What Are They?

Ok, so maybe talking about podcasts on a blog about findability is stretching things a bit. However, since we have an opportunity to create a podcast for extra credit, I needed to know more about it. What better way to learn than to have to research the subject for these posts. So let’s jump in.

Podcasts are media files that are distributed over the web via RSS feeds. The name comes from Apple’s music player, the iPod. Like other web-delivered media files, podcasts can be either streaming or downloadable. Unlike other web media files, podcasts can also be downloaded automatically via RSS or Atom. Podcasts are usually thought of as either audio or video files, but they can also be text, images, PDFs or any other type of file.

Where Do I Find Them?

Basically, everywhere. Apple and Yahoo! both seem to have extensive catelogues of podcasts. There’s also a podcast.net, a Podcast Alley and a podcast.com. In addition, you can also get podcasts from NPR, CNN and probably all other news agencies. Conferences are using podcasts to broadcast their sessions, teachers are using them to deliver their lessons, and bosses are using them to deliver information to employees. If you’re interested in it, there’s probably a podcast for it.

How Do I Listen To Them?

First, you need some software for your computer that will download podcasts for you. This type of software is called an aggregator or sometimes a podcatcher or podcast receiver. Podcasting News lists over 100 different aggregators for PC, Mac, Linux/Unix, Palm OS, Pocket PC and just about everything else. Most are free downloads. There are some great step-by-step tutorials on the web that will walk your through using your software to subscribe to feeds. An especially thorough one is at windowsdevcenter.com. You can then listen to or watch your podcast with your favorite media player — either on your PC or with a portable device.