AudioBoo - a new approach to podcasting

We live in exciting times. It seems like every month a new tool is released that allows us to communicate online in new and exciting ways. 12seconds and Qik (which I’ve previously covered here and here) are two of my favourite examples from the past year and they both use video in different, exciting ways. What about audio though? Despite the popularity of podcasting, innovation in this area has been scarce.

Attempting to inject some fresh thinking into podcasting is AudioBoo, a new service from the team at Best Before. Currently restricted to the iPhone, their mobile app allows users to record instant podcasts on the go. Forget having to deal with post-production tasks like editing and compression, AudioBoo podcasts (or ‘Boos’ as they are called) are rough-and-ready, spur-of-the-moment recordings.

Since the iPhone app arrived on the App Store earlier this week users have taken a wide range of approaches to their Boos. There are ‘audio blogs’ covering everything from the growth of Twitter’s popularity to the workings of a local parish council meeting. Others have used it for interviews; the ever-engaging Documentally has been recording talks with the staff at Bletchley Park, the base of the UK’s World War II code-breaking operations.

So far AudioBoo is coming across as a bit like a user-generated version of BBC Radio 4. There’s always something new and interesting being uploaded to the site and aside from the occasional “Hi, I’m just trying this out” I haven’t found anything that wasn’t worth a listen.

There’s loads of room for AudioBoo to improve. Their site is still mostly non-functioning but that will come with time. I especially look forward to being able to leave comments in response to people’s Boos and it would be even better if I could record a ‘Boo reponse’ in the same way as Youtube and 12seconds allow Video Responses. I haven’t worked out how to add a profile picture either, yet.

They’re certainly working hard on improvements – it’s already linked into the Facebook Connect programme and Twitter integration was introduced yesterday.

So, if you have an iPhone and something to say download the free AudioBoo app today and get recording!