Apple has a filing for making podcasts interactive (source: AppleInsider).

In the filing Apple says...

"....Podcasts of classroom lectures and other presentations typically require manual editing to switch the focus between the video feed of [an] instructor and the slides (or other contents) being presented," Bertrand Serlet, Senior Vice President of Software Engineering at Apple, wrote in the 15-page filing. "In a school or enterprise where many presentations take place daily, editing podcasts require a dedicated person, which can be prohibitive. "

To solve this problem, Serlet proposes has proposed an automated content capture and processing system where a live camera feed of a presenter can be automatically merged with a Keynote or PowerPoint presentation to form an entertaining and dynamic podcast that lets the viewer watch the presenter's slides as well as the presenter...."

This would be an interesting development when and if it sees the light of day. In the meantime streaming an audio feed to syncronised slides can be done but it is tricky or an specialist 3rd party service. Streaming video is even more complex.

NB: We recorded a two day conference for one of our clients and have the slides and audio syncronised for EUFIC at their Food In Action Conference in Brussels in November 2007. A total of 22 presenters can be listened to and their PowerPoint slides watched at the same time.

Apple last week announced a price cut of $200 on the iPhone only a few weeks after its initial introduction. Many of those customers who had queued overnight to be the first in town to buy one were understandably upset. They contacted Apple and commented on various Forums as to their displeasure.

Whilst there are many angles to this story. Are sales so poor Apple are slashing prices? Do they fear competitors enetering? Is another model on its way for Christmas? Maybe. Maybe not. The real story for me is the speed of response. Most companies when they make a 'mistake' use delaying tactics to either give them time to decide how to respond or hope it will all blow over.

Commendably Apple did not. They reacted and although the apology was couched with self justification, there is a $100 rebate (see open letter from Steve Jobs on Apples site). Will this be enough? Probably. Apple customers are very loyal.

Yesterday Apple (hat-tip to Podcasting News for details) announced a number of new iPods and price changes.

For me three things stood out.

1. Steve Jobs announcing iTunes now had 125k podcast feeds showing how fast the medium is growing. As part of that he also announced that 25k of those are video podcasts.
2. The launch of the video enable Nano at a low price
3. The price reduction of the 80G iPod and renaming as the Classic.

For many corporates this puts the delivery of video and audio podcasts to customers and employees well with budget.

When working in business I remember the high costs of organising training and update events for employees and channel partners. We would vdeo record them for those that missed it and then have to distribute videos or CDs/DVD's physically via the post. What a logistics exercise! We could always guarantee someone would ring saying theirs had arrive damaged or with bits missing or had not arrived at all.

How much easier to create a package of information and deliver it online. How great for remote based staff to get the information and be able to take it with them while they commute or have to hand just before they have to make a presentation as a last minute refresh.