An updated version of the iTunes Music Store software now contains a 3,000+ title Podcast directory.

Find a podcast. Subscribe to it. Listen to the podcast on your iPod. Manage those subscriptions and let iTunes keep them in sync. That’s what iTunes 4.9 will do for its users.

Steve Jobs had promised podcasting support within iTunes at the recent D: All Things Conference. Apple has now provided that support. With millions of users having purchased over 430 million songs from iTunes, Mr. Jobs may have just moved podcasting from just being interesting to being mainstream.

Mainstream would be a good way to describe the podcast lineup featured on iTunes. ABC and ESPN can be found there, and so is their parent company, Disney. The simplest appeal of podcasting allows people to listen to programs on their schedule, not someone else’s.

And Apple has opened the door to accepting more podcasts. Podcast producers who want to be included in the iTunes directory can submit a request via iTunes for consideration. Currently, all podcast titles offered through iTunes are free.

A recent update to the iPod media player line has placed podcast support in its software. The Podcast menu supports bookmarking, and now that all standard sized new iPods will have color screens, they can display podcast artwork in full color.

Apple made some price changes to the iPod lineup. The 20GB model costs $299, and the 60GB model $399. The 20GB iPod U2 also has a color screen now, and sells for $329.

David Utter is a staff writer for webproworld covering technology and business. Email him here.