Over the past month and a half, I have been hearing a lot about something called "podcasting". Not being an Ipod user myself, I had little interest in reading about it until this article caught my eye.
In this entertainment age of everything being available at your fingertips, how about "radio on demand" for your Ipod? Even better, how about being able to subscribe to your favorite audio program, and have it delivered to your desktop?
That is what "podcasting" is all about. The concept was developed by Adam Curry, and involves a program called Ipodder, which was developed by a team of developers with Curry's input. The debut of the "podcasting" concept came officially in early August of this year. You can check out a fantastic audio interview with Curry right here.
Here's some more info from Ipodder.org:
What is it?
First of all, it's still in development, and may not live up to all expectations. But it does work and hundreds thousands of people are using it every day.
iPodder is small program that runs on your computer. It's only purpose is to download audio files, usually mp3's, directly to your mp3 device. Currently iPod is supported on both Windows and Mac.
And it's not just for iPods! Other devices are supported through Windows Media Player. Any device that can exchange files with WMP will work with iPodder.
iPodder.org is home to the community that develops iPodder applications and programming to subscribe to.
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You can read more in the history of podcasting here. You are probably familiar with RSS feeds, which allow you to subscribe to, and receive news updates from your favorite websites. Curry and crew discovered the ability to add an enclosure to the RSS feed, and effectively discovered a way to serve audio to your desktop.
No different than the RSS reader that you use to receive and read your favorite feeds from websites, the Ipodder acts as the reader that delivers the audio content to your desktop.
What are the benefits to podcasting? Well, I would say that the book is still being written every day on that subject. First and foremost, if you have a computer, microphone, various software, and an internet connection, YOU have the ability to do your own radio show, or podcast, about anything your heart desires!
Just take a look at this to see just a few of the many subjects that are being covered in podcasting!
Article comments
1 - Doug Moore
Oh!!! Podcasting. Actually there is a podcasted show with Eric Olsen creator of Blogcritics.org. Podcasting is the wave of the future.
Podcasting on your own is so EASY! Feedburner as launched an arm allowing you to make your own podcast.
2 - Matt Wardlaw
Doug,
Who is this Eric Olson guy? Never heard of him!
Just kidding!
Do you have a link handy for Feedburner?
I am loving podcasting, and look forward to seeing what kind of reaction I get as I enter the realm of podcasting!
3 - Eric Olsen
great job Matt, and thanks for the plug Doug! Thanks
4 - Mac Diva
So, you are going to buy an iPod, now, right? The latest and greatest was released yesterday. Meet the iPod Photo.
5 - Matt Wardlaw
Not sure about that, but I am definitely leaning towards getting one, one of these days!
6 - Nicole
Matt you probably saw the answers in Doug Kaye's blog:
http://www.rds.com/blogs/doug/index.php/archives/2004/10/25/john-c-dvorak-trashes-podcasting-and-it-conversations/
hth
Nicole
7 - Matt Wardlaw
Nicole,
not sure that was the one, but that's a good one to link to here.
It's just funny to see someone who's reading I have respected in the past, come out and just blast podcasting. It was unexpected, to say the least.
I think that's what I enjoy about blogs, is an immediate reaction, like that reaction posted about the PC Magazine interview.
Thanks for posting that!
8 - garybibb
I've started podcasting and it's better than sliced bread. I do think it is here to stay. Podcasting is in it's infancy and is still growing.
http://www.bibbsrevenge.com/index.php?cat=6
is where my podcast resides. I will be sure to check yours out.
9 - Matt Wardlaw
Gary,
I'm digging the cast! Others should definitely check it out - add Gary's feed to your list:
http://www.bibbsrevenge.com/wp-rss2.php?category_name=podcast
I'll be linking to your show on my site as well, first with a note on the site, and then hopefully with a proper links section later!
10 - Triniman
Matt;
Very interesting article about a hot topic. I was wondering if I could get your permission to reproduce it in an IT technology newsletter that I edit.
Do contact me, if you have a minute!
11 - Mark
Consumer interest in podcasting is growing. At present, around 22 million people in the United States own iPods or other MP3 players (Rainie and Madden, 2005). Around six million of these people have downloaded podcasts and podcasting is expected to reach 12.3 million households by 2010 (Rainie and Madden, 2005; Forrester Research, 2005).
Podcasting Articles:
http://www.ezinegalaxy.com/podcasting/index.html
12 - Johny
I've started podcasting and it's better than sliced bread. I do think it is here to stay. Podcasting is in it's infancy and is still growing.
Johny
[Deleted link. It was a broken link Johny. Comments Editor.]
13 - Temple Stark
And a repeat of an Oct 2004 comment so can be deleted. And this one too.