April 4, 2008 95 Comments

Listening to Blogs- Really Listening

pimpmynews My first and second look at PimpMyNews put my thoughts in the category of “interesting, but not my bag.” But then, I started to get it. What’s neat about PimpMyNews is that you can cook off a bunch of MP3 files of blogs you like reading, dump them into your MP3 player (portable or on your desk), and listen to a bunch of blogs while doing stuff.

They’re adding feeds all the time (and honestly, I want the navigation to change a lot, because flicking around alphabetical lists isn’t really useful to me, but hey, gotta start somewhere), so there’s a likelihood that you’ll find something to like there. But even that made me pause. Some blogs are great to read, but would they “listen” well?

I listened to my own blog post (natch), and found it actually reasonably listenable.

So it’s neat, and you might give it a try. I think there are some ways to use it that you’ll find useful. In future versions, I want different organizational structures (like Best Of, etc, etc), and an easier nav method. But John and team have done a good start.

What do you think? Ready to start downloading audible versions of your favorite blogs?

I use Plasq’s Skitch to do screenshots.

Related posts:

  1. Social Media Power Secret- Listening
  2. Stillness and Listening
  3. 5 Starter Moves – Listening and Hearing Come Before Speaking
  4. Hosted Blogs for Only 10 Dollars a Year
  5. How Blogs Improve Customer Service AND Product Development

ChrisBrogan.com runs on the Genesis Framework

Genesis Theme Framework

The Genesis Framework empowers you to quickly and easily build incredible websites with WordPress. Whether you're a novice or advanced developer, Genesis provides you with the secure and search-engine-optimized foundation that takes WordPress to places you never thought it could go.

With automatic theme updates and world-class support included, Genesis is the smart choice for your WordPress website or blog.

Become a StudioPress Affiliate

← Older Comments
  • http://www.hippiespelunker.com Lisa Marie Mary

    I’m so glad you blogged about this site, Chris – thanks for the heads up!

    John – As far as the name goes, we have, in fact, adopted a ‘newer’ meaning of the term ‘pimp’. And I have accepted it and haven’t even cringed (too much) when hearing my kids use it, referring to TV shows or myspace themes, etc.

    There was one lady that gave me pause, though, and she is an ex-hooker on MySpace. And so I am on the fence again, about the term. Read some of her stuff and you can get a feel for where she’s coming from, as well. I’m sorry, though, I don’t remember exactly where it was that she made me wonder if I should not use the word anymore. Here is the url to her myspace profile: http://www.myspace.com/annielobert

    I love your site, though, John – it’s a great idea! :)

  • http://www.hippiespelunker.com Lisa Marie Mary

    I’m so glad you blogged about this site, Chris – thanks for the heads up!

    John – As far as the name goes, we have, in fact, adopted a ‘newer’ meaning of the term ‘pimp’. And I have accepted it and haven’t even cringed (too much) when hearing my kids use it, referring to TV shows or myspace themes, etc.

    There was one lady that gave me pause, though, and she is an ex-hooker on MySpace. And so I am on the fence again, about the term. Read some of her stuff and you can get a feel for where she’s coming from, as well. I’m sorry, though, I don’t remember exactly where it was that she made me wonder if I should not use the word anymore. Here is the url to her myspace profile: http://www.myspace.com/annielobert

    I love your site, though, John – it’s a great idea! :)

  • http://www.hippiespelunker.com Lisa Marie Mary

    I’m so glad you blogged about this site, Chris – thanks for the heads up!

    John – As far as the name goes, we have, in fact, adopted a ‘newer’ meaning of the term ‘pimp’. And I have accepted it and haven’t even cringed (too much) when hearing my kids use it, referring to TV shows or myspace themes, etc.

    There was one lady that gave me pause, though, and she is an ex-hooker on MySpace. And so I am on the fence again, about the term. Read some of her stuff and you can get a feel for where she’s coming from, as well. I’m sorry, though, I don’t remember exactly where it was that she made me wonder if I should not use the word anymore. Here is the url to her myspace profile: http://www.myspace.com/annielobert

    I love your site, though, John – it’s a great idea! :)

  • Kfir Pravda

    Hey, strangely enough you are listening to my post there, with a strange picture of mine… can you please send me the link for this one?

  • Kfir Pravda

    Hey, strangely enough you are listening to my post there, with a strange picture of mine… can you please send me the link for this one?

  • http://www.pravdam,com Kfir Pravda

    Hey, strangely enough you are listening to my post there, with a strange picture of mine… can you please send me the link for this one?

  • Tommy Lee Jones

    Chris, the hard work is done by the folks over at NeoSpeech. I tried them out a couple of years ago. But listening just wasn’t for me.

    Just try out the NeoSpeech demo here. PMN is using the ‘Paul’ voice.

    http://neospeech.com/

  • Tommy Lee Jones

    Chris, the hard work is done by the folks over at NeoSpeech. I tried them out a couple of years ago. But listening just wasn’t for me.

    Just try out the NeoSpeech demo here. PMN is using the ‘Paul’ voice.

    http://neospeech.com/

  • Tommy Lee Jones

    Chris, the hard work is done by the folks over at NeoSpeech. I tried them out a couple of years ago. But listening just wasn’t for me.

    Just try out the NeoSpeech demo here. PMN is using the ‘Paul’ voice.

    http://neospeech.com/

  • http://BuzzVoice.com/ JohnAtkinson

    Tommy Lee,
    You’re partially correct. “Paul” is the voice we use, however the “hard work” was done by our development team who spent 7 months working day and night to build our homegrown Web 2.0 news engine.

    PimpMyNews is a mashup of our own technology, and RSS, Blogging, Newsreader, Text-to-Speech, Podcasting and Social News technology. We can “plug in” any voice.

    If you’ll reveal your real name and email address, I’d gladly tell you more (even if you’re with a company that sees us as a competitor).

    If you’re really “Tommy Lee Jones,” I loved “No Country for Old Men,” but wished you’d wrapped up the ending a little better.

    John

  • http://BuzzVoice.com/ JohnAtkinson

    Tommy Lee,
    You’re partially correct. “Paul” is the voice we use, however the “hard work” was done by our development team who spent 7 months working day and night to build our homegrown Web 2.0 news engine.

    PimpMyNews is a mashup of our own technology, and RSS, Blogging, Newsreader, Text-to-Speech, Podcasting and Social News technology. We can “plug in” any voice.

    If you’ll reveal your real name and email address, I’d gladly tell you more (even if you’re with a company that sees us as a competitor).

    If you’re really “Tommy Lee Jones,” I loved “No Country for Old Men,” but wished you’d wrapped up the ending a little better.

    John

  • http://www.PimpMyNews.com John Atkinson

    Tommy Lee,
    You’re partially correct. “Paul” is the voice we use, however the “hard work” was done by our development team who spent 7 months working day and night to build our homegrown Web 2.0 news engine.

    PimpMyNews is a mashup of our own technology, and RSS, Blogging, Newsreader, Text-to-Speech, Podcasting and Social News technology. We can “plug in” any voice.

    If you’ll reveal your real name and email address, I’d gladly tell you more (even if you’re with a company that sees us as a competitor).

    If you’re really “Tommy Lee Jones,” I loved “No Country for Old Men,” but wished you’d wrapped up the ending a little better.

    John

  • http://BuzzVoice.com/ JohnAtkinson

    Kfir,

    Here’s a link to Chris’ post that has your pic: http://pimpmynews.com/p.aspx?i=631318

    You can listen to all of Chris’ posts (and yours) by going to “Technology>Social Media” on our Categories page here:

    http://www.PimpMyNews.com/Categories.aspx
    (we added your blog after seeing your comment ;)

    To create a personalized account to track & voice-enable your favorite blogs, just fill out the sign up form here:
    http://pimpmynews.com/signup.aspx

    Thanks,
    John

    *If others would like to add their blogs, just email Feeds@PimpMyNews.com

  • http://BuzzVoice.com/ JohnAtkinson

    Kfir,

    Here’s a link to Chris’ post that has your pic: http://pimpmynews.com/p.aspx?i=631318

    You can listen to all of Chris’ posts (and yours) by going to “Technology>Social Media” on our Categories page here:

    http://www.PimpMyNews.com/Categories.aspx
    (we added your blog after seeing your comment ;)

    To create a personalized account to track & voice-enable your favorite blogs, just fill out the sign up form here:
    http://pimpmynews.com/signup.aspx

    Thanks,
    John

    *If others would like to add their blogs, just email Feeds@PimpMyNews.com

  • http://www.PimpMyNews.com John Atkinson

    Kfir,

    Here’s a link to Chris’ post that has your pic: http://pimpmynews.com/p.aspx?i=631318

    You can listen to all of Chris’ posts (and yours) by going to “Technology>Social Media” on our Categories page here:

    http://www.PimpMyNews.com/Categories.aspx
    (we added your blog after seeing your comment ;)

    To create a personalized account to track & voice-enable your favorite blogs, just fill out the sign up form here:
    http://pimpmynews.com/signup.aspx

    Thanks,
    John

    *If others would like to add their blogs, just email Feeds@PimpMyNews.com

  • http://www.voiceoftech.com/swhitley/ Shannon Whitley

    @Tommy Lee Jones

    What was your point? I write programs using .NET. Are you going to negate all of my hard work and credit it to Microsoft? To be anonymous and insulting for absolutely no reason is so novel.

  • http://www.voiceoftech.com/swhitley/ Shannon Whitley

    @Tommy Lee Jones

    What was your point? I write programs using .NET. Are you going to negate all of my hard work and credit it to Microsoft? To be anonymous and insulting for absolutely no reason is so novel.

  • http://www.voiceoftech.com/swhitley/ Shannon Whitley

    @Tommy Lee Jones

    What was your point? I write programs using .NET. Are you going to negate all of my hard work and credit it to Microsoft? To be anonymous and insulting for absolutely no reason is so novel.

  • Pingback: The secrets of blog traffic building « Mcneri’s Weblog

  • http://www.drewbernard.com Drew Bernard

    Funny thing is, Chris, I just filled out the Forrester blog survey and of my recommendations was that I would really prefer to receive Jeremiah’s blog as a podcast. I do wish I could speed up the read back tho… It’s a bit slow to for my brain to stay fully engaged.

  • http://www.drewbernard.com Drew Bernard

    Funny thing is, Chris, I just filled out the Forrester blog survey and of my recommendations was that I would really prefer to receive Jeremiah’s blog as a podcast. I do wish I could speed up the read back tho… It’s a bit slow to for my brain to stay fully engaged.

  • http://www.drewbernard.com Drew Bernard

    Funny thing is, Chris, I just filled out the Forrester blog survey and of my recommendations was that I would really prefer to receive Jeremiah’s blog as a podcast. I do wish I could speed up the read back tho… It’s a bit slow to for my brain to stay fully engaged.

  • http://BuzzVoice.com/ JohnAtkinson

    Hi Drew,

    Glad you found PimpMyNews helpful in converting Jeriamiah’s blog to a podcast. For me, the fact that it turns any blog into “portable audio” that you can listen to anywhere on an iPhone, iPod or any MP3 player is the most powerful benefit. I listen to all my blogs in the car every morning (or at the gym, when I muster up the willpower to go ;).

    About the “speed of the read back”, we’re considering adding features to let users control the speed, change voices and other options.

    Thanks for the feedback.

  • http://BuzzVoice.com/ JohnAtkinson

    Hi Drew,

    Glad you found PimpMyNews helpful in converting Jeriamiah’s blog to a podcast. For me, the fact that it turns any blog into “portable audio” that you can listen to anywhere on an iPhone, iPod or any MP3 player is the most powerful benefit. I listen to all my blogs in the car every morning (or at the gym, when I muster up the willpower to go ;).

    About the “speed of the read back”, we’re considering adding features to let users control the speed, change voices and other options.

    Thanks for the feedback.

  • http://www.PimpMyNews.com John Atkinson

    Hi Drew,

    Glad you found PimpMyNews helpful in converting Jeriamiah’s blog to a podcast. For me, the fact that it turns any blog into “portable audio” that you can listen to anywhere on an iPhone, iPod or any MP3 player is the most powerful benefit. I listen to all my blogs in the car every morning (or at the gym, when I muster up the willpower to go ;).

    About the “speed of the read back”, we’re considering adding features to let users control the speed, change voices and other options.

    Thanks for the feedback.

  • Pingback: Part 3: the best kept secrets of blog traffic building | Mcneri's Blog

  • http://grantfundingonline.com/blog Scott Rooks

    Hey John

    The name is catchy but its usually the content I go for anyway.

    That said unless your web presence is broadcast by someone like Chris that I read and like I probably would not go to a site that somehow doesn’t sound like they take their business serious.

    Contrast that with “Chris Brogan- Community and Social Media” you might see where I am coming from with this comment.

    Anyway I will be visiting your site now that I know the benefits so best of luck!

  • http://grantfundingonline.com/blog Scott Rooks

    Hey John

    The name is catchy but its usually the content I go for anyway.

    That said unless your web presence is broadcast by someone like Chris that I read and like I probably would not go to a site that somehow doesn’t sound like they take their business serious.

    Contrast that with “Chris Brogan- Community and Social Media” you might see where I am coming from with this comment.

    Anyway I will be visiting your site now that I know the benefits so best of luck!

  • http://grantfundingonline.com/blog Scott Rooks

    Hey John

    The name is catchy but its usually the content I go for anyway.

    That said unless your web presence is broadcast by someone like Chris that I read and like I probably would not go to a site that somehow doesn’t sound like they take their business serious.

    Contrast that with “Chris Brogan- Community and Social Media” you might see where I am coming from with this comment.

    Anyway I will be visiting your site now that I know the benefits so best of luck!

  • http://BuzzVoice.com/ JohnAtkinson

    Hi Scott – about the content… with PimpMyNews, you can access over 1,200 of the web’s most popular news & blogs from 59 categories.

    Don’t let the name fool you… We take our business *very* seriously -and would love to hear your feedback after you try it out. (suggestions@PimpMyNews.com )

  • http://BuzzVoice.com/ JohnAtkinson

    Hi Scott – about the content… with PimpMyNews, you can access over 1,200 of the web’s most popular news & blogs from 59 categories.

    Don’t let the name fool you… We take our business *very* seriously -and would love to hear your feedback after you try it out. (suggestions@PimpMyNews.com )

  • http://PimpMyNews.com John Atkinson

    Hi Scott – about the content… with PimpMyNews, you can access over 1,200 of the web’s most popular news & blogs from 59 categories.

    Don’t let the name fool you… We take our business *very* seriously -and would love to hear your feedback after you try it out. (suggestions@PimpMyNews.com )

  • morida
  • emei

    The Ugg Sandals has flourished as a maker of high-end luxury footwear. Within three years, the line was regularly being featured in high fashionmagazines and photo shoots. The company formed a strategic alliance with Nordstrom and the brand really took off.As important as the new positioning was to UGG’s success, there was another factor that rocketed UGG Australia’s footwear line to international prominence. In the year 2000, just two years after the strategic repositioning of UGG Australia’s product line, Oprah Winfrey received a pair of UGG boots. The top. Jude’s.

  • emei

    In 1982, Hardy and his wife formed Hardy Marks Publications. Under this marque, they began publishing the five book series Tattootime. Tattootime was one of several publications which did much to promote and popularize tattooing with new audiences.[citation needed] Hardy Marks has gone on to publish more than 20 books[quantify], including catalogs of Hardy's work and that of Sailor Jerry Collins.

  • emei

    As much as love that Timberland’s making a comeback, we’re not ready to hop on that bandwagon yet. It might be that we remember a deluge of pregnant 15 year-olds in hot pink ones or folks wearing them to clubs as dress wear, but we still can’t shake off our mental associations.

  • emei

    Air Jordan II

    The Air Jordan II model was released after Jordan's second year in the NBA. The Air Jordan II featured high quality Italian leather and its design was inspired from a 19th century Italian woman's boot. The original 2s were produced in Italy. These were the only shoes from the Air Jordan line to not originally be released in a black color placement. Reintroduced in its original color scheme in 2004 (black, white, and red), a new black/silver colorway was released as well as a Carmelo Anthony colorway of white, Carolina Blue, and yellow. The Air Jordan II shoe was also the first Nike sneaker to not feature the Nike swoosh logo. They were featured briefly in the movie School Daze. The Air Jordan II was actually released during the 87-88 NBA season. This is Jordan's third year in the league, as he wore the Air Jordan I for his first two years. The shoe also has a limited edition, Eminem Jordan Retro 2, which included lyrics on the shoe.[3] There were only 313 pairs sold due to 313 being Detroit's area code.

  • cwx

    Do you want to buy best quality products? Do you want to get best

    deal? Are you looking for a reliable supplier to do long term

    business? The cheapest Price, the best quality, the best service

    all in here

    Cheapest supra

    shoes

    ! There is large product selection.

  • cwx

    Do you want to buy best quality products? Do you want to get best

    deal? Are you looking for a reliable supplier to do long term

    business? The cheapest Price, the best quality, the best service

    all in here

    Cheapest supra

    shoes

    ! There is large product selection.

  • http://www.savetubevideo.com youtube downloader

    Glad you found PimpMyNews helpful in converting Jeriamiah’s blog to a podcast. For me, the fact that it turns any blog into “portable audio” that you can listen to anywhere on an iPhone, iPod or any MP3 player is the most powerful benefit. I listen to all my blogs in the car every morning (or at the gym, when I muster up the willpower to go ;).

    About the “speed of the read back”, we’re considering adding features to let users control the speed, change voices and other options.

  • http://www.savetubevideo.com youtube downloader

    Glad you found PimpMyNews helpful in converting Jeriamiah’s blog to a podcast. For me, the fact that it turns any blog into “portable audio” that you can listen to anywhere on an iPhone, iPod or any MP3 player is the most powerful benefit. I listen to all my blogs in the car every morning (or at the gym, when I muster up the willpower to go ;).

    About the “speed of the read back”, we’re considering adding features to let users control the speed, change voices and other options.

  • http://www.savetubevideo.com youtube downloader

    Glad you found PimpMyNews helpful in converting Jeriamiah’s blog to a podcast. For me, the fact that it turns any blog into “portable audio” that you can listen to anywhere on an iPhone, iPod or any MP3 player is the most powerful benefit. I listen to all my blogs in the car every morning (or at the gym, when I muster up the willpower to go ;).

    About the “speed of the read back”, we’re considering adding features to let users control the speed, change voices and other options.

  • Pingback: Guide to monitoring social media conversations

  • Pingback: Is It Easy For A Reader To Reach You? - Valerie Joy Deveza

  • Pingback: Is It Easy For A Reader To Reach You? | Inbound Marketing Geek

← Older Comments