I downloaded the new iTunes 4.9 with integrated podcast support. The access to podcasts at the Apple Music Store seems to work without a hitch, although I yearn for social filters for music and now podcasts: tags, friends, and so on.

What I really want is a better way to find good podcasts; as usual, the real issue is attention. Just being offered the 'top podcasts' based on mass leanings doesn't really help me, at all. I already know that Adam Curry is getting mass downloads.

The future is is socialized search: what are my pals lookling at, reading, getting into? If Apple has any sense they will rapidly incorporate tagging, neighbors, friends, and all the other social goop that works. They have the high ground, based on the dominant position of iTunes and iPod: please, please add the features that will make it work the way it should.

I also uploaded a True Voice podcast, just to see how that works. Hmmm. Led me to add some additional fields to my XML: "ManagingEditor" is used by iTunes for the author of the podcast, for example. Anmd there seems to be a considerable delay in getting approved -- probably a manual process.