PODCASTING

By: Jan Abernethy

What is podcasting?

Podcasting is the method of distributing multimedia files, such as audio programs or music videos, over the Internet using either the RSS or Atom syndication formats, for playback on mobile devices and personal computers.

Wikipedia

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Let’s look at some definitions.

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• MP3 Player• iPod vs. MP3 Player• Multimedia• Podcast• RSS feed• Atom Syndication Format• Aggregator• Podcasting

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MP3 Player

An MP3 player is a digital audio device capable of reading MP3 files. It can be in the form of a CD player, computer or mobile device.

iPod vs. MP3 Player

An iPod is an MP3 player. Created by Apple Computer, the iPod is the most popular brand of MP3 player.

Multimedia

Multimedia is the use of several different media to convey information. Media can include text, audio, graphics, animation or video.

Podcast

A podcast is an audio file that is created by an RSS feed. Podcasts can be downloaded to a computer or portable media device such as an iPod or MP3 player by using a special program called an aggregator.

RSS Feed

RSS is a file format that allows users to download news websites, weblogs, or podcasts for use on computers and portable media devices. RSS feeds allow users to track updates using an aggregator.

Atom Feed

An atom feed is another file format for creating a web feed.

Aggregator

An aggregator is a type of software that allows users to download web feeds. Users can check for new content and retrieve the content by subscribing to web feeds.

Podcasting

Podcasting is a compound word. The pod stands for “iPod” and the casting stands for “broadcasting” Podcasting is the distribution of audio files using RSS feeds.

An MP3 player is _______

a. A digital audio device

b. A type of radio

c. An electronic video game

d. All of the above

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I don’t think so!

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An atom feed is:

a. Food you feed an atom

b. A multimedia player

c. A file format for podcasting

d. All of the above

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An aggregator is:

a. A software program

b. Capable of reading web feeds

c. Can subscribe to podcasts

d. All of the above

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An iPod is:

a. A file format

b. An MP3 player

c. A type of software

d. All of the above

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I don’t think so!

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What do the words pod and casting stand for in the word

podcasting? a. Audio and radio

b. Computer and Radio

c. “iPod” and broadcasting

d. All of the above

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An RSS feed is:

a. A file format

b. Allows users to download podcasts

c. Allows users to track updates

d. All of the above

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I don’t think so!

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Which of the following cannot be an RSS feed?

a. Weblog

b. News website

c. iPod

d. Podcast

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I don’t think so!

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Bibliography

1. Wikipedia. Podcasting. Retrieved on June 9, 2006, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Podcast

2. Wikipedia. Multimedia. Retrieved on June 9, 2006, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multimedia

3. Wikipedia. RSS (file format). Retrieved on June 9, 2006, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RSS_%28file_format%29

4. Wikipedia. Ipod. Retrieved on June 9, 2006, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ipod

5. Wikipedia. Digital Audio Player. Retrieved on June 9, 2006, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mp3_player

6. Wikipedia. Aggregator. Retrieved on June 9, 2006, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aggregator

7. Wikipedia. Atom (standard). Retrieved on June 9, 2006, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atom_%28standard%29