IGG Software on Thursday released the first public Beta of PlayPod, a new utility that grabs relevant podcasts published on the Internet via RSS (Really Simple Syndication). Podcasts, a term coined by ex-MTV VJ Adam Curry, describes homemade radio shows distributed as MP3 files ready for play on an iPod or other MP3 player. PlayPod enables users to sift through thousands of podcasts and automatically download the ones that fit their customized preferences to iTunes, where they can be synced with an iPod. The software also integrates with .Mac for backing up and restoring podcast feeds. Pricing is US$16.99, with a 10-day trial available, and Mac OS X v10.3 is required.
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