FreePint Newsletter 201 - Market Research, Versioning, Podcasts
> = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
*New* fully-formatted HTML version of FreePint
View it online at:
> = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
FreePint
"Helping 77,000 people use the Web for their work"
http://www.freepint.com/
ISSN 1460-7239 2nd March 2006 No.201
> = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
IN THIS ISSUE
-------------
EDITORIAL
MY FAVOURITE TIPPLES
By Sean Austin
FREEPINT BAR
In Association with Factiva
a Dow Jones & Reuters Company
JINFO :: JOBS IN INFORMATION
Information Co-ordinator
Researcher
Knowledge Manager - Financial Services
TIPS ARTICLE
"Purchasing and using market research services:
some starting points on the Web"
By David Mort
REVIEW
"Making Knowledge Visible"
Written by Elizabeth Orna
Reviewed by Zena Woodley
FEATURE ARTICLE
"MP3s, Podcasts and all that"
By Nick Luft
EVENTS, GOLD AND FORTHCOMING ARTICLES
CONTACT INFORMATION
ONLINE VERSION WITH ACTIVATED HYPERLINKS
FULLY FORMATTED VERSION
> = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
> = = = = = = = = = = = = = ADVERTISEMENT = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
It shouldn't take an expert to find relevant business news.
Factiva Search 2.0 Beta delivers superior results displayed with
interactive charts, powerful filtering and intuitive navigation.
It's so easy-to-use - everyone can find what they're looking for.
Try it today and see why there's nothing else like it.
> = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = [fa2011]
> = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
*** Researcha :: Immediate pay-as-you-go company data ***
Access hard-to-find data on UK company directors, original company
filing images and company data for Austria, Belgium, France, Germany,
Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland.
Researcha is free to search and view basic details, with convenient
report delivery. Try it now:
> = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
*** ABOUT FREEPINT ***
FreePint is a global network of people who search, use, manage and
publish information. Members receive this free newsletter twice a
month, packed with tips, features and resources on finding, managing
and using work-related information.
Joining is free at , and connects information
practitioners around the globe with tips, events, resources,
information ... and each other.
Get answers to your tricky research and information questions at the
FreePint Bar, our free online forum: .
Please share FreePint with others by forwarding this message. The
FreePint newsletter is available online in several formats and can be
read, saved, forwarded and printed at .
> = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
EDITORIAL
By William Hann
Can you count? I bet you can; and if you can count then I bet you
can 'number'. Numbering can be learnt at a very young age, which, to
our relief, was confirmed to us at parents' evening yesterday.
So, if you can number things, then you should be able to 'version'.
Can you 'version'?
Versioning (or 'revision control') is used primarily in software
development and document management to identify an item which has been
changed or enhanced in some way. It's currently being discussed at the
FreePint Bar .
Although versioning can work well internally, things tend to go awry
quite quickly when product versions are shown to customers. Take
Microsoft Windows, for example. It was easy to identify Windows 1.0,
2.0 and 3.0 (1985-1990), but since then we've had Windows 3.1, 3.11,
95, 98, Me, and XP. I only know this because I've used computers
loaded with each version, but people new to computers wouldn't know
that version 3.0 preceded 98, which itself preceded XP.
Versioning is moving to the Web, and we're rapidly entering the world
of 'Web 2.0' (pronounced 'two point oh'). Web pages are becoming
interactive applications, rather than simply static sources of
information (see ).
The part of Web 2.0 which excites me most is Ajax
, which you may have seen in action in
Google's Gmail. We're using Ajax in the new 'Researcha' service, which
today replaces FreePint Financials with enhanced functionality and the
addition of European company information .
Other parts of the information world are also embracing versioning,
with 'Library 2.0' . In
this case it's not just technology changes, but a shift in thinking
from the traditional uni-directional library model. Information
vendors are versioning too, with visual navigation being a main part
of the launch of Factiva's 'Search 2.0' .
Following the recent FreePint survey, we've made significant visual
enhancements to the online version of the FreePint Newsletter too.
The Web site edition of this newsletter is now much easier to read,
with photos of authors, supporter logos, interactive elements -- such
as a 'Suggestion Box' right inside the issue -- and full-formatting.
The print-friendly (PDF) version has been formatted for a while, but
the Web site version is now just as attractive. Take a look:
So, we're listening to our members through surveys, and making the
necessary improvements. We're also giving you tips on using a market
research firm yourself right here in today's newsletter. However,
we're definitely not 'versioning'. The last FreePint Newsletter was
number 200; today's is 201; and the next issue will be (you've got
it) 202. Counting we can do; numbering we're comfortable with;
but versioning is not for us.
William Hann
Managing Editor and Founder, FreePint
e: william.hann@freepint.com
t: 0870 141 7474
i: +44 870 141 7474
FreePint is a Registered Trademark of Free Pint Limited (R) 1997-2006
> = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
> = = = = = = = = = = = = = ADVERTISEMENT = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Try a fresh approach to company information with:
MINT UK
A leading business information tool from
Bureau van Dijk Electronic Publishing
Click here to register for a free trial
> = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = [bv2012]
> = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
*** Web Alerts reviewed in VIP ***
Read three in-depth reviews in the February 2006 issue of VIP. Web
Alerts, a current awareness and data warehouse service; The Mobile
World, a statistical data and analysis tool; and Factiva Search 2.0,
which offers new clustering and visualisation features.
> = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
MY FAVOURITE TIPPLES
By Sean Austin
* The British Library's Document Supply Centre
has proved a lifesaver
on many an occasion. Pity I still take all of the credit from happy
users of our Inter-Library service!
* To keep up-to-date with the library community, pose a query, or even
to launch an ad-hoc survey amongst your peers, use
the National Academic Mailing List
Service.
* Sometimes there are just some Excel queries you want to leave to the
experts. Posting a query on the message boards of
usually comes up with the answer.
* Now that universities have names that bear no resemblance to their
geographical location, I find this map
particularly helpful in finding
academic libraries close to where my users work.
* OK, I drive and I work for the Environment Agency. Doesn't quite go
hand in hand, but I do carshare. To find a scheme near you, try
. If you don't drive, go green by not
printing off your FreePint Newsletter!
> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Sean Austin is a Library Services Advisor in the Information Services
Unit of the UK's Environment Agency, and takes a lead role in Document
Delivery (Inter-Library Loans to you and me)
.
Submit your top five favourite Web sites. See the guidelines at
.
> = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
> = = = = = = = = = = = = = ADVERTISEMENT = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Silobreaker
12000+ sources, biographies, visualization, view360, search, split,
drill, save. Find new insights across information and industry silos.
Just what you have been waiting for. All this and more for a flat fee
of 199 USD per year and 2 weeks of free trial.
> = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = [sb2013]
> = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
*** Jinfo :: Advertise information jobs to 4,000+ job seekers ***
Advertising an information-related vacancy with Jinfo
puts that position in front of 4,000 Jinfo Newsletter
subscribers and the entire FreePint membership.
Find out more about listing a vacancy today:
> = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
FREEPINT BAR
In Association with Factiva
a Dow Jones & Reuters Company
In the last FreePint Newsletter we celebrated reaching our 200th
issue: this week we can celebrate reaching our 30,000th posting at the
FreePint Bar. As usual, we have had a mixed bag of postings over the
last two weeks and I am starting with a couple of interesting and
ongoing discussions:
The first one is about 'Ageism' and finding work at fifty. Responses
from FreePinters include: going freelance; setting up a "social
publishing, blogging and 'specialist knowledge'" site; and lots of
words of encouragement .
The second ongoing discussion, also mentioned in the last issue, is
whether a FreePinter should renew her membership to CILIP
. Further to this posting, AUKML
(The Association of UK Media Librarians) wants to move away from
events mainly taking place in London, but don't know how to reach a
UK-wide audience? .
FreePint has its own international events page where you can list your
events for free promotion . There
are 48 events to choose from, as we speak.
Do you have any ideas for contacting UK libraries to ask for
information about their services, collections, etc., without resorting
to impersonal mass-mailings? . Or
how about tracking which links on an intranet are actually being
clicked on? .
What's the best format for delivering podcasts? Perhaps this week's
article by Nick Luft will help .
With the latest issue of VIP having just being published, VIP's Editor
Pam Foster has received numerous requests to compare Euromonitor and
Profound (now known as 'Market Research on Thomson Business
Intelligence'). These two reviews will be published in the March
2006 issue of VIP .
And finally, do you know where to find examples of staff
development audits or market
research/facts and stats on the UK organic movement, especially
clothing, toys, cosmetics? .
I hope you've found something to grab your attention -- or perhaps you
have your own niggly question you'd like to ask at the Bar?
Penny Hann
Production Editor, FreePint
> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The FreePint Bar is where you can get free help with your tricky
research questions
Help with study for information-related courses is available at the
FreePint Student Bar .
Subscribe to the twice-weekly email digests at
.
> = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
*** VIP: Business information product reviews and news analysis ***
VIP, a monthly publication, offers in-depth, unbiased reviews of
business information products, plus commentary by editor Pam Foster.
Over 1,000 senior information workers read it, with information
budgets from GBP 45k to GBP 1.7m. If you fit this profile and you
don't read VIP, then you're at a disadvantage:
> = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
*** Have a suggestion about FreePint? ***
Use the FreePint Suggestion Box
to leave your anonymous comment:
> = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
JINFO :: JOBS IN INFORMATION
The Jinfo service enables you to search and advertise
information-related job vacancies.
The Jinfo Newsletter is published free every two weeks, and contains a
list of the latest vacancies along with job-seeking advice. The latest
article is entitled "What does your Web site say about you?". Read it
online and subscribe free at .
Here are some of the latest featured jobs:
Information Co-ordinator - Part Time 9 months maternity cover
We provide innovative paper & technology-based careers & recruitment
products & services to the HE sector, graduates & recruiters.
Recruiter: Graduate Prospects
Researcher
Calling researchers in Oxfordshire - 2 roles - use your
business research & online database skills.
Recruiter: Sue Hill Recruitment
Knowledge Manager - Financial Services
Knowledge Management experience at senior level? Excellent
developmental opportunity to work for expanding global organisation.
Recruiter: Glen Recruitment
[The above jobs are paid listings]
NB: These are just a selection of the 47 jobs in the current edition
of the Jinfo Newsletter and over
170 in the Jinfo database .
Jinfo -- the best place for information-related job vacancies.
* JOB SEARCHING? -- Free search and sign up to the Jinfo Newsletter
* RECRUITING? -- Complete the form and advertise a vacancy for
just GBP195
-- 10% discount for agencies
-- 50% discount for registered charities.
Find out more today at
> = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
TIPS ARTICLE
"Purchasing and using market research services:
some starting points on the Web"
By David Mort
Introduction
------------
Not a day seems to go by without news of another survey popping up on
TV, radio, or the newspapers. As I began researching this article --
an updated version of an article I wrote for FreePint in February,
2000 -- I was
particularly concerned by a new survey that found that beards,
moustaches and goatees are a huge turn-off for women; nine out of ten
women report that they prefer a clean-shaven man. This is bad news for
IT professionals in particular: Training provider Training Camp
discovered in a survey of IT experts that 47 percent of males have
facial hair (release date
15 January 2005). The survey added that someone proudly sporting a
'sculpted goatee' is likely to be a Linux enthusiast, while wearers of
the 'chin-strap' beard are probably database experts. For CEOs and
CIOs, the choice is a simple moustache.
As the proud owner of a moustache for over 30 years, I was naturally
concerned about survey results indicating that women prefer a naked
face. But then I noticed that the survey had been sponsored by
aftershave manufacturer Lynx. Further research allayed my fears, when
I found two other encouraging surveys: one reporting that the majority
of women lie on a daily basis (from That's Life magazine), and another
found that 30 percent of consumers completing surveys are likely to
give false answers (how do they know?). So the moustache stays for
now!
Of course, these surveys are primarily fodder for the news columns and
other media, but they also highlight the wider problems for users of
market research and those considering a market research exercise or
purchase. Virtually any individual or organisation can run a survey
and publish the results somewhere. Many published reports give little
information on survey methodologies used, making it difficult for
readers to evaluate the validity of the survey. What's more,
organisations with little experience of survey techniques and
methodologies are conducting surveys all the time.
Users of survey results, and buyers of research, are faced with a
growing choice of individuals and agencies competing for any research
cash. Before parting with any part of your research budget, be sure
you are getting value by asking some pointed questions and choosing a
reliable resource.
Whether you are purchasing or using published research, or investing in
bespoke research, these are the critical questions you should be
asking:
* Who has undertaken the research and for what purpose?
* How was the research undertaken (samples, questions asked, methods
of collecting data etc)?
* Have the results been analysed and interpreted in a consistent and
reliable way?
In addition, consider the following initial questions before you look
to invest in a bespoke project:
* Exactly what are you trying to find out from the research (aims and
objectives), and is a bespoke research survey the best way to
achieve that end?
* Have you checked existing published sources to see if they can
answer your requirements?
* What are the key themes and issues that you need the research to
address?
* Are there any work colleagues or contacts who have experience buying
research and can offer any advice or contacts?
* What is your likely budget for this research, and is your budget
realistic?
Finding the right agency or individual, offering the most appropriate
and effective service at the right price, can be a tricky proposition,
particularly for the inexperienced or occasional research buyer.
Luckily, a number of reliable web sites (sponsored by research
industry associations and professional bodies) can help you. Members
of these bodies are normally required to abide by minimum industry
standards or codes of conduct. Most have free searchable member
directories on their sites, plus tips on how to set up a research
programme, commission research, and monitor and evaluate the research.
The focus here is on UK and pan-European market research associations.
UK
--
If you are an inexperienced research user or buyer, a good starting
point is the independently produced Market Research Portal at
. It has a wealth of information
including news, guides on commissioning and conducting research, an
explanation of the research process, basic introductions to areas such
as sampling and data analysis, articles on market research, and a
glossary of market research terminologies. Another useful section is a
regularly updated review of new published research, covering 26
different industry sectors, which includes brief summaries of the
research. Publications covered include materials from publishers such
as Euromonitor and Mintel, as well as research agencies such as TNS
and BMRB.
The British Market Research Association has
an alphabetical list of over 240 members, as well as links to member
web sites. Also online is BMRA's Selectline service, which can be
searched by sector, type of fieldwork required, type of services
needed, etc. Users must complete the free registration process to use
the service.
The Market Research Society offers free online access to its annual
Research Buyers Guide at ; again, free
registration is required. The site also enables individuals who have
been contacted to take part in a survey to report on the validity of
the market research agency that contacted them
.
The BMRA and MRS have been in merger discussions for the last two years
and, after a poll of members, the merger will now take place in April
2006.
Marketing Society membership is primarily aimed at senior marketing
professionals; find them through the freely accessible Consultants
Register on the Society's site .
The Association of Qualitative Research Practitioners
offers information on all UK and overseas
member companies. The site directory is arranged by sector as well as
alphabetical listing of all its individual members.
Also worth mentioning is the Association of Users of Research Agencies
(AURA; ). This is a voluntary association
representing buyers of market research and provides a forum for
exchange, amongst members, of their views, experiences, and concerns.
To access the member's bulletin boards and discussion groups you have
to join the association. If you are a regular buyer of research
services, the benefits of membership are worth the price - meetings,
details of client experiences, access to library services, as well as
the bulletin boards and discussion groups.
A useful independently produced site is MrWeb, .
The portal has directories of organisations involved in various areas
of market research including full-service research agencies,
consultants, producers of omnibus surveys, suppliers of market
research software, and viewing facilities for focus groups.
European and International Sources
----------------------------------
The best site for European research contacts is ESOMAR - the European
Society for Opinion and Marketing Research .
It offers free access to its Directory of Research Organisations (the
2006 version has just been added to the site), and the advanced search
facility enables searching by country, sector, and by research
methods/techniques used. Despite its name, ESOMAR has details of
member agencies around the world, not just in Europe. The site also
provides links to national and international market research
associations globally.
For users wishing to compare research fees around the world, ESOMAR
has published a Prices Study which compares prices for the same piece
of research in various locations. The study is available for purchase
as a PDF; at EUR75, it is a good investment in learning about the wide
variations in pricing for the same research.
The Association of European Market Research Institutes
represents the larger European market
research agencies (80-plus members). The MR Selector search facility
enables visitors to find companies by country, by research
specialisation, and by industry experience.
The International Federation of Market Research Agency Associations
offers links to the membership directories
of research associations in Belgium, Italy, France, Czech Republic,
Hungary, Germany, Sweden, and the UK.
Finally, World Opinion covers
international opinion surveys, has links to various market research
association sites and agencies and, for those wanting to undertake
their own research, provides guides to such things as data collection
and analysis software and online survey software.
Conclusion
===========
This article offers starting points for those contemplating
commissioning market research or buying published research reports. As
with any purchasing decisions, the key is to shop around to find the
agency and service that fits your needs and your budget. If you can,
network with colleagues to obtain recommendations, and always check
references to confirm the credibility and quality of any agencies that
you might find from the above sources. Finally, remember that the
research industry is highly competitive; in most situations, the buyer
is in a relatively strong position to pick and choose.
> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
David Mort is an experienced business information professional with
expertise in market research information and statistical data. He is a
co-founder and director of IRN Research
, a bespoke market research and business
information consultancy based in the UK. IRN also operates
offering evaluated links to
over 4,000 Web sites containing market data and statistics, industry
news, and company listings.
> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Related FreePint links:
* 'Information and Libraries' articles in the FreePint Portal
* Post a message to the author, David Mort, or suggest
further resources at the FreePint Bar
* Read this article online, with activated hyperlinks
* Access the entire archive of FreePint content
> = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
*** In-depth information management reports from FreePint ***
Topics include: Enterprise Search; Google's Strategy; Freedom of
Information; Information Auditing; Publishing eNewsletters;
Acquiring Skills; Info-Entrepreneur Marketing
Read about the full range of reports from FreePint at:
Would you like to write a report?
> = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
REVIEW
"Making Knowledge Visible"
Written by Elizabeth Orna
Reviewed by Zena Woodley
There are some people in the information world for whom I have the
deepest respect. They have an awesome depth and breadth of knowledge.
Liz Orna heads my list. She wears her learning gracefully, and
anything she publishes is worthwhile - she's excellent with the
practicalities of information. So: having set out that I'm a fan,
what of this latest publication?
How does one make knowledge visible? Orna posits that knowledge
requires information as a product (as a body requires food, or a car
fuel, if you will). The ingestion/digestion of this thus creates
further knowledge, the transformational point being when internal
becomes external in an ongoing sine-wave. Information products are but
a collection of symbols, independent of their material form. Orna
defines information products as embodying substantial content: they
allow users to do something they need/want to do, rather than being an
object which must be 'sold' to them. She presents the basic ideas on
information products. She posits their proper use in how organisations
use knowledge and information to achieve whatever they are in business
for. She offers practical proposals for action to find out how well
products currently fulfil that role; and then to upgrade their
performance. She involves the thoughtful reader at all stages of this
process.
The book is 203 pages long, plus an index. Clear diagrams, lots of
them. Four sections, with four chapters in each, and lots of real-life
stories and examples of what to do - and what not to do. A number of
excellent references at the end of each chapter.
In Part 1, Orna lays out the basic concept of an information product.
Part 2 puts information products (IPs) in an organisational context.
It covers the business of the organisation, the value that IPs add
(and subtract); the stakeholders and their interests. Part 3 - In
support of IPs - covers knowledge and information management in
support of IPs; infrastructure for IPs (information systems,
technology tools), and information design, the reconciler of
conflicting needs. Part 4 is headed Action for IP value - a practical
process - and if you seek a template, seek no more. There is also a
chapter on IP auditing. It comes with a health risk warning - only
start this process if you are utterly convinced of its benefits, and
have plenty of colleagues (the more senior, the better) to support
you. And, vitally, if you have a positive response from the top of the
organisation. Otherwise, bide your time, and wait for the climate to
change. In other words, do not beat your head against a brick wall,
nor raise it so far above the parapet you lose it to a passing sniper.
Difficult if you've not been in the profession that long, and you're
eager to make your mark!
As those within it are aware, information within the NHS is beset by
many changes, and for anyone within this particular sector seeking a
practical guide, I would recommend this book. Indeed, I'm looking
forward to exploring in greater depth some of the points raised within
its pages with my IT colleagues - and I shall ensure any walls are
padded, not brick. However, it would also be of great use to
information workers in small companies, whose practices aren't quite
in line with how things should be. Buy it!
> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Zena Woodley lives in London, and is currently Library Resources
Manager for Mid Essex Health Trust, at Broomfield Hospital, in
Chelmsford. She has enjoyed a varied career within the information
field, and - with twenty years' experience - finds it evident that
some professional problems transcend sector boundaries. She is
currently grappling with the interesting structures of NHS IT, against
those of commercial companies. Her real delight, even after this
double decade in information provision, is happy enquirers - and new
knowledge. Her work-life balance is satisfied by attending as many
concerts and operas as her overdraft will allow, and ringing tower
bells.
> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Related FreePint links:
* Find out more about this book online at the FreePint Bookshelf
* Read customer comments and buy this book at Amazon.co.uk
or Amazon.com
* "Making Knowledge Visible"
ISBN 0566085631, published by Gower Publishing Limited.
* Search for and purchase any book from Amazon via the FreePint
Bookshelf at
* Read about other Internet Strategy books on the FreePint Bookshelf
To propose an information-related book for review, send details
to .
> = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
*** Recommend FreePint to a Friend ***
Quick, simple and easy. Use this feature to easily
tell your colleagues about the FreePint service:
> = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
FEATURE ARTICLE
"MP3s, Podcasts and all that"
By Nick Luft
What exactly is a podcast? Is an MP3 file some form of audio file?
Do I have to have an iPod to access these things? And for heaven's
sake, what is this MP4 format?
These were some of the questions that I set out to answer a few weeks
ago. I had bought myself a cheap version of the iPod, an iRiver. My
intention was to use it to listen to music whilst travelling. But I
soon discovered that I could download and listen to a variety of
podcasts with a wide variety of content.
In this article I do not want to focus on the technology, though some
jargon and concepts have to be understood. My intention is to
look at what podcast content is available.
IT Explanation
--------------
You're probably familiar with the term 'MP3' - a common audio file
format. There are many other audio formats, but MP3 has become a
standard in the way all standards do - by popular adoption. Most
podcasts are available only in MP3 format, though some podcasts have
several other formats too.
MP3 is what's known as a "lossy" format. That is, it compresses the
audio file by stripping out ranges of sounds that are out of the range
of human hearing or do not contribute much to the quality of the sound
signal. The result is that an MP3 is a much smaller file than the
files found on the typical music CD.
To access (or rather, hear) an MP3 file you require a computer which
has audio software like Windows Media Player, a sound card and either
speakers or headphones. Alternatively, you can buy MP3 players, which
come in two types: those with a hard drive and those using flash card
technology like any USB Memory Stick. Some mobile phones can also save
and play MP3s.
You can access, save and hear podcasts or MP3 files without an MP3
player. A computer is just as good, if not better, with the high
quality components; the downside, of course, is that a computer is not
as portable.
The drawback of MP3 players is that they need to link to a computer to
download MP3 files.
The MP3 files are either acquired by converting the CD files to MP3 in
a process known as "ripping", via a specialist application or by
downloading MP3 files from internet sites.
I predict that the next generation of MP3 players will incorporate
some form of internet connection, probably WiFi. I also predict that
the next generation of HiFi Music centres and Home Cinema centres will
add docking ports for MP3 players, probably a USB 2.0 port.
According to the latest rumours, however, iPods will remain without a
WiFi internet connection but Apple is planning to make an MP3/4 player
with a 3.5 inch display screen
.
So what is a podcast?
---------------------
Podcast is a neologism that conflates the word iPod with broadcast.
It is one of those daft names IT folk dream up to make what is
ordinary sound new and fangled. It is nothing more than a recorded
piece of audio that has been digitised and meant for distribution via
the internet.
While most podcasts are in the MP3 format, some podcasters are now
using the MP4 format, which combines recorded moving images and audio
(confusingly called video). Inevitably, MP4 files are a lot larger
than MP3, but can contain much more information.
Wikipedia has an entry for podcast at this link
and also a comprehensive
introduction to the MP3 format and
MP4s at . And for those gadget
lovers, there is even a twenty-page entry for iPod
.
What kind of "content" does a podcast have?
-------------------------------------------
Podcasts can contain just about any kind of digitised audio
information, including:
* Radio
* Fiction & Drama
* Opinion and Commentary
* Education and Learning
* Manuals, DIY Guides and IT Support
Radio
-----
Most radio stations now make their broadcasts available using "audio
streaming", a format that requires the user to be linked continuously
to the internet to listen to the broadcast.
Radio broadcasts as podcasts eliminate the need for a continuous
internet link. The broadcast can be saved as an audio file and
listened at a time suitable to the user, like videotaping a television
programme. (NB: saving radio broadcasts opens up a host of copyright
issues that are yet to be resolved).
The BBC has been experimenting with saving some programmes as MP3
files and making them available for download. The Podcast Trial can be
found here - for example
you can download some of Radio 4's "From Our Own Correspondent",
interviews from "Today" programme, "In Our Time" and also Radio 1's
"The Best of Moyles".
I have particularly enjoyed the US-based "Science Friday", a radio
chat show that invites two scientists to give a short explanation of
their field and then answer questions posed during a phone-in
.
Fiction
-------
Writers of both the published and unpublished kind are peddling their
wares as audio-books, with mixed results. The best are adapting to the
medium, effectively moving into radio drama, rather than just reading
out their "to be read" prose.
For an excellent example of the potential of podcast fiction, I
recommend the work of Seanachai
- these pieces are short and fun, and you get a sense of how he is
exploring the podcasting medium.
I find the longer podcasts difficult to listen to. If you get
interrupted during a 50 minute broadcast, by the time you get back to
it, the MP3 has shut down and lost your place. Fast forwarding via an
MP3 player interface is not easy. I hear that iPod have recently
upgraded this feature to deal with this problem, and I suspect the
other manufacturers will follow suit.
Opinion, commentary and news
----------------------------
Some magazines are embracing podcasts and are commissioning their
writers to write for the spoken word. These podcasts are supplementary
to the printed editions.
Slate magazine is a good example of magazine podcasting:
, although you do have to sit
through a short ad before the main piece.
Also check out technology news from .
Education & learning
--------------------
I was surprised to find that Stanford University has made some of its
lectures, speeches and debates open to the public - though only
through the iTunes application. To sample this go to
There are also many language courses available for download. See the
recent FreePint article by Emma Thompson on this
.
I have "ripped" my French language course CD onto my MP3 Player and I
find it a very convenient way to listen to my French language classes.
Though speaking out loud on a train is to be discouraged.
In an interesting approach, one hospital has placed iPods in a waiting
room to inform patients about the procedures they'll undergo and how
to cope with changes after treatment
.
Manuals, DIY guides and IT support
----------------------------------
So far I have not come across any manufacturers who have created
podcasts to supplement or even replace their printed manuals. But I
predict that a podcast manual is all but inevitable (can I patent this
idea today?).
However, I have found technical guides on complicated things like
"Ruby on Rails" . Now, I do not
pretend to understand this technology -- I only know it is a new way
of manipulating web-based data -- but it is an interesting approach by
a development team to publicise work at a very early stage of
development.
When implemented in an MP4 format, a user manual podcast enables the
expert to demonstrate a feature with a running commentary. The result
is similar to a training session or workshop, but has the benefit
being available on-demand as the user requires.
How do I find what is out there?
--------------------------------
The simplest way to find podcasts is to type "podcasts" into Google. But
then, as we information professionals all realise: all can search, but
few have the time or patience to filter results. So what I offer is a
snapshot review of several sites I found and assessed.
Yahoo Podcasts - well organised and
indexed/tagged, searchable too. All podcasts have been selected and
checked for quality, which is what you would expect from a big
"masthead" content provider like Yahoo.
Audio Blog - a searchable directory of
bloggers who podcast their blog. Very little, if any, quality control.
IndiePodder - a more general collection with
some attempt at placing each podcast into categories, but not much
quality control.
Podcast Directory - a much better organised
site, with the categories and "tag clouds" placed more prominently on
the page. Unsure what control there is, but the site has a
professional feel.
There are two further things to note about finding podcasts. Many of
them are linked to RSS feeds, so you can receive notification of the
latest offerings which can be set to automatically sync between your
PC and your MP3 player. In fact, I have yet to find a podcast site that
did not provide a RSS feed.
Podfading
---------
On a slightly sad note a "podfading" trend has been identified - I
think this is pronounced as in "fade away" not as in "a fad"
. Many amateur
podcasters do not make it past their tenth show and those that do
sometimes fade to nothing as they get overwhelmed with the demands of
real life. Podcasting is not like blogging which is done in 15
minutes.
This is yet again proof, to my mind, that the established "content
providers" - publishers and broadcasters - will maintain their
position despite the protestations of their own excellence by the new
media pundits. It comes down to two things:
1. Resources - the old media have the resources amateurs do not
2. Trust - the public still values masthead credibility.
> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Nick Luft currently works as the Web Manager and Information
Coordinator for The Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed
Forces (DCAF) . He trained as a librarian and
worked in libraries between 1988 and 2003. Since 2003 he has left the
library world and is not sure how to label himself.
He now designs web-based databases, manages web-sites, and generally
makes ICT serve the information needs of the organisation he works
for.
His last post was as the Information Manager for the GFN-SSR,
2003-2005, prior to that he worked in various MoD (UK) libraries and
at the Northern Echo library .
> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Related FreePint links:
* 'Computer Industry' articles in the FreePint Portal
* Post a message to the authors, Nick Luft, or suggest further
resources at the FreePint Bar
* Read this article online, with activated hyperlinks
* Access the entire archive of FreePint content
> = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
United Kingdom:
* "Customer Data - Creating a Single in-Depth View of Your
Customers" 15th March
* "Network of Government Library & Information Specialists, Annual
Conference" 16th March
* "Career tips for regional media librarians"
30th March
* "Open Source and Sustainability" 10th - 12th April
United States:
* "Spring 2006 ASIDIC meeting" 12th - 14th March
* "Achieving Customer Service Excellence"
13th - 15th March
* "JISC Conference 2006" 14th March
* "The International Conference on i-Warfare and Security"
15th - 16th March
* "THE Conference on Marketing" 20th - 22th March
* "IT Project Portfolio Management 2006" 3rd - 5th April
Submit your event for free promotion:
> = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
FREEPINT GOLD
A look back at what FreePint covered at this time in previous years:
* FreePint No.178 10th March 2005. "Health Information Sources for
Non-Health Professionals" and "Tracking Youth Trends On The Web"
* FreePint No.155 4th March 2004. "Taking control of your PC" and
"Librarians and The War On Terror"
* FreePint No.132 6th March 2003. "And the winner is ... Our
experience with selecting a CMS" and "Information Literacy in a
Corporate Environment"
* FreePint No.107, 7th March 2002. "Fossicking for Information ... or
... What to do on Sixpence" and "The Death of the Intranet. Long
Live the Corporate Portal Quantifying ROI"
* FreePint No.82, 1st March 2001. "Electric Power Information Sources
on the Web" and "Putting your money where your mouse is - online
charities"
* FreePint No.57, 2nd March 2000. "Travel related websites" and
"Chemistry Webzines - How to find the right news for you"
* FreePint No.33, 4th March 1999. "12 Offline Ways of Promoting Your
URL" and "Data Privacy Web Sites"
* FreePint No.9, 5th March 1998. "But what is it good for?" and
"Market Research Information On The Internet"
> = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
FREEPINT FORTHCOMING ARTICLES
[Provisional]
* Blind web accessibility * Project management *
* Delivering user education to a dispersed population *
* KM and blogging * Implementing new library management systems *
* Open source software * Managing change *
If you have a suggestion for an article topic, or would like to write
for FreePint, then please contact or read
the notes for authors at .
> = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
CONTACT INFORMATION
Address:
Free Pint Limited
4-6 Station Approach
Ashford, Middlesex
TW15 2QN, United Kingdom
Telephone:
UK: 0870 141 7474
Int: +44 870 141 7474
Directions and maps:
Contributors to this issue:
William Hann (Managing Editor, FreePint), Penny Hann (Production
Editor, FreePint), Pam Foster (Editor, VIP), David Mort, Nick Luft,
Sean Austin, Zena Woodley, Plain Text
(proofreading).
Advertisers/Sponsors:
Graduate Prospects, InfoSphere, BvD, Factiva, Sue Hill Recruitment,
Glen Recruitment, Willco, VIP.
Web
Authors
Advertising
Subscriptions, Letters & Comments
FreePint Suggestion Box
> = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
(c) Free Pint Limited 1997-2006
Technology by Willco
To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your subscriptions or password,
visit or email .
For details about contributing, advertising or to see past issues,
please visit the Web site at or
email .
Please note: FreePint (ISSN 1460-7239) is a registered trademark of,
and published by, Free Pint Limited. The publishers will NEVER make
the subscriber list available to any other company or organisation.
The opinions, advice, products and services offered herein are the
sole responsibility of the contributors. Whilst all reasonable care
has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the publication, the
publishers cannot accept responsibility for any errors or omissions.
This publication may be freely copied and/or distributed in its
entirety. However, individual sections MAY NOT be copied and/or
distributed without the prior written agreement of the publishers.
Write to William Hann, Managing Editor,
for more details. Product names used in FreePint are for
identification purposes only, and may be trademarks of their
respective owners. FreePint disclaims any and all rights in those
marks. All rights reserved.
> = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
> = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
This edition has been sent to <{EMAIL}>.
To change your subscriptions, visit
or send an email to .