According to an internet survey conducted in May-July 2005, 23% of internet users have no idea what podcasting is. So if you are part of the 23% pie, here's your chance at learning about the biggest trend on the internet. Podcasting, at the moment, is essentially free to create and distribute, and is more-or-less censorship free, quite like the early days of amateur radio. If you've always wanted your own show, here's your chance. And if you are already a blogger, you can insert a podcast into your blog. If you simply want to listen, there is a huge amount of websites that offer their own podcasts; it is just a matter of finding which one you like.
Podcasting gets its hipster name from the Apple iPod, but it has no direct connection to Apple. You can get podcasts on any player, or just through your computer, if you are set up for it.
Podcasting began taking off last summer when Adam Curry, best known as a former veejay for MTV, the cable music channel, in collabaration with with RSS developer Dave Winer, developed a computer program called iPodder, which automatically downloads audio files posted on personal Web sites or blogs. Curry's show, The Daily Source Code, was the first ever podcast. It began in August 2004 as a proof of concept for iPodder. Its tagline: "Where developers and users party together." Since Curry launched his show, nearly 500,000 people have downloaded iPodder, and the number of available shows has gone from zero to more than 2,000. In November 2004, the BBC began podcasting a popular history show called In Our Time. As of last month, BBC Radio was averaging over 100,000 podcst download requests a week. This shows the growing popularity of podcasting.
Who is Podcasting and why?
In Education. Musselburgh Grammar School, Scotland began podcasting foreign language audio revision and homework, possibly becoming the first school in Europe to launch a regular podcast.
In Politics. In Singapore, where most broadcast media are controlled by the government, opposition Singapore Democratic Party leader Chee Soon Juan uses podcasting to distribute his messages.
In Religion. Podcasting is being used by many religious groups and churches.Warnbro Community Church, Perth, Western Australia podcasts talks and sermons from their church service.
In communication from space. One day before landing, STS -114 Mission Specialist Steve Robinson transmitted the first podcast from space.
In Internet Erotica. Best-selling erotica writer Violet Blue launched a podcast in January that she describes as a combination of sexy stories and "concrete, explicit, step-by-step sex instruction from a trained sex educator." Something that will never be aired on the radio.
And then there are movie review podcasts, gadget review podcasts, advocacy podcasts, comedy podcasts, and many entertainement podcasts from tradional broadcasters like BBC, NBC, ABC etc. Almost anything can be content: from bickerings of a couple to serious scientifc commentaries. Shows are broadcast daily, weekly, and at random; some last for three minutes and others can last for hours.
So How Does Podcasting Work?
The podcaster records a show as an audio file. Then, he encodes it with RSS and uploads it to a website/ blog so people could find it. The listener's podcast software checks RSS feeds at set intervals, downloading and adding new shows to a playlist. When the listener docks his portable player, it updates with the latest shows.
How can you get Podcasts?
To download podcasts to any MP3 player/ PDA/ laptop, start with the right software. I recommend ipodder and Odeo Syncr. These free PC/Mac/Linux programs let you subscribe to podcasts from their directory listing or you can add your own podcast listings. It periodically checks for new podcasts and downloads them. If you use iTunes, you'll find the latest shows waiting whenever you dock your iPod.
Podcasting gets its hipster name from the Apple iPod, but it has no direct connection to Apple. You can get podcasts on any player, or just through your computer, if you are set up for it.
Podcasting began taking off last summer when Adam Curry, best known as a former veejay for MTV, the cable music channel, in collabaration with with RSS developer Dave Winer, developed a computer program called iPodder, which automatically downloads audio files posted on personal Web sites or blogs. Curry's show, The Daily Source Code, was the first ever podcast. It began in August 2004 as a proof of concept for iPodder. Its tagline: "Where developers and users party together." Since Curry launched his show, nearly 500,000 people have downloaded iPodder, and the number of available shows has gone from zero to more than 2,000. In November 2004, the BBC began podcasting a popular history show called In Our Time. As of last month, BBC Radio was averaging over 100,000 podcst download requests a week. This shows the growing popularity of podcasting.
Who is Podcasting and why?
In Education. Musselburgh Grammar School, Scotland began podcasting foreign language audio revision and homework, possibly becoming the first school in Europe to launch a regular podcast.
In Politics. In Singapore, where most broadcast media are controlled by the government, opposition Singapore Democratic Party leader Chee Soon Juan uses podcasting to distribute his messages.
In Religion. Podcasting is being used by many religious groups and churches.Warnbro Community Church, Perth, Western Australia podcasts talks and sermons from their church service.
In communication from space. One day before landing, STS -114 Mission Specialist Steve Robinson transmitted the first podcast from space.
In Internet Erotica. Best-selling erotica writer Violet Blue launched a podcast in January that she describes as a combination of sexy stories and "concrete, explicit, step-by-step sex instruction from a trained sex educator." Something that will never be aired on the radio.
And then there are movie review podcasts, gadget review podcasts, advocacy podcasts, comedy podcasts, and many entertainement podcasts from tradional broadcasters like BBC, NBC, ABC etc. Almost anything can be content: from bickerings of a couple to serious scientifc commentaries. Shows are broadcast daily, weekly, and at random; some last for three minutes and others can last for hours.
So How Does Podcasting Work?
The podcaster records a show as an audio file. Then, he encodes it with RSS and uploads it to a website/ blog so people could find it. The listener's podcast software checks RSS feeds at set intervals, downloading and adding new shows to a playlist. When the listener docks his portable player, it updates with the latest shows.
How can you get Podcasts?
To download podcasts to any MP3 player/ PDA/ laptop, start with the right software. I recommend ipodder and Odeo Syncr. These free PC/Mac/Linux programs let you subscribe to podcasts from their directory listing or you can add your own podcast listings. It periodically checks for new podcasts and downloads them. If you use iTunes, you'll find the latest shows waiting whenever you dock your iPod.
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