Apple Takes Podcasting Mainstream

CUPERTINO, Calif., June 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/—Apple(R) today
announced it is taking Podcasting mainstream by building everything users need
to discover, subscribe, manage and listen to Podcasts right into iTunes(R)
4.9, the latest version of its award winning digital music software and online
music store. iTunes users can now easily subscribe to over 3,000 free Podcasts
and have each new episode automatically delivered over the Internet to their
computer and iPod(R).
 
“Apple is taking Podcasting mainstream by building it right into iTunes,”
said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “Podcasting is the next generation of radio, and
users can now subscribe to over 3,000 free Podcasts and have each new episode
automatically delivered over the Internet to their computer and iPod.”
 
The new Podcast Directory in iTunes 4.9 features over 3,000 free audio
programs, making it one of the largest Podcast directories in the world, with
favorites such as ABC News, Adam Curry, BBC, Clear Channel, The Dawn and Drew
Show, Disney, Engadget, ESPN, Newsweek and NPR member stations such as KCRW in
Los Angeles and WGBH in Boston.
 
iTunes enables anyone to quickly and easily find and subscribe to their
favorite Podcasts so that every time there’s a new episode, it’s automatically
downloaded to their Mac(R) or PC and Auto-Synced to their iPod. iTunes also
makes it easy to manage multiple Podcast subscriptions with simple
organization and display by episode and date. Starting today, iPods will offer
an easy to use Podcast menu, including bookmarking within a Podcast and the
ability to display color Podcast artwork.
 
iPod and iTunes are leading the digital music revolution. With over
15 million iPods sold as of March 31, the iPod is the world’s most popular
digital music player, and the iTunes Music Store is the number one online
music store with over 430 million songs purchased and downloaded worldwide.

Pricing & Availability
 
iTunes 4.9 for Mac and Windows includes the iTunes Music Store and is
available immediately as a free download from http://www.itunes.com. The new Podcast
menu is available starting today via a free iPod software update for all Click
Wheel iPods and iPod minis from http://www.apple.com/ipod. iTunes 4.9 users can
download and subscribe to Podcasts with no additional software required, as
support for Podcasts is built right into iTunes and iPod.