Mile
Zero

A quick hit, hot off the wires, which I'm sure everyone will be flogging shortly: Apple has decided to legally shut down the use of the word "podcast." Since part of my job description now literally involves producing podcasts, I think I'm qualified to ask the following question:

Is Apple completely insane?

I'm not a big fan of the word podcast in general, but it has a catchy ring and it does roll of the tongue cleanly. More importantly, when I explain this to anyone in the outside, non-geek world, it generally requires at least a few sentences establishing that a podcast does not actually require an iPod. The two are linked, at least by name, strongly in the public ear.

So let's get this straight: there's an entire burgeoning community of content-creators (as well as useless blowhards, to be sure) out there who are driving large parts of iTunes traffic, who represent a hip thing that even the World Bank (read: not the cutting edge) can apply and use, and who are providing exposure for Apple's products just by existing--and Apple basically wants to kill a tremendous part of that advantage. It is a profoundly stupid move.

Oh, and they don't want you making games for their hardware either. Seriously, guys, take a valium and ease back on the control freak urges. You're giving me the creeps.