Critic: Starbucks' "Coffee Conversations" is podcasting at its most corporate

Steve Johnson says Starbucks doesn't deserve the hate it gets for being big, but it doesn't deserve any love for this podcasting effort. "The Seattle company has far to go before earning the black microphone bestowed upon the podcastmaster," he writes. (ChicagoTribune.com)

Comments

[Jon]

CoffeeGeek podcast, guys. Come on.

[BaristaBess]

I gotta agree. I was majorly disappointed in the first "Coffee Conversations". It was a lot of hype but not much substance, and it was really short. There's potential though, maybe after they get some feedback and a few more shows completed they'll find a better pace.

[musicmaster]

dude its a podcast - the second one was way better. i had been putting my coffee in the freezer! and now I know what wet means. The guy i think is pretty good but want to hear from some different folks.

[Medieval Medic]

I was underwhelmed with the first installment of the Starbuck's podcast, but I've heard MUCH worse.

Technically speaking, it was good quality: good sound quality, well mixed, clean breaks between segments, decent voice-over vs. background audio tracks, etc.

Content-wise, though, it was weak. All that means, though, is that I'll give them a couple more installments before I give up on it. They've got to figure out what their "audience" wants and how they want to present it.

[BaristaBess]

Okay, I just listened to the second episode.

I'm distracted by the sound quality on this one. It kept going back and forth from sounding professional to sounding like they were phoning it in.

Content is growing, I'm sure they'll get the hang of it. It's still moving way to fast and there aren't enough details for my liking. They need to slow down, it's a podcast, not a race.

Also in episode 1 they said to never put your beans in the freezer, and in episode 2 they say it's okay!? Make up your mind. :-/

[Richard]

I'm listening to the podcast right now and I think it's pretty good and will probably get even better.

[coffee podcast lover]

Hey people,
If you're interested in coffee podcasts, there are a few really good ones out there...

AAcafe (on iTunes) - this one's for coffee drinkers
Portafilter.net (at its URL or on iTunes) - more for coffee professionals
And the aforementioned coffeegeek podcast is pretty good too - www.coffeegeek.com

All are WAY better and more informative than the dreck Starbucks is putting out there.

[Bojan]

I received an email from the MW:Tactics team leaeirr, and from what I read, I think it will be some form of digitalised version of the table-top game. I would like to quote the following: MechWarrior Tactics™ is a brand-new MechWarrior game set in the BattleTechae universe and includes everything you love about MechWarrior. MechWarrior Tactics is the latest evolution of turn-based strategy and blends tactical gameplay, deep collectability, and unique online features, and is set against visually stunning environments for the supreme MechWarrior battle experience. Players earn, collect, and purchase combat and aesthetic resources to outfit each Mech and prepare for the next online battle. I'm set in thinking a table-top game on the PC. I suppose I do not really have a question, just a potential answer to what Mechwarrior: Tactics could be.

[Ambrine]

When are you going to put some music on by Sara turner I have heard this young lady and she is ohtemsing else. This site has been a great find for me !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What ever you do don't stop!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And i can't believe this is all local talent WOW!!!!!!!!-

[Pedro]

Sweet podcast Mechwarriors.I will say, I might be in the tironimy that couldn't have been more excited about the details of Mechwarrior Tactics. I am pretty much a 3025 fan to the core. And a turn based tactical game (much like the tabletop) is what can bring out the best in mechwarrior strategy.When I have played every mech simulator from MW2 to MW4, it did seem more or less what I would expect: More about doing as much damage in a little amount of time and less on movement and heat management.With the tabletop, it was almost all about movement, using the environment to your advantage and most importantly, heat discipline. EXACTLY what kind of tactics you have all read about in the novels.But I think Daeron is right, MW Tactics is probably an enhanced version of MegaMek.