News about podcast

The first subject I want to discuss on this blog dedicated to the NTIC is the podcast phenomenon.

First of all, I will try to give you a complete definition of the podcasting, its uses and its influence.

Podcasting, according to Wikipedia, is “the practice of making audio files available online in a way that allows software to automatically detect new files and download them.” Technically this is accomplished using RSS feeds to provide information about a collection of audio files in MP3 format. Podcasting lets anybody with a microphone; a computer and an Internet connection publish audio broadcasts that can be listened to by people anywhere in the world. Because the barriers to entry are very low, podcasting is rapidly becoming a popular way for people share audio broadcasts. Podcasts are free and can be automatically downloaded to portable media players, so they can be listened to whenever it’s convenient.

There are already many types of podcast available including:

-Audio books with chapters broadcast in installments.

-Music shows for all the latest new music directly to your PC.

-News broadcasts to ensure you keep up to date with what’s happening.

-Entertainment broadcasts automatically delivered on a regular basis.

-Businesses keeping customers informed about latest products and developments.

-Sports news - keeping fans updated with their team’s progress and achievements. -Religious leaders can even provide a service to their local community with important messages, sermons and pastoral news.

The term podcasting is often used to refer to one off audio broadcasts that can be downloaded from the Internet although this is not, strictly speaking, a true podcast which should be a ‘series’ of broadcasts. It is not a streaming to listen music or to watch a video like Youtube or Daily motion.

The word is a “portmanteau” of Apple’s “Ipod” and broadcasting.

It seems to be the most important development in e-communications in the last six months. There are so many activities using it, like radio, Politics, Education and Religion. We heard of it more than Web 2.0 because of it’s simple use and it’s low cost.