There's a Podcast Just for You
By: Source: AARP.org Date Posted: 2005-10-17 12:21:00-04:00
Podcasting may be the latest Internet fad, but it's poised to be much more than a flash in the pan. In fact, it's catching on like wildfire.
The word "podcast" is a combination of the words "iPod" and "broadcast," indicating correctly that it pertains to audio broadcast programming. It incorrectly makes you thing that you need an iPod to take part in podcasting when, if fact, you don't. Although many people listen to podcasts on iPods and other portable digital music players, you can also listen right on your computer.
Podcasting is actually a new method of distributing audio programming over the Internet. A podcast is like a home-grown radio program. Anyone with an Internet-connected computer, a microphone, some audio software and a little bit of space on a Web server can create and post a podcast. This opens the world to a whole new brand of radio-type programming. Experts from hundreds of different fields are using podcasts to talk about their favorite subjects and share their knowledge with others.
A podcaster simply records their podcast to their computer, then posts it to the Internet. Podcasts are usually reoccurring events, and most podcasters post their programming weekly, but podcasts can be posted daily, monthly, or at varying intervals.
A potential listener downloads podcast software to their computer. They can then subscribe to the podcast(s) of their choice. Once the subscription is in place, every instance of those podcasts will be downloaded to the listener's computer. They can then listen to the podcast on their computer or transfer it to their iPod or other portable player to listen while walking, at the gym, on the subway, or just about any place they choose.
Some podcasts are available from a Web site where you can listen to it without downloading any podcasting software. This is a great way to try out a few podcasts. You listen by simply clicking on a "listen" or "listen now" icon next to a podcast episode that you're interested in. This is a great way to see if you like the podcast before you download any software. A few Web sites of this type are the NPR Podcast Directory, CNET News.com, and ESPN Podcasts. I also have a few podcasts available at my GreatAge Web site.
Downloading software to play podcasts isn't difficult. Most of the podcasting software is both free and easy to navigate. Apple's iTunes is one of the most popular podcast programs, but others are available, as you can see from this list of podcasts clients (software that you would download to use on your computer) on Podcasting News. iTunes also offers an extensive list of podcasts, and you can use a search engine to search on the term "podcast" or "podcast listings" to find other sites offering extensive podcast listings, such as PodcastDirectory.com and podcast.net.
With iTunes, you can set up automatic subscriptions to any podcast on their list. If you want to subscribe to other podcasts, you add what is referred to as a podcast "feed" to the subscription list in the podcast software. A feed is the URL for the podcast. To do this in iTunes, choose Advanced, Subscribe to Podcast, and then enter the feed URL into the pop-up dialog box. For example, if you want to subscribe to AARP's Prime Time Focus podcast feed, you would enter the feed URL for the site that provides podcasts for the Prime Time Focus program, which is "http://www.celebrity-radio.com/CELEBCAST/PrimeTimeFocus.xml," into the Subscribe to Podcast field. It's a similar process with other podcasting software.
Thousands of podcasts are already available, they're usually free, and they cover just about every imaginable subject. There are podcasts about gardening, technology, wine, cycling, yoga, and many other subjects. If you love talk radio, you are sure to love podcasting, but it you've never been a fan of talk radio, there is a good possibility that you may fall head over heels for podcasting.
Additional Resources
Information about Podcasting on Wikipedia.org
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