- Some Podcasting Essentials - ghindo, flickr.com
It's surprising how many folks aren't entirely sure what a Podcast actually is. Well, in the simplest of terms, a Podcast is a radio show which is available to download from the internet as a digital file (usually in .mp3 format). It can then be played back (ad infinitum) using one of many digital media players available today, or a personal digital media player such as the iPod.
There are literally thousands of Podcasts available today; and with the ability to subscribe to favourites, it's easy to keep up to date with the latest episodes. Websites such as Podcast.net and even the iTunes media player are a great resource for finding new and exciting shows to broaden listeners' horizons.
The Origins of Podcasting
Much like the internet itself, it was a core group of users who pioneered the Podcast concept. The idea really caught on in late 2004; whilst the ability to distribute information and music files over the web was nothing new, developments in the field of web feeds and syndication meant that users could now subscribe to digital audio content for automatic delivery.
The name 'Podcast' itself is derived from Apple's MP3 player the iPod; however podcasts can be enjoyed on any digital media player, portable or otherwise. Once internet users realised that they could use the internet as a forum to, quite literally, voice their opinions it was only a matter of time until Podcasting became a world-wide phenomenon.
Explanation of Key Terms
The use of buzzwords like 'web feed' and 'syndication' may be a little confusing at first, but the technological premise behind Podcasting is really quite simple.
- Syndication: web syndication is simply the act of a website making a portion of their content available to other places, usually in the form of a web feed.
- Web Feed: a web feed is, at its most basic level, a collection of recently updated content. Web feeds enable users to find out what's new on a specified website.
- RSS Feed: This stands for Really Simple Syndication, and is a format of web syndication. Users are able to use RSS reader software to subscribe to web feeds (including podcasts) in order to be supplied with site updates automatically as they become available.
- RSS Enclosure: This is a means of attaching media files (podcasts are a prime example) to web feeds. The enclosure method means that RSS feed providers can attach internet links to media files in their web feeds (rather than the files themselves, which would be rather costly on their bandwidth)
Now the technical stuff is out of the way, how can would-be listeners get subscribing to their favourite shows? Well, a good place to start is by downloading some Podcast subscription software. These programs contain RSS readers which will automatically check for new episodes and acquire them. They're all easy to use, and usually only require the click of a 'subscribe' button to begin receiving the RSS feeds.
A great example of such a program is 'Juice' (formerly known as iPodder). This software is entirely free and won't install any nasty spyware or viruses,so it's hassle-free. Another way to receive and subscribe to Podcasts is the iTunes media player, which is also freely available from the Apple website.
Podcast portals such as Podomatic and PodNova are always available free-of-charge to browse the thousands of shows available. From music to movies, books to bricks - there's sure to be a Podcast suited to everyone's tastes, and finding it is half the fun.
Robert Taylor - Rob is a freelance copywriter with six year's experience providing a wide range of writing services to a global client base.
