Podcast
Overview
The entertainment options for individuals in the new millennium have changed enormously. The internet has created many possibilities of entertainment and Podcast is one such interesting option, which is attracting people. In a podcast, a collection of digital media files is available on the World Wide Web. Users can use these files on their portable media players and on their computers. The playing of the files in podcast is facilitated by syndication feeds. Podcast shares some affinity with radio because podcast can be the content or the manner by which it is distributed on the internet. The word podcast itself is made from the words iPod and broadcast. The first podcast was for Apple’s iPod portable media player. When one has downloaded podcasts, they can be directly transferred to other devices.
How Podcast Works
In order to enjoy podcasts on their devices users have to download podcasts from the site. Unlike other digital media formats a podcast can be syndicated, or users can subscribe to it, when there is fresh content automatic download is done by feed reader or an aggregator. In a podcast, there are multimedia computer files, which the client transfers from the server. The XML files in podcast can be audio, video, text, images, and PDF files thus allowing the users a variety of infotainment options. Those who provide the content for the podcast start by creating a file that is distributed on the internet using known URLs for the users. When the file is thus created, it is announced to the users by feed or the RSS feed. When the users switch on their computers the automatic download of the new content begins by the aggregator that is specific to the podcast. Popular podcasting clients include iTues of Apple, Winamp, AmaroK, Juice, Mediamonkey and others. Users can enjoy podcasts by devices such MP3 player or media player in a computer.
Variety of Podcast
Since podcast supports a variety of file formats, it is used not only for entertainment purposes but also for educational and other purposes. In the field of education, the uses of podcasting are great because students and teachers can share information and enhance learning. In the news, industry newspapers take to podcasts for giving their readers audio content of their news. Even the Chicago police have taken to podcast in their law enforcement by using a video podcast that document successful investigation of crimes.
