With new version 4.9 of iTunes, Apple is now taking podcasting mainstream by building everything you need to find, subscribe, manage, and listen to podcasts right into iTunes. Publish your podcast to iTunes is now simple and easy. Apple publishes on its web site a "podcasting" guide and a large tutorial about podcasting. Please note that a beta version of "Chapter Tools" is also available and allows you to easily insert chapter markers, pictures and web links into your podcast episode.

updated July 1st : Apple announces that in just two days iTunes customers have subscribed to more than one million Podcasts from the new iTunes Podcast Directory.

Peter Mcilwain just released Matrixsynth V2 for Mac OS X. This software synthesiser is designed for the purposes of training students in basic analogue style synthesis techniques. The highly flexible nature of the matrix that was employed in the original VCS3s is used here to assist in visualising the signal pathways that are used in sound synthesis.

Sagan Technology has updated Metro and Metro SE to version 6.3.1.1. These releases add several improvements (such as the support for plug-ins dragged from the plug-ins window to the graphic editor) and fix a large number of bugs. List of bugfixes and improvements in the MacMusic Softwares section.

Remember Lemur ? The Lemur is a sleek portable controller for live performance computer music applications featuring a 12" LCD display and a proprietary touch screen interface that can simultaneously track multiple fingers. The Lemur's interface objects can be customized with JazzMutant's "physical" properties that include friction, smoothing, and fade-in and fade-out.

Firt Lemur units are leaving the factory,..for just $2495.

TC-Helicon announces that VoicePro, its voice-processing unit, is now shipping. VoicePro features include TC-Helicon's 3rd generation VoiceModeling, Hybrid Shifting and Flextime algorithms. The application based user interface centers around a 320 x 250 color TFT display. VoicePro becomes a vocal palette with 250 factory presets (250 user) that include four assignable parameters for instant tweaking.

VoicePro is shipping at 2495 euros (ex.VAT).