About Podcasts
Podcasts are sound files, usually in the MP3 format, that are
created for the purpose of distribution over the internet. Like
any audio files, they can be listened to on your computer by
using any freely available media player like
iTunes,
Windows Media Player ,
Musicmatch Jukebox,
Basic Real Player or the
RealPlayer Plus
($19.95) and the like. You almost certainly already have the
means to listen to a podcast installed on tour PC or Mac. (The
links provided will take you to the download pages for the
latest version of each player. If you don't have the latest
version use them to update.
(Recommended.)
You can also listen to podcasts on an iPod or any other portable
MP3 player, just like you would any MP3 music file.
The media player you choose will depend on the MP3 player you
own. The iPod uses iTunes to transfer and syncronize files. The
Dell DJ
uses the
Musicmatch Jukebox. Other MP3 players may require other
media. Check your player's operating instructions for it's
particular requirements.
About Podcasters
Anyone with a computer, a microphone, some digital sound files
and the will to do so can become a podcaster. There are
professional podcasters like ex-MTV VJ Adam Curry who is
generally credited with starting and popularizing the genre.
There are amateur podcasters whose efforts are sometimes pretty
awful. There are experts in a variety of areas who use
podcasting to educate their subscribers in their field. There
are folks with an axe to grind, something to sell, huge egos and
great expectations. In other words, like bloggers, podcasters
are a cross section of everyperson.
How Podcasting Works
Podcasts are syndicated through the RSS protocol. This allows
you to subscribe to a podcaster's efforts and have them
automatically delivered to your computer in much the same way
that weather or news headlines can be delivered to your desktop.
The difference is that the files are not feeds, but individual
MP3 files.
Managing Podcast Subscriptions
The first step to managing your podcast subscriptions is to
download an application that allows you to do so. We choose
iPodder for it's versatility and because it's free. iPodder
allows you to capture and listen to Internet audio programs
anytime, anywhere. It allows users to select and download shows
and music and to play whenever they want on their iPods,
portable digital media players, or computers automatically,
after specifying which music or shows they want to listen to. A
word of caution. It's pretty easy to oversubscribe and the files
are big. It doesn't take long to load up a hard drive to
capacity if you are not careful and don't take the time to
delete the files you have already listened to.
How to find Podcasts
Here are a few places to start looking for podcasts.
Juice is the premier podcast receiver, allowing
users to capture and listen to podcasts anytime, anywhere.
Juice is free
Juice supports more than 15 languages
Juice supports multiple media players
Juice is free software licensed under
the GPL (open source)
Juice's primary purpose is to manage
podcasts
Juice has a built-in directory with
thousands of listed podcast feeds
Juice has auto cleanup,
authentication, centralized feed management and much
more
Juice is accessible for blind and
visually impaired users (windows version only)
Juice is fresh!
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Recommended Podcasts
Becoming a Podcaster
If you have something you want to share and you think others
will want to listen, podcasting might just be for you. It does
require a bit of technical expertise with both the production of
the podcast and using the RSS feed. One program we've heard of
that is supposed to make it easy is Propaganda. Here is what the
publisher has to say about Propaganda: "Propaganda lets you
create commercial-quality podcast shows with a minimum of
effort. Whether it's voice recordings, music or sound effects,
Propaganda can record it, import it, and store it. All your
audio clips can be labeled and organized for later reference.
Then just drag your audio clips into a show sequence, and
preview how everything sounds. Reorder clips on the timeline,
add some more content, or delete entire segments at will. And
beyond sequencing, you can edit any clip to make it shorter,
louder, or quieter. Propanda also handles music and sound
effects. When you're satisfied with your production, simply
click the Publish button and share it with the world. Propaganda
will upload your completed podcast to your Web site, with full
RSS, XML, and HTML support." You can download a 30 day free
trial
here.
Legal Issues
Because podcasting is an Internet rather than a broadcast
service, it is not regulated by the FCC. This means that no
license is required and that podcasts may contain content that
is uncensored for language or subject matter. However music and
other sound recordings are protected by copyright law and may
not be reproduced without permission or paying royalties. To
learn more
click here |
