By RACHEL KONRAD AP Technology Writer
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Apple Computer Inc. CEO Steve Jobs called podcasting "the hottest thing going in radio" on Monday and promised to make it easier for audiophiles to create and distribute the digital recordings.
Amateur and professional disk jockeys have established more than 8,000 podcasts, downloadable audio files that focus on everything from electronic gadgets to movies and astronomy. They can be played on computers or digital music players, such as Apple's popular iPod.
Business Week, Forbes, Disney and Sirius have podcasts, as do hundreds of individuals including wine aficionados, baseball fans and political junkies.
Productions range from stream-of-consciousness rants to slick shows and, unlike conventional radio broadcasts, podcasts have no time limits, deadlines or government oversight.
At a technology conference on Monday, Jobs previewed iTunes version
4.9. The software allows users to click on and subscribe to different podcasts, then automatically delivers the shows to any connected iPod _ far less cumbersome than the third-party applications many listeners now need.
The newest iTunes will include a directory of podcasts, and creators will be able to register their shows with Apple's iTunes Music Store.
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