What is a podcast?
A podcast is merely a “subscription” to an on-going MP3 series.
For example. If you go to iTunes and download “Vertigo” by U2, what you are doing is simply downloading a single MP3 file to your computer hard drive, as a one-time transaction.
From there you can listen to it on your computer — or transfer the MP3 file to your iPod/MP3 player for portable listening.
However, when U2 releases new material/the next single…you have to go back to iTunes.com and manually search for, then download the new MP3 file/new U2 song.
So now, with so many iPod/MP3 players in use, and the development of “podcasting” software programs, a new catagory of MP3 file has emerged:
Longform, MP3 programming (full-length talk shows and original music and music mixes produced by people without connections in the radio and record business (aka the general public.)
What makes it a “podcast” is the ability to “subscribe” to this on-going MP3 series.
In other words, maybe you have a daily/weekly/semi-regular talk show you create on your computer, then post on your web site:
Instead of your audience constantly checking in to your web site for updates of your talk show, new album/single or music mix they can “subscribe” to your podcast (MP3 series).
So, everytime the author/musician posts new material (a new MP3 file) on the net, your podcast software automatically downloads the file (show/song/mix) for you.
When you sign on to your computer, you can check your podcast folder for any new “podcasts” you subscribed to. (Basically, just like checking your U.S. mail box each day for newest magazine issue you subscribe to.
So there you have it. A podcast is an MP3 file (talk show, song or mix) that automatically downloads to your computer hard drive because at some point, you clicked that little orange “RSS” button that automatically subscribes you to the on-going MP3 series (Podcast).
I hope you are less confused.
Zuma Dogg www.ZumaDogg.com (podcast, bio, MPEGs, pics)
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