What is a Podcast?
Below is a definition of podcasting pulled from Wikipedia that provides you with information about podcasting, its roots and some of the techincal aspects surrounding podcasting. The following is provided free from editing and I take no credit for this wonderful explanation. Podcasting, created by former MTV VJ Adam Curry, is a term that was devised as a crisp way to describe the technology used to push audio content from websites down to consumers of that content, who typically listen to it on their iPod (hence the “pod”) or other audio player that supports mp3 at their convenience. The term podcasting is meant to rhyme with broadcasting and is a derivative of the iPod platform. While not directly associated with Apples iPod device or iTunes music service, the company did contribute both the desire and the technology for this capability. Podcasting is not unlike time-shifted video software and devices like TiVo, which let you watch what you want when you want by recording and storing
to the Flashing 12s in my life. First – Tell them that Podcasts are basically Radio Shows on the Internet (Like Howard Stern or Rush Limbaugh or Dr. Ruth), but what makes them special is how the Shows are delievered to the user. Explain to them that Podcasts are like Magazine Subscriptions. With a magazine subscription you register for a magazine (podcast) and then every so often the publisher (podcaster) will send one to your house (Granted with podcasts the aggregator goes out and fetches it But you are talking to a Flashing 12 So stop trying to confuse them with Geek Speak). Now after the Magazine is delivered, it sits in your Mailbox (aggregator) until someone removes the Mail and puts it on the Kitchen Table (iTunes). You then decide when you want to read that magazine (Daily Source Code) or some other magazine (podcast411) or you can just throw it away because it no longer interests you (Yeast Radio). You can also cancel any subscription at any time. Now there are a couple of key
A podcast is an episodic program delivered via the Internet using an XML protocol called RSS. Podcast episodes can be audio files, video files, documents, or any combination of the three. The publisher or broadcaster podcasts the program by posting the episodes and the XML document to a Web server. The consumer subscribes to the podcast using a client application, such as iTunes, which regularly reads the XML file and downloads new episodes. Because podcasts can include several of the most common types of media, they can be used to offer many different kinds of programs. Any television or radio program can of course be transmitted as a podcast, as can any lecture, performance, or other recorded event. Using the AAC file format, audio podcasts can include synchronized still images to create a narrated slideshow. In this way, a series of lectures can include the lecturer’s voice and presentation slides. In most podcasts, each episode is the same file format, so subscribers can enjoy the
A podcast is the newest way to create and distribute audio content over radio format. (Well, almost…) According to Wikipedia, Podcasting is a way of publishing files to a website that allows users to subscribe to the site and receive new files as they are posted. Most podcasts are spoken word audio created by individuals, often on a particular theme such as technology or movies. Because new files are downloaded automatically by subscribers, podcasting allows individuals to have a self-published, syndicated radio show. Podcasting occurs when your iPod or other MP3 player meets broadcasting, hence the term Podcasting. Here’s what happens: you subscribe to a feed, and audio files are automatically downloaded so you can listen on your MP3 player or computer. Another way to look at it is what would happen if you combined a TiVo, with your MP3 player, with the web so, you could listen to a selection of content as varied as the web, whenever, and wherever you want. All FREE to the listener!
The wording “podcast” derives from the english “broadcasting” and the name of the mp3-Player “iPod”. A podcast is a multimedia file that is distributed over the Internet for playback on portable hardware such as iPod, mp3-Player, mobile phones and computers. Boehringer Ingelheim offers special video files also as podcasts.
