It's not really broadcasting - it's more like "narrowcasting". Or, maybe you'd classify it as a Podcast without some of the excess baggage. No matter what it is, the idea is pretty clever. Now you can use your iPhone to create audio, then upload it to Twitter with an application called "TweetMic". (Right: TweetMic in action, Screenshot Credit: © TweetMic)
Once you link TweetMic to your Twitter account you can record audio, review it, then publish to Twitter. (Your audio is actually stored on TwitterMic's servers but it's supposedly secure and can only be deleted if you make that decision.)
There's no limit on how much you can record and the TwitterMic interface is very simple to use. You'll be creating "Tweetcasts" (their word not mine) quickly.
TweetMic is available for a buck from the iPhone App Store.
Comments
Sounds similar to audioboo.fm, which has tanken off big-time in the UK, with national radio and TV already using it at concerts and sports events.
Not used TweetMic, but Audioboo is definitely showing huge potential.
The quality is generally considered good enough for direct use on radio, so long as the user can stay a little way back from the mic to avoid plosives, without there being too much ambient noise as a result.
Think how much it can help for reporters to file material for, say, a busy sports show without needing an ISDN line; with better quality than phone-line; and being able to re-take if required and only send the good version.. with the studio able to put it out seconds later – or whenever ready.
This is certainly a big help is removing a need to prepare incoming material _so long as_ the material is either pre-checked or verified as coming from that user. (I’m hoping IP address details or exclusive “one at a time” login paradigm will be added to ‘boo soon so material may not be erroneously or maliciously posted.)
But then also look at how exciting this could be for vox pops in talk formats or music shows with listener contributions – not only nicer than phone quality but easy to edit & montage.
It is amazing to hear the tweetmics from around the world. Ringing the peace bell in Japan, listening to a football game in Brazil, weather report in Texas. No wonder it has become a top 25 paid social media application down load in just three weeks of release. All this audio on Twitter is a great thing