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Creative Redefines 'Podcast'

By Nate Mook, BetaNews

January 9, 2006, 2:29 PM

The word "podcast" -- a combination of iPod and broadcast -- has become the latest tech term to enter our growing lexicon, being named the 2005 word of the year by the New Oxford American Dictionary. But Creative, unhappy that the word promotes its rival, has redefined podcast as "Personal On Demand broadCast."

The change comes alongside the launch of ZENcast, the company's beta application for downloading video blogs and podcasts. "Podcasts, short for Personal On Demand broadCast, are audio files you can download into any MP3 player or computer. These audio files are broadcasted over the Internet automatically to subscribers of specific podcast channels," Creative says.

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By rparkosjr

edited Jan 22, 2006 - 2:11 PM

as for my reasoning as a babyboomer lets not for get the term (k.i.s.s.)

Score: 0

By ShafuyZ

posted Jan 10, 2006 - 4:15 AM

Microsoft will come up with a better totally "neutral" term which we will all use 5 years from now. Say something like mediacast, vidcast, vodcast/audcast/radcast [radical radio], offcast, or a thousand other cool combinations probably not even using the word "cast". For some reason I don't see Microsoft using the term "podcast" in their literature in 5 years. We shall see.

Score: 0

By ole man blues

edited Jan 22, 2006 - 10:28 AM

Thanks. I have been looking for alternatives to "podcast" for sometime. These all seem appropriate, and very inventive. May I get behind one of these terms, or are they protected?

Score: 0

By justinb

posted Jan 10, 2006 - 1:12 AM

podcast is a stupid word, period.

Score: 0

By jsanford

edited Jan 10, 2006 - 12:37 AM

Hey! Now I can buy a MP3 Player that is not-made by Apple. (MP3 Player doesn't = iPod)

Score: 0

By drumcat

posted Jan 9, 2006 - 6:26 PM

Probably not a winner, but at least it was a 'creative' attempt... (rimshot)

Score: 0

By wincement

posted Jan 10, 2006 - 1:08 AM

lol. nice one.

Score: 0

By tenebrusmke79

posted Jan 9, 2006 - 6:18 PM

I am an iPod loyalist, and the original definition is PERFECT. this redefinition is a poor attempt to try to steal the flame under Apple's coining the term podcast.

Score: 0

By joeljkp

posted Jan 10, 2006 - 7:52 PM

Apple didn't coin 'podcast'. Adam Curry did.

Score: 0

By Practice

posted Jan 9, 2006 - 5:53 PM

It should have been called Podcast in the beginning. Well, better late than never.

Score: 0

By heat_fan1

edited Jan 9, 2006 - 5:35 PM

I like it! Very slick by Creative. Now, they only have to get this new definition out to the masses! Somehow, though, I'm pretty sure people will still think "iPod" when they hear "podcast". Oh well. A valient effort.

Score: 0

By lord_nelson

edited Jan 9, 2006 - 4:40 PM

Actually Creative's Re-Definition of the word makes more sense. The Ipod is not the only way people receives Podcast today. I think we should adopt the new definition.

Score: 0

By wincement

edited Jan 9, 2006 - 5:07 PM

That's retarded. Who cares where the name came from? It's just like saying "Kleenex" instead of "tissue." People know what you mean, so it makes no difference.

I think Creative is just being paranoid.

Score: 0

By excelon2005

posted Jan 9, 2006 - 4:38 PM

Wow... that's definitely very good thinking on their part, selflessly redefining the term "podcast" to something that's more universal. Think about it... they could easily coin a new word for their Creative Zen players (e.g. Zencast). Apple can't turn this one down!

Score: 0

By VikingBlade

posted Jan 9, 2006 - 3:35 PM

How did podcast even become the main word?

Score: 0

By wincement

edited Jan 9, 2006 - 5:12 PM

The same reason everyone thinks "MP3 player" = "iPod."

Score: 0

By Paradise-FH-

posted Jan 9, 2006 - 3:32 PM

In related news, Creative wedged it's thumb farther up its *ss in an attempt to further diminish the thought that the company name had anything to do with the equivalent english adjective. Following the wedging, Creative introduced the Zen X3-12 but not before Apple introduced a similar product months earlier.

Score: 0

By zee7

posted Jan 9, 2006 - 3:24 PM

Hahaha! Nice try, Creative, but give it up. Apple won this round. Trying to redefine the word podcast is going to be about as successful as getting people to start calling 'kleenex' 'tissues'.

Score: 0

By wincement

posted Jan 9, 2006 - 5:12 PM

haha... I didn't even see this comment before I made mine. We bothed used the same "Kleenex" comparison. =)

Score: 0

By fibreiv

posted Jan 9, 2006 - 2:45 PM

I like the new redefinition.

Score: 0

By Kramy

edited Jan 9, 2006 - 3:06 PM

^^^

Which one? :P

vvv

Score: 0

By beta_animal

posted Jan 9, 2006 - 3:28 PM

It's no worse than DVD. It was originally a Digital Video Disc, became Digital Versatile Disc.

Score: 0

By wincement

posted Jan 9, 2006 - 5:10 PM

Yeah, but was DVD changed by one single company because they were paranoid about an anti-competitive name?

I usually stick up for Creative, but I think this is pretty dumb.

Score: 0

By funcheung

posted Jan 9, 2006 - 2:44 PM

okay, Creative redefines what is "C-R-E-A-T-I-V-I-T-Y": crappy, rip-off, .. (pls complete it for me)

Score: 0

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