Doppler 2.0 is out and I've been running it through its paces. One feature I did find lacking was an easy way in Windows Media Player 10 to catch up on all of my feeds in a single, smart, Auto Playlist that organizes all my latest feeds for listening on my Desktop or in Media Center and syncs just the ones I want to my portable player. These Auto Playlists will automatically organize your feeds (eg. new feeds just downloaded, those not listened to etc.) and prepare them for easy Sync to a portable music player such as the Creative Zen Micro or Portable Media Center. 

Organize your Podcasts by:

• Today's Podcasts
• Unfinished Podcasts (in case you listen on PC and Portable )
• Last Week's Worth
• All Podcasts

For power users*, just download the playlists here or read below for step-by-step instructions:
Download: MP10_Podcast_AutoPlaylists.zip (.97 KB)
Download: MP10_Podcast_AutoPlaylists.exe (30 KB)

Please note this is for Windows users of Windows Media Player 10 and has only been tested on Windows XP - don't kill the messenger!

Step 1: Pick your Podcatcher
The first step is to pick your preferred podcasting app.  I recommend Doppler 2.0. While it requires you to download the .Net Framework, it's fast and downloads multiple feeds at the same time.  The search function makes it easier to find feeds and if you're just starting out, you can find feeds to subscribe to under File|Import from Directory.

By default, Doppler will create static playlists in WM Player 10 for each of your shows, but this can be hard to navigate on a device or if you just want to catch up on all your latest feeds. Now you need to set Doppler to update the "Genre" tag on downloaded feeds. To do this, choose Tools|Options, and select the Default Feed Settings tab at the top, and then Tags. Set the tag to, "Podcast" for my Auto Playlists, or whatever meaningful alternative (eg. "Audio Blog") you prefer. You'll find Podcasters aren't too stringent about format for using Album, Artist, and Genre tags so this fixes it. Now go ahead and download some podcasts or if you already have some, choose, Tools | Apply default feed settings to all feeds to fix the genre tag on all feeds.

Step 2: Install the Auto Playlist Pack
This step is pretty simple.  If you don't have Windows Media Player 10 yet, click here.  I've created two versions of the Playlist Pack, one is a standard .zipfile, the other is a self-extracting .exe. 

Download:

The .exe will by default prompt you to install the Auto Playlists in the following location: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\My Music\My Playlists which is shared for all users.

Note: For per-user installation just unzip to My Documents\My Music\My Playlists

Step 3: Search and Auto Sync!
WM Player 10 should automatically add the playlists into your library in a matter of seconds and they will show up on the left-hand pane under "Auto Playlists". If you're really impatient and they haven't shown up, hit F3 and tell WM Player to search for files in the folder you placed the Auto Playlists.

Now you're ready to enjoy your Auto Playlists on your PC, or your portable music player. Just add the new Auto Playlists to your sync relationship and every time you connect your device, it will transfer your preferred podcasts onto your device. Certain devices such as the Creative Zen Micro with the latest firmware update (MTP support) will even sync your playlists to the device for easy playback, organized the way you like it. Not all devices do this yet- I'll try and get a list together shortly.

I hope you enjoy these playlists as much as I did creating them for you :).

* You're a power user eh?  Well, this was a quick fix and I'm sure there are other Auto Playlist combos I didn't think of. Windows MP10 Auto Playlists are just XML-based search queries designed for the Media Library and stored as text files with a .wpl extension. You can make your own by R-mouse clicking on the Auto Playlists category in the Media Library and choosing "New".  A powerful yet under-utilized feature of WM Player 10. Feel free to send your Auto Playlists to me to add to the pack.

Regardless of what you call it - Audio Blogs-Podcasting etc., my favorite aggregator for syndicated radio and talk shows for drive-time, DopplerRadio 2.0 Gold was just released.  Congrats to Erwin and Cindy.  What are you listening to?

News Flash: Creative just released a beta firmware update on Friday so that Napster to Go works with the Zen Micro :). I'll have to try this out later.

I had no idea this was coming.  I saw the Pepsi/iTunes ad early last week, but the Napster ad, "Do the Math" was a complete surprise. To sum it up, it basically says:

Do the Math. How much will it cost to fill up your player?

• iTunes + iPod (10,000 songs to fill) = $10,000
• Napster to Go + (choice of devices, 1M tracks available to fill) = $15/mo

It's back to the whole purchase vs. rental issue which is a personal decision.  I bet this is going to turn some heads though. Napster has almost exactly the same library as iTunes and works with more devices.  This will be interesting to watch over time. I wonder if Apple is working on an iTunes subscription model?

Oh and I just noticed the first 1000 people to sign up for a year of Napster to Go get a free iRiver H10 5GB Music + Photo player with FM radio built-in.

Napster to go also works with Portable Media Centers by Creative and Samsung ;).

Enough people have noted I don't have an "About" page up, I've buckled and put one up in the navigation list.  It's nothing fancy, but gives you some context.  Photoshopped/Fark'd pictures of my mug can be send to the email address included. :)

Thanks Robert for the Nine Guy earlier this week.  My Moblog pic this week is of my new Nine Guy on his perch in my new office. :)

Variety.com is reporting that script development has begun on a major theatrical release inspired by Microsoft's smash-game franchise, "Halo". Reportedly this is being penned by the scriptwriter for "28 Days Later" and "The Beach". Once the script is complete and approved by Microsoft & Bungie Studios, reportedly ex-Columbia Pictures President Peter Schlessel will keep a close eye on its development.

No doubt the movie opening will be an unofficial Microsoft employee holiday just as the launch of Xbox and Halo 2 were ;).  That's what floating vacation days are for. 

One of my favorite online retailers, Gamestop.com has just launched the Windows XP Game Advisor.  This cool utility will check to see if your system is optimized performance-wise for running a particular game or games.  There are also some discounts ranging from $5 to $25 on select games. 

A cool link that explains how the new MSN Search works.

Matt Goyer points us to new updates for the HP Digital Entertainment Center z545 (dual tuner) and I just discovered the same for the z540 (single tuner) version as well.

It's great to see HP doing this. There are some really good fixes included here for USB-related issues and PC performance related to the LCD et al.

Matt wishes for a cult around MCE.  I would argue an enthusiast community is much more valuable long-termand they already exist in the blogosphere, sites like The Green Button and the explosion in 3rd party apps that have been appearing both pro and enthusiast on sites like MCESoft.  Even TiVo just announced their own SDK and you have to wonder if this is in response. 

My recommendation: contribute to the MCE Wiki and the community will follow.

Good news for Sony Vaio Media Center 2004-based systems- you're going to get an upgrade after all. Click here for more. 

Family has been sick so I've been taking a break from blogging to take care of them.  Here are a few notes I've been meaning to make:

- MSN launches new cleaner homepage and new search with a letter from Bill.  No doodles so far as I can tell.

- Peter Gabriel Music Videos in 5.1 surround sound now available. Now you can get sledgehammered six-ways from Sunday.

- WM Player 10 Album Art Fixer: Thomas reviews and says it's pretty darn good. Waiting to do it myself.

- Skype: Chris points out I've joined the Skype bandwagon. I've learned the array mic in my tablet PC makes the ultimate wireless speakerphone so that "Granddad" can talk to my son.  Son is still weirded out by the voice coming out of the tablet. But all is not perfect- I spent 20 minutes fixing my Dad's computer because the recording device was set to "Modem" and Skype would just throw a recording error.

- Visual Thesarus is very cool and somewhat useful for marketing folks.

- Passed 100,000 Unique Users on the blog. Welcome.

- Thinking about starting an, "Ask the Microsoftie Monday" segment.  Send your questions in email and I'll start compiling answers. Keep in mind I'm not going to talk about Longhorn... yet ;)

- Now I've almost seen it all - the iDog. Still waiting for the iSheep or have they already arrived? ;)

- Matt says we need better DIY guides for building MCEs.  MCE was never designed for individuals to build and that's clearly outlined on the kits intended for pro system builders that are being sold on NewEgg and other sites. But, why not use the MCE Wiki to create a new area on building your own MCE? Unofficially of course.

- I was contacted by a rep for another celebrity who wants to buy a Media Center PC and wants advice on which one to get.  He wasn't even trying to get a free one. Is Hollywood taking notice? ;)

- I received a notice and guide book in the mail making it official- Comcast is upgrading customers with HDTV set-top boxes to Microsoft TV Foundation Edition very shortly in the Seattle area. Two points for Comcast but I'm taking one back because they've forgotten I returned my stand-alone box over a month ago. ;)