Tod Maffin said that the problem with being a futurist is that people hold you to account when you “get it wrong”. So, I will say that this post is a combination of my (ahem) predictions and hopes for 2007.

In no particular order…

1) Podcast and RSS distribution networks will become more influential

They have separated indie bands from those signed to major labels, and they will start to increase the gap between the basement Podcasters and those who produce “gold” or have connections or money — distribution networks will bridge the gap between the producers and consumers via those who can repackage and mass-circulate content to those with influence and large audiences.

2) Apple’s M4A will become widely available

Whether through affordable licensing options or released to the public domain, Apple will make its proprietary M4A file format widely available. In fact, this will be the first step towards Apple making it possible for any portable player to hook into iTunes thus increasing the profile of its powerful online music store.

3) Tracking tools will be developed

Some genius will develop a tool to track and report on Podcast listen details (time of listen, length of listen, fast-forwards, etc…) from a portable or computer player to the creator. Who will be the first? iTunes? Microsoft? iRiver? PodPress?

4) Google will index audio

Google will launch an extremely accurate speech-to-text translator that will index audio content from RSS feeds, leaving PodScope and Podzinger in its wake.

5) Powerful commenting functions

It will become easier for listeners to participate in the conversation when someone rolls out a feature that makes it possible to cache a text or audio comment that will be sent to the Podcast producer the next time the device is synced with a computer.

6) Taking managing the media to the next level

Political parties and companies will eliminate press releases and refuse interviews, replacing them with internally produced Podcasts (audio and video) as a way to manage their public image and press relations. They will create their own reports and sound-bites and publish them through RSS using an open license for reuse by media organizations.

Here’s to the year that was, and the year that will be!

I just read a post at Hear 2.0 about the intersection of personal computing and driving Ford vehicles (At Ford, Windows is Job One). The possibilities are limitless (including the potential of fresh Podcast consumption replacing radio listening) provided the driver can keep his or her eyes on the road.

If Mac gets into the game, there is the potential that vehicle purchases could be influenced by consumer loyalty to operating systems.

Everyone who knows me knows that CBC radio’s Ottawa Morning and All In A Day have been my daily staples for several years. In fact, All In A Day served as inspiration for my own Electric Sky Podcast.

At the Montreal Podcast meetup this week, I publicly announced that 2006 was the year in which I abandoned my beloved radio shows. Both have undergone some radical changes in the last year, the most obvious are new hosts with styles that, even after many months, I have not been able to warm up to. This of course means that I have nearly wrapped up my love affair with terrestrial radio.

I remain a subscriber to several CBC Podcasts including The Digital Extra, Quirks and Quarks, Editor’s Choice, Ideas and Ontario This Week - a show that is hosted by the talented Michael Bhardwaj and features highlights of Ottawa Morning, Ontario Today and All In A Day.

Now, if CBC could Podcast Vinyl Cafe and O’Reilly and the Age of Persuasion…

It’s hard to know how to send wishes for the season, or if to send them at all. I think it’s fair to wish the best for everyone, and it seems as good a time as any to do so.

So, no matter how you celebrate the season, or even if you don’t, all the best to you and yours for health, happiness and safety at all times.

Here’s to the year that was, and the year that will be.

Mark

The details of the Montreal Podcast Meetup are now available…

Date: December 28, 2006 (Thursday)
Time: 7:30pmET
Location: Cafe Melies, 3540 St. Laurent (between Milton and Prince Arthur)

The reservation is under Twist Image and Mitch Joel.

For more information, follow the blog posts by Bob Goyetche and Mitch Joel.

The Ottawa City Journal published an article written by David May about me in today’s Urban Living section (page 13) — thanks, David! While he did a great job of receiving the flood of information that came at him (watch out when I’m excited about something), some of the information was confused in the final article.

Dave and I corresponded earlier this evening and he is aware of the errors. In the spirit of Web 2.0, I am publishing the corrections here.

• Podcasters Across Borders was the first large-scale Podcast conference in Canada, not the first-ever Podcast conference in North America. I haven’t done any research to determine if PAB was the first Podcast conference in Canada. (Given my recent series of posts on the topic, it’s ironic that I was misunderstood on the matter of ‘firsts’.)

• While I do organize Podcaster meetups in Ottawa, I haven’t done so on a monthly basis. (I know… slacker!)

• Andrea’s comment that there “wasn’t anything that I knew of that was an online community promoting children’s books” was specifically about Podcasting, not about the blogosphere or web in general.

A less-critical correction, and completely forgiveable confusion… the thirty-minute documentary that I produced from nine hours of audio (Making All In A Day) follows the production of a single edition of CBC’s All In A Day (Brent Bambury era). The Podcast of my appearance (and anxiety) as a guest of that same show was the subject of an earlier episode of Electric Sky (Soundseeing tour of my appearance on CBC radio). It was the latter that Tod Maffin promoted on his blog.

I believe that David has a plan to run regular features on Ottawa-area Podcasters. I’ll be sure to blog about it if I hear anything.

Dave Brodbeck emailed me earlier to let me know that Broca’s Area is back in production. Whether it was a true change of heart or a carefully crafted publicity stunt, I’m not concerned. I’m just happy my friends are back.

Besides my holiday wishes, this episode serves up a Rogic Chorus outtake. While this particular feed is not affiliated with Rogic, my Electric Sky Podcast is. I’ll be posting for a while yet and wanted to get this out since many people are already going on vacation.

All the best to you and yours for a happy, healthy and safe holiday season!

 

 A happy holiday b-side [3:51m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Reorder your business cards, Time magazine’s 2006 person of the year is… you, for “seizing the reins of the global media, for founding and framing the new digital democracy“.

Highlights of the article include:

• “It’s a story about community and collaboration on a scale never seen before.“

• “It’s about the many wresting power from the few and helping one another for nothing and how that will not only change the world, but also change the way the world changes.”

Congratulations, You! Blog about it and then take the rest of the day off.

There’s an engaging discussion about good social media citizenship going on in my post Our lofty claims and due diligence. This reminded me about an effort by the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) to develop a Social Media Code of Conduct. Several weeks ago, that organization published a paper for consultation among its members.

The fundamental principles of the draft are simple; CIPR members must execute their online activities and conduct themselves with integrity, competence and confidentiality. At their heart, I believe that these principles are what true social media geeks already adhere to as an unspoken code of conduct. It’s nice to see that the professional community is looking to formalize these principles and that membership will be held accountable once the draft is endorsed. On top of everything else, it’s another acknowledgement of the role that social media plays in personal and professional public relations.

The document explains social media in plain terms, and includes sections which address - albeit at a high level - disclosure, privacy and the falacy that is “off the record” (though, CIPR is far more diplomatic in their explanation).

The paper is called Social Media Guidelines - Consultation and it’s available to the public on the CIPR member consultation page.