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Podcasts, or more generically, downloaded media, run the gamut from network TV shows to grade school class projects. In most instances, no one knows for sure how many people listen to any particular podcast. There are also issues like royalties, advertising, ratings and professional conduct that are cropping up as the relatively new medium finds its legs. Now, to help chart the new territory, two associations of podcasters are forming. One, the Association of Downloadable Media requires individual dues of $150 and corporate dues of $1,000. It's guided by people from Apple and National Public Radio, among others. Another group formed as an answer to ADM under the working name, the Association of Podcasters and Online Media Producers and hopes to charge no annual dues.

Scott Bourne, president of Podango Productions in California is on the steering committee to build the APOMP according to members' ideas. Organizers plan to conduct an online survey to gauge members' interests and priorities.

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The journal Science is taking note of the 25th anniversary of the first documented computer virus. Science says the Elk Cloner virus, written by a Pittsburg high school student spread through Apple II systems through infected floppy disks. Today, malicious code is a problem more associated with Windows while Apple machines remain, for all intents and purposes, walled off from viruses and worms. Tom Merritt, executive editor of CNET and co-host of CNET's Buzz Out Loud podcast discusses how today's malware makes early versions of viruses seem rather quaint.