What is a podcast?

[Spacemom]

is it the same as an MP3 except more along the lines of news?

What are some good ones to follow?

[Archae]

1. Basically...

A podcast is any sound or video file downloaded into an iPod. (Or .mp3 player of your choice.)

It can be news, old radio shows, chamber music, basically anything audio or video.

I like this classical small-orchestra and chamber music podcast, here:

http://www.gardnermuseum.org/music/podcast/theconcert.asp

[Spacemom]

4. that makes sense

why didn't I pick up on that? "Pod" cast. :D

Could I listen to these on my non ipod MP3 player?

thanks. :)

[Archae]

5. Sure!

I have a Sylvania .mp3 player, and as long as a sound file is in .mp3 format, it works fine.

Just right-click on the link for the .mp3 file, and "Download to" your .mp3 player.

[Name removed]

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[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. Welcome to DU!

And to the Lounge...the living, beating heart of the place!

:hi:

[gmoney]

6. The "-cast" part implies it's an alternative to broadcast content

Initially, the content was intended to be like a radio program, but instead of being broadcast at a fixed date and time, it was recorded and made available as an MP3 that could be downloaded and listened to on your iPod (or other MP3 capable doohickey) at your convenience. I think it started as a DYI solution for people who wanted to have radio programs, but didn't have access to broadcast outlets, but was soon picked up by traditional media as a way of "repurposing" their broadcast content. Some are made available free for the convenience of listeners who may not be able to catch the live broadcast (Bill Maher, MSNBC, NPR), others charge a subscription fee (Rush, Randi, Malloy, etc).

Generally, podcasts are done on a regular basis, like a radio or TV program, but some are just sporadic.

If you have iTunes, you can go to the iTunes store, select the "Podcast" tab and browse the various catagories, or search for a topic of interest. There's also a "most popular" area, which might be a good place to start. You can "subscribe" through the store (some are free, some are paid), and iTunes will help you manage the downloading of the most current shows, which you can listen to on your computer, or download to a portable device.

[Duer 157099]

9. That's a good description of an unfortunate confusing name that stuck

In addition to what you've written, there's the added feature that, I believe, was part of the initial "podcast" technology, which was that the content was automatically and regularly downloaded onto your computer if you "subscribed" to it. I never liked that aspect so I never really used the term and rather downloaded the mp3 version at my own convenience and by my own clicking (I severely limit anything that my computer can do on it's own, it helps to keep the system clean when you have to pay attention).

Unfortunately, the term "podcast" was in full bloom and even though people can and do manually manage the content, it still sounds as though there's something more to it than just a media file.

[Archae]

7. And there are podcasts I've seen for just about every taste.

Peruvian Native American music? It's out there.

Discussion of "Krystal" from the video game "Starfox Adventures?" It's out there.

MSNBC has podcasts of their shows at the bottom of their cover page.
Did you miss Keith last Friday? Watch or just listen to the podcast.

My Sylvania .mp3 does have a video screen but it's only an inch wide.
So watching stuff on it is a pain.
Talking heads TV shows do fine though.

[Javaman]

8. Any by the "stuff you should know" folks is really good. nt