Tech Primer

Podcasting

What is podcasting?

The term ‘podcast’ refers to any software or hardware combination that permits downloading MP3 files containing audio programs akin to radio shows. Podcasting allows the automatic download of audio programs to a PC and from there, optionally, to an MP3 player. Users can subscribe to podcasts and have them delivered to their desktop.

What are the uses to which this technology can be put?

Podcasting can be used for commercial or public radio shows, unofficial audio tours of museums, music programs, news or discussions, etc.

Does podcasting use RSS?

Podcasts use RSS 2.0 (Really Simple Syndication). A client program captures audio feeds and copies them to a music player. Podcasting allows you to record everything that can be played in a digital player. In 2003, Stephen Downes demonstrated RSS aggregation and syndication of audio files using RSS in Ed Radio application. Ed radio scans RSS feeds for MP3 files. Single feeds are collected and made available as SMIL (Synchronised Multimedia Integration Language) or WebJay audio files. RSS feeds allow users to save feeds from sites they like with an RSS reader and aggregator. RSS is handled through XML, and it views and stores regular updates.

What goes on behind the scenes when I listen to a podcast?

The content of podcast is published and distributed for portable media players supporting MP3 manufactured by various brands such as Sony, Rio, iRiver and Creative. It enables independent producers to create self-published, syndicated radio shows and give broadcast radio programs a new distribution method. Listeners have to subscribe to feeds by using ‘podcatching’ software that checks and downloads new content automatically. Podcatching synchronises or copies podcasts to portable music players that can also be heard on digital audio players with the help of audio playing software or on a computer. The podcasting software can be downloaded free from Web sites such as www.ipodder.org, jpodder.com, apple.com and ipodderx.com (for Mac users only). Once the software is installed, users can download podcast to audio players and use itunes or Windows Media Player to listen to the music.

—Garima Grover

For more information, log on to www.podcast.net