After Apple banned iPhone app Podcaster from its iTunes App Store, CNET called Podcaster the iPhone app that's "so good, Apple won't let you have it." Apple hasn't said why, but it's widely believed that the app was banned for competing with the iPhone's built-in podcast-downloading software. But blogger Niall Kennedy writes that he tested the Podcaster app according to Apple's stated rules, and discovered three reasons Apple might have legitimately rejected Alex Sokirynsky's app.Kennedy said Podcaster takes as long as 3 to 5 minutes to load some menus, that he had to dismiss a confirmation sheet each time he added a new podcast, and that Podcaster's interface is crowded and ugly. Remember, ugly is an unforgivable sin in the eyes of Apple, which warns developers on its Developer Connection site:

The next few days will be packed to the gills with conferences. Oh, and "summits," which I think are conferences with an extra-large dose of self-promoting gadabouts. Start off with a few cocktail hours to practice your networking before the big events later this week.

Today, a product team manager left Microsoft's Windows Live division to start his own company. That manager was Niall Kennedy, who had only joined Microsoft in April after leaving Technorati. I chatted with him about his move.

Okay, since everyone asked, here's your fanservice. Now geez, Robert Scoble, stop with the booty calls.

Everyone appreciated a break from sucking down coffee at conferences to suck down free martinis at the Anu Bar for Digg's San Francisco party. The social news site previewed its next version, launching Monday. Thanks to Laughing Squid's Scott Beale for these shots!

Who's the next Robert Scoble, asked Valleywag, after the A-list blogger left Microsoft this weekend. Sure, there are dozens of Microsoft bloggers working on Windows Live alone, but they're all too boring and qualified. The blogosphere needs someone who's all talk to fill the Scoble shoes.

So yeah, as you probably didn't hear because, unlike all these bloggers, you have a life — Microsoft blogger and apologist Robert Scoble just quit Microsoft to work for John Furrier's Podtech podcast network.

Dropped in on Dave Winer and Niall Kennedy's Blogger Dinner last night. A couple dozen bloggers attended the comfortable little affair at Henry's Hunan. I chatted with one — friend and blogger Nicole Lee — in a day-after dinner autopsy. Apologies to anyone we forgot to smugly name-drop.

• Tuesday night: See if you can't sneak into NetSquared's reception at the Hilton Santa Clara. Bonus points for anyone who tapes a drunk demo and sends it to Valleywag. [NetSquared]

• The Valley job market is booming — as long as you have an insanely strong CV and can kick butt at billiards. [Mercury News]

Recent Technorati emigrant Niall Kennedy hosted a swanky demo session last night at the Westin St. Francis. This is the second of his SF Tech Sessions. Chicago startup Blish.com bought the room, the drinks (for the record, I stuck to beer and coffee), and the pricey salmon platters.

Another week of tech podcasts churned through the official Valleywag iPod. The verdict: suffer through a Laporte-less This Week in Tech and you can skip the rest.

Om and Niall PodSession: Om Malik promises a "big surprise" at the end of the latest episode. OMG MAJOR SPOILER WARNING: Google News picked up Om's blog. Yay. Weird thing is, he thanks the Google News and Blogger teams. Actual people update Google News sources? Don't they have robots for that?

UPDATE: Derek Powazek is reportedly leaving Technorati too. The blog-search company's senior designer joined in 2004 and has since made the site all bubbly. Where's Powazek heading?

Another Gillmor Gang podcast, another hour and a half of white guys saying "um." If your ears aren't bleeding within five minutes, you'll at least want to walk in and SHAKE these guys when they get distracted and start talking about Darwinism. Blogger (and Tinfinger CEO) Paul Montgomery says just what we're all thinking: cut it down! And Steve, shut up!