What's Podcast?
Podcasting is a term used to describe a group of technologies for distributing audio or video programs over the Internet using a publisher/subscriber model. It differs from earlier online delivery because it automates the transfer of digital media files to the user's computer for later use. Podcasting enables independent producers to create self-published, syndicated "shows," and gives broadcast radio or television programs a new distribution method.
Subscribing to podcasts allows users to collect individual programs from a variety of sources for listening or viewing at the user's convenience. In contrast, traditional broadcasting provides only one source at a time, and the time is broadcaster-specified. "Streaming" media files from the Internet removes the specified-time restriction, but is still limited to a single source. "Aggregating" programs from multiple sources is a major part of the attraction of podcast-listening.
Any digital audio player or computer with audio-playing software can play podcasts. From the earliest RSS-enclosure tests in 2000 and 2001, feeds have been used to deliver video files as well as audio, and other media such as photographs and text are transferable by podcast. The term "cast," however, still refers largely to audio distribution.
Podcasting's essence is about creating content (audio or video) for an audience that wants to listen when they want, where they want, and how they want.
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