What is A Podcast?

In a nutshell, podcasting is the relatively new phenomenon of publishing media files--usually MP3s--so that they are available for download to anybody who subscribes to them. A typical podcast is a talk radio show,recorded so that you can listen to it when it's convenient for you. The underlying transport technology is no different from an RSS newsfeed, except that you listen to the feed rather than read it.

Using one of the many free podcast aggregation/reader applications, such as iPodderX, iPodder (for Mac, Windows, and Linux!), or the handy new podcast features in iTunes, you can subscribe to any of thousands of podcasts, and content will be downloaded invisibly as it becomes available. These applications work seamlessly withiTunes (and well with other jukeboxes), so you'll get your latest podcasts automatically if you autosync your iPod. Of course, you can listen to podcasts on any MP3 player, not just Apple models.

Creating your own podcast involves recording your show in MP3 using a microphone, recording software such as GarageBand or SoundForge Audio Studio, and more applications for advanced radio-style techniques such as live interviews via phone or audio- or videoconferencing. Publishing involves creating an RSS feed with an enclosure (like an e-mail attachment) pointing to your podcast's URL.