Five Top Podcasts for Techies and Geeks

Podcasting has changed information propagation and broadcasting. The advent of podcasts meant that people could provide as well as receive information and entertainment is some new, very mobile ways. And techies like me are able to get insight and news about the topics and products they care about on while on the go or at home. For this article I have run down the top five podcasts that have become invaluable to me as a tech-minded person in the 21st century. I should mention also that I am a Mac user and overall Apple enthusiast so most of these are geared toward the iCompany in Cupertino.

Mac OS Ken

www.macosken.com

Running Time: Around 15 minutes

Ken Ray has spent years in the broadcasting business and has extensive experience covering technology news. With Mac OS Ken he has channeled this experience and knowledge into his love of all things Apple. Mac OS Ken presents a short news coverage of all the latest Apple news (along with a few rumors) covering everything from anticipated product releases and retail store openings to market numbers and earnings reports. Thanks to Ken's impeccable wit and timing, the reports are always engaging and interesting and never grow stale regardless of how slow a given news day may be.

Mac OS Ken's relatively short length makes it the perfect listen on a short work commute or over morning coffee. I like to fire it up the moment I am in my car and I usually finish it up before my twenty minute ride to work is complete. In addition to Mac OS Ken, listeners can enjoy Mac OS Ken: Day 6 (a premium show that takes listeners deeper into the news with interviews) and the Mac OS Ken app for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch.

Macbreak Weekly

http://twit.tv/mbw

Running Time: Usually over an hour

Hosted by tech guru Leo Laporte, Macbreak Weekly is a show for the person who wants lots of information and has plenty of time in which to consume it. This show is ideal for the person who can listen on the job (which is what I do) or has a long commute or trip and wants to fill the time with chatting and humor about the latest Mac products, applications, and news.

Macbreak Weekly features a panel of well-known photographers, programmers, developers, and journalists who discuss, in roundtable format, the latest goings-on in Cupertino. The conversation follows a basic outline but is also very free form and the personalities of Laporte, Andy Ihnatko, Alex Lindsey, and the rest of the gang make this a most entertaining show.

Each episode covers the latest news in-depth and the experts on the panel offer their insights on where new products are going and where technology is going and the variety of know-how they possess allows them to speak on topics ranging from photography to design to the average user.

The show is also full of tips and tricks for users as well. At the end of every episode each panel member is asked to share a "Pick of the Week" which is usually an application or service that they have found useful and they give a quick overview of their respective pick. I have found a wealth of great (and often free) products and services thanks to the Picks of the Week on Macbreak Weekly.

NPR: Technology Podcast

http://www.npr.org/rss/podcast/podcast_detail.php?siteId=4819382

Running Time: About half an hour

This podcast produced by National Public Radio (NPR) is more broad in scope than the others I have mentioned. Much more broad. The point of the Technology Podcast is to keep the listener abreast of all that is going on in science, technology and cutting edge research. There is something for everyone in this show. There are looks at the impact of modern technological and consumer products, technological innovations in the medical world, and ethical issues arising from the use of modern technology. Each episode is divided into segments covering different tech-related stories and while not every segment will appeal to every listener (not every segment appeals to me anyway), every episode will have something for everyone.

This podcast is perfect for a morning or afternoon commute or a short trip to the next town and is extremely engaging.

The MacCast

www.maccast.com

Running Time: About an hour to an hour and a half

Hosted by self-proclaimed Mac Geek Adam Christianson, the MacCast is a podcast for Mac enthusiasts who want to share ideas, keep up with Apple news, and learn tips and tricks along the way. Each episode of the MacCast offers a run-down of all the big Apple news of the day. If any recent Apple products have been released, Adam gives in-depth knowledgable overviews of said products and how they might fit into the user's life. Next Adam takes the listener through tips and tricks that can help him or her get tasks done on the Macintosh even quicker and more efficiently. Finally, because Adam has built the MacCast into a thriving community of listeners, there is always a feedback segment where listeners can call or write in to offer help, insights, or opinions on everything from Apple rumors to product reviews.

The online community of the MacCast is also a vibrant place to give and get help, learn from others, and become part of a Mac community.

Because of the breadth of topics the MacCast covers it can run long so you will want to plan ahead on how to fit this great podcast into your day.

Typical Mac User

Running Time: 40 minutes to an hour

http://typicalmacuser.com/wordpress/

Host Victor Cajiao brings you the Typical Mac User podcast to "help you get the most out of your Mac." Each episode Victor presents a key topic that can help a new switcher or an experienced Mac user learn to use their Mac to an even greater degree than before. He has also successfully built a strong community of listeners dedicated to helping others through tips and instructions that are easy to understand and learn.

While TMU is great listening for anywhere, I have found that it is best to listen sitting in front of your Mac so that you can go along with Victor performing what he is teaching while he is teaching it.

I hope these suggestions help you, my fellow techies, to tap into some information and entertainment that is new to you. Go download these and give them a listen. Then come back and leave me a comment letting me know what you think. Good luck!