Robert Scoble asks the podcasting question that needs an answer:

OK, enough of my spin. I’m fired up. In the past two years I have attained every single dream I had. Now I need to put my ear to the ground again and figure out how to make it better for you.

Or, write on your own blog. Or talk on your podcast. Or shoot on your vblog. I’ll point to the best responses.

Robert, We have talk about this in-person, but I think it is very simple for Microsoft at this point. iTunes has set the bar to beat. The Windows Media Player needs to offer better function and usability then the podcasting solution offered by iTunes. The WMP 11 just needs to make streaming and downloading content as easy and simple as possible.

I have said this many times in the past that Microsoft already has the best podcasting like application ever made and it is called MS-Syn & Go for the Pocket PC. I have been using it on my Pocket PC for years as a content provider and as a listener.

Why Microsoft did not work on improving that application and opening it up to RSS/podcast feeds is beyond me. This application had the potential if extended properly to kick Apple’s butt across the room. Complementary playback software is needed to give a great user experience. If you have ever used Sync and Go on a Pocket PC you will see what I mean. It has large start and stop buttons, content book marking and memory. It plays video and audio. See for yourself. You cradle the Pocket PC and the subscribed too content get automatically downloaded to your mobile Pocket PC device.

While the concept of the current Sync and Go is not the complete podcasting solution for Microsoft, but is a good basis to build on. Just add a more open directory of podcasts and then blend audio and video together like what is currently done in Sync and Go. Videocasting or VideoBlogging is going to be the next big thing. This great playback software will need to work on the Portable Media Center, Media Center PC, Windows Mobile for cell phones, Pocket PC’s and any mp3 playback devices. This playback software also needs to work in coming Media Server type PC’s and on the desktop or laptops. Microsoft already has the synchronization software with ActiveSync and the Sync and Go application to build on.

Microsoft has had all the building blocks in place to do podcasting all along. The missing part was the content to fill the download pipe. The podcasting boom has fixed that problem and now Microsoft needs to wake up and smell the coffee. Let’s rip into Sync and Go and open it up to be able to add all the great content that people want to get to and create. I am hoping that the new upgrade to Sync and Go can be added to the WMP11 and blended with its current Windows Media Radio Streaming Tuner to offer a great content solution. I am sorry, but MSN Radio does not expose people to the spectrum of content that is now available online. Windows Media should be about getting people to use your Windows platform and keeping them from moving over to the Apple.

Here is a Gnomedex Roundup podcast of WebTalk that I recorded minutes after Gnomedex. Robert, I even tried to wave you in to join us. We talked about podcasting with some very cool podcasters. It is too bad you were not able to join us.

Here is the 62 minute long mp3.