and National Geographic exerpts. Now I just follow the Chinese lessons. What happened between then and now? Like many others, I found the amount of effort needed to be put into obtaining podcasts wasn't worth their entertainment value. I was downloading episodes that I liked that were already featured on TV or on their respective websites only to watch them once and delete afterwards. They were taking up too much hard drive space and too much of my time. I had realized that most podcasts were nothing more than repackaging content from TV, radio, and other websites to be distributed in a centralized virtual location. Getting a podcast felt like I was in an endless hall of shelves stacked full of cassette tapes where I picked a few that sounded interesting but then had to treck all the way back to the beginning to put them in a tape player and listen. The whole experience just isn't new media enough for me. Podcasts are stuck in limbo between new and old media which doesn't have such a great fan-base.

Maybe my cynicism towards Apple and iTunes is clouding my judgement, but I've tried alternative programs like Juice with no increased enthusiasm for podcasts. I subscribed to the ChinesePod RSS feed and still only just glance at their episodes. I suppose podcasts just aren't my style and maybe I'll never embrace having to download audio or video programs to listen to later.

#5 - Better or Worse?

There are sites where it is obvious that the creators have put enough time and effort into its design so that their intended audience feels at ease and confident in finding what it's looking for. Then there are sites like HavenWorks.

WARNING: This site may cause eye strain, headache, cross-eyedness, confusion, loss of interest, blurred vision, or seizure. Side effects can run from mild to severe so ask your doctor before viewing HavenWorks.

Essentially, just about everything is wrong with this site. The only two things that's not lacking is color and content. At first glance, my eyes didn't know where to begin and yet I had to scroll not only down but across just to view everything this site has to offer. Navigation is just about as impossible as it can get. Everything seems to be a link to somewhere so finding a starting place is like only choosing one piece of candy at the Sweet Factory. Even if I were to come across the information I wanted the text is hardly formatted and the pages require so much scrolling which makes my interest in actually reading anything nonexistent. There's simply too much of everything! I feel totally lost and unable to focus.

On the other side of the spectrum, Fatburgr is a fantastic little website. It's clear from the get-go what this site contains within the first few seconds of looking at the minimal yet effective images and quick, to-the-point description that can't be overlooked. It's colorful but not outrageous and gives off a kind of light-hearted feel. The limited amount of content on the main page makes it simple to get started searching the website without being constraining to exploration. It's easy to figure out how the site operates because it's uncluttered and organized in way that makes sense to the audience. Even though the content is limited, they provide additional resources if more information is required. It may be a bit simplistic but it's intended for quick access even when on-the-go as the iPhone option signifies.

When it comes to website design, simple and clean is the way to go.

I'm Original, I Use a Template

Image source: photobucket

Here's an easy guide to customizing your blog.

1. Go to Mashable's list of blogger template sites
2. Find a template you like and save it to your computer
3. Open up your blog in blogger, go to the Layout tab, and click on Edit HTML
4. Under Backup / Restore Template, click Download Full Template link to save your current template to your computer just in case you need it later.
5. Click the Browse button and open your new template that you want to apply
6. Click the Upload button when you've found it
7. If you come across any warnings, just save or preview if you want to see how it looks first
8. Navigate your way back to Layout > Page Elements and feel free to move your page elements around.
9. To add page elements, click an Add a Gadget link where you want your new element to show up
10. To add music to the sidebar, sign up with playlist, add the songs that you want to your playlist, add the HTML gadget to your blog, and follow the steps on the playlist website.
    

#4 - (Insert Image Here)

Abortion is just another word for choice
and symbolizes women's rights, nothing more.

Why should those with so little to do with abortions
hold so much power over their legality?

Should women be forced to have unwanted children?...

...or should they have the right to choose?

So many decide to be pro-choice.

There are more lives at stake than what you might think.

Women shouldn't be forced; it's a choice.

If there's no choice, then...

Is this making sense?

Pro-choice is not pro-abortion.
Pro-life is anti-choice.

The topic of abortion is not an easy one to address, but I feel that I must express my unbiased observations. In order to convey my thoughts on the subject through images, I had to create some kind of logical argument with as few words as possible. I started off with my visual thesis statement, which took a pro-choice stance, and then I explained why. My first issue was why men seem to have so much say in the matter. This may be shooting myself in the foot since I am male, but I still felt it was worth noting to get readers to think critically of how abortion is represented. I then moved on to my next point: women shouldn't be forced into a single decision. No one should have the right to make anyone, including mothers, choose one side or another when the issue is a sound, personal, and moral decision. Women shouldn't be forced to give birth or get an abortion. I then went on to visually state how many share my ideas and the consequences of not heeding our warnings. Finally, I make a dramatic conclusion where I say that it's fine if you, as an individual, don't want to have an abortion, but please don't push your choice onto others. It was different explaining everything in images but I feel that my only obstacle was finding the right images for each part.

Update: I fixed a spelling and syntax error so that it reads "Women shouldn't be forced; it's a choice" instead of "Woman aren't forced, it's a choice."
I also want to add that I am not against those who choose to be pro-life. In fact, I'm fine if you want to be pro-life. I just don't appreciate when some pro-lifers suddenly wish to make everyone pro-life. If you support giving birth, never to have an abortion, then I respect your personal decision. The reason why I said "Pro-life is anti-choice" is to simply state that a pro-lifer is more or less giving up their right to choice and instead always go with giving birth to a child. It's not much of a choice when there's only one option. Again, it's fine if you don't want an abortion and become pro-life, but what's not fine is when you force others to be pro-life as well.