Jul

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Some Thoughts About Podshow+

July 10, 2006 |

I have made no secret about my dislike for Podshow+. One of the reasons I dislike the product is because as of now, I do not see how this is going to lead regular (=not podcast listeners) users to podcasting. The moment I open the homepage, I see a blinking flash ad with music blaring out of my speakers. Not a pleasant first impression.

Second, I get a chance to discover Podshows. What are podshows? How are they different from podcasts? This just confuses people. I also get a chance to connect with Stevie, Bengy and Petes? Why? Who are those people? There is no information about them. Are they listeners? Podcasters? Musicians?

Also, every module on the page has the option to “spin it?” What does that mean? Why do I want to spin it? Is this the Wheel of Fortune?

If people overcome all of this, manage to sign in (and I will post much more about this), my main gripe is the metaphor of the “channel” that pervades podshow+. It simply doesn’t work. People don’t want one channel with all their shows showing up in iTunes or whatever aggregator they are using. People want separate feeds. They want control over the experience in the aggregator, which is where it belongs. Why move from iTunes to podshow+ when the experience in iTunes is cleaner, simpler and much more effective?

The overall experience in Podshow+ is too cumbersome. Not enough emphasis has been put on making things simple. Instead, the emphasis seems to have been on adding as many features as possible and adding a myspace clone on top of all of that. Let me give you an example of how strange the interface is.

Here is a screenshot of the ‘My Collection’ tab where I am trying to add the Daily Source Code to my channel. Notice the little blue house/arrow? There is no indication what function it has. In the end, it turns out it moves the list of shows left and right. Not instantly, so when you move it, there is no indication what you are actually doing. Also, it only replicates the left/right arrows already available and probably know to the user from the “Program Guide.”

podshowchannels.JPG

To add this show to my channel, I have to drag what looks like a text input form to the right from “your available channels” to “currently in these channel(s)”? Why? This is the only time in the Podshow+ interface this drag and drop mechanism is used. And why would I drag and drop the channel? Why not drag the name of the show to a channel? There are other options to add a show to a channel, but at this point, you have already lost most users. And using what looks like a text input box for this doesn’t help either.

Just as an aside: When I click on “Podsafe Music,” I am greeted with a complete different site with a new login and a different design. Not a smooth experience.

Oh, and why is the actual podcast directory (which doesn’t work properly right now anyway) hidden behind an option to “find stuff?” Is that what non-podshow podcasts are to Podshow? Stuff? Doesn’t leave a great aftertaste on my mouth.

There is much more to be said, but I think this already shows how many problems there are with Podshow+.


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4 Comments so far

  1. Rob Safuto on July 10, 2006 9:50 am

    I agree with your assessment and review of PodShow. I recently posted a bit of a rant over on my blog at http://www.podcastnyc.net/blog/ expressing my dismay at what VC funded and large tech outfits are doing to podcasting.

  2. Brian on July 10, 2006 10:45 am

    Hey, check out http://www.podOmatic.com

    30k podcasters and growing. :) Disclamer, I work there.

  3. Eric on July 10, 2006 12:16 pm

    Gotta agree with your review. It’s a very cumbersome interface, plus I really dont see the point. I got my podcast feeds in iTunes, and dont need their player at all and certainly not the ‘Channel’.

  4. Elaine on July 10, 2006 5:03 pm

    I hate to say it but I agree. Despite requests for assistance (I’m an admitted techtard) all anyone wants to discuss is the deeper programing issues. I’ve seen at least 4 requests for a tour/guide/better help system and no response. Despite talk to the contrary, all they seem to care about is the technophobes and active podcasters. AC says ‘bring 1000 registered listeners to PD+ and I’ll clean your house myself’..well, I have over 2000 members on one social list I run who are just waiting for a simple method …this aint the one I’ll reccomend. The entire podcast listening world is not made up of tech-geeks. Look at the knitting/craft podcasts. Many thousands of downloads…MANY thousands. Those folks will not spend more than 30 seconds on an interface like PD+. Blubrry.com is looking good though.

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