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What is a Podcast Feed?
A podcast feed is a way of sharing files over theinternet. It involves the use of a small, machinereadable file that is regularily updated to reflect changesin the files available for downloading. The internetaddresses of these files are embedded into the feed fileand can be automatically downloaded when wished. Atthis time, podcasting tends to refer to the use of feeds toshare only media files. Podcasting originally occured asa way to share audio mp3 files, and has only recentlybegun incorporating video into podcasts. However, thetechnology that allows the files to be shared is notlimited to such media files and there is not reason thatother files may be shared via podcast in the future.
Today, however, a podcast feed tends to refer to the useof a feed to share media files. Most podcasts are donewith audio files, and the individual files that are createdand shared are called episodes. These audio files maycontain a variety of things; there are music, comedy,news, technology, even podcasts about wine.Podcasting, because of the low entry cost, especially foraudio podcasting allows nearly anyone who believesthey have something to say to broadcast it over theinternet. Even more established groups have found thataudio podcasting works well. Some radio stationspodcast portions of their content, sharing it over theinternet to allow listeners who missed a specific showto catch up on it later. NPR now does this with its newsbreaks, and the NPR show "This American Life" offersa podcast of its shows to subscribers who pay a smallfee.
One of the newer innovations in podcast feeds is thevlog, or videoblog. These blogs usually contain a feedthat distributes a video, rather than an audio file to feedsubscribers. Although that would not have been feasiblea few years ago, growing numbers of broadbandinternet subscribers has meant that most users are ableto download large files, even video files, relativelyquickly. These video podcasts have been readilyaccepted by mainstream news organizations. They havefound that podcasting portions of their content is a wayto share their tape and reach a wider audience. The BBCcurrently does this with parts of its news content. Piecesof the news show that is played over the airwaves istaken and placed online, along with a link to the contentplaced inside the RSS feed. Those who subscribe to theBBC feed can download the news clip and watch infrom the comfort of their home computer.
In the future, podcast feeds may be used for a number ofpurposes besides simply sharing media files. Someanalysts predict that the feed system could also be usedto share software updates, or any of a myriad of otherfile types. For now, however, podcasting is dominatedby small audio and video files.
More Resources
Podcasting News Podcast: Inside Apple's latest announcements
Join Jason Snell, Chris Breen, Jon Seff, and Dan Frakes as they discuss the Apple Music Event for 2010, including new iPods and the all-new Apple TV.
Apple Introduces iTunes 10 With Ping
SAN FRANC ISCO--(BUS INESS W IRE)--Apple® today introduced iTunes® 10 with Ping, a new music-oriented social network for following your favorite artists and friends to discover what music they’re talking about, listening to and downloading. iTunes Ping lets you post your thoughts and opinions, your favorite albums and songs, the music you’ve downloaded from iTunes, plus view concert listings and ...
Val McDermid and Jake Adelstein
At the Brisbane Writers Festival, Richard Fidler spoke to two authors who know a bit about writing about crooks - Scottish crime writer Val McDermid has published more than 20 novels, while journalist Jake Adelstein has written his first book, 'Tokyo Vice', about the Japanese Yakuza.
Radio Adelaide: Selwyn Manning's NZ News Round-Up
Scoop's Selwyn Manning & Radio Adelaide's Peter Godfrey discuss why the National-Led Government has bailed out South Canterbury Finance with a $1.775 billion cheque.
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